They say that immigrant workers take jobs from Americans. They say they make Americans poorer, and that they drain the economy. The words are tossed about in political speeches and shouted from news outlets. They paint a picture of immigrants as invaders, coming to steal what rightfully belongs to others. But like most stories that are too simple, too black and white, this one is a lie.

Immigrants do not make Americans poorer. They are not a burden on the economy. The truth is the opposite. When more people contribute, the country grows stronger. Immigrants, far from being the cause of economic strife, are the drivers of economic growth, innovation, and cultural richness.

Take a look at the numbers, and the truth emerges. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that immigrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, particularly in terms of productivity and innovation. Immigrants are twice as likely as native-born citizens to start a business. They are behind nearly half of America’s Fortune 500 companies, creating jobs for millions of Americans. It’s not just about numbers, though. It’s about what these businesses do—how they create opportunities for everyone.

In 2017 alone, immigrant-owned businesses employed 8 million people in the U.S. That’s 8 million jobs that might not exist without these businesses. Immigrant entrepreneurs have generated over $1 trillion in revenue【24†source】【25†source】. Those who call immigrants job-stealers forget that it’s the jobs immigrants create that keep the wheels of the American economy turning.

Look deeper still, and you’ll see that immigrants are the backbone of entire industries. Nearly 30% of the country’s physicians and surgeons are foreign-born, according to the American Community Survey. Without them, hospitals would struggle to stay open, and rural communities would suffer from a shortage of healthcare professionals. And during the pandemic, it was immigrants working in hospitals, grocery stores, and farms, keeping the country running when the world seemed to fall apart.

Yet, the perception remains. The belief that immigrants drive wages down and take more than they give persists, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. The reality is that immigrants don’t take—they contribute. When they arrive, they work in industries that desperately need labor. They do the jobs many Americans aren’t willing to do. They work in agriculture, in construction, in healthcare. These sectors depend on immigrant labor, and without it, they would collapse.

But the story goes deeper than just dollars and cents. The idea that immigrants make Americans poorer overlooks the human side of the equation. Immigrants bring more than just labor to this country. They bring culture, innovation, and diversity. The new ideas they introduce help fuel American progress. From Silicon Valley to the halls of academia, it is immigrants who have driven some of the most important advances in science, technology, and medicine.

Consider that 65% of the top artificial intelligence companies in the United States were co-founded by immigrants【24†source】. Immigrants are at the forefront of technological breakthroughs that are shaping the future of the world. They are researchers, inventors, and pioneers. Their contributions stretch far beyond the factory floor or the construction site—they are building the future, one idea at a time.

It’s time we recognize that immigrants are not the cause of poverty, but the solution to it. They are not the ones dragging the economy down; they are the ones lifting it up. The narrative that blames immigrants for economic hardship is not only false—it’s dangerous. It pits neighbor against neighbor, obscuring the truth that when more people contribute, when more hands are working together, the world is a better place.

The story is not about scarcity, about fighting for scraps. It’s about abundance, about creating something bigger than the sum of its parts. Immigrants are proof that the American dream is still alive, not just for them, but for all of us. They remind us that with hard work, vision, and determination, anyone can make a difference. They remind us that when people are given a chance to contribute, they make the world richer—not poorer.

In the end, the myth that immigrant workers take more than they give is just that—a myth. The reality is simple, clear, and backed by the numbers: Immigrants make America stronger, more prosperous, and more dynamic. And as long as they are given the chance to contribute, they will continue to make this country—and the world—a better place.