Did you know that more than one million people arrive in the United States of America each year as permanent legal residents? The myths surrounding immigration in the United States often overshadow the facts about the immigrants that are arriving there. Immigration history is a large part of the history of the United States, and most citizens can trace their roots back to it.
It’s important to learn and understand the facts about immigration if you want to become a better citizen and lift up the many people that are looking for a better and happier life in the United States. The good news is that you’ve found the perfect guide to learn eight fun facts about immigration.
Keep reading this article to learn more today!
1. Immigrants Don’t Harm Public Health
It’s easy to point the finger and claim that immigrants are the main cause of the issues in the United States. The facts about immigration show that to be unfounded and untrue, especially regarding the spreading of infectious diseases. There is no evidence that point to diseases getting spread because of immigrants arriving in the United States.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts urged to continue processing immigrants as this didn’t offer any added risk to spreading COVID. The real issue was the overcrowding at the border. It’s also worth noting that all new arrivals get a thorough medical examination prior to entering the country.
2. Immigrants Don’t Immediately Get To Vote
Another myth when it comes to immigration law is the idea that immigrants immediately get the right to vote. It’s normal for politicians with agendas against immigrants to state that undocumented immigrants are entering the country and voting. It’s not possible for immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, to vote until they attain citizenship.
There are sixteen states in the United States that allow undocumented immigrants to get identification documents as long as they have a visa, like the f1 visa green card. This is a way to promote public safety. You need to register to vote prior to getting to a polling station, and you can’t do that without proof of citizenship.
3. Immigrants Create Jobs
It’s no secret that the economy in the United States isn’t in the greatest spot. Don’t direct your anger and frustration about the economy toward immigrants, as they aren’t taking jobs from U.S. citizens. The facts about immigrants point to them creating more jobs and stimulating the economy more than anything.
Many immigrants look to start their own businesses once they arrive in the United States. They also purchase goods that are sold in the U.S. as well as local goods, which helps the economy. Many states with higher numbers of immigrants report having lower unemployment levels across the board.
4. Most Immigrants Are in the U.S. Legally
Anti-immigration proponents that focus on facts about ICE immigration will tell you that most immigrants don’t have a legal right to be in the United States. The facts about immigration point to that being false, as more than 77 percent of immigrants have lawful status in the U.S.
Most of the legal immigrants are naturalized citizens, while a big portion of the remainder were lawful permanent residents. The rest of the immigrants are in the country while seeking asylum or refugee status. You’ll find that there are fewer than 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.
5. Immigration Remains Steady
Another myth that gets thrown around about immigration is the idea that immigration is rising at unprecedented levels. This is far from the truth, though you’re likely to encounter stats that say that there are more immigrants moving to the United States than ever before. The truth is that there are more people as a whole living in the United States now than in the past.
The percentage of immigrants living in the U.S. is similar to what it has been throughout all periods of the country’s history. Immigrants today make up around 14 percent of the U.S. population. Compared to the 1930s, that is on par since around 15 percent of the population were immigrants in that era.
6. Immigrants Commit Fewer Crimes
One of the most important facts about immigration is that immigrants commit fewer crimes than citizens that were born and raised in the United States. Looking at the immigration statistics, you’ll notice that there is a negative correlation between the immigration rate and the crime rate. The crime rates also tend to be lower in the states that have higher populations of immigrants.
7. Most Immigrants Cannot Receive Social Service Benefits
Another myth that surrounds immigrants is the idea that they take advantage of social programs. If anything, many immigrants end up paying more in taxes than non-immigrants. Except for rare instances, immigrants aren’t eligible to take part in federal public benefits after moving to the United States.
This means that immigration law prevents immigrants from using Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and food stamps. Most immigrants will not gain access to those social programs until they’ve had a permanent resident status for five or more years.
8. Terrorists Don’t Enter Through the U.S.-Mexico Border
Another fear tactic that many like to point to when it comes to facts about ICE immigration is the fact that terrorists can enter through the U.S.-Mexico border. This is unfounded, and there are zero instances where people have been injured or killed as a result of a terrorist entering through this border. The vast majority of terrorist attacks come from people who are lawfully in the United States.
Now You Know the Facts About Immigration
Learning the facts about immigration is key if you plan to move to the United States from a different country or if you want to gain a new lens on immigration law. The facts about immigrants are that they don’t have access to social programs and they do not increase the crime rates. If anything, the fun facts about immigration point to a boost in the economy and more law-abiding citizens.
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