Q: How does immigration benefit the economy?
A: America benefits from immigration because foreign born workers fill open jobs at all skill levels and supplement the native-born workforce to ensure our future prosperity, vitality, and security. If the U.S. is not producing enough workers with the requisite knowledge, skills, and education, businesses will need find other ways to fill that gap in the labor force. They can automate, outsource, or import labor. Each of these options offers tradeoffs, and none of them will be the perfect solution. Importing labor via immigration offers short to medium term relief, getting American businesses the workers they need.
Q: Do immigrants displace American workers?
A: Immigrants complement American workers, and studies show that immigration increases the wages and employment of native-born workers. Immigrants don’t just show up to work –they also consume goods and services, just like native-born Americans, increasing demand and helping expand the economy.
Q: Do immigrants take more in government benefits than they pay in taxes?
A: Immigrants typically pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits at the federal level. Most immigrants are barred from federal entitlement benefits by law; legal permanent residents may access some means-tested benefits after they have lived in the U.S. and paid taxes for 5 years. Studies show that immigrants sustain programs available to U.S. citizens, like Medicare and Social Security, because they pay into the programs through payroll taxes but have limited access to them.
Q: What role does immigration play in addressing population decline or aging demographics?
A: Immigration is vitally important to American population growth. The U.S. total fertility rate is well below the number necessary for new babies to replace people who pass away each year. Our population has not yet shrunk, but that could happen in the near future. By 2040, immigrants are expected to account for all U.S. population growth. To sustain a population that can continue to power our economy, immigration must be part of the solution.
Q: What responsibilities do free countries have in accepting refugees and asylum seekers?
A: Americans are safer when the world is safer and more secure. The forced migration of refugees and asylum seekers is often a result of instability, despair, injustice, and oppression –the same ingredients that can breed extremism. The United States is uniquely positioned through its political and economic might to address the conditions that foster displacement and extremism, and lead humanitarian efforts to combat them. Beyond that, Washington can serve as a moral example to encourage democratic allies wrestling with their own challenges to do the same.
Q: What does effective border policy look like?
A: The U.S. can be a secure nation and a welcoming one at the same time. Effective border policy requires an “all of the above” approach that balances migration, security, trade, and travel. Smart border policy considers regional dynamics, working with our allies to coordinate enforcement against smugglers and humanitarian relief for asylum seekers. Robust enforcement must be combined with robust legal migration options, ensuring that those who qualify to contribute to our economy have a defined process for doing so.
