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According to a nationwide survey of registered voters conducted by the Independent Center in January, respondents ranked immigration as the second most pressing issue behind jobs and the economy. Gallup polling shows a similar result, except that in some instances, immigration ranks as the most important challenge among voters.
No matter where you look, immigration is one of the top three most pressing issues. At the same time, our latest polling shows that only 11% believe our immigration system is working, while 82% think we can do better. In other words, four out of five voters do not want the status quo for one of, if not the most important, issues to them.
In a world before hyperpartisanship and constant infighting, this would be an opportunity for one of the major parties to step up and offer solutions for our broken immigration system. Unfortunately, the party of ideas is dead.
Despite a political climate that thrives on fear, anger, and distrust, Americans, by and large, have a lot in common. We believe America is both a location and an idea. To be American implies certain characteristics, values, and attitudes. We work hard, create and innovate better than most, and generally feel optimistic about the future. Americans lucky enough to be born here grow up with apple pie on their forks and the American dream in their heads. But what about immigrants? Are immigrants a square peg in our apple pie-shaped hole?
The data is clear: folks who leave everything behind to come to America are some of the most American Americans in America (try saying that five times fast).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 77.5 percent of foreign-born men participated in the labor force last year, compared to 66.1 percent of native-born men. Women’s participation rates were about equal. When you look at labor participation rates over time, immigrants are more likely to be in the workforce than native-born citizens. There is no recorded data that shows otherwise. If hard work is a shared American value, immigrants are standout Americans.
Not only do our immigrants believe in hard work, but they also believe in creation and innovation. Immigrants create businesses at more than double the rate of native-born citizens. 0.7 percent of immigrants are entrepreneurs compared to 0.3 percent of the native-born population. It makes sense when you think about it. The people most likely to have the drive and determination to start a business are precisely those who have the grit to leave their homes in search of a better life.
Not only do immigrants share our love for creation, but they also disproportionately share our love for innovation. The Cato Institute found that between 1990 and 2016, Immigrants comprised 16 percent of all U.S.-based inventors but produced 23 percent of all patents—40 percent greater than their share. They also found that immigrants generated 25 percent of the aggregate economic value over that time period–50 percent greater than their share. What’s more American than good old-fashioned wealth creation?
Finally, first-generation immigrants are more likely to think America is doing fine, our political climate is fine, and they’re doing a good job leaving the country better off than they found it. In other words, even more than their kids and grandkids, new immigrants embrace the spirit and optimism of the American dream. It takes several generations before immigrant families become jaded or cynical like their native-born counterparts.
So what’s the problem? America is restricting these would-be future Americans from coming here legally while the need for them is greater than ever. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, there are 8.2 million job openings in the United States and 7.1 million people looking for jobs. This disconnect is nothing new. We’ve had a significant labor shortage for years, at least since the 2020 pandemic. Restricted immigration levels have only exacerbated the mismatch.
Voters agree on few issues as wholly as our broken immigration system. The consequences are all around us. Companies desperately need workers, workers need jobs, and supply chains across many industries are disrupted. Inflation is rampant, affordability is low, and total output is reduced.
According to Arturo Castellanos Canales, Policy and Advocacy Manager at the National Immigration Forum, rather than continue to restrict immigration and suffer perpetual labor shortages and the resulting consequences, “America is uniquely positioned to demonstrate, once again, that immigrants are the solution, not the problem.”
Unfortunately, in Washington, DC, common-sense solutions like allowing more legal immigration at a time when we need it are rare and likely grounds for expulsion from one of the major parties. It’s our job to move past that. Fortunately, we’ve got a majority (and growing) of voters on our side.
