Call for Expanded Legal Immigration to Boost the U.S. Economy

A new study advocates for President Trump and Congress to implement laws that expand legal immigration, emphasizing its importance for future economic growth and workforce vitality. The report notes that with the border now secure, opportunities open for welcoming more immigrants.

The analysis, conducted by the group Unleash Prosperity, highlights that immigrants of working age tend to have higher employment rates than native-born Americans—65% versus 60%. They have contributed significantly to workforce expansion over the past decade, especially among prime working-age individuals.

Furthermore, nearly half of all Fortune 500 companies were established by immigrants or their descendants. Notable tech giants such as Tesla, Google’s parent company Alphabet, and NVIDIA were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants from South Africa, India, and Taiwan, respectively. The study projects that from 2020 to 2040, immigrant workers will account for all net growth in the U.S. labor force.

The report also emphasizes the need to increase visas for seasonal and high-skilled workers, such as H-1B and H-2B visa programs, to support economic demands. This is especially relevant given recent demographic trends: birth rates have declined, and the labor force composition has shifted, with nearly 19% of workers being foreign-born as of 2023—almost double since 1994.

The authors stress that immigrant contributions have historically driven America’s economic success and that fostering a legal immigration system aligned with its founding principles is essential. To meet the administration’s goal of 3% annual economic growth, an increased flow of legal immigrants will be necessary to offset demographic challenges such as an aging population and declining birthrates.