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The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers
The go-to book on immigration: fact-based, comprehensive, and nonpartisan.
Immigration is one of the most controversial topics in the United States and everywhere else. Pundits, politicians, and the public usually depict immigrants as either villains or victims. The villain narrative is that immigrants pose a threat—to our economy because they steal our jobs; our way of life because they change our culture; and to our safety and laws because of their criminality. The victim argument tells us that immigrants are needy outsiders—the poor, huddled masses whom we must help at our own cost if necessary. But the data clearly debunks both narratives. From jobs, investment, and innovation to cultural vitality and national security, more immigration has an overwhelmingly positive impact on everything that makes a society successful.
In The Truth About Immigration, Wharton professor Zeke Hernandez draws from nearly 20 years of research to answer all the big questions about immigration. He combines moving personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, apolitical, and evidence-based look at how newcomers affect our local communities and our nation. You'll learn about the overlooked impact of immigrants on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.
Most books making a case for immigration tell you that immigration is good for immigrants. This book is all about how newcomers benefit you, your community, and your country. Skeptics fear that newcomers compete economically with locals because of their similarities and fail to socially assimilate because of their differences. You'll see that it's exactly the opposite: newcomers bring enduring economic benefits because of their differences and contribute positively to society because of their similarities. Destined to become the go-to book on one of the most important issues of our time, this book turns fear into hope by proving a simple truth: immigrants are essential for economically prosperous and socially vibrant nations.
Immigration is one of the most controversial topics in the United States and everywhere else. Pundits, politicians, and the public usually depict immigrants as either villains or victims. The villain narrative is that immigrants pose a threat—to our economy because they steal our jobs; our way of life because they change our culture; and to our safety and laws because of their criminality. The victim argument tells us that immigrants are needy outsiders—the poor, huddled masses whom we must help at our own cost if necessary. But the data clearly debunks both narratives. From jobs, investment, and innovation to cultural vitality and national security, more immigration has an overwhelmingly positive impact on everything that makes a society successful.
In The Truth About Immigration, Wharton professor Zeke Hernandez draws from nearly 20 years of research to answer all the big questions about immigration. He combines moving personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, apolitical, and evidence-based look at how newcomers affect our local communities and our nation. You'll learn about the overlooked impact of immigrants on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.
Most books making a case for immigration tell you that immigration is good for immigrants. This book is all about how newcomers benefit you, your community, and your country. Skeptics fear that newcomers compete economically with locals because of their similarities and fail to socially assimilate because of their differences. You'll see that it's exactly the opposite: newcomers bring enduring economic benefits because of their differences and contribute positively to society because of their similarities. Destined to become the go-to book on one of the most important issues of our time, this book turns fear into hope by proving a simple truth: immigrants are essential for economically prosperous and socially vibrant nations.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
175 people are currently reading
2243 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
July 29, 2024
This is a book I’d recommend to absolutely everyone.
It was extremely well-written, and well-researched. The author, Zeke Hernandez, presented the information in an interesting way and didn’t shy away from answering the hard questions, I also feel like he owned his bias and managed to present his case in a bi-partisan way.
I was hooked by the introduction, in which Hernandez claims that immigrants in the United States’ political and conversational sphere are presented in one of two ways:
1) They are villains: they steal jobs, commit crimes, and change the cultural and moral dynamics of a community. They come here illegally and are plentiful.
2) They are victims: they are poor, unfortunate people who desperately need the stability and generosity of the US and it is our moral responsibility to open our doors.
Instead, Hernandez argues that the truth is that while immigrants can benefit from immigrating to the US, the full story is how much our community benefits having them here. This attitude shifts the conversation from fear, or simply tolerance, to humility and excitement about the potential of newcomers to our country. He never loses sight of this argument and supports it in countless ways.
I learned so much. While I’ve been in favor of immigration for a long time, this book helps me articulate my beliefs in a much more compelling way.
This is written by an economist, so there’s a lot of data and at times it is a denser topic (immigration policy is not straight-forward), but I loved the personal stories and thought the material was still engaging.
This is one of my best reads of 2024.
It was extremely well-written, and well-researched. The author, Zeke Hernandez, presented the information in an interesting way and didn’t shy away from answering the hard questions, I also feel like he owned his bias and managed to present his case in a bi-partisan way.
I was hooked by the introduction, in which Hernandez claims that immigrants in the United States’ political and conversational sphere are presented in one of two ways:
1) They are villains: they steal jobs, commit crimes, and change the cultural and moral dynamics of a community. They come here illegally and are plentiful.
2) They are victims: they are poor, unfortunate people who desperately need the stability and generosity of the US and it is our moral responsibility to open our doors.
Instead, Hernandez argues that the truth is that while immigrants can benefit from immigrating to the US, the full story is how much our community benefits having them here. This attitude shifts the conversation from fear, or simply tolerance, to humility and excitement about the potential of newcomers to our country. He never loses sight of this argument and supports it in countless ways.
I learned so much. While I’ve been in favor of immigration for a long time, this book helps me articulate my beliefs in a much more compelling way.
This is written by an economist, so there’s a lot of data and at times it is a denser topic (immigration policy is not straight-forward), but I loved the personal stories and thought the material was still engaging.
This is one of my best reads of 2024.
February 4, 2025
I have this habit of going on reading binges whenever a subject catches my interest, on when current events dictate I should become better informed on certain issues. This book concerns the latter. It is much better to learn about things before forming an opinion, eh?
"The Truth About Immigration" just about put the final nail in the coffin for me on the issue of immigration, and I'm not sure I am in need of any more material. There's only so many times you can read about the Mariel boat lift, Braceros, the facts and figures concerning the contributions of immigrants to the economy, and the misleading rhetoric on immigrant crime. When the studies are peer-reviewed and the researchers are intellectually honest, they tend to uncover the same truths and typically arrive to the same conclusion.
