By now, you’ve probably heard the tired line: “It’s not that I think everyone in your party is racist. I just think all the racists are in your party.” While intended to provoke, it opens the door to a deeper conversation that deserves honest data, not partisan fearmongering. If we’re going to debate immigration, let’s do it with facts, not Fox News talking points.
And the facts tell a striking story: immigrants in America are not dragging us down, they’re outperforming us in education, entrepreneurship, family stability, and yes, even crime reduction.
Education: Immigrants Are Winning in the Classroom
Let’s begin with education. According to data from both the National Center for Education Statistics and a Pew Research analysis, 97% of children with birthright status and immigrant parents graduate high school, compared to just 87% of children born to two native-born American parents. That’s a 10-point advantage.
Even more revealing are the results of a 2020 study by the Migration Policy Institute that found 46% of immigrants arriving over the last 25 years had at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 37% of native-born Americans. That’s not a minor gap, it’s evidence of a robust academic engine within immigrant communities.
So the claim that immigrant kids are dragging down our schools? Utter fiction. If anything, they’re raising the bar.
Immigrants Are Entrepreneurs Building the American Economy
Republican pundits love to praise small business owners unless they’re immigrants. But here’s the truth: immigrants are nearly twice as likely to start new businesses.
According to a 2023 report by the National Bureau of Economic Research, immigrants make up 18% of business owners in the U.S., despite comprising only about 14% of the population. That’s 18 businesses founded by immigrants for every 10 by native-born Americans.
Immigrants aren’t just fitting into the economy, they’re driving it.
Immigrants Walk the Walk on Family Values
Conservatives love to talk about “family values,” but let’s see who’s actually living them.
The U.S. Census Bureau and studies from the Urban Institute show that among native-born American children, 70% live with both parents, meaning 30% come from split households, largely due to divorce. Among children of immigrant families, 87% live with both parents.
That’s a stark 17-point difference.
While native-born American families often suffer the consequences of high divorce rates, immigrant families remain significantly more intact and stable.
So the next time Sean Hannity preaches about the disintegration of the American family, maybe he should take notes from the people he wants deported.
Immigrants Are Not the Criminals
Perhaps the most damaging myth in right-wing media is that immigrants, especially undocumented ones, pose a criminal threat. This narrative is not just misleading; it’s demonstrably false.
Texas is the only state that tracks criminal convictions by immigration status. A 2023 Cato Institute analysis of Texas Department of Public Safety data (2013–2022) found:
- Undocumented immigrants were 26% less likely to be convicted of homicide than native-born Americans.
- Legal immigrants were 87% less likely to be convicted of homicide than native-born Americans.
Let that sink in. The people Republicans say are “bringing crime” are, statistically, far less likely to commit violent crimes than those born here.
The truth? Native-born Americans commit violent crimes at significantly higher rates. But don’t expect that to be a talking point on Fox News.
A Party in Denial: When Racism Masks as Patriotism
So what’s really going on here?
The data makes it crystal clear: immigrants are outperforming native-born Americans in almost every measurable way. And yet, many Republican leaders, led by Donald Trump, continue to demonize them. Why? Because if immigrants succeed, they threaten the myth of American superiority some conservatives cling to.
Instead of rising to meet the challenge, these voices beg “Coach, kick Juan off the team so little Jimmy can play second base.” It’s a coward’s argument and a dishonest one at that.
This isn’t about policy anymore. It’s about pride, about ego, and too often, about race. Because when you vote alongside the Proud Boys and the KKK, and remain silent as your leaders pardon extremists and attack democratic institutions, you’re no longer just “conservative.” You’re complicit.
Immigrants aren’t ruining America, they’re redefining it for the better. They’re the students at the top of the class, the families staying together, the entrepreneurs creating jobs, and the people committing fewer crimes.
The numbers don’t lie. It’s time to stop pretending they do.
If you’re worried that your kids can’t compete with immigrant kids in school, or that your family structure isn’t as strong, or that you’re not starting as many businesses, don’t blame immigrants. Work harder. Learn from them. Or at the very least, get out of their way.
And as for the Republican Party? You can keep tracing your roots back to Lincoln if it helps you sleep at night. But Lincoln isn’t coming back. And the party he led doesn’t exist anymore.
Veritas means truth. The truth is here. And it’s not on your side.