The Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, in an analysis of December 2015 government data, indicates that nearly one in five United States residents is now an immigrant or minor child of an immigrant parent. The number of immigrants and their young children grew six times faster than the nation’s total population from 1970 to 2015 — 353 percent versus 59 percent. Take a moment and contemplate that information. In many states, the increase in the number of immigrants and their minor children from 1970 to 2015 has been nothing short of astonishing. These numbers raise profound, seldom-asked questions. What number of immigrants can be assimilated? What is the absorption capacity of our nation’s schools, health care systems, infrastructure and, perhaps most importantly, its labor market? What is the impact on the environment and quality of life in significantly increasing the nation’s population size and density? Should we continue to admit a million new legal permanent immigrants every year, let alone allow over one million illegal aliens to slip in? What about our grandchildren? How will they fare?

 

Paul Westrum

Albert Lea