Immigrants, We Love You
So, I’ve been hearing what must be disinformation or misinformation. There can’t possibly be—no way, no how—people who want to force millions of immigrants out of our (and now their) country.
You don’t hear this enough, immigrants: You are one of the great strengths of our United States. The evidence is in. The history proves it. And so many U.S. presidents have sung your praises.
Our first president, George Washington, said, “I had always hoped that this land might become a safe and agreeable asylum to the virtuous and persecuted part of mankind, to whatever nation they might belong.”
President Ronald Reagan believed immigration was a key source of America’s strength and dynamism. In 1984, Reagan said, “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.”
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And according to President George W. Bush, “It says something about our country that people around the world are willing to leave their homes and leave their families and risk everything to come to America. Their talent and hard work and love of freedom have helped make America the leader of the world.”
You can find similar quotations from nearly every recent President – from John F. Kennedy to George H. W. Bush to Barack Obama. One reason is the positive influence immigrants have on our economy.
Immigrants Help Today’s Economy
On April 7 of last year NBC News’ Rob Wile reported that economists increasingly believe that the post-pandemic surge in immigration is a key reason the economy has been able to grow steadily without pushing inflation higher. The new arrivals have helped employers fill roles at levels of pay that have kept a lid on overall price growth.
In October 2024 the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank, called immigration a source of strength for the U.S. economy. EPI said immigration has great potential to boost the economy even more. “It is crystal clear that immigration expands U.S. gross domestic product and is good for growth. And immigration overall has led to better, not worse, wages and work opportunities for U.S.-born workers.” said the EPI researchers. The research report added that people who immigrate into the United States increase the economy’s stock of human capital and ideas, two crucial ingredients for long-run economic growth.
Other research says immigration leads to more innovation, a better educated workforce, greater occupational specialization, better matching of skills with jobs, and higher overall economic productivity. Immigration also has a net positive effect on combined federal, state, and local budgets.
Overwhelmingly, Americans Support Immigration
The global analytics and advisory firm, Gallup, reported in July 2025 that there’s a record- high 79% of U.S. adults who say immigration is a good thing for the country. And, why not? Immigrants fill labor shortages in critical sectors like agriculture, construction, and healthcare. They create new businesses at high rates–boosting productivity. Immigrants pay billions in taxes, support Social Security and Medicare, and increase consumer spending.
But that’s not all. Immigrants enrich American culture through diverse cuisines and contribute to vibrant, thriving communities. Immigrants, thank you for bringing America hamburgers (Germany) and doughnuts (Dutch settlers). Thanks for bringing kissing under the mistletoe (England) and jack-o’-lanterns (Ireland) for Halloween.
Dear immigrants, your positive influence on America’s business world is hard to overstate. Thank you and your children for founding more than 45% of Fortune 500 companies.
Immigrant founders started 52 percent of all new Silicon Valley companies between 1995 and 2005. Google was co-founded by an immigrant. Instagram, LinkedIn, DoorDash, Instacart, and Robinhood—all founded by immigrants. Journalist Adam Bluestein once wrote, “If immigrant America were a stock, you’d be an idiot not to buy it.”
Science & Art Masters
Three of the six U.S. winners in the 2025 Nobel Prize science categories immigrated to the United States, one of them as a teenager. That’s no fluke. Immigrants represent 28% of the American recipients of Nobel Prizes awarded in physics, chemistry, and medicine between 1901 and 2024.
Immigrants have made countless contributions to science, government, and art. Think Madeleine Albright, Isabel Allende, Irving Berlin, Liz Claiborne, Albert Einstein, Gloria Estefan, Enrico Fermi, Bob Hope, Vladimir Horowitz, Arianna Huffington, Freddie Mercury, Joseph Pulitzer, Ayn Rand, and (a favorite of mine) the Statue of Liberty.
Lady Liberty is French. She immigrated to New York on June 17, 1885. To make the transatlantic journey she was reduced to 350 pieces in 214 crates. She is the most monumental gift in American history, this French immigrant.
On the statue’s pedestal is the famous poem by a Portuguese, Sephardic Jewish poet and social activist, Emma Lazarus. Emma describes the statue as “a mighty woman with a torch.” Her poem says, “from her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome.” The Statue of Liberty is holding a torch to illuminate the pathway for immigrants.
Thank you, immigrants, for the great part you’ve played and continue to play in building America. Freedom, hope, and democracy will always make more room. Come, immigrants, come.
Chris John Amorosino lives in Unionville.
https://www.courant.com/2025/12/12/opinion-the-truth-about-immigrants-in-connecticut-and-everywhere/
