Anti-Immigration Rhetoric At Odds With Data

Much of the anti-immigration rhetoric coming from inside the Beltway and throughout the blogosphere makes it sound like the US is being over-run with immigrants -- both legal and illegal. But that's not what US Census data show. Moreover, how would our economy prosper with zero population growth?

Yes, the 1990s saw the largest number of legal immigrants -- in absolute numbers -- since the 1920s. But as a percentage of the population? It doesn't come close to that of the decade that kicked off the last century: 3.24 percent compared with 9.56 percent.

Even if we were to wave a magic wand -- and grant amnesty to the approximately 11 million illegal aliens currently living in the US -- "recent" immigrant population wouldn't touch that of the 1910 census, as a percentage of total population.

Something else the pundits aren't saying: our population is aging. By 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65. And demographers suggest a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman means zero population growth, which was the US rate in 2001. Non-Hispanic whites have the lowest fertility rate (1.8), well below the replacement rate necessary for zero population growth. How much of the angst is a majority ethnic group realizing it is on its way to minority status?

One more thing: the US economy resides soundly on increased consumption. Without population growth, how will the economy grow? Without population growth, who will care for aging boomers? Who will pay taxes to pay for today's growing national debt?

See also Specter Pledges to Complete Immigration Bill, Immigration in America: Protest & Support for HR 4437, The 2004 Bush Immigration Proposal.

Technorati Profile
Technorati tags: Immigration, Politics
gada.be tags: Immigration, Politics