Immigration

Immigration. It’s a topic that ignites passion, confusion, and often division. These days, the word “immigrant” can split a room in half and not always politely. 

But here’s the truth: whether documented or undocumented, immigrants have always been part of the American story. They’ve built railroads, harvested crops, launched companies, cared for families—not just their own—and they’ve done all this while paying billions in taxes.

1. Immigration
2. Nation of immigrants
3. Timeline of immigration policy
4. Who benefits from all these immigration reforms?
5. Today's undocumented labor.
6. How the US benefited from immigrants.
7. How to Fix it?

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References:
Center for American Progress
“The Economic Benefits of Passing the Dream and Promise Act” (2021)
➤ Shows legalization of undocumented immigrants could increase U.S. GDP by $1.7 trillion over 10 years.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/economic-benefits-passing-dream-promise-act/

Pew Research Center
“Facts on U.S. Immigrants” (2024)
➤ Provides updated estimates of the undocumented population (~10.5 million) and their demographics.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/11/02/5-facts-about-u-s-immigrants/

Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP)
“Undocumented Immigrants’ State & Local Tax Contributions” (2017)
➤ Shows undocumented immigrants contribute over $11 billion in state and local taxes.
https://itep.org/undocumented-immigrants-state-local-tax-contributions-2/

U.S. Department of Labor – National Agricultural Workers Survey
➤ Indicates 50–70% of farmworkers are undocumented.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/national-agricultural-workers-survey

Migration Policy Institute
“Immigrant Health-Care Workers in the United States” (2021)
➤ Foreign-born workers represent a significant portion of U.S. doctors, nurses, and STEM professionals.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigrant-health-care-workers-united-states

Department of Homeland Security – Entry/Exit Overstay Report (2020)
➤ Most new undocumented immigrants are visa overstays, not border crossers.
https://www.dhs.gov/publication/entryexit-overstay-report

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
➤ Explains employment-based green card quotas (140,000 annually including dependents).
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers

National Foundation for American Policy
“Immigrant Entrepreneurs and U.S. Billion-Dollar Companies” (2022)
➤ Immigrants founded over 55% of billion-dollar U.S. startups.
https://nfap.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Immigrant-Founders-of-Billion-Dollar-Companies.NFAP-Policy-Brief.July-2022.pdf

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
“U.S. Immigration Policy: Chart Book of Key Trends” (Updated 2023)
➤ Offers a comprehensive overview of immigration policy history and trends.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42988

U.S. Department of Justice – Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
➤ Reports on immigration court backlog, which exceeds 1 million cases.
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1412106/download

U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
“Annual Report of the Immigration and Naturalization Service” (1954)
➤ Official report documenting the scale of Operation Wetback and the number of deportations.
https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/historic-annual-reports

Library of Congress – U.S. Immigration Legislation Online
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter Act)
➤ Details the legal framework that criminalized unauthorized entry and enabled mass deportations.
https://guides.loc.gov/immigration-legislation

Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of American History
“Operation Wetback: A Tragic History of Deportation”
➤ Overview of Operation Wetback and its social/humanitarian consequences.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/operation-wetback

University of Texas Press – Kelly Lytle Hernández
“Migra! A History of the U.S. Border Patrol” (2010)
➤ Deep dive into the history and racial motivations behind U.S. immigration enforcement, including Operation Wetback.
https://utpress.utexas.edu/9780292718592/

PBS – Latino Americans Documentary Series
Episode: “Prejudice and Pride”
➤ Includes firsthand accounts of deportations and family separations under Operation Wetback.
https://www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/episode-guide/

Migration Policy Institute
“Immigration Enforcement in the United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery” (2013)
➤ Provides historical context and data for enforcement policies including Operation Wetback.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigration-enforcement-united-states-rise-formidable-machinery