"The myriad myths of U.S. immigration"

[pampango]

It is important to examine and discuss in our communities because a good deal of resentment and animosity is fostered by our misperceptions. We once took pride in being a nation of immigrants. If there is an earnest desire to address the complex social issue that is "illegal immigration," we should start by looking at the facts in order to come up with viable solutions and not simple, superficial ones.

> Immigrants are taking away our jobs and driving down wages!

There are multiple studies that show immigration has less negative impact on native workers than we think. In many cases, immigrants actually increase labor market opportunities for citizens by boosting the industries that create new jobs.

The Alexis de Tocqueville Institution states that the largest wave of immigration since the early 1900s corresponded with a period of the lowest unemployment and fastest economic growth. And a study done by UC Davis published in 2006 suggests that between 1990 and 2004, nearly 90 percent of native-born workers with a high school education experienced wage gains because of increased immigration.

There are valid concerns about big business exploiting the labor force by encouraging the trend of "illegal" immigration, but the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) asserts the best way to address this is to focus on penalizing employers for flouting the law, not simply demonizing the workers.

> Immigrants increase the crime rate!

Immigrants have the lowest crime rates of any other demographic group in the country, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, and are less likely than native-born counterparts to be imprisoned, documented or not. By and large, immigrants come to the U.S. to work and reunite with their families.

Unfortunately, there are some immigrants who commit crimes just as there are some citizens who do the same. Any individual should be punished for criminal behavior, but it is not fair to extend the actions of some to an entire community.

> Most immigrants come here illegally!

According to the Department of Homeland Security, around 75 percent of today's immigrants have legal permanent visas. That leaves 25 percent that are undocumented, and of that group close to half have overstayed temporary visas.

This conflicts with popular assumptions about most immigrants crossing the border illegally from Mexico, because most immigrants actually come here on commercial carriers or across the border we share with Canada.

> Most immigrants come to the United States, and there are now more than ever!

The United States only holds about one percent of the world's immigrants and is less of an immigrant nation today than in the beginning of the 20th century. A comparative study done by the Immigration Policy Center found that the U.S. has less than or the same percentage of immigrants as other advanced, industrialized countries.