America was founded and shaped by immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity. Since records were first kept in 1820, our nation has absorbed more than 60 million immigrants. Those new Americans have almost universally embraced American culture and values, serving bravely in our armed forces, founding some of our most successful companies, and pioneering advances in science, technology and industry. Immigrants have been crucial to America's dominance and dynamism in the global economy.
The overriding impact of immigrants is to strengthen and enrich American culture, increase the total output of the economy, and raise the standard of living of American citizens. Immigrants are advantageous to the United States for several reasons: (1) Since they are willing to take a chance in a new land, they are self-selected on the basis on motivation, risk taking, work ethic, and other attributes beneficial to a nation. (2) They tend to come to the United States during their prime working years (the average age is 28), and they contribute to the workforce and make huge net contributions to old-age entitlement programs, primarily Social Security. (3) Immigrants tend to fill niches in the labor market where demand is highest relative to supply, complementing rather than directly competing with American workers. (4) Many immigrants arrive with extremely high skill levels, and virtually all, regardless of skill level, bring a strong desire to work. (5) Their children tend to reach high levels of achievement in American schools and in society at large.
The LATEST from the Center for Trade Policy Studies on Immigration
MORE from the Center for Trade Policy Studies on Immigration
| Speeches and Testimony |
- Mexican Migration, Legalization, and Assimilation
(October 5, 2005) |
- The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Serving Our National Economy
(May 26, 2005) | - Securing Our Borders Under a Temporary Guest Worker Program
(April 1, 2004) | - Cato Policy Forum: President Bush's Immigration Proposal: Too Much, Too Little, Or About Right?
(January 16, 2004) | - The Prospects for American Workers: Immigration's Impact
(October 30, 2003) | - Capitol Hill Panel Discussion on Mexican Immigration
(February 19, 2003) | - National Immigration Forum Annual Conference
(February 1, 2002) | - Mighty Is the Mongrel? Winning In the Global Economy
(November 20, 2000) |
From the
Cato Handbook for Congress:
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| Commentary |
- Immigration law should reflect our dynamic labor market
by Daniel Griswold (April 27, 2008) |
- When employment lines cross borders
by Daniel Griswold (April 21, 2008) | - Real Reform Can Fix Immigration
by Daniel Griswold (October 2, 2007) | - A Boon Rather Than a Burden
by Daniel Griswold (August 28, 2007) | - Calmer heads should prevail on U.S. visa provision
by Daniel Griswold (August 27, 2007) | - Illegal Immigration: Will Congress Finally Solve It?
by Daniel Griswold (May 22, 2007) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (March 27, 2007) | - Immigration reform must include a temporary worker program
by Daniel T. Griswold (March 19, 2007) | - Without immigration reform border fence will be 'fence to nowhere'
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 30, 2006) | - America, 300 Million Strong
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 11, 2006) | - Breaking the Illegal Immigration Logjam
By Daniel T. Griswold (August 11, 2006) | - A Flood of Bad Immigration Numbers
by Daniel T. Griswold (July 11, 2006) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (May 15, 2006) | - Immigration Reform Should Be Top Priority
by Daniel T. Griswold (May 10, 2006) | - America Needs Real Immigration Reform
by Daniel T. Griswold (April 27, 2006) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (January 1, 2006) | - Only real reform will resolve crisis
by Daniel Griswold (October 25, 2005) | - Protectionism No Fix for China's Currency
By Daniel T. Griswold (June 25, 2005) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (December 3, 2004) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 24, 2004) | - Reagan Embraced Free Trade and Immigration
by Daniel T. Griswold (June 24, 2004) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (November 20, 2002) | - Mexican Workers Come Here to Work: Let Them!
by Daniel Griswold (October 22, 2002) | - Restrict Arab Visa Applications, Not Mexican Immigrants
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 11, 2002) |
by Daniel T. Griswold (May 21, 2002) | - Should the US Reduce by 50% the Number of Legal Immigrants and 'Immigrant' Students?
By Daniel T. Griswold (April 23, 2002) | - There You Go Again: NR's Anti-immigration Fever
By Daniel T. Griswold (April 16, 2002) | - Immigrants have enriched American culture and enhanced our influence in the world
Daniel T. Griswold (February 18, 2002) | - Congressman Uses Sept. 11 Terrorism to Advance Anti-Immigration Agenda
by Daniel T. Griswold (November 18, 2001) | - Don't Blame Immigrants for Terrorism
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 23, 2001) | - FAIR Ads Unfairly Blame Immigrants for Urban Sprawl
by Daniel T. Griswold (October 4, 2000) | - Immigration Reform Means More High-Tech Jobs
by Stephen Moore (September 24, 1998) | - Lift the Congressional Quota on High-Skilled Workers
by Daniel T. Griswold (March 27, 1998) | - New Asylum Laws: Undermining an American Ideal
by Michele Pistone (March 24, 1998) | - Errors About Immigrants: The government spends much more on the native born
by Julian L. Simon (June 25, 1997) | - Cutting Immigration Myths Down to Size
by Stephen Moore and Stuart Anderson (April 22, 1997) |
by Stuart Anderson (January 30, 1997) | - A Veteran's Day Remembrance: Immigrant Medal of Honor Recipients
by Stuart Anderson (November 4, 1996) | - Still the Pro-Immigration Party?
by Stephen Moore and Aaron Harris (August 26, 1996) | - Media Overreach on Kemp: Immigration and Affirmative Action
by Stuart Anderson (August 22, 1996) |