In a way, there's nothing in Zeke Hernandez' book that hasn't been done just as well or better elsewhere, however, it does a few things very well and presents some unique perspectives that make it, in my opinion, the top recommendation for anyone that wants to learn more about the subject without without getting mired in partisan muck.
The book is broken down in two parts: part 1 deals with the economics of immigration, while part 2 deals with the social implications. The first half felt very familiar to me having read excellent works such Thompson and Watson's The Border Within: The Economics of Immigration in an Age of Fear. There' still things to learn here, as Hernandez shows early on how immigrants make the welcoming country more productive and innovative, on top of establishing networks with their homeland that bring in waves of investments and imports that increase the amount and variety of goods available to natives. This dynamic, says Hernandez, acts as a two-way door in a way that benefits both the receiving and the sending country:
According to Hernandez, current model of investment that relies on tax subsidies and other sweeteners to cajole industry to open factories in struggling towns is broken and have shown not to be effective. Immigrants bring in business and investment in more organic ways (he presents many examples of this) that are far more lasting and advantageous to the local population:
Part 1 culminates with a discussion on what makes immigrants "complements" to the native labor force rather than perfect replacements, and on the looming issues concerning declining birth rates and a shrinking tax base. As Hernandez shows, at our current rate, entitlements such as medicare and social security will run out of money and we'll be left with no good options if we want to still have access to those benefits: either cut them significantly or increase taxes significantly:
In part 2, Hernandez dispels some of the myths that immigrants fail to assimilate properly, and shows that immigrants today are integrating with the local population at the same rate or better than in the past, and in ways that are pretty surprising. For instance, people tend to think that immigrants bring their voting patterns with them when they come to a new place, but what the research shows is that immigrants tend to adopt the cultural and political leanings of the receiving community:
What Hernandez uniquely well is putting a factually rich, exquisitely researched, measured, and non-partisan wedge in the dichotomy that paints immigrants as either victims ("the left") or criminals ("the right"). As he explains, those in favor of immigration can't articulate a strong message going beyond mere sympathy and an appeal to our better angels...while the opponents are much more visceral and cohesive in communicating their discontents:
This, he remarks, must change if we want to flip the script on immigration. We need to start framing the issue pf immigration as socially and economically positive if we want to ensure the long-term viability of our institutions:
The book concludes with what is perhaps some of the most common-sensical approach to fixing the system, which ranges from changing the rhetoric as we saw above, to opening up more avenues for immigrants to integrate faster into our economies. This needs to be come hand-in-hand with local efforts to ensure the impact of welcoming immigrants is not unfairly borne by the receiving communities (something the book addresses even-handedly). These could include de-regulation of zoning and building laws to allow for more housing to be developed, better access to federal funds to lessen the financial burden to local communities, and limitations for access to entitlements for a specific time-frame or according to the type of visa/permit (wink-wink Canada).
As an immigrant myself and proud American Citizen, I am cognizant of, and extremely grateful for, the many opportunities afforded to me by this great nation, and would love nothing more than to see it flourish. As this book shows, one of the best avenues to do so is to welcome those that want to work hard to make sure it happens. Heavy-handed approaches to immigration hurt us all in the long term, and perhaps America will be made great again when it once more opens its arms to the industrious and enterprising spirit that made her a superpower. But I don't think that's what that slogan had in mind...
Highly possible recommendation.
"The Truth About Immigration" just about put the final nail in the coffin for me on the issue of immigration, and I'm not sure I am in need of any more material. There's only so many times you can read about the Mariel boat lift, Braceros, the facts and figures concerning the contributions of immigrants to the economy, and the misleading rhetoric on immigrant crime. When the studies are peer-reviewed and the researchers are intellectually honest, they tend to uncover the same truths and typically arrive to the same conclusion.
In a way, there's nothing in Zeke Hernandez' book that hasn't been done just as well or better elsewhere, however, it does a few things very well and presents some unique perspectives that make it, in my opinion, the top recommendation for anyone that wants to learn more about the subject without without getting mired in partisan muck.
The book is broken down in two parts: part 1 deals with the economics of immigration, while part 2 deals with the social implications. The first half felt very familiar to me having read excellent works such Thompson and Watson's The Border Within: The Economics of Immigration in an Age of Fear. There' still things to learn here, as Hernandez shows early on how immigrants make the welcoming country more productive and innovative, on top of establishing networks with their homeland that bring in waves of investments and imports that increase the amount and variety of goods available to natives. This dynamic, says Hernandez, acts as a two-way door in a way that benefits both the receiving and the sending country:
Immigrants don't just increase the amount of investment. They increase its variety. And-this is key-they do that because they have networks different from yours. They know different people, in different places, with different ideas, skills, and resources. Immigrants' differences can cause fear (more to come on that). But when it comes to investment, those differences are essential.
According to Hernandez, current model of investment that relies on tax subsidies and other sweeteners to cajole industry to open factories in struggling towns is broken and have shown not to be effective. Immigrants bring in business and investment in more organic ways (he presents many examples of this) that are far more lasting and advantageous to the local population:
The triangle of immigration, investment, and jobs is one of the great untold stories of immigration. But while we all understand that jobs won't arise without investment, somehow the role of immigrants in fostering investment is easy to miss. That link is easy to miss because immigration brings investment slowly and without fanfare....A better model requires a relational and long-term view, rooted in the understanding that investment is a deeply human activity.
In this more realistic model, any effort to attract investment begins with human infrastructure: making a community attractive to people-of all backgrounds-so that they'll want to live and work there. That allows newcomers to do what they do, which includes relying on their cross-border networks to set up the conveyor belt.
The lesson is clear. You can't bring in investments that create jobs while keeping out the humans who make those investments possible.
