1. MYTHS VS. FACTS
Immigration

2. IMMIGRANTS persons with no U.S. citizenship at birth …includes
naturalized citizens
lawful permanent residents
refugees
persons on temporary visas
unauthorized (undocumented or illegal)

3. 1. There are more immigrants living in the U.S. today than ever before.
FACT, but…
percentage of immigrants in the overall population is not much different now than in the past
U.S. population 316 million
Now: 41.3 million or 13% of total U.S. population
Then: 11-13% of total U.S. population from
the immigrant population increased by 1.3% or 523,000
11.5 million undocumented immigrants make up less than 4% of total U.S. population

5. 2. Most immigrants are in the U.S. illegally.
MYTH
Over 40 million total immigrants
28+ million with legal status
46% have become U.S. citizens
11.5 million undocumented
½ entered legally and became undocumented when papers expired and they didn’t leave
emphasis of time, money, laws, etc… for less than 4%

6. 3. Anyone who enters the country illegally is a criminal.
MYTH or FACT (depending?)
only very serious misbehavior is generally considered “criminal” in our legal system
improper entry is a misdemeanor
punishment is imprisonment and a fine
violations of less serious laws are usually “civil” matters and are tried in civil courts
Federal immigration law says that unlawful presence in the country is a civil offense and is, therefore, not a crime
punishment is deportation

7. 4. Immigrants come to the U.S. and resist learning English.
MYTH
When the U.S. entered WWI (1917) there were over 700 German-language newspapers, but German immigration peaked in the 1870s
2/3 of immigrants 5 or older speak English “well” or “very well”
After 15 years in the U.S. 75% of Spanish-speaking immigrants speak English regularly
91% of their children and 97% of their grandchildren can speak English well
Waiting lists for adult ESL instruction in the U.S. exceed availability

8. 5. Immigrants bring crime and violence to our cities and towns.
MYTH
Immigrants are far less likely than native-born citizens to commit crimes
even with low income and lower levels of education
18-40 year old men incarceration rate- U.S. born 3.5% immigrant .7%
more U.S. born high school dropouts in prison than immigrant drop outs

9. 6. Immigrants take good jobs from Americans.
MYTH
jobs immigrants fill are usually low-skill and low-wage
states with large numbers of immigrants report lower unemployment for everyone
Immigrants help create new jobs
18% of small business, which provide up to 80% of the new jobs in the U.S., are started by immigrants

10. 7. Undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes and take advantage of government services.
MYTH
Immigrants pay $90 - $140 billion each year in taxes
income tax; sales tax; property tax; gas tax
that is $20-$30 billion MORE than the amount they cost in government services
most non-citizens are not eligible for the majority of welfare programs
even if eligible, they are much less likely than citizens to use the benefits
highest government expense is education

11. 8. There’s a way to enter the country legally for anyone who wants to get in line.
MYTH
very difficult for poor people with few skills
rules to enter country legally
joining family
highly trained skill in demand
escaping persecution
long delays
applications can take several years to process
2007 Homeland Security received 1.4 million applications

12. 9. Tougher immigration laws have led to more arrests of terrorists in the U.S.
Laws after 9/11
“Special Registration” & thousands held without any proof
a study of 400 terrorists showed only 6% entered a country illegally
all 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S. legally
not a single terrorist has been caught crossing the U.S. / Mexico border (2,000 miles)
increased risks of border crossing results in more immigrants staying in the U.S. for longer times
President Obama has most deportations (414,818 in 2014)

13. 10. Most children of undocumented immigrants are living legally in the U.S.
FACT
Two-thirds of all children with undocumented parents are U.S. born citizens who live in mixed-status families