Page 47 - LIN.NOVEMBER17WEB

More
importantly, how

can we together
maximize the

power, diversity, all. Most undocumented immigrants
“Immigration is not one size fits
culture, richness, cannot simply ‘get legal’ and ‘be a

and economic citizen’ by filling out paperwork or
During the same time, five paying a fee.
million German immigrants advantage
populated the Midwest • The right way to immigrate was at
of being a
including Milwaukee, St. one time to simply show up. Processing
Louis, and Cincinnati, creating at Ellis Island involved health
the industrial engine of our welcoming inspections and naturalization.
nation? • Many of our ancestors would not have qualified under
nation. In the 2000 national
census, more Americans today’s immigration laws.
claimed German ancestry than • Many European immigrants benefited from ‘amnesty’ such
any other group. as the 1929 Registry Act.
Interestingly, attitudes including xenophobia are not new. Research has shown that immigrants are more likely to
“The influx of newcomers resulted in anti-immigrant sentiment start businesses, grow the economy, and have an overall positive
among certain factions of America’s native-born, predominantly impact on long-run economic growth. If mass deportation
Anglo-Saxon Protestant population,” according to an article were enacted, as some have suggested, U.S. Gross Domestic
on immigration written before 1965. “The new arrivals were Productivity would drop by $1.6 trillion.
often seen as unwanted competition for jobs, while many Annually, undocumented immigrants pay an estimated
Catholics— especially the Irish—experienced discrimination for $11.64 billion in state and local taxes, and pay $13 billion into
their religious beliefs. In the 1850s, the anti-immigrant, anti- the Social Security fund without being able to receive Social
Catholic American Party (also called the Know-Nothings) tried Security benefits.
to severely curb immigration, and even ran a candidate, former A border would be ineffective in restricting immigration as
U.S. president Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), in the presidential an estimated 40% of all undocumented immigrants were visa
election of 1856.” holders, which means they entered the country legally.
Starting in 1880 and for the next forty years, America received It has also been shown that immigrants commit less crime
more than twenty million immigrants including my mother than the native-born population. Immigrants are less likely
and grandparents. Again religious persecution motivated two than native-born to be behind bars. Higher immigration is
million Jews from Eastern Europe to leave their previously stable, associated with lower crime rates. Between 1990 and 2013, the
productive, and comfortable lives behind. Six hundred thousand foreign-born share of the U.S. population increased from 7.9%
Italians migrated during the same time, bringing skills, culture, to 13.1% and the number of unauthorized immigrants increased
and intellect to a growing melting pot whose children and from 3.5 million to 11.2 million. During the same period, the
grandchildren now have the opportunity to welcome other new violent crime rate declined 48%—which included falling rates
waves of contributors to America. of aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and murder. The property
With the two World Wars, Great Depression, the 1959 crime rate fell 41%, including declining rates of motor vehicle
Communist revolution in Cuba, and other political events as theft, larceny/robbery, and burglary.”
motivation, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act In conclusion, many hard-working immigrants transformed
in 1965 allowing Americans to sponsor relatives. Today, Asia and themselves to successful, affluent citizens with hard work,
Latin America dominate our incoming immigration populations. hardship, sacrifice and the goal of living the American dream.
Immigration has always been stressful and controversial. We can be jealous, competitive, and xenophobic; but a better
Nonetheless, we would not be as productive and successful as we attitude would be for each of us to celebrate, emulate, and
currently are without people “Coming to America, TODAY”— assimilate the positive “can-do” attitude of the pioneers,
Neil Diamond’s 1981 classic capturing an inspirational spirit. explorers, and risk-takers who came before us and share these
attributes with our next generation.
“Define American?” shares referenced facts in #FactsMatter: After all is said and done, almost all of us have descended
Immigration Explained (https://download.defineamerican. from immigrants who made better lives for themselves, their
com/2017/02/170223-Fact-Sheet.pdf) excerpted next: families, and America.

Life in Naples | November 2017 47