Part 1 culminates with a discussion on what makes immigrants "complements" to the native labor force rather than perfect replacements, and on the looming issues concerning declining birth rates and a shrinking tax base. As Hernandez shows, at our current rate, entitlements such as medicare and social security will run out of money and we'll be left with no good options if we want to still have access to those benefits: either cut them significantly or increase taxes significantly:
The trillion-dollar question, literally, is who's going to pay for the end-of-life benefits of boomers and those who follow?...Every once in a while, when someone insists that we need to keep immigrants out to save our public budgets, I propose a choice between two options:
A. Immediately cut all immigration. The size of your Social Security check will be determined by the payroll taxes contributed by the resulting future population. Your retirement benefits won't be "contaminated" by immigrants' taxes.
B. Continue to allow immigration. The size of your Social Security check will be determined by the payroll taxes contributed by the resulting future population. Your retirement benefits will be "contaminated" by immigrants' taxes.
Nobody has chosen option A so far.
In part 2, Hernandez dispels some of the myths that immigrants fail to assimilate properly, and shows that immigrants today are integrating with the local population at the same rate or better than in the past, and in ways that are pretty surprising. For instance, people tend to think that immigrants bring their voting patterns with them when they come to a new place, but what the research shows is that immigrants tend to adopt the cultural and political leanings of the receiving community:
Political pundits often oversimplify the role of immigrants as voters by using terms like "the Latino vote" or "the Asian American vote." The impression is that ethnic groups support certain parties and issues as blocs. Which leads to dismaying results in the eyes of those who like simple stories.
Latinos aren't a monolithic group. Cubans differ from Mexicans, who differ from Brazilians. Asians from China differ from Asians of Vietnamese or Korean origin. As do natives from different US states. Nor can the political opinions of immigrants be attributed purely to the cultures and values of their countries of origin. An immigrant isn't representative of the average person in their home country. They often emigrate because they're different, which makes them more amenable to new political views than those who stay behind.
What Hernandez uniquely well is putting a factually rich, exquisitely researched, measured, and non-partisan wedge in the dichotomy that paints immigrants as either victims ("the left") or criminals ("the right"). As he explains, those in favor of immigration can't articulate a strong message going beyond mere sympathy and an appeal to our better angels...while the opponents are much more visceral and cohesive in communicating their discontents:
Those who favor immigration today don't converge on a clear set of issues. It may be human rights, family protection, or labor rights. As I noted in the opening, they also tend to focus on the immigrants themselves by framing them as victims to whom America should open its arms.
That immigrant-centered agenda is full of compassion. But it lacks a positively articulated vision of what newcomers will do for hard-pressed natives who are too worried about their own problems to feel compassion for outsiders. That's why it's an ineffective majority.
The minority, in contrast, is really well organized around a consistent message focused on protecting Americans.
This, he remarks, must change if we want to flip the script on immigration. We need to start framing the issue pf immigration as socially and economically positive if we want to ensure the long-term viability of our institutions:
Accusing a business of being greedy or unpatriotic for hiring a foreign-born worker is off the mark. It's a choice born of the reality of native labor shortages. And it's also born of the realization that immigrants can help businesses do more things than before because foreign-born workers are different from native workers. Those choices help native workers in the long run, by keeping businesses and the jobs they create alive and by allowing natives to sort into occupations that play to their strengths.
That turns the patriotism accusation on its head. It's the restrictionists who are hurting native workers, native businesses, and the national economy. That's a harsh statement. But it matches the evidence.
The book concludes with what is perhaps some of the most common-sensical approach to fixing the system, which ranges from changing the rhetoric as we saw above, to opening up more avenues for immigrants to integrate faster into our economies. This needs to be come hand-in-hand with local efforts to ensure the impact of welcoming immigrants is not unfairly borne by the receiving communities (something the book addresses even-handedly). These could include de-regulation of zoning and building laws to allow for more housing to be developed, better access to federal funds to lessen the financial burden to local communities, and limitations for access to entitlements for a specific time-frame or according to the type of visa/permit (wink-wink Canada).
As an immigrant myself and proud American Citizen, I am cognizant of, and extremely grateful for, the many opportunities afforded to me by this great nation, and would love nothing more than to see it flourish. As this book shows, one of the best avenues to do so is to welcome those that want to work hard to make sure it happens. Heavy-handed approaches to immigration hurt us all in the long term, and perhaps America will be made great again when it once more opens its arms to the industrious and enterprising spirit that made her a superpower. But I don't think that's what that slogan had in mind...
Highly possible recommendation.
November 10, 2024
This is a wonderfully compelling and data-driven book that clearly demonstrates that immigration improves innovation, investment, and job creation, and even makes us safer as a country. The author argues both against binary views of immigrants as villains to be feared and of immigrants as victims to be supported. Instead, immigrants are primarily people who positively contribute to society.
Hernandez shares data that shows that immigration improves investments through improved transnational networks, bringing in capital to communities and diversifying sources of investments. Immigrants also make us more innovative, both in science and technology, but also in consumer products more widely, with companies founded by immigrants creating more jobs than companies started by native workers at all company size levels. Immigrants also generally pay more in taxes than do natives. And contrary to the oft repeated idea that immigrants steal native jobs, immigration generally does not result in meaningful job losses or wage declines for native workers (with the one exception of high schooler jobs and wages being somewhat lowered by low-skilled immigrants). Immigrants increase both the supply and demand for workers, and many American businesses are in fact asking for more workers than current U.S. employment and immigration trends are providing.
Hernandez also speaks to the cultural issues around immigration, arguing that integrated immigrants that remain attached to both their original and new culture are most successful, enriching society in the process through an expanded array of products, traditions, food, etc. He also shows that immigrants reduce crime, with legal immigrants being less likely to commit either violent crime, property crime, and drug violence. Undocumented immigrants are even less likely to commit these crimes, likely because they want to avoid getting kicked out of the country. Rather than viewing immigration as primarily a matter of security (with immigration agencies currently housed under DHS), Hernandez argues that the real national security threat is that keeping immigrants out of the country would slow our economic and technological progress. Had the U.S. not allowed talented immigrants before its 1924 law, for example, the Nazis may have developed the atomic bomb before the U.S. As a matter of national security, we need immigrants!
