Full Description
Despite deep divisions on the issue of immigration, this book shows that immigration promotes economic innovation, expands the job market, and contributes to diversity and creativity in the United States.
Immigration, as a conduit for bringing new talent, ideas, and inventions into the United States, is essential to the success and vitality of our economy and society. This timely book, researched and written by the Immigration Book Project Team at Penn State University, approaches immigration from historical, economic, business, and sociological perspectives in order to argue that treatment of immigrants must reflect and applaud their critical roles in supporting and leading the economic, social, cultural, and political institutions of civil society.
Approaching immigration as both a socioeconomic phenomenon and a matter of public policy, The Danger of Devaluing Immigrants offers demographics and statistics on workforce participation and job creation along with stories of individual immigrants' contributions to the economy and society. It supports the idea that, when immigration is challenged in the political sphere, we must not lose sight of the valuable contributions that immigrants have made—and will continue to make—to our democracy.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Part One: Immigration and the American Way of Life
1. Introduction
2. Why America? A History of Immigration
3. Refugees
Part Two: Immigrants and Their Roles in the Major Sectors of the American Economy
4. The Bimodal Nature of Immigrants across the U.S. Economy
5. Keeping America Employed
6. Keeping America Healthy
7. Educating America
8. Feeding America
9. Keeping America Open for Travel and Tourism
10. Building America
11. Keeping America Safe
12. Contributing to America: Attracting Immigrants with Extraordinary Abilities
13. Strength or Burden? Changing American Attitudes toward Immigration
14. Conclusion
Appendix A. An Introduction to the American Visa System
Appendix B. Integrating Refugee Employees into the Workplace
Notes
Index
