The amount of intentional disinformation and unintentional misinformation about immigration is making it almost impossible to achieve a rational immigration system that truly serves our nation’s needs. Nine months ago, I didn’t know much about immigration, but given its importance in the election, I figured I should learn more. Here are a few of the surprising things I have learned:

• Our immigration situation now is truly an American tragedy. Our system needs fixing, but we have become so polarized and so poisoned with misinformation that a rational solution will be very difficult. Even so, I think we must try, for the sake of our economy at the very least.
• Regardless of one’s philosophy or emotions about it, the stark reality is that immigration is not some awful thing inflicted on us from outside. It is a good thing that the U.S. needs to secure the labor force to power our economy.
• Immigrants are not taking the jobs of native-born Americans on any appreciable scale as confirmed by many studies and common sense. All we have to do is notice all the help wanted signs or talk to business owners to understand we do not have enough workers to fill the jobs that employers need filled today.
• There is almost no growth in our native-born workforce age 18-65, so any real growth in the labor force needed to grow our economy must come from immigration in some form. There is no other source of the workers we need. Drastic restrictions on immigration would be a drag on our economy.
• Mass deportation of migrant workers would be a serious inflationary problem. Migrant workers and immigrants make up 25-50% of our farming and food production sectors, depending on where you are (plus significant numbers in construction, hospitality and elder care). Deporting millions of migrants would severely restrict our food production and boost inflation.
• Migrant crime is an emotional myth. Study after study shows that per capita crime rates for the immigrant population are lower than for native-born Americans, and migrant crime is lower still. People are not pouring across our borders to steal, rape and murder. They are coming to make a living to support their families, often escaping dangerous situations. They have a built-in incentive not to commit crimes and risk deportation. Certainly, immigrants commit some crimes, but much less than the inflammatory myths being spread.
• Undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes, or $8,889 per capita (2022 study by ITEP). This included $33.9 billion in payroll taxes for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance even though they are not eligible for these benefits and thus are subsidizing these programs.

My takeaway is only when we come to an understanding of the reality of the immigration situation, can we set about to improve the system. If our leaders across the country are too politically divided to seek rational solutions, then we citizens must push them. Once again, we the people need to rise to the moment to better our country. Regardless of our political ideology, it would benefit us all to push for doing the right thing.

Howard Jennings

Bristol