They Take our Jobs! And 20 Other Immigration Myths
By
Aviva Chomsky
1. Immigrants take American jobs.

Globalization = National jobs (or anything else) a myth

Deregulation and deindustrialization more responsible for migration

Outsourcing maquiladoras to impoverished countries through an
economic and ideological contradiction
2. Immigrants compete with low-skilled workers and drive down wages.

Increasing inequality causes migration, not vice versa

Deprivation of full human rights equal to naturalized citizens coupled
with racism allows for normative exploitation, which drives down wages

Employee wages beneath federal minimums are breaking the law

“Under the table” wages are forms of employer tax evasion, not employee
3. Unions oppose immigration because it harms the working class.

Unions do have racist past, but post 1990 shift culminated in 2003
immigrant protest backed by AFL-CIO

In a post-industrial service-sector economy with Right to Work states that
make unions illegal, reaching new immigrants a union survival strategy

Unions now focused on increasing minimum wage, adopting universal
healthcare, and enacting labor law reform to address disparities
4. Immigrants don't pay taxes.

Immigrant contributions to sales and real estate tax still vital to
economic growth

Unauthorized workers pay into Social Security but do not/cannot draw
off of that investment (actually becomes a plus for economy, not a drain)

Social Security would have bankrupt years prior and even unauthorized
immigrants helped support many more retirees, yet unauthorized
workers will not likewise be supported

“Entitlement mentality” not typical of new immigrants, as many come
from poverty where government provides little to nothing.
5. Immigrants are a drain on the economy.

Immigrants actually contribute more than they use. In rural areas, new
immigrants are the only think preventing collapse of the tax base.
Services such as public schools, emergency health care and public
safety/prisons are mandated to all people regardless of citizenship.
6. Immigrants send most of what they earn out of the country.

Only an average of 10% of income returned, but that accounts for 50-80%
of income in departure hometown. This process is actually more efficient
and direct in its impact than foreign aid—and it is based on work.
7. The rules apply to everyone, so new immigrants need to follow them just as
immigrants in the past did.

The rules have been different at all times in U.S history. Policies have
been constructed in distinct stages. 25 million White Europeans allowed
entrance without passports 1890-1910, and would be undocumented
under current policy.
8. The country is being overrun by illegal immigrants.

Only 4.3% of the total U.S. workforce is “unauthorized migrants.” In
terms of deviance and crime, if 5% of the 4.3% of undocumented
immigrants committed crimes, this would be a extremely small
percentage of all crime—do the math!
9. The United States has a generous refugee policy.

Political and economic interests arbitrarily underpin decisions that on the
surface seem “beneficent” and “magnanimous.”
10. The United States is a melting pot that has always welcomed immigrants from
all over the world.

Arbitrarily based on race, class, economic interests, labor needs,
education and skills, and national citizenship
11. Because we are descendants of immigrants, we start on equal footing.

Incorporation never equal, but contextually and historically biased
12. Today's immigrants threaten the national culture because they are not
assimilating.

Easier for other non-Anglo-Saxon immigrants to be “whitened” (i.e.
Russians, Polish) and incorporated into racialized structure of the US.
13. Today's immigrants are not learning English and bilingual education adds to
the problem.

As for language, all data suggests that by third generation, the shift to
English is complete—although bilingualism much more common.

Learning English would not likely to have been a fast or standardized
process for other non-English speaking immigrants in previous centuries.

Arrivals not likely to learn as adults; second generation more, and/or
bilingual. Third generation, are English dominant and bilingual as well.

Surveys indicate that immigrants know the importance and want to
learn. However, class structure leaves little time, money, and resources.
14. Immigrants come here only because they want to enjoy our higher standard of
living.

A high standard of living is one thing—but not the only thing. There are a
diversity of reasons; family, education, war, genocide and persecution, natural
disaster, employment, colonization.
15. The American public opposes immigration, and the debate in Congress
reflects that.

Although there are segments of society that are categorically against
immigration, governments need immigration due to foreign relations and
domestic production

Many companies are absolutely dependent on immigration.

Religious organizations want humane reform, companies economic reform,
governments want politically and economically viable reform

Pragmatic Government Strategy = Stomp your feet, talk tough, do nothing and
pass the issue on down the line.
16. The victory of Prop. 187 in California demonstrate that the public opposes
immigration.

The virulent political mobilization enflamed attitudes through rhetoric and
myth-building. Politicians took advantage and created an atmosphere of crisis.
17. Immigration is a problem.

Border patrols actually cause longer stays, settlement, human smuggling, rape,
assault, violence, familial abandonment, and xenophobia.

What are the social problems that immigrants cause in comparison?
18. Countries need to control who goes in and out.

There is little difference between citizens, documented, and undocumented
individuals (See Final Comparison below).
19. We need to protect our borders to prevent criminals and terrorists from
entering.

Terrorists are more likely of using legal channels of entry. Domestic terrorists
are more likely. (See Michigan militia groups, race-based hate groups, antigovernment groups; Oklahoma City, Fort Hood, IRS building attack)
20. If people break our laws by immigrating illegally, they are criminals and
should be deported.

Deportation not a cost effective or viable long-term solution.

Sociologists have found that the equation for undocumented entry is always (#
of attempts - # of apprehensions + 1).
21. These problems are so huge that nothing can be done.

Immigration was, is, and always be intertwined with economics.

Now, global economics will only increase the likelihood of creating a supranational, post-national, post-modern, system of humane regulation and control.

This entails a universal identification system with equal privilege/rights,
recognition/status, and responsibilities before an international law that
supersedes national bio-politics.
The Final Comparison!
Citizens
Documented
Undocumented
Could be terrorists
yes
yes
yes
Pay taxes and SS
most
most
most
Can draw SS
yes
yes/no
no
Help support the economy
yes
yes
yes
Have legal rights
yes
some
no
Accept jobs that are offered
yes
yes
yes
yes (most)
yes (less)
yes (least)
Like to live in US (most)
most
most
most
Are learning English
most
most
most
Collect welfare
yes
yes
yes
Strong Family Values
yes
yes
yes
Commit crimes
So is there any significant difference?!?
Suggested Readings on Immigration
A Puerto Rican Girl’s Sentimental Education
American History (in The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry)
Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream
Apple Pie and Enchiladas
Barefoot Heart
Beyond Smoke and Mirrors
Controlling Immigration: A Global Perspective
Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States
The Devil’s Highway
E Plurubus Unum?
Enrique’s Journey
Immigrants and Boomers
Into the Beautiful North
Italians Then, Mexicans Now
Just Like Us
Learning a New Land: Immigrant Students in American Society
Mayan Journeys
New Destinations
New Faces in New Places
Rethinking Migration
They Take Our Jobs! And 20 other Myths of Immigration