“They will soon outnumber us, and we will not be able to preserve our language, or our government.” No, I’m not quoting Donald Trump. It was Benjamin Franklin fulminating about German immigrants in 1753 Pennsylvania. We have a long line of politicians who have demonized immigrants to terrorize voters and gain political advantage.
In 2023, American’s birth rates dropped far below the rate needed to keep the U.S. population at replacement levels. We cannot grow our economy with fewer people, and the Congressional Budget Office predicts that the current increased immigration will boost America’s economy by 2 percent, adding an extra $7 trillion to the U.S. economy within the next decade and $1 trillion in tax revenue.
But Republican policies reflect a hard-line immigration stance with an emphasis on enforcement over comprehensive immigration reform and a pathway to citizenship. And Trump has vowed to deport millions back to their country of origin.
Trump’s plan would result in an older population and fewer workers. And today, America needs to address the very real economic challenges caused by slowing population growth.
Yes, like Benjamin Franklin, Donald Trump has a harmful solution that appears to be sellable to his followers.
