Mark Krikorian, Center for Immigration Studies: Mass Immigration vs. Modern Society

In earlier periods of our history, when we were settling the land and industrializing, mass immigration had real costs, but they were outweighed by the benefits. It’s the opposite today – mass immigration today still has upsides, but the downsides are piling up. It's not that today's immigrants themselves are the problem – they're not all that different from those of the past. But we are different. We have a post-industrial, knowledge-based economy, a large welfare state, globalized travel and communications, and a post-patriotic leadership class. Some of these features of modern society are good, others bad. But they add up to a general problem that can be summed up in one sentence: Modern America has outgrown mass immigration. Mark Krikorian, a nationally recognized expert on immigration issues, has served as Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) since 1995. The Center, an independent, non-partisan research organization in Washington, D.C., examines and critiques the impact of immigration on the United States. Animated by a pro-immigrant, low-immigration vision which seeks fewer immigrants but a warmer welcome for those admitted, the Center was established in 1985 to respond to the need for reliable, fact-based research in the immigration area. For additional resources, event details and full speaker bio visit: Point/Counterpoint is a two-part series offered by the Akron Roundtable in which speakers help create a public dialogue around important topics. These luncheons will occur in subsequent months, with a different viewpoint being explored on the same topic each month. The goal of these luncheons is to help people learn from each other, foster civil discourse, and build relationships.