Rather than entirely positive, "The Truth About Immigration" also (concisely) discusses the broken nature of our current immigration system - including the need to better distribute the costs of hosting new immigrants: whereas federal revenues are neutral about where new immigrants land, costs can be significant at the state and local levels, and a better federal system of burden-sharing needs to be created. Hernandez also discusses how the several different kinds of visas available with very low caps make legal immigration much more difficult than it ought to be - in the process encouraging illegal immigration. He demonstrates that "increasing enforcement of a bad system leads to more rather than less unauthorized immigration" (p. 244). In 1965, caps were placed for the first time on immigrants from the Americas (previously, no restrictions on immigrants coming south of the border existed). However, those caps were set much lower than the annual flow of seasonal migrants. As a result, and due to stricter broader enforcement, migrants who used to come to the U.S. seasonally and then return to Mexico ended up staying in the U.S. illegally. And the more border security was enhanced the more they stayed. Which, historically, is really the main reason for the large amount of illegal immigrants in the U.S. - the category of illegal immigration largely being a continuation of the previously legal category of temporary/seasonal workers. The paranoid and xenophobic politics around immigration south of the border (as opposed to other kinds of immigration, such as Chinese, etc.) date back to this flawed 1965 immigration law.
Unfortunately, the U.S. just elected a President who has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, promises that if enacted will lead not only to significant short-term expenses (and, of course, constitute a humanitarian crisis), but also to the long-term weakening of the American economy and of our ability to compete internationally. We have to find better ways to deal with immigration (legal and illegal) as a country, and understanding the facts and data about the issue should be our starting point. This book does much to shed light on the situation and is recommended for anybody with an interest in U.S. politics.
I find only two minor weaknesses with the book: first, the book focuses on immigration to the United States of America and while many of its lessons are applicable elsewhere, a book written for Europe (or the Middle East, or Sub-Saharan Africa) may have contained different perspectives. Second, the book does not engage the topic of border security vis-à-vis drug cartels nor does it discuss how U.S.-Latin American relations affect immigration. Those two gaps notwithstanding, the lessons and conclusions of this book are clear: immigration is a net positive to society, and our policies ought to reflect that fact first and foremost.
Hernandez shares data that shows that immigration improves investments through improved transnational networks, bringing in capital to communities and diversifying sources of investments. Immigrants also make us more innovative, both in science and technology, but also in consumer products more widely, with companies founded by immigrants creating more jobs than companies started by native workers at all company size levels. Immigrants also generally pay more in taxes than do natives. And contrary to the oft repeated idea that immigrants steal native jobs, immigration generally does not result in meaningful job losses or wage declines for native workers (with the one exception of high schooler jobs and wages being somewhat lowered by low-skilled immigrants). Immigrants increase both the supply and demand for workers, and many American businesses are in fact asking for more workers than current U.S. employment and immigration trends are providing.
Hernandez also speaks to the cultural issues around immigration, arguing that integrated immigrants that remain attached to both their original and new culture are most successful, enriching society in the process through an expanded array of products, traditions, food, etc. He also shows that immigrants reduce crime, with legal immigrants being less likely to commit either violent crime, property crime, and drug violence. Undocumented immigrants are even less likely to commit these crimes, likely because they want to avoid getting kicked out of the country. Rather than viewing immigration as primarily a matter of security (with immigration agencies currently housed under DHS), Hernandez argues that the real national security threat is that keeping immigrants out of the country would slow our economic and technological progress. Had the U.S. not allowed talented immigrants before its 1924 law, for example, the Nazis may have developed the atomic bomb before the U.S. As a matter of national security, we need immigrants!
Rather than entirely positive, "The Truth About Immigration" also (concisely) discusses the broken nature of our current immigration system - including the need to better distribute the costs of hosting new immigrants: whereas federal revenues are neutral about where new immigrants land, costs can be significant at the state and local levels, and a better federal system of burden-sharing needs to be created. Hernandez also discusses how the several different kinds of visas available with very low caps make legal immigration much more difficult than it ought to be - in the process encouraging illegal immigration. He demonstrates that "increasing enforcement of a bad system leads to more rather than less unauthorized immigration" (p. 244). In 1965, caps were placed for the first time on immigrants from the Americas (previously, no restrictions on immigrants coming south of the border existed). However, those caps were set much lower than the annual flow of seasonal migrants. As a result, and due to stricter broader enforcement, migrants who used to come to the U.S. seasonally and then return to Mexico ended up staying in the U.S. illegally. And the more border security was enhanced the more they stayed. Which, historically, is really the main reason for the large amount of illegal immigrants in the U.S. - the category of illegal immigration largely being a continuation of the previously legal category of temporary/seasonal workers. The paranoid and xenophobic politics around immigration south of the border (as opposed to other kinds of immigration, such as Chinese, etc.) date back to this flawed 1965 immigration law.
Unfortunately, the U.S. just elected a President who has promised to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, promises that if enacted will lead not only to significant short-term expenses (and, of course, constitute a humanitarian crisis), but also to the long-term weakening of the American economy and of our ability to compete internationally. We have to find better ways to deal with immigration (legal and illegal) as a country, and understanding the facts and data about the issue should be our starting point. This book does much to shed light on the situation and is recommended for anybody with an interest in U.S. politics.
I find only two minor weaknesses with the book: first, the book focuses on immigration to the United States of America and while many of its lessons are applicable elsewhere, a book written for Europe (or the Middle East, or Sub-Saharan Africa) may have contained different perspectives. Second, the book does not engage the topic of border security vis-à-vis drug cartels nor does it discuss how U.S.-Latin American relations affect immigration. Those two gaps notwithstanding, the lessons and conclusions of this book are clear: immigration is a net positive to society, and our policies ought to reflect that fact first and foremost.
