Title: 4 myths about how immigrants affect the U.S. economy | PBS NewsHour
Headings: 4 myths about how immigrants affect the U.S. economy
4 myths about how immigrants affect the U.S. economy
READ MORE: Trump retweets false claim on immigrant aid
Myth #1: Immigrants take more from the U.S. government than they contribute
Fact: Immigrants contribute more in tax revenue than they take in government benefits
WATCH:Proposed immigration policy penalizes legal residents for use of public benefits
Undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $11.6 billion a year in taxes.
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Myth #2: Immigrants take American jobs
Fact: Immigrants workers often take jobs that boost other parts of the economy
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Myth #3: The U.S. economy does not need immigrants
Fact: Immigrants are key to offsetting a falling birth rate
Myth #4: It would be better for the economy if immigrants’ children were not citizens
Fact: Children with citizenship are more productive workers
Gretchen Frazee
Gretchen Frazee
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Content: “There is a little bit of a stigma in applying for welfare because they have come here to work, to support their families,” Peri said. Immigrants can be a financial burden to state and local governments through the cost of sending their children to public school — something Trump mentioned Thursday. But Trump’s claim ignored a critical point. Educating those children has economic benefits later down the road when they get better-paying jobs and, in turn, pay higher taxes. Myth #2: Immigrants take American jobs
Fact: Immigrants workers often take jobs that boost other parts of the economy
Immigrants make up 17 percent of the U.S. labor force, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but few experts believe they’re taking jobs from Americans, as Trump claims. “Most economists agree that in spite of being a very big part of the labor force, immigrants have not come at the cost either of American jobs, nor of American wages,” Peri, the UC Davis professor, said. The reason is that immigrants often have jobs that Americans tend not to take. So instead of competing with Americans’ for work, immigrants tend to complement American workers.