The American Dream Is Immigration

Immigrants are contributing to the economy, workforce, and stimulating growth faster than we are letting them in. Contrary to the misconception that immigrants are taking American jobs, they actually create them. The National Foundation for American Policy found that 44 out of 87 (that's more than half) of private companies valued at more than $1 billion dollars had at least one immigrant founder. Successful companies with immigrant founders include Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. These companies have pushed innovation and made the United States a leader in the technological world as well as employing many Americans and immigrants alike.

But it doesn’t end there. Immigrants are the realization of the American dream. Yale University found evidence to support that immigration promotes, quote “economic growth and expansion of the labor market.” (March, 2017). The rapid climb to success, the dedication, and entrepreneurship found in those arriving on our shores characterize our nation. To reiterate the economic effect of immigrants, they have only improved our economy, the opposite of what strict immigration laws and the wall would do. ProPublica released a study in July of 2017 stating that for every 1 percent increase in immigrants in the US population, the GDP raises 1.15 percent.

The positive effects of immigration are clearly surrounded by facts and figures, while arguments to the opposite opinion have been debunked. The concern surrounding the effects of immigration on American citizens is one of the main arguments of anti-immigration relies on, but research shows that stricter laws on immigration would harm the average American as well as our economy and culture. Currently, 1 million immigrants are allowed through our border every year, resulting in 2 percent growth in the GDP. If we were to open our borders to just 4 million more annually, that would increase to 3.2 percent growth. In addition to the ProPublica's independent party research, The Center for American Progress reports that immigrants contributed $1.6 trillion to the GDP in 2013.

While immigrants are contributing to the gross domestic product in the United States, money continues to be lost in unnecessary attempts to keep potential entrepreneurs out. It costs an average of $180 to detain an individual, a practice that is draining our resources and preventing the growth and innovation seen in immigrants today. In addition to losing money by turning away immigrants, building a wall would lose yet more. CNBC reported in January of 2017 that the wall would cost $120 per household. By proposing stricter laws and building the wall, we will intensify the workload on the average American as we increase the national deficit to finance a wall that will obstruct further growth and the creation of jobs.

As leader of the free world, the United States has a responsibility to demonstrate the liberty and freedom that our country was founded on and take all measures to facilitate the lives of Americans and immigrants alike by opening borders to innovation and investments, by opening borders to change lives and create jobs, by opening borders to the values our country was founded on, with liberty and justice for all.