Combatting Disinformation

Disinformation and hateful rhetoric about immigrants and refugees are everywhere…on social media, in political speeches, on the news, and beyond.

At Global Refuge, we know the truth: immigrants and refugees make the United States a better place. Not only is welcoming newcomers the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.

Myth vs. Facts

Debunking Common Misconceptions about Immigrants & Refugees in the U.S.

Myth: Most immigrants are coming to the United States illegally.

Fact: Regardless of someone’s manner of entry, seeking asylum is a legal right – and more than that, it’s a cornerstone of U.S. and international law. Each year, tens of thousands of people migrate to the U.S. via the refugee resettlement program, through work visas, to reunite with family, and more. Of those who come through the Southern border, approximately 92% were apprehended or turned themselves in to Border Control to begin their asylum cases.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants take American jobs.

Fact: With nearly 8.5 million unfilled jobs nationwide and at a time of record-low unemployment, immigrants are essential to filling in the gaps in the American workforce. Immigrants are also more likely to contribute to job creation than displacement, with more than 55% of the country’s billion-dollar startups founded by immigrants.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants don’t pay taxes and are a drain on our nation’s resources.

Fact: Refugees and asylees contribute significantly to U.S. communities at the federal, state, and local level—both economically and culturally. Refugees and asylees contributed an estimated $581 billion in revenue to the U.S. economy from 2005 to 2019, and, in some cases, they pay into Social Security without reaping its benefits. Most importantly, they are our doctors and nurses, our well-known chefs, our favorite musicians, our overnight construction workers, our local shop owners, our neighbors, and so much more.

Myth: Immigrants and refugees are not authorized to work.

Fact:

Refugees, people seeking asylum, and immigrants entering the country on certain visas are able to obtain legal work permits. What’s more, foreign-born workers made up 18.6% of the civilian labor force in 2023. Immigrants are an essential part of the American workforce.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants are unskilled workers.

Fact: Immigrants and refugees in the United States fill essential positions at all levels of skill. Immigrants are farmworkers, hospitality workers, doctors, nurses, computer programmers, educators, architects, logistics specialists, emergency services staff, and much more. The United States depends on those contributions at all levels; in 2021, for example, nearly 2.8 million immigrants worked in healthcare in the U.S. — accounting for about 18% of the sector and serving in countless different positions. Of those in upper-wage occupations, around 75% of immigrants work either in IT, management, or finance, and most serve in high-ranking, high-skilled positions such as software developers or CEOs. No matter their level of work, immigrants make the U.S. stronger and more productive.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants are responsible for bringing drugs into the country.

Fact: The vast majority of immigrants who cross the border immediately present themselves to authorities to seek asylum. There is virtually no reason for someone seeking asylum to simultaneously be attempting to smuggle in drugs, thereby threatening their asylum status. In 2022, U.S. citizens were 89 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—12 times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants commit more crimes and make the country more dangerous.

Fact: Research has proven time and again that there is no link between immigration and increased crime rates and that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than their native‐born peers. In fact, some studies show that increased immigration results in lower crime rates—meaning immigrants make the United States safer for all.

Myth: Refugees and immigrants will change voting patterns in the United States.

Fact: Immigrants, like natural-born citizens, represent a wide variety of political leanings. Polls consistently show that immigrants and refugees do not uniformly support one political party. In fact, a 2023 Los Angeles Times poll revealed that, when asked “Which U.S. political party best represents your views?”, 52% of immigrants and refugees polled responded “Neither or not sure.” While immigrants and refugees may become eligible to vote after obtaining citizenship, the process of naturalization and voter registration takes a minimum of five years for most (and accusations of undocumented immigrants voting in U.S. elections are virtually baseless).

Myth: When the U.S. welcomes refugees and immigrants, we neglect other underserved groups.

Fact: While refugees and immigrants face unique challenges, their needs are often quite similar to those of other underserved communities who face discrimination, poverty, and lack of adequate health care, among other challenges. Welcoming and addressing the shared needs of immigrants and refugees can help create policy changes that benefit all underserved groups. Studies have shown, for example, that rather than lowering wages due to competition, the immigrant workforce has instead supported higher wages for all populations. States like Colorado and Washington have expanded affordable health coverage initiatives that not only aim to include undocumented immigrants but also enhance access for all residents. These policies contribute to stronger public health systems and improved outcomes for every community member. When we work toward equity, we work toward a better society for all.

Myth: Most Americans don’t support immigration or a path to citizenship for undocumented people.

Fact: Despite harsh rhetoric and extremism in the media and beyond, most Americans support bipartisan solutions on immigration. Recent polling shows that 81% of voters in battleground states support a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been living and working in the United States for years, and other studies have shown that 68% of Americans believe immigration is a good thing for our country.