Myth |
Fact |
Source |
Immigrants don’t pay taxes |
Every immigrant pays taxes- income, property, sales or another. Studies show that immigrants pay between $490 and $140 billion in federal taxes, state, and local. Undocumented immigrants even pay taxes on clothes and things they buy. |
National Academy of Sciences, Cato Institute Urban, Social Security Administration |
Immigrants come here to receive welfare |
Immigrants come to see family, work, and live here, not to take welfare. Immigrant workers make up 12.4% of our work force. |
American Immigrant Lawyers Association. Urban Institute |
Immigrants send all their money back to their home countries |
Immigrants contribute $162 hundered million in taxes to the US federal state, and local governments. |
Cato Institute, Inter-American Development Bank |
Immigrants take jobs and opportunities from Americans |
The biggest wave of immigrants came to America during a period when the economy was down. Immigrant entrepreneurs make jobs for Americans and immigrants. |
Brookings Institution |
Immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy |
In the 1900’s immigrants filled in gaps left by the native-born, in both high end and low end careers/jobs. |
National Academy of Sciences, Center for Labor Market studies at Northeastern university, Federal Reserve |
Immigrants don’t want to learn English or become American Citizens |
Within 10 years of living here, 75% of immigrants know English or demand English classes. |
U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) |
Today’s immigrants are different than those 100 years ago |
Immigrants from 100 years ago typically settled in areas with other immigrants from their native country. However they still experienced the same discrimination that immigrants experience today. |
U.S. Census Bureau |
Most immigrants cross the border illegally |
75% of immigrants are here legally with permanent visas. 25% are undocumented immigrants, 40% of which have stayed past their temporary visa. |
INS statistical yearbook |
The war on terrorism can be won through immigration restrictions |
No security expert has ever said that restrictive immigration would have prevented the war on terrorism, since September 11, 2001. |
Newspaper articles, various security experts, and think tanks |
