Immigration Fact Check

Immigration Fact Checks provide up-to-date information on the most current issues involving immigration today.

American Roots in the Immigrant Experience

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released data on the Latino population of the United States that underscores the extent to which the immigrant experience is embedded in the social (and political) fabric of the United States. The political significance of these statistics is apparent in the most recent IPC Fact Check. Latinos comprise the fastest-growing group of voters in the United States. The number of naturalized U.S. citizens is increasing rapidly and the electoral clout of New American voters who share a direct, personal connection to the immigrant experience—that is, naturalized citizens and the U.S.-born children of immigrants—is on the rise.  

Citizenship by the Numbers

Citizenship Day (September 17) is an appropriate time to take stock of the growing number of U.S. citizens who are immigrants to this country—or who are the children of immigrants. Roughly one-in-seventeen U.S. citizens are foreign-born, and tens of millions of native-born U.S. citizens have immigrant parents. This demographic reality has important political ramifications. A rising share of the U.S. electorate has a direct personal connection to the immigrant experience, and is unlikely to be favorably swayed by politicians who employ anti-immigrant rhetoric to mobilize supporters. This is particularly true among the two fastest-growing groups of voters in the nation: Latinos and Asians. The majority of Latinos and Asians are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, and they comprised one out of every ten voters in the 2008 election. (September 16, 2009)

The Truth about Costly Verification Systems, Unauthorized Immigrants and Health Care

As health care bills make their way through Congress, lawmakers are debating whether or not to include overly burdensome citizenship verification requirements to ensure that unauthorized immigrants do not have access to health insurance. However, past attempts to implement these kinds of additional measures have prevented U.S. citizens and legal immigrants from receiving health care, while uncovering very few instances of unauthorized immigrants trying to abuse the system. In fact, research shows that unauthorized immigrants do not come to the United States for health care benefits or any other public services for which they are not eligible. These additional measures threaten to ensnare far more citizens than unauthorized immigrants and add unecessary costs to health care reform. (September 30, 2009)

Newly Released Census Data Underscores Growing Power of Ethnic and Minority Voters

Voting data from the 2008 election, released in late July by the U.S. Census Bureau, illustrates the growing electoral power of minority voters. A comparison of Current Population Survey data on voters in the 2004 and 2008 elections reveals the extent to which the ranks of Latino, Asian, and black voters have increased in only four years. This data should serve as a demographic wake-up call to politicians that they cannot ignore the concerns of minority voters without paying a price at the polls. Take a look at this new IPC fact sheet that shows why political candidates should pay particular attention to the rapid rise of Latino and Asian voters in electorally pivotal states. (August 13, 2009)

A Comprehensive Guide to Immigration

The current immigration system is outdated and broken. Americans are justifiably frustrated and angry. The problem is complex, and a comprehensive, national solution is necessary. Politicians who suggest that the U.S. can deport its way out of the problem by removing 12 million people are unrealistic. The U.S. needs a fair, practical solution that addresses the underlying causes of undocumented immigration and creates a new, national legal immigration system for the 21st century. The Immigration Policy Center has produced "A Comprehensive Guide to Immigration," complete with the toughest questions on immigration as well as national and local immigration resources.

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10 Key Components for a Workable and Effective Electronic Employment Verification System

A key part of comprehensive immigration reform will no doubt be the implementation of an electronic employment-verification system (EEVS). Since EEVS affects every single person working in the United States - immigrants and citizens alike - is it important to consider several key areas that must be addressed to make such a system workable and effective. (July 23, 2009)

Health Care: Sharing the Costs, Sharing the Benefits

As policymakers debate the scope and form of the health care reform package, it is important to understand the role of immigrant participation in the current health care system. Misconceptions about immigrants and their participation in our health care system abound, the facts demonstrate that immigrants can and should contribute to any new program. It is both good policy and common sense to treat access to health insurance for all as an investment in the nation’s public health. This fact sheet provides basic analysis on the benefits of inclusion and the actual impact of immigrant participation on the current health care system. (July 22, 2009)