September 7, 2025
Really enjoyed this book about immigration and would love to invite others in all of my circles to read it and have some discussions about it. Immigration is such a hot topic and I loved the way Hernandez shared evidence to show that immigration is good for our country. I really appreciated his ideas for some concrete things that we can change to improve the system and thereby make it more feasible for people to enter the United States lawfully and contribute in meaningful ways (and I think that he and I would both argue that people who enter now are already contributing in meaningful ways). Ours is a system that is outdated and doesn't meet our needs.
May 7, 2024
This is a fantastic book on immigration. The authors ability to weave economic, cultural, and societal questions into one text makes it a great primer on the issues. Regardless of where you land on questions of immigration, Hernandez gives compelling arguments backed by peer-reviewed research to help give clarity to the current situation. Especially in this political year, and especially as we pass 100 years since the 1924 Immigration Act, this is a timely book that everyone should read.
January 10, 2025
I read this for book club and was really surprised by the actual research and statistics behind immigration. I'm humbled to say that I was one of the masses whose options (if I even had any) were largely shaped by the echo chamber I was in, rather than based on any real information! It was enlightening to read the real examples and numbers presented here, and I'll openly say it changed my mind on several ideas!
Read
January 25, 2026An excellent read for anyone with questions or misgivings about the implications of immigration who wants quality research to shape their opinions instead of politicians or inflammatory social media posts.
While I strongly believe that caring about the welfare of others both inside and outside of our borders *is* a good enough reason to support immigration, I appreciate that the book doesn’t appeal to that argument at all. Instead it highlights the huge benefits of immigration to the receiving country and its natives and the ways that countries who shut it down are left behind.
Some of the myths/ideas thoroughly covered in this book:
–Immigrants take jobs from natives
–Immigrants cause more crime
–Immigrants use more resources
–Immigrants pose a threat to American culture and ideals
It also offers an extensive look at undocumented immigration, what the government-sanctioned process looks like, and the number of years it typically takes, as well as some concrete ideas for reform. Highly recommend it!
While I strongly believe that caring about the welfare of others both inside and outside of our borders *is* a good enough reason to support immigration, I appreciate that the book doesn’t appeal to that argument at all. Instead it highlights the huge benefits of immigration to the receiving country and its natives and the ways that countries who shut it down are left behind.
Some of the myths/ideas thoroughly covered in this book:
–Immigrants take jobs from natives
–Immigrants cause more crime
–Immigrants use more resources
–Immigrants pose a threat to American culture and ideals
It also offers an extensive look at undocumented immigration, what the government-sanctioned process looks like, and the number of years it typically takes, as well as some concrete ideas for reform. Highly recommend it!
December 11, 2025
Devoid of bias or opinion, this book was an excellent, fact-based primer on the realities of the U.S. immigration system. I appreciated recognition of the good and bad, as well as constructive solutions aimed toward improving our current system. I’d recommend this to anyone looking to better understand the effects of immigration, both short and long term.
October 4, 2025
Really good pro-immigration argument. Hernandez caters this one to the moderate crowd, which is arguably the biggest voting base in America.
Leads with economic studies and policy analysis that appeal to left-brain types.
Leads with economic studies and policy analysis that appeal to left-brain types.
August 25, 2025
So good. Read this book. Hernandez is an immigrant from Uruguay and a professor at Wharton Business School at UPenn. He explores immigration using all kinds of data to address so many of the questions and concerns that people use to oppose it:
--Do immigrants cause crime?
--Do they take jobs from natives?
--Do they struggle to assimilate?
--Why don't they just get in line?
He talks about his own path to the United States (student visa turned green card when he married a citizen turned citizen) and confronts how he was eager for people to know how he had come "the right way," and addresses how his understanding of the complex issue has evolved.
Bottom line: successful societies welcome newcomers because they open up new economic markets; they often push natives into better, high-paying jobs (for example, jobs that require better English skills); do not cause more crime; do jobs that many natives won't do; and more. He is not in favor of open borders, but he does believe we need to significantly overhaul the US immigration system and base our systems and quotas on the true economic needs of business and industry, as well as focusing on family reunification.
--Do immigrants cause crime?
--Do they take jobs from natives?
--Do they struggle to assimilate?
--Why don't they just get in line?
He talks about his own path to the United States (student visa turned green card when he married a citizen turned citizen) and confronts how he was eager for people to know how he had come "the right way," and addresses how his understanding of the complex issue has evolved.
Bottom line: successful societies welcome newcomers because they open up new economic markets; they often push natives into better, high-paying jobs (for example, jobs that require better English skills); do not cause more crime; do jobs that many natives won't do; and more. He is not in favor of open borders, but he does believe we need to significantly overhaul the US immigration system and base our systems and quotas on the true economic needs of business and industry, as well as focusing on family reunification.
March 31, 2024
5/5 stars. Now, more than ever, "The Truth About Immigration" is needed to shed light on a heavily debated topic in American politics and society.
Author and Wharton Professor Zeke Hernandez lays out his work in several concise sections; starting with the economic and financial impacts immigration has on countries and communities, followed by the societal impacts, and closes with a few of his own thoughts and suggestions on reform. Each part of this novel lays out the arguments currently used by opponents (ex. "Immigration takes jobs away from existing citizens" or "Immigrants commit crimes and increase the crime rates in the areas they live in") and clearly and patiently debunks each and every one of them, by analyzing the impact of innovation and patents, positive externalities that benefit countries that both receive and send immigrants, and the impact on government aid at the state and federal levels, as well as in the short and long-term. I appreciated as well that there's sufficient background and explanation on things like the visa application process, which is something I've frequently heard in passing on the news or through friends of friends, but had never looked into in detail.
