Reports Confirm Economic and Cultural Contributions of Immigration

Today's immigrants are writing the latest chapter in a long American story

This week, two reports released by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the Center for American Progress confirm the historic benefits of immigration to our country, from stronger economic productivity to a strengthened American culture.  

Immigration and Economic Productivity

New research from the independent, non-partisan Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco refutes the misguided belief that immigrants are taking American jobs, showing that instead they expand the US economy's productive capacity and stimulate investment. According to the report:

"There is no evidence that immigrants crowd out U.S.-born workers in either the short or long run. Instead, the evidence suggests the economy absorbs immigrants by expanding job opportunities rather than by displacing workers born in the United States."

"This independent study shows that the American Dream is still alive," said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. "Throughout the history of our nation, immigrants have brought new ideas and an entrepreneurial spirit that has become the engine for America's economic, technologic and academic growth

Immigrant Integration in America

The Center for American Progress released a report today affirming that, just as our immigrant ancestors have done for years, new immigrants to the United States are integrating rapidly into the US economy and culture.  

"It has always been, and continues to be, in our nation's best interest to embrace diversity and inclusion as core values that promote innovation and advancement," said Ali Noorani. "Immigrants are demonstrating that the American Dream and the melting pot are still a fundamental part of our nation today. Newcomers are integrating and assimilating, into the fabric of American life, becoming Americans by choice, business-owners, homeowners, parents, and voters."

Decrease in Unauthorized Population

The Pew Hispanic Center also released a report today about a sharp decline in the population of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.  "It is not surprising that amidst an economic recession, fewer people are coming to America. When there are less jobs available, fewer immigrants come," asserted Ali Noorani. "We should take this opportunity, when there is decreased pressure on the border and at the worksite, to revamp our broken immigration system so that when the economy bounces back, we have the appropriate structures to sustain the labor needs of our nation."

"Recent research shows that immigrants are helping everyone in America economically. We have an opportunity, through smart immigration reform, to maximize this positive impact of immigrants in stabilizing the job market and boosting the recovery of our economy. With immigration reform, immigrant families will also find the path to cultural integration easier, as America reasserts its founding belief: E Pluribus Unum, Out of Many, One.

This nation of immigrants continues to be the great hope on the horizon and a land of opportunity for all who seek the American Dream. Immigrants and their children will keep America strong."

Contact: Katherine Vargas

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For information on the Center for American Progress report on Immigrant Assimilation, please read the following press release.

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2010

Contact
Raúl Arce-Contreras, 202.478.5318
rarcecontreras@ americanprogress.org

RELEASE: Assimilation Today-New Evidence on the Advancement of Immigrants in America's Culture and Economy

Read the report here.

Read the Fast Facts here. (pdf)

Listen to today's press call here. (mp3)

Washington, D.C.-Immigrants to the United States are assimilating at high rates, most notably by becoming citizens and homeowners in the first 18 years of residency, according to a study released today by the Center for American Progress.

The study refutes claims from immigration opponents who question immigrants' contributions to U.S. society and economy, and shows robust integration by newcomers since 1990, regardless of their social or economic starting points.

"This study affirms America's history. Immigrants are not static in their assimilation.

Despite claims to the contrary, history is repeating itself and today's newcomers are becoming tomorrow's new Americans," said Angela M. Kelley, Vice President for Immigration Policy and Advocacy at the Center for American Progress.

The findings, based on U.S. Census Bureau data, are contained in the report, "Assimilation Today: New Evidence Shows the Latest Immigrants to America Are Following in Our History's Footsteps," by Dowell Myers and John Pitkin, of the University of Southern California's Population Dynamics Research Group.

Assimilation by all foreign-born immigrants also is seen in their rising earning rates and high school completions. Children of Latino immigrants also are more likely than their parents to finish college, have good jobs, and own homes.

The nation's latest immigrants are following in the footsteps of our ancestors, spreading out across the country and integrating in communities, large and small. And 14 states now have foreign-born populations above the national average of 12.5 percent, according to the study.

Many Americans believe immigrants are, like Peter Pan, forever frozen, and never advance economically or socially, but "the data on immigrant advancement may be surprising and should help dispel the illogical Peter Pan fallacy," write the authors.

The report uses key benchmarks such as naturalization to citizenship, homeownership, and earnings to measure assimilation.

Among the findings:

• There are now 14 states that have foreign-born populations greater than the national average share of 12.5 percent.
  
• Immigrants are moving to new communities in 27 states where the populations of recently arrived immigrants make up at least 2 percent of the state population.
• Latino immigrants, in the first 18 years of U.S. residency, swiftly attain the hallmark of the "American Dream"-homeownership-with 58 percent achieving this feat in 2008, up from only 9.3 percent of in 1990.
• Latino immigrants in Arizona-ground zero for the national immigration debate-have proven much more successful than many assume. Two-thirds of immigrants are homeowners after 18 years of U.S. residence, just over 59 percent speak English well, and almost 58 percent earn better than a low income.

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The assimilation rates can be found here.

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