The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put up a website giving what it calls “10 Immigration Facts Everyone Can Agree To.” The so-called facts are both falsehoods and half-truths. Here is their #5:
U.S. Chamber’s Myth: “Immigrants hurt communities that are struggling economically.”
U.S. Chamber’s Fact: “Immigrants have economically revitalized many communities throughout the country.”
FAIR’s Fact:
A distinction has to be made as to whom you are talking about. There are high-earning immigrants who are an economic benefit to any community, however unemployed and underemployed Americans are often adversely affected by mass illegal and legal immigration – which hurts struggling communities. Illegal aliens almost always represent a fiscal burden on a community, especially if they have children in public schools, and if their children are born in the United States and are eligible for welfare benefits. The Senate legislation backed by the U.S. Chamber (S.744) would put the estimated 12 million illegal residents on a path to gaining the same welfare benefits as those U.S.-born children. In addition, the experience of the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens clearly demonstrated that the amnesty led to an increase in illegal immigration.