The sections balance Hernandez's distinct explanations with references to studies either he or other researchers have conducted, and also include his own personal experiences and anecdotes, where we're able to learn that he emigrated from Uruguay to the U.S. for school, saw first-hand the difficulty of achieving financial stability and the need for relying on government aid, to the way he continues to give back to his present home country while still maintaining pride in his roots. He also gives nods to individuals he knows in his own life who have been impacted by immigration laws, tying in academic and legal terminology to actual people and stories.
My only complaint about this novel, and is most likely because it is an early ARC as well as a digital copy, is that a number of charts/graphs/tables that were referenced in the book either did not display, or displayed very poorly on my e-reader, but I'm sure that will be addressed in future copies. (My only other complaint that I wasn't able to take a class with Professor Hernandez while I was at Wharton, but he unfortunately wasn't teaching then.)
Very much a recommended read for when "The Truth about Immigration" is published in June 2024!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of this novel!
Author and Wharton Professor Zeke Hernandez lays out his work in several concise sections; starting with the economic and financial impacts immigration has on countries and communities, followed by the societal impacts, and closes with a few of his own thoughts and suggestions on reform. Each part of this novel lays out the arguments currently used by opponents (ex. "Immigration takes jobs away from existing citizens" or "Immigrants commit crimes and increase the crime rates in the areas they live in") and clearly and patiently debunks each and every one of them, by analyzing the impact of innovation and patents, positive externalities that benefit countries that both receive and send immigrants, and the impact on government aid at the state and federal levels, as well as in the short and long-term. I appreciated as well that there's sufficient background and explanation on things like the visa application process, which is something I've frequently heard in passing on the news or through friends of friends, but had never looked into in detail.
The sections balance Hernandez's distinct explanations with references to studies either he or other researchers have conducted, and also include his own personal experiences and anecdotes, where we're able to learn that he emigrated from Uruguay to the U.S. for school, saw first-hand the difficulty of achieving financial stability and the need for relying on government aid, to the way he continues to give back to his present home country while still maintaining pride in his roots. He also gives nods to individuals he knows in his own life who have been impacted by immigration laws, tying in academic and legal terminology to actual people and stories.
My only complaint about this novel, and is most likely because it is an early ARC as well as a digital copy, is that a number of charts/graphs/tables that were referenced in the book either did not display, or displayed very poorly on my e-reader, but I'm sure that will be addressed in future copies. (My only other complaint that I wasn't able to take a class with Professor Hernandez while I was at Wharton, but he unfortunately wasn't teaching then.)
Very much a recommended read for when "The Truth about Immigration" is published in June 2024!
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of this novel!
October 9, 2024
such beautiful work about immigration, this book tells us all about immigration and the different ways that people misunderstood main points of its existence and probably perspectives about how immigration can positively affect the lives of many people. This book has certainly many citations to different studies that I find alluring, it gives me many information to have a more expanded knowledge all about immigration and the different things that it can be solved according to the author. Another thing that I liked about this book is that it was surprisingly a quote en quote self help book for me since some of the things that the author says even if I think it was just made to be about immigration is something that I can actually apply in my daily living! So i applaud the book for that. This is doubtlessly one of the best books (nonfiction) that I've ever read!
August 11, 2024
This apolitical book is profound in teaching me much I didn’t know about immigration. After reading it, I totally agree that we should streamline our process for legal immigration and essentially welcome those who want to come to America via a legal process. Hearing about how slowly the process goes for people trying to follow the rules makes it almost impossible. I wish all elected leaders would read this book.
September 18, 2025
This book should be required reading/listening for anyone who
1) wants to better understand our complicated US immigration system
2) feels like immigrants harm our society
3) feels that immigrants need to "get in line and do it the legal way."
This researcher and expert in immigration wrote an engaging and clear explanation of so many aspects of immigration, and he backs up all his assertions with peer-reviewed research. I listened to the book in entirety during a drive today, but I think I will also get the written copy from the library because I want screenshots of some of the facts and statistics. If someone was interested in the topic but felt crunched for time, I recommend reading the intro, the first few pages of each chapter and then ALL of the chapter 10 and the conclusion. So, so good. Our system is so broken and caught in a bureaucratic quagmire, and it is not only unfair to the immigrants involved, but also hurtful to our own economy and progress as a nation.
1) wants to better understand our complicated US immigration system
2) feels like immigrants harm our society
3) feels that immigrants need to "get in line and do it the legal way."
This researcher and expert in immigration wrote an engaging and clear explanation of so many aspects of immigration, and he backs up all his assertions with peer-reviewed research. I listened to the book in entirety during a drive today, but I think I will also get the written copy from the library because I want screenshots of some of the facts and statistics. If someone was interested in the topic but felt crunched for time, I recommend reading the intro, the first few pages of each chapter and then ALL of the chapter 10 and the conclusion. So, so good. Our system is so broken and caught in a bureaucratic quagmire, and it is not only unfair to the immigrants involved, but also hurtful to our own economy and progress as a nation.
October 22, 2025
10/10 and I think everyone should read it
December 4, 2025
Loved everything about this book. Great sources and easy to digest facts.
August 29, 2025
This book was insightful and informative. I learned so much. It is also well written. The author provides excellent examples and stories to illustrate his points. The book is heavy on statistics, which is good, but I often find that statistics are skewed and can be manipulated to paint certain pictures. I am happy I read this book and now have a better understanding of our immigration system.
October 6, 2024
US-based stats - I would be curious to see an Australian take on this. Good apolitical read.
“The bottom line: immigrants are net positive contributors to everything that makes a society successful.”
Notes:
- Studies confirm that immigrant communities enhance the profitability and sustainability of foreign investments. For example, South Korean banks thrived in Chinese provinces with large ethnic Korean populations due to trusted local networks. This local knowledge and trust were essential for successful business operations.
