Illustration of USA immigration
Beto Yarce arrived in the US from Mexico in 2003 with only a tourist visa, and spent his first five years in the country undocumented. Despite holding a master’s degree, he found himself taking low-paying jobs due to his documentation status. Today, Yarce is a successful business owner and community leader who has created jobs and contributed significantly to his local economy. His story exemplifies both the resilience of immigrants and the untapped potential that restrictive immigration policies leave on the table.
As the current administration continues to implement a series of executive orders aimed at limiting immigration—from asylum restrictions to challenges against birthright citizenship—the potential impact on America’s economic and cultural future is far-reaching. The Congressional Budget Office’s 2024 report estimated that immigration could add $8.9 trillion to US GDP over the next decade, making current restrictive policies particularly costly.
“The recent executive orders are having a profound impact on the Latino community, not just in policy but in perception,” explained Natasha Tous, a Latina immigrant and CEO of Éclat. “There is a dangerous and misleading narrative that paints Latinos primarily as undocumented and criminals when, in reality, we are an economic powerhouse.”
The Impact of Immigrants on the US Economy and Culture
Despite rhetoric claiming immigrants ‘take American jobs,’ the data tells a different story. According to the National Bureau of Economic Researchimmigrants are 80% more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. This entrepreneurial spirit translates into significant economic impact: the Center for American Entrepreneurship found that in 2023, 45% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by first or second generation immigrants.
“Immigrants are the backbone of the U.S. economy, culture, and communities, making invaluable contributions across industries and states,” shared Fiona McEntee, Managing Attorney of McEntee Law Group and author of U.S. Immigration Options for Startups: Accelerate Your American Dream. “As an immigration lawyer, and an immigrant myself, I’m privileged to see these contributions firsthand every day. The U.S. has always thrived when it welcomes and harnesses the talent, resilience, and dreams of immigrants.”
This outsized impact is particularly visible in technology and innovation. Priyanka Kulkarni, who spent a decade leading AI initiatives at Microsoft before founding immigration tech platform Casium, reflected on this. “As an immigrant founder, I know firsthand how life-changing the chance to build and innovate in the U.S. can be,” she shared. “When we make the immigration process more efficient and transparent, we’re not just helping individual companies or immigrants – we’re strengthening America’s ability to attract and retain the world’s best talent.
Foreign-born workers made up 18.6% of the civilian labor force in 2023, up from 15.3% in 2006, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This growth has become increasingly crucial as the U.S. faces demographic challenges: without foreign-born labor, the U.S. labor pool would shrink due to lower birth rates and an aging workforce, making it harder to finance programs such as Social Security.
“Immigrants’ diverse perspectives drive business growth and creative solutions across industries,” explains Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Mayor and Council President of Upper Arlington, Ohio and author of IMMIGRIT: How Immigrant Leadership Drives Business Success. “In local communities, immigrants revive neighborhoods, start small businesses, and contribute to cultural vibrancy with traditions, food, art, and celebrations that enrich American society.”
The Impact of the Current Environment on the Lives of Immigrants
Despite the positive impacts that immigrants have on the economy and culture in the US, recent policy changes are causing many of them significant harm. Schools have reported significant drops in attendance following immigration enforcement announcementsand agricultural operations across the country face labor shortages as workers stay home out of fear.
“The psychological toll is immense,” said Tous. “Even as a U.S. citizen, I find myself questioning how far this could go. Could my husband, a Venezuelan immigrant who recently became a citizen, be at risk? Could my mother-in-law, who holds conditional residency, be forced to leave? These are not hypotheticals; they are real fears being lived in Latino households across America.”
McEntee pointed out that “There are pregnant women all over the country who are afraid their children could be denied U.S. citizenship even though they are born here—a right that has been a fundamental fabric of this country for hundreds of years.”
Immigrant communities are demonstrating resilience and organization in the face of these challenges. “Neighborhood groups are forming ICE watch programs, and immigration attorneys and advocacy groups are conducting ‘Know Your Rights’ trainings and supporting families to get their paperwork in order,” McEntee shared.
“I’ve seen powerful examples of solidarity,” said Jeter. “Immigrant communities rallying together, providing legal resources, emotional support, and grassroots advocacy. Networks are forming to educate immigrants on their rights, connect families to services, and offer mentorship to those navigating the complexities.”
The tension between America’s immigration policies and its economic needs presents a critical challenge for the nation’s future. With the Congressional Budget Office projecting an $8.9 trillion contribution to GDP from immigration over the next decade, policies that deter or remove immigrants could significantly impact America’s economic growth and innovation potential.
“What is happening now is not just about immigration; it is about who gets to call themselves American,” reflects Tous. “As a Latina, an immigrant, a business owner, and a mother raising the next generation of leaders in this country, I refuse to let fear be the defining force of our future.”
Yarce agrees: “We fill essential roles, innovate, and build businesses, yet face discrimination. I am committed to advocating for immigrant communities and sharing our stories to highlight our positive impact.”
As the nation grapples with these challenges, one thing is clear: immigrants aren’t just part of America’s past—they’re essential to its future. The question isn’t whether immigration benefits the United States, but rather how much potential is being left unrealized by policies that discourage or prevent immigrant contributions to our economy and society.
“The American Dream remains a powerful force,” Kulkarni shared. “My role is to ensure the technical aspects of immigration don’t stand in the way of that dream.” As current policies threaten to undermine this dream, the cost isn’t just measured in dollars, but in lost innovation, separated families, and diminished cultural vitality—losses that will impact all Americans, regardless of where they or their ancestors were born.
