Debunking 7 MAGA Myths On Immigration

Arming you with knowledge to fight back against xenophobia & bigotry

Did you know that seven of the 39 signers of the Declaration of Independence were immigrants? Unfortunately today, political rhetoric has successfully demonized immigrants with misinformation and disinformation. Politicians (Trump) often repeat the same tired accusations about immigrants, claiming they bring crime, drugs, diseases, and economic burdens. However, each of these accusations is not just misleading, it's outright false. And it is is important we tackle these common lies and debunk them with facts—because that’s how we build a stronger, safer, and healthier America. Below I debunk 7 of the most common anti-immigrant myths.

Let’s Address This.

Creator: Darren Hauck | Credit and Copyright: 2017 Getty Images

Myth 1: "Immigrants bring crime to this country."

Fact: Immigrants actually make communities safer. According to research, including a study from Northwestern University that looked at 150 years of crime data, immigrants—both documented and undocumented—have always had lower crime rates than U.S. citizens. The myth that immigrants increase crime has been disproven time and time again. In reality, immigrants contribute to more stable, law-abiding communities.

Myth 2: "Immigrants bring drugs & fentanyl into the U.S."

Fact: The majority of drugs, including fentanyl, are smuggled into the United States by U.S. citizens, not immigrants. More than 80% of these drugs enter through legal ports of entry and are brought in by U.S. citizens. Blaming immigrants for the drug crisis not only ignores the facts but also prevents meaningful solutions to stop the horrific death toll inflicted upon Americans via the opioid epidemic.

Myth 3: “Immigrants are lazy and collect welfare.”

Most immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are ineligible for federal public benefits such as welfare, food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). According to U.S. law, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) must wait at least five years before they can access these benefits. Undocumented immigrants and certain temporary visa holders are entirely ineligible for most federal welfare programs.

Myth 4: "Immigrants are taking our jobs."

Fact: America is suffering a massive labor shortage. Far from “stealing jobs,” immigrants are filling that critical labor shortages. Study after study shows that immigrants help boost the economy, and their presence in the workforce increases wages for all workers, both U.S. citizens and immigrants alike. As a detailed study by the National Bureau of Economic Research reports:

Immigration, thanks to native-immigrant complementarity and college skill content of immigrants, had a positive and significant effect between +1.7 to +2.6\% on wages of less educated native workers, over the period 2000-2019 and no significant wage effect on college educated natives. We also calculate a positive employment rate effect for most native workers. Even simulations for the most recent 2019-2022 period suggest small positive effects on wages of non-college natives and no significant crowding out effects on employment.

Instead of displacing American workers, immigrants are essential to the functioning of industries like agriculture, construction, and healthcare, which struggle with labor shortages.

Myth 5: "Immigrants bring diseases into the U.S."

Fact: Immigrants have higher vaccination rates than U.S. citizens. So not only are they less likely to carry diseases, they are also more likely to help prevent the spread of illnesses. This myth is particularly dangerous because it perpetuates xenophobic stereotypes, when in reality, immigrants often contribute to healthier communities.

Myth 6: "Immigrants don’t pay taxes & that hurts the economy.”

Fact: Immigrants significantly contribute to the U.S. economy. In total, immigrant households earn nearly $2.1 trillion annually, pay about $400 billion in federal taxes, and contribute nearly $200 billion in state and local taxes. This includes undocumented immigrants, who contribute nearly $97 billion each year in taxes. Over the next decade, immigrants are projected to add $7 trillion to the U.S. economy. Not only do immigrants pay far more taxes than all of America’s billionaires, they also grow the economy by several orders of magnitude.

Myth 7: "Immigrants hurt American innovation."

Fact: Immigrants have long been drivers of American entrepreneurship and innovation. Did you know that 44% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children? That’s 224 of the most successful companies in America today! These companies create jobs, stimulate growth, and solidify the U.S. as a leader in the global economy. Millions of Americans are employed today, most of whom are U.S. citizens, due to immigrant ingenuity. Instead of stifling economic progress, immigrants are at the forefront of ensuring our economic success.

Conclusion

No one is claiming that the U.S. immigration system is perfect. However, the facts are clear—immigrants make our country safer, healthier, and stronger economically. Rather than falling for political propaganda that demonizes immigrants, we should focus on meaningful immigration reform that maximizes public safety, economic growth, and public health.

Those who ignore the facts and refuse to acknowledge the essential role immigrants play in our nation, reveal much about their own character—or lack thereof. If you were misled about immigrants and immigration, it’s okay to admit you were misled. But you also have the opportunity to rectify that wrong, and join together with those committed to building a fair, just, and effective immigration system and continue advancing American growth and success.

As the saying goes: “Immigrants, we get the job done.”