11 Facts About American Immigrants

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Statue of Liberty
  1. The politically correct term for a foreign worker is undocumented worker not illegal immigrants.
    According to the American Civil Liberties Union, no human being is illegal or without basic human rights.
  2. The DREAM ACT is not a free pass for undocumented students. The Senate's proposed bill called Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors is aimed at sending undocumented immigrants to college. However, there are many stipulations like:
    • The bill provides conditional permanent residency, not citizenship.
    • The candidate must have arrived in the US as a minor and has lived here for at least 5 years.
    • The candidate must have graduated from an American high school or received a GED.
    • He or she must be of "good oral character" (i.e. no criminal record).
  3. Immigration helps American-born workers. According to a White House study, immigrants compliment the American-born population. As Americans become older and more educated, younger immigrants provide the lower-skilled labor needed.
  4. Becoming a citizen costs money. Just to apply for citizenship costs over $600 per person.
  5. Marrying a U.S. Citizen doesn't make you a U.S. Citizen. An immigrant cannot even qualify to become a citizen unless he or she has been married to and living with the U.S. citizen for three years.
  6. 8% of babies born in America in 2009 had at least one parent who was an unauthorized immigrant.
  7. Latino immigrants learn English. 88% of U.S.-born adults (including second generation immigrants) report that they speak English very well, and 67% of all Latino immigrants report that they speak at least some English at work.
  8. The test to become a citizen involves four sections.
    • Speaking English.
    • Reading English.
    • Writing English.
    • American Civics.

    There are exceptions. For instance, if an elderly person has lived here long enough, he or she can take just the civics test in his or her native language.

  9. Mexican immigrants account for the majority of both legal immigrants and unauthorized immigrants.
  10. Immigrants pay taxes. According to a study form the University of Chicago, legal immigrants pay income taxes but are not eligible for income benefits like Social Security. Additionally, all types of immigrants pay sales tax and real estate tax like everyone else.
  11. Incarceration rates are lower for immigrants than for their native-born counterparts. That's because immigrants are less likely to commit crimes.

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