Rep. Jayapal: ‘We Should Be Talking About the Fact That Immigrants Are Good for the Country and Good for Our Economy’

EXCERPT:

JAYAPAL: “We should be talking about the fact that immigrants are good for the country and good for our economy. One in four American doctors were born abroad, and roughly 45 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants. 70 percent of agricultural workers are immigrants. Immigrants feed us, heal us, and help ensure that this country remains an economic powerhouse. We could be embracing the positive impacts of immigrants rather than demonizing them. The Congressional Budget Office recently announced that new immigrants will add $1 trillion in previously unexpected revenue to our country’s GDP between 2023 and 2024. Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services found that over a 15-year period, asylees and refugees contributed nearly $124 billion more in revenue than they received in services from the government.”