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Identity Politics in America

February 26, 2010

Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion

Immigration has benefitted America

When Benjamin Franklin said “A small leak can sink a great ship,” he may be alluding to the

immigrants, who once started to come to America would start a flurry. Centuries later, the face of

America is changing. The adventurer, the wanderer, the persecuted, the fortune seekers or whoever first

came to America must not have thought that this country would one day be shaped up by the immigrants.

The fading political and cultural borders and fortifying technological and communication innovation are

changing the way many people associate with identity and belong in this world. Coming to the age of

globalization, economic, political and cultural developments abound and so do new opportunities for

cultural and political identification and attachment. This sole superpower has become a kaleidoscope of

myriad ethnic and cultural groups. America is benefiting from the change.

The immigrants aid the economy. More than 34 million of the 300 million people in the US were

born in another country. Over 6 million immigrants have arrived to America since 2000. Overall, slightly

more than 1.1 million immigrants arrive in the US each year (Ebers 57). These immigrants include those

who come for employment, for living with their families, as refugees and even as undocumented

immigrants. These immigrants and their businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to US federal,

state and local governments. Even undocumented immigrants pay the same real estate taxes as others

immigrants which fund the majority of state and local costs of schooling and other services (Ebers 59).

12% of the fastest growing corporations in America include companies that were started by immigrants.

For instance, in Silicon Valley, California, companies that were started by Chinese and Indian immigrants

generated more than $19.5 billion in sales and nearly 73,000 jobs in 2000. Immigrants, thus, serve the

American economy ((Ebers 61). Further, they expand the demand for goods and services through
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consumption, demonstrate high rates of entrepreneurship which may lead to the creation of new jobs for

US workers, fill vital low and high skilled position in the labor markets, thus creating more opportunities

for Americans in subsidiary job opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of

jobs in America increased by 15 million between 1995 and 2000, which could be articulated to the

increase in number of immigrants between these years. The Bureau anticipates the creation of more than

33 million new jobs that require only moderate training between 2000 and 2010 (Ebers 61).

The immigrants also contribute to the economy by not using public benefits. E.g., they earn about

$240 billion a year, pay about $90 billion a year in taxes and use about $5 billion in public benefits. In

1994, immigrants and refugees paid approximately $28 million more in taxes that they consumed in

service (Ebers 60). Furthermore, the undocumented immigrants pay same taxes as citizens, but are afraid

to enjoy the same benefits from those taxes as do citizens even if they have higher poverty rates. The

payroll taxes contribute about $6-$7 billion in social security funds annually that they don’t claim (Ebers

59). Over their lifetimes, immigrants and their children each pay an average of $80,000 more in taxes that

they will receive in local, state and federal benefits combined (Ebers 60). All these unused benefits help

the US government save money. So, we can say they contribute to the economy be not making the

government spend money on them.

In 2002, the foreign-born made up only 11.3 percent of the US population, but 14 percent of the

labor force. In the 1990s, the labor force grew by 16.7 million workers, 6.4 million of which were

foreign-born (U.S. Immigration). A large number of immigrants have a higher chance to work in labor

force. Most immigrants come here with sufficient skills that help the US economic market in different

sectors. The wage level and standard of living for most native workers is higher than would exist if they

were not present. The presence of high concerntration of undocumented workers in the agricultural

industry also keeps the food prices relatively low (Immigration). Moreover, many immigrants come here

to fill jobs that Americans try to avoid. So, when immigrants are prevented from taking these jobs,

producers and consumers suffer from the consequences. A study done by a free market think tank, Cato
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Institute in 2009 found that legalization of low-skilled illegal resident workers in the US would result in a

net increase in US GDP of $180 billion over ten years (Eviatar).

Along with the growing economy, there is something else that immigrants are contributing to this

country and its people. Immigrants bring with them culture, values and identities. As more immigrants

arrive in the US and come from a broader range of places, the notion of America as a culturally

homogenous unit based largely on an Anglo-Saxon, Protestant heritage is difficult to sustain (Ebers 21).

What America is seeing is a growing religious diversity. Communities and neighborhoods have flourished

that reflect the identities of different countries. Mosques have sprung up alongside churches and

synagogues. Native students go to schools and colleges with their immigrant counterparts. There is a

religious and culture diversity like never before. The 1965 change in immigration laws allowed for an

influx of immigrants from all over the globe that has brought new religious communities like Muslims,

Sikhs and Hindus to this nation with a Judo-Christian tradition (Ebers 76). These religions are active

participants in political, public schools and social life. Similarly, the Blacks and Hispanic communities

that had limited rights in the past are rising showing their potential in communities and politics. Foreign

students who come to study to America bring with them intellectual, economic and culture benefits to

campuses and communities (Ebers 65). The population here learns about the heritage of the worlds

through food, culture, traditions and people without even stepping outside of the US. Almost every city

has Mexican restaurants and Chinese restaurants or Chinese markets. As a result, the American populace

gets to taste the culture, for which they would have to travel overseas otherwise. Besides, the immigrants

are less likely to cause trouble. A study released by the non-partisan research group The Public Policy

Institute of California immigrants, both legal and illegal, were ten times less likely to be incarcerated than

native born Americans (Preston). Since immigrants always have a fear to get deported back to their native

countries if found in crime, they are less likely to be involved in crimes.

