EDITORIAL: The Importance of Immigrants
By Erica Truong | Editorial | sept 29. 2025
Immigration is no foreign concept to the United States. From its founding days to modern times, American immigrants have been heavily involved in building, maintaining, and improving the country. At Stanton College Preparatory School, many students are relatives of immigrants, direct children of immigrants, or immigrants themselves. While their contributions are imprinted on American society, recent government policies and heightened prejudices have threatened their livelihoods and dreams in this nation. Considering the shift towards conservatism in the U.S., we feel it is vital people recognize the essentiality of the presence of immigrants and, beyond that, connect with them as humans.
Historically, immigrants have always been a major part of the country’s identity. For instance, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Paine—key players in establishing American independence—were immigrants. Looking at infrastructure, Irish and Chinese immigrants were crucial in physically unifying the nation by building railroads. Even with their role in advancing the nation, prejudice towards them has persisted, including policies created to inhibit their presence. Instead of upholding these practices, Americans should recognize that the diversity in race and cultural background immigrants bring allows for a blend of minds to come together and make progress in all fields.
A core point of contention regarding the presence of immigrants is whether they contribute a net cost or net benefit to the economy. According to the American Immigration Council, in 2023, 14.3% of those living in the U.S. were immigrants. In total, they contributed $659.1 billion in tax revenue and accumulated $1.7 trillion in spending power. With these statistics accounting for both documented and undocumented immigrants, the sheer magnitude of data collected in recent years speaks to their great impact on this nation. Those who oppose the stay of immigrants in the U.S. claim they take money through welfare, but these dissenters fail to recognize the works of immigrants play a role in funding these programs and help the American economy thrive.
Additionally, immigrants have been a major driving force in the growth of the U.S.’s labor force. While some argue they take jobs from Americans, the Migration Policy Institute stated in 2024 that rather than displacing Americans, immigrants take part in fields with growing job markets, meaning they are not disproportionally taking away “American” jobs. As immigrants tend to lie on both ends of the education spectrum, they obtain jobs that often complement U.S. born workers. From engineers to blue collar workers, immigrants take up jobs that require skills American workers may not possess. For example, data from the American Community Survey shows almost 25% of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers in the U.S. are immigrants. On the other side of the career spectrum, immigrants typically take up service, construction, and transportation at higher rates than native born citizens.
Beyond the lens of the economy, compassion must be implemented when expressing opinions on immigrants. Recognizing extenuating situations and circumstances requires a level of empathy that may initially feel unfamiliar. People migrate to the U.S. for various reasons, including asylum, economic opportunity, or for a fresh start. Every situation is unique, but each immigrant sought this land with the same principle in mind: acquire the “American dream.”
Despite the appeal certain statistics can provide, immigrants deserve humane treatment and basic respect, not because of their economic contributions, but because they are human. With an extensive history built on the backs of immigrants, we must not forget our roots and strive for the betterment of our nation—a nation inclusive to all.