[klabb3]

As an immigrant: immigration is an area where the US is unique, or at least exceptional.

For a long time, the US has slurped up the top talent of the world, as well as cheap labor to support domestic industries like agriculture. Ironic that American “excellence” is about poaching excellence from elsewhere? Perhaps. Nobody wants to admit it, since it would mean “real Americans” don’t get special treatment for being born in the US and A. But all industries benefit, and politicians know this.

In Europe for instance, immigration has failed largely at talent acquisition. It has succeeded partially at the humanitarian goals, but at a large cost. In my experience, EU immigration policy has been more about safety than opportunity. It’s hard for low skilled immigrants to break into strongly regulated labor markets like in Western Europe, and at no fault of their own are instead supported by welfare systems. I don’t know if it’s a net-negative in absolute cost, but certainly in opportunity cost. It’s also raised a lot of anti-immigration sentiment.

That said, I think increasing inequality is transforming immigration also in America. The opportunity for poor (both immigrants and “native”) to move upwards with “hard work and dedication” is diminishing quickly. I think the current generation of immigrants won’t get such a big quality-of-life improvements as they used to.