The native countries where these immigrants come from also benefit from the rise in immigration

to America. A high degree of cultural and political and economic interconnectedness is feasible because

of the human movement. The technological advances that allow messages, ideas and symbols to travel
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vast distances more rapidly and inexpensively than ever before connect and bring more and more

populations together. While the global prominence of the American culture and the promise of economic

wealth pull immigrants countries all over the globe, these countries directly benefit by sending its people.

Remittances are received by developing countries that help these countries for infrastructures and

economy. Remittances received by developing countries exceeded $93 billion in 2003. For 36 of 153

developing countries, remittances are larger than all capital flows, both public and private. E.g., in

Mexico money sent home by Mexican emigrants in second only to oil that is an important source of the

country’s income. Money send by immigrants from the US help feed, house and educate their families in

their native countries (Ebers 21). Moreover, this remittance helps these developing countries to depend on

the global economy rather than building sustainable, local economies. Remittance flows to developing

countries reached $305 billion in 2008 compared to a revised $281 billion in 2007. In some countries like

Tajikistan, Moldova and Honduras, the remittances have the top share in their economies (Ratha). As

more and more people realize the American dream of enjoying equal rights, having personal freedom and

ensuring safety or security for one’s self and family, they take these values to their native countries and as

a result this aids in globalization. More and more countries are sharing this global phenomenon and the

physical boundaries are making less and less sense since the trends, culture and values in one country are

traversing borders. Not just that, immigration to America also helps the countries that are affected by

turmoil because of political instability and gives a channel to make money and help their countries.

Meanwhile, globalization is reconfiguring the way people identify and belong in the world. They are

holding multiple identities as a citizen of one country and a native of the other. As a result, their

connectedness and intimacy is for more than one nation.

However, some might argue that with the rise in natives of other countries coming to America,

the notion of America as a culturally single unit is being affected and America is losing the sense of

nationalism. However, America had always had people of different origins. The multiplicities of cultures

that coexist now make this country more and more vibrant. Although there are some groups and theories

that believe that the influx of foreigners brings about more problems to the US ranging from economic to
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social and political. However, this country takes pride in the US heritage as a nation of immigrants.

Immigrants have done things in this country which natives might not have done by themselves. The skills,

knowledge and time that immigrants contribute to America aid America in its own development and the

development of other countries. The contributions done by immigrants can’t be ruled out. Although, the

number of immigrants coming to the US should be systemized and made efficacious at the time of ailing

economy and hysteria brought about by it, the immigration has been benefiting this nation. Along with

that the culture, the people and the world have benefitted. The issue of stopping immigration would mean

stopping globalization and affecting the global economy.

America is at a cusp of change with the immigrants taking part in significant sectors of societies,

politics and economy. Coming from diverse cultural, religious, linguistic, racial, historical and

geographical backgrounds, hard work done by immigrants have made significant changes in America and

the world. America provides an environment and these immigrants provide the necessary ingredients and

serve its people and the world. Countries are no longer the way they used to be. People are no longer the

way they used to be and hold multiple identities and hold attachment to more than one country. America

has helped in economic, political and cultural developments along with new opportunities for cultural and

political identification and attachment. Coming to this point, America has benefitted. The concern now is

not about what to do with immigration, but what to do with the changes brought about by it.
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Works Cited
Ebers, Valerie M., and Manochehr Dorraz. Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion. New York: Oxford UP,

2010. Print.

Eviatar, Daphne. "CATO Institute Finds $180 Billion Benefit to Legalizing Illegal Immigrants." The Washington

Independent. The American Independent News Network, 14 Aug. 2009. Web. 27 Feb. 2010.

<http://washingtonindependent.com/55152/cato-institute-finds-180-billion-benefit-to-legalizing-illegal-

immigrants>.

"Immigration Policy Issues." News Batch: Your Internet Guide to an Understanding of Policy Issues. NewsBatch,

July 2007. Web. 27 Feb. 2010. <http://www.newsbatch.com/immigration.htm>.

Preston, Julia. "California: Study of Immigrants and Crime." New York Times [New York] 26 Feb. 2008. Print.

Ratha, Dilip. "Remittance flows to developing countries are estimated to exceed $300 billion in 2008 | A blog

about migration, remittances, and development." People Move. World Bank, 18 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Feb.

2010. <http://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/remittance-flows-to-developing-countries>.

"U.S. Immigration and Economic Growth: Putting Policy on Hold - Southwest Economy, Issue 6, 2003 - FRB

Dallas." Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Nov. & dec. 2003. Web. 27

Feb. 2010. <http://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2003/swe0306a.html>.