With immigration playing a central role in the election, Servicios de La Raza wants to help dispel some of the wild statements, fearmongering, and outright lies being spewed about immigrants. Here is a short guide to help you be a more informed voter.
And remember, Migrants Make America Better!
CLAIM
“Illegal aliens are a drain on the economy and on government resources.”
FACTS
Undocumented migrants do some of the most dangerous, low-paying, and essential jobs in the country—jobs most Americans generally do not want. The Congressional Budget Office estimates new immigrants will add about $7 trillion dollars to our economy over the next decade, including about $1 trillion in tax revenues, and will help keep Social Security afloat. (Source: Inequality Media)
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CLAIM
“We are facing an invasion on our southern border.”
FACTS
Yes, in recent years the southern border saw a record-high number of people crossing into the U.S. without authorization, but that number has gone down significantly since January 2024. What’s more, migration patterns fluctuate due to several external factors, regardless of which political party is in office. (Source: NPR)
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CLAIM
“300,000 Americans have died from lethal fentanyl brought in by illegal immigrants.”
FACTS
Yes, much of America’s fentanyl is smuggled in from Mexico. However, 86.4% of fentanyl trafficking crimes were committed by U.S. citizens in the 12-month period through September 2023. (Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission)
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CLAIM
“Illegal immigrants are murdering, assaulting, and raping Americans every day.”
FACTS
Recent FBI data shows violent crime is declining nationwide. Moreover, a study published by the National Academy of Sciences, based on Texas Department of Public Safety data from 2012 to 2016, found people in the U.S. illegally had “substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses.” Immigrants, regardless of citizenship status, are 60% less likely to be incarcerated for committing crimes than U.S.-born citizens. Criminal behaviors have no one skin color or nationality associated with them, and to suggest otherwise is outright xenophobic and racist. (source: Inequality Media)
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