- Historical migration patterns show that communities with various immigrant backgrounds attract more investment and achieve greater economic complexity.
- Welcoming immigrant communities leads to sustainable economic growth, transforming declining towns into hubs of economic activity and making local economies more prosperous and diverse.
- Generalisation but it's still a point: Economically, immigrants are significant contributors. They’re highly represented in high-growth startups and play a key role in creating diverse consumer products and services. Research shows they’re more likely to file patents and start new businesses, leading to technological advancements and job creation. Immigrants also influence everyday products, from foods like tortillas and sushi to activities like yoga and soccer, enriching the cultural and economic landscape.
- The fiscal impact of immigrants is positive. On average, they contribute more in taxes than they consume in public services. While local governments may bear initial costs for education and services, the long-term benefits at the federal level far exceed these expenses. A 2017 analysis estimated that the average immigrant in the US makes a net positive contribution of $259,000 over 75 years, considering taxes paid versus public services consumed.
- Another misconception is that immigrants take jobs from natives. In reality, they often fill essential roles that natives don’t, complementing the native workforce rather than displacing it.
- Immigrants often take on lower-level tasks as they gain a foothold in the economy, allowing natives to specialize in better-paying roles that suit their strengths.
Other notes:
- Pollo Campero’s success illustrates how immigrant networks can drive investment and create jobs, in contrast to traditional tax incentives used by governments, which often result in high costs and disappointing returns.
- The US men’s national soccer team, historically bolstered by immigrants and their children, achieved significant success in the early twentieth century. This trend continued post-1990, as the team’s performance improved alongside rising immigration levels. Immigrant players brought unique strategies and skills, elevating the team’s overall performance and introducing new playing styles.
- Many people overestimate the number of immigrants and misunderstand their contributions.
- The US system also unfairly limits immigrants from certain countries. For instance, an Indian graduate may wait up to 195 years for an employment-based visa due to per-country caps. This absurdity underscores the need for a more flexible system that adjusts to global and economic realities. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) offered amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants but failed to address the root causes of illegal immigration.
“The bottom line: immigrants are net positive contributors to everything that makes a society successful.”
Notes:
- Studies confirm that immigrant communities enhance the profitability and sustainability of foreign investments. For example, South Korean banks thrived in Chinese provinces with large ethnic Korean populations due to trusted local networks. This local knowledge and trust were essential for successful business operations.
- Historical migration patterns show that communities with various immigrant backgrounds attract more investment and achieve greater economic complexity.
- Welcoming immigrant communities leads to sustainable economic growth, transforming declining towns into hubs of economic activity and making local economies more prosperous and diverse.
- Generalisation but it's still a point: Economically, immigrants are significant contributors. They’re highly represented in high-growth startups and play a key role in creating diverse consumer products and services. Research shows they’re more likely to file patents and start new businesses, leading to technological advancements and job creation. Immigrants also influence everyday products, from foods like tortillas and sushi to activities like yoga and soccer, enriching the cultural and economic landscape.
- The fiscal impact of immigrants is positive. On average, they contribute more in taxes than they consume in public services. While local governments may bear initial costs for education and services, the long-term benefits at the federal level far exceed these expenses. A 2017 analysis estimated that the average immigrant in the US makes a net positive contribution of $259,000 over 75 years, considering taxes paid versus public services consumed.
- Another misconception is that immigrants take jobs from natives. In reality, they often fill essential roles that natives don’t, complementing the native workforce rather than displacing it.
- Immigrants often take on lower-level tasks as they gain a foothold in the economy, allowing natives to specialize in better-paying roles that suit their strengths.
Other notes:
- Pollo Campero’s success illustrates how immigrant networks can drive investment and create jobs, in contrast to traditional tax incentives used by governments, which often result in high costs and disappointing returns.
- The US men’s national soccer team, historically bolstered by immigrants and their children, achieved significant success in the early twentieth century. This trend continued post-1990, as the team’s performance improved alongside rising immigration levels. Immigrant players brought unique strategies and skills, elevating the team’s overall performance and introducing new playing styles.
- Many people overestimate the number of immigrants and misunderstand their contributions.
- The US system also unfairly limits immigrants from certain countries. For instance, an Indian graduate may wait up to 195 years for an employment-based visa due to per-country caps. This absurdity underscores the need for a more flexible system that adjusts to global and economic realities. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) offered amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants but failed to address the root causes of illegal immigration.
April 19, 2025
I nominate Zeke Hernandez to head a new Department of Immigration—one that operates outside the Department of Homeland Security. (Remember when the Bureau of Indian Affairs was under the War Department?—also a bad idea.)
This book offers an outstanding, nonpartisan overview of immigration and its impact on society. Hernandez challenges the dominant narratives that frame immigrants either as victims deserving charity or as villains stealing jobs and threatening security.
Instead, he presents a compelling and optimistic case: immigration is a powerful force for economic growth, innovation, and business development. The flow of people and ideas strengthens society—not weakens it—and fears around crime are consistently contradicted by data.
Hernandez uses a memorable traffic analogy: in traffic policy, both safety and flow matter—but no one suggests stopping all movement in the name of safety alone. Likewise, immigration policy should recognize that movement itself is beneficial, and that excessive restriction leads to stagnation.
This is essential reading for both voters and policymakers. Highly recommend.
This book offers an outstanding, nonpartisan overview of immigration and its impact on society. Hernandez challenges the dominant narratives that frame immigrants either as victims deserving charity or as villains stealing jobs and threatening security.
Instead, he presents a compelling and optimistic case: immigration is a powerful force for economic growth, innovation, and business development. The flow of people and ideas strengthens society—not weakens it—and fears around crime are consistently contradicted by data.
Hernandez uses a memorable traffic analogy: in traffic policy, both safety and flow matter—but no one suggests stopping all movement in the name of safety alone. Likewise, immigration policy should recognize that movement itself is beneficial, and that excessive restriction leads to stagnation.
