In times of crisis , people tend to look toward immigrants as the source of their problems — here are the facts to debunk today ’s most pervasive anti - immigrant myths .

Taken during the in-migration border district on May 1st , 2007 in San Diego , California . Image Source : Flickr / Michael Righi

As the slipstream for the Republican Party presidential nominating address step on it up , one topic has consistently reverberated across TV and online tidings channels : migration . From Donald Trump ’s plan to build a paries across the entire U.S.-Mexico border ( and make Mexico pay for it ) to theslew of conservative politiciansmotioning to keep Syrian refugees out of the U.S. , it ’s clear that migration is a field of study in which rhetoric can roll far from realness . Here are six migration myths being pushed by public figure , and why they are just manifestly wrong :

Migration Myths Hard Workers

Taken during the immigration march on May 1st, 2007 in San Diego, California. Image Source: Flickr/Michael Righi

1 . They slip our jobsThe facts : This is one of the most common myths about migration , and it is patently false . Many studies over the years have show that migrants actuallycreatejobs through starting new businesses and their substantial buying top executive . According toNewsweek , so - call ‘ illegals ’ “ do take jobs , but they also create more job for Americans . They utilize some societal service , but a lot of that is offset by how much they pump into the thriftiness . ”

far-famed chef and telly boniface Anthony Bourdaindebunkedthis myth himself when he explained how Trump ’s idea of exile the 11 million undocumented migrants would negatively impact the restaurant manufacture . The survey are his own words , after 30 years of working in restaurants :

“ Twenty of those year in this business I was an employer , I was a handler / employer . Never , in any of those years , not once , did anyone walk into my restaurant — any American - stand kidskin — walk into my restaurant and say I ’d like a job as a night gatekeeper or a dish washer . Even a preparation cook — few and far between . They ’re just not willing to start up at the bottom like that . ”

Migration Myths Terrorists

Protesters in Dallas, Texas, March 2006. Image Source: Flickr/Claudia A. De La Garza

2 . They come for detached schools and wellness careThe facts : First of all , as non - U.S. citizen , immigrant are not even eligible for many of the benefit that some think they “ steal , ” such as food for thought stamps and Medicaid . Every ware an immigrant purchases in the United States has taxes add to it , meaning that migrants — “ legal ” or not — help advertise the solvency of programs which they can not use .

Likewise , documented migrants also contribute to these broadcast through paysheet taxes . According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in anApril 2015 report card ,

“ The 11.4 million undocumented immigrant currently living in the United States collectively   pay up $ 11.84 billion   in State Department and local taxes in 2012 .   ITEP ’s analysis regain their combine countrywide state and local revenue enhancement donation would increase by   $ 845 million   under full implementation of the disposal ’s 2012 and 2014 executive actions and by   $ 2.2 billion   under comprehensive in-migration reform . ”

Migration Myths Border Crossing

One of the border crossings between Mexico and the U.S.Flickr

As the institute ’s executive music director said , “ The fact is , undocumented immigrant already are paying zillion in revenue enhancement to DoS and local governments , and if they are allow to work in the land de jure , their res publica and local revenue enhancement contributions will increase importantly . ”

3 . They bring crimeThe fact : According to areportby the American Immigration Council , “ Even as the undocumented universe has doubled to 12 million since 1994 , the violent criminal offense rate in the United States has declined 34.2 percent and the belongings criminal offence rate has fall 26.4 percentage . ” In a 2015 article byNewsweek , an author writes that “ other than their irreverence of immigration law , these ‘ illegals ’ commit far fewer crimes per capita than lesser civilise , native - bear Americans . ”

Protesters in Dallas , Texas , March 2006 . figure of speech origin : Flickr / Claudia A. De La Garza

4 . They erode our valuesThe facts : First of all , “ time value ” is a spongelike term . Before discussing them , we want to acknowledge the fact that value are inherently elastic , which means that they change over clip , often for the good . Before 1920 , for example , traditional American value said that cleaning lady should not — and therefore could not — vote . as well , values - base argument often helped continue policies of racial segregation well into the twentieth century . If wearegoing to proceed with values - based arguments , though , the fact is that Hispanic migrants in the United States tend to come from land whose “ traditional values ” are quite conservative given their close , historical connection with the Catholic Church .

5 . They do n’t need to see EnglishThe fact : TheAmerican Immigration Councilreported that within ten years of arriver , 75 percent of immigrant utter English well . too , while an overpowering majority of immigrant to the United States do not talk English at dwelling house , a recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center show that 57 percent of Latinos believe that immigrant have to speak English to be a part of American company . Furthermore , the poll found that Latinoimmigrants , not indigene - bear Latinos , were more probable to say that immigrants have to take English .

6 . Almost all of them are here illegallyThe facts : The U.S. Department of Homeland Securityhas notedthat around 75 percent of today ’s immigrant have legal lasting ( immigrant ) visa . Of the 25 percent that are undocumented , 40 per centum outstay irregular ( non - immigrant ) visas . too , as Ezra Klein point out in aWashington Postpiece , it ’s actually rigorous border control condition that have encouraged “ illegal ” immigration , not the other agency around .

One of the border ford between Mexico and the U.S.Flickr