Standing Strong: America has been Built by Immigrants

The United States of America is now and always has been a country of immigrants. Aside from descendants of the nation’s original inhabitants (now only about 1.8 percent of us), we Americans can trace our ancestry to those who came from elsewhere.

In recent years, immigrants have been disparaged by nativists like Donald Trump. The nation’s president demonizes them as criminals, rapists, and murderers. He claims other nations have emptied their jails and mental hospitals to fuel immigration. His homeland security apparatus has unleashed masked storm troopers to round up undocumented individuals and those not deemed white enough.

Nevertheless scholars who have studied the issue can document that immigration benefits this country. It has been a source of strength for the U.S. economy and has the potential to boost our economy more in the future.

Studies available from both the Economic Policy Institute and the George Bush Institute have confirmed that immigration expands the nation’s GNP and is good for economic growth. Immigration also is positive for the balance of taxes and spending at the federal level. Immigrants pay substantial amounts of taxes and yet are excluded from deriving benefits. People who migrate increase the stock of human capital and ideas, ingredients for long-term growth.

https://www.postalley.org/2025/07/04/stand-strong-america-has-been-built-by-immigrants/