The unfortunate backlash against immigrants tends to belittle newcomers to the country as a drag on the economy and an imposition on residents of longer standing. This dismissal of the immensely varied ranks of new and future Americans is unjust to the great majority, and is simply mistaken.
The upsurge of feeling against immigrants is an outgrowth of recession and stubbornly high rates of unemployment, as well as resentment of widespread violation of U.S. borders and immigration laws. In the economic realm, the newly arrived are seen as competing for scarce jobs, and as worsening local and state budget problems by requiring tax-supported services.
A new report by the state Senate Office of Research includes census data that might surprise some who view the flow of immigrants with alarm. The foreign-born who arrived in California between 1980 and 1990 are not much more likely to be on public assistance (4.8 percent) than U.S.-born residents who have lived in the state since before 1985 (4.1 percent).
The recent immigrants tend to be younger, so only 1.5 percent draw Social Security benefits, compared to 13 percent of the long-term U.S.-born Californians. These foreign-born are working to support Social Security for native-born recipients.
Immigrants do fill schools with their children. But they also work and pay taxes. Rather than play on the myth of the dependent immigrant, politicians should concentrate on helping eager new Americans make their greatest potential contribution to the country’s future.
