The truth about immigration vs. MAGA Lies

The TRUTH about immigration and the MAGA LIES that will flood your timeline with hate and fear-mongering. Stay informed and know the facts.

On average, undocumented immigrants contribute more in taxes than they consume in public benefits. In 2022, these taxpayers contributed nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Their tax dollars help to fund programs that we rely on, like Social Security and Medicare—programs that they cannot claim.

Granting work permits and providing an eventual pathway to citizenship would increase their tax contributions by $40.2 billion annually to $136.9 billion.

Immigrants pay more than their fair share of taxes, unlike many CEOs and certain politicians.

Immigrants are job creators, not takers. Immigrants create new jobs by opening new businesses, buying homes, and spending their incomes on American goods. In fact, nearly 45% of the 2023 Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. These large American companies employ more than 14.8 million people worldwide. Not to mention other immigrant-owned businesses like corner delis, restaurants, high-tech startups, and other businesses that boost the economy and create new jobs.

Contrary to MAGA rhetoric, immigration does not push U.S. workers out of their jobs—research shows that! In fact, immigration boosts wages for all workers, particularly for Black and Latino workers.

Immigrants come to the U.S. for a better future, eager to work and contribute to their communities. Getting into trouble would jeopardize their future and dreams. That may be why immigrants have the lowest crime rates in the U.S. Study after study shows that undocumented immigrants are not more prone to crime. Despite claims from MAGA politicians blaming immigrants for the fentanyl crisis, the reality is that the majority of those smuggling fentanyl are, in fact, U.S. citizens.

By embracing immigrants’ contributions and focusing on the real issues, we can build a stronger, safer, and more united nation for all Americans.

We all want to address the humanitarian crisis at our borders, but a wall and an enforcement-only approach put lives in danger and waste billions of taxpayer dollars. This cost doesn’t even begin to account for the resulting devastation to communities, small businesses, and local economies or the separation of American families.

The people arriving at our borders are mothers, fathers, and families seeking safety and escaping life-threatening situations. They must be given a fair opportunity to apply for asylum–it is their legal right.

That’s why real solutions include properly staffing asylum offices and immigration courts so applications can be processed more efficiently and providing work permits to eligible individuals quickly so they can work and become self-sufficient sooner. Real solutions also include a pathway to citizenship for the millions of people who have lived here for decades, raising American families and contributing to the economy.

Updates to our outdated immigration system must be humane, orderly, and treat everyone with dignity.

For the vast majority of long settled immigrants in the U.S., there is no “line” available to apply for citizenship even though most have lived here for over a decade, working hard, paying taxes, and contributing to our communities and the U.S. economy.

However, for people who want to join their family in the U.S. and wait in the so-called “line”, USCIS backlogs keep people waiting for decades, or for some, more than a lifetime. Sadly, some people have passed away before being able to reunite with their loved ones in the U.S.

Without action from Congress, many could live their entire lives in the U.S. without the opportunity to become U.S. citizens.

There are already laws in place that make it illegal for noncitizens to vote in U.S. federal elections. Besides, there is no real evidence to support MAGA rhetoric that large numbers of noncitizens are casting ballots. Election officials work year-round to ensure the integrity and security of our elections. Republican-led efforts to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote would actually prevent many U.S. citizens—eligible voters—from exercising their right to vote.

In fact, U.S. citizens of color would be more impacted by these requirements. Studies show that voters of color are more likely than white voters to not have, or not be able to quickly access, citizenship documents. Think about older Americans and Black Americans, particularly in the South, who are more likely to have been born outside of a hospital and may not have automatically received a birth certificate.

So, why are so many Republicans touting these false claims? They’re setting the stage to claim voter fraud when elections don’t go their way. We saw this on January 6, when false claims of a stolen election led to an attack on the U.S. Capitol and our democracy.

Requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote would do nothing but prevent U.S. citizens from exercising their right to vote. We should be making it easier, not harder, for eligible voters to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.