Immigration: A Definite Economical Advantage

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Immigration: A Definite Economical Advantage
In David Cole’s 1994 essay “Five Myths about Immigration”, he clearly explains that Immigration is, and will be an economical advantage. He associates these ‘Five Myths’, to being flaws, or misleading beliefs of the public on the issue of immigration. He goes on to argue how each ‘Myth’ is not, however, a mistake or flaw. Cole argues how these myths are actually proven benefits of the United States.
David Cole is very opinionated, persuasive, and sensitive about the issue of immigration. Proven as Cole notes, “I am especially sensitive to this history…” (155), after finishing his opening in his essay about the history and beginning of immigration. This may make many readers weary about his argument; however, Cole uses many statistics and resources to back up his claims. For instance, when arguing against the first myth that “America is being overrun with immigrants” (156), Cole explains that this is not true. Cole states that, “As of 1990, foreign-born people made up only 8 percent of the population, as compared…of about 15 percent from 1870 to 1920” (156).
One of Cole’s myths he argues is that “Immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens” (156). On the contrary, Cole views immigrants as a group of people who create more jobs for everyone. In 1994, the Urban Institute report concludes that more jobs are created than taken by immigrants (156). Cole continues arguing this myth with current positive economic outcomes of immigrants’ business ventures in the U.S., again backing up his argument very well with statistics.
The third myth Cole discusses, and seems to be most argumentative toward, is that “Immigrants are a drain on society’s resources” (156). Showing both sides of the argument without offending any readers is a great strength Cole has shown during his argument of this myth. An example would be that they have not yet found perm...