This is essential reading for both voters and policymakers. Highly recommend.
May 18, 2025
Every once in a while you come across a book that you feel needs to be shouted about from the rooftops. The Truth About Immigration is one of those books.
Zeke Hernandez is an immigrant himself, attended BYU, and is now a professor at UPenn's Wharton School of Business. He never intended to study immigration; he just wanted to know how economic growth happens.
Public discourse tends to paint immigrants in binaries. Either they are villains-- they steal jobs, come here illegally, commit crimes, and change the cultural/moral fabric of a community. Or they are victims-- the poor, huddled masses who we are obligated help at our own cost. But the data clearly debunks both narratives.
This book argues that while immigrants can benefit from coming to the US, the full story is how much our communities actually benefit from having them here. Successful societies welcome newcomers! Hernandez combines compelling personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, evidence-based look at how immigrants affect our local communities and our nation.
You'll learn about the overlooked impact of immigration on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.
My favorite part of the book was learning about the history of our very broken and outdated immigration system (it's waaay worse than I previously thought) and delving into some suggestions for fixing it.
Five stars.
Zeke Hernandez is an immigrant himself, attended BYU, and is now a professor at UPenn's Wharton School of Business. He never intended to study immigration; he just wanted to know how economic growth happens.
Public discourse tends to paint immigrants in binaries. Either they are villains-- they steal jobs, come here illegally, commit crimes, and change the cultural/moral fabric of a community. Or they are victims-- the poor, huddled masses who we are obligated help at our own cost. But the data clearly debunks both narratives.
This book argues that while immigrants can benefit from coming to the US, the full story is how much our communities actually benefit from having them here. Successful societies welcome newcomers! Hernandez combines compelling personal stories with rigorous research to offer an accessible, evidence-based look at how immigrants affect our local communities and our nation.
You'll learn about the overlooked impact of immigration on investment and job creation; realize how much we take for granted the novel technologies, products, and businesses newcomers create; get the facts straight about perennial concerns like jobs, crime, and undocumented immigrants; and gain new perspectives on misunderstood issues such as the border, taxes, and assimilation.
My favorite part of the book was learning about the history of our very broken and outdated immigration system (it's waaay worse than I previously thought) and delving into some suggestions for fixing it.
Five stars.
June 25, 2025
BOOK REVIEW - The Truth About Immigration. Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers, by Zeke Hernandez (05.31.25)
Zeke Hernandez is a Presidential Associate Professor at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. In case you don’t know that is a big, big deal. I didn’t know anything about him but came upon the book while researching the topic. I was surprised to learn that we have a lot of things in common. We are both LDS, have graduate degrees from the BYU Marriot School, have lived abroad in poverty-stricken areas while serving mission for our church. (I wish I shared his genius). It’s certainly unusual that a kid who grew up in poverty in Uruguay would end up as a professor at one of the most prestigious schools in the world. His family’s circumstances improved when his father found stable work in administration that led to living in Argentina, Guatemala, and Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala.
He came to the US on a student visa and became a citizen after marrying his wife. He describes the challenges and difficulties of running the immigration gauntlet even in something that should be so simple as marriage to a US citizen. He takes a data driven approach to his analysis of immigration. Something that has been lost on many in today’s political climate that is more driven by xenophobia and wholesale lies. But along with the data the book is interspersed with compelling descriptions that describe the reality faced by immigrants.
Below I list 5 reasons that the data supports why we need immigration:
Fueling Entrepreneurship & Innovation - Immigrants are 80% more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans, from mom-and-pop diners to cutting-edge tech startups
Boosting Investment & Economic Growth - Hernandez describes an “investment‑immigration‑jobs triangle”, immigrants attract capital (often from home countries), which fosters job creation in host communities
Sustaining the Workforce & Social Safety Nets - As native birth rates decline and baby boomers retire, immigrants fill labor shortages and contribute taxes that support Social Security and Medicare.
Enhancing Creativity & Productivity - While immigrants make up 18% of the inventive workforce, they account for 36% of US patents. Additionally, native colleagues are more productive working alongside immigrants.
Cultural Enrichment & Civic Engagement - Far from diluting American values, immigrants bolster them: they join the military, volunteer, start community institutions—injecting cultural richness and civic energy.
The Truth About Immigration is a masterfully written, thoroughly argued, and deeply hopeful book. Hernandez leverages his scholarly credentials and lived experiences to craft a persuasive case: immigration isn’t merely compassionate, it’s pragmatic. This book is invaluable in today’s polarized debate, offering a vision of openness rooted in data, prosperity, and shared values.
Hernandez also goes into great detail in debunking the anti-immigration arguments we hear time and again from MAGA world.
Misleading “Invasion” Narrative - Despite political rhetoric, foreign-born population shares are lower now than in the early 1900s. Immigration has been steady—not an overwhelming surge.
Crime Myths - Contrary to the claim that immigrants increase crime, Hernandez cites studies showing they commit crime at lower rates than native-born Americans. And are less likely to be incarcerated or arrested, across violent, property, and drug offenses.
Economic Burden - Critics argue immigrants depress wages and take jobs, but data show they actually expand the economic pie, raising overall incomes and employment for all.
The Border Wall Illusion - A physical border wall misses the real problem: visa overstays and complex legal systems. Immigration policies grounded in facts—not fear.
Misconception About “Merit-Only” Immigration - An elite‑only immigration system misses key contributions from less‑skilled immigrants. Hernandez highlights how all skill levels contribute to growth.
The Truth About Immigration is a thoroughly researched, well written, and morally urgent book. Hernandez combines the insight of a top academic with the passion of someone who knows this story personally. For those tired of misinformation and fear-based narratives, this book is a breath of fresh air—and a call to action. In today’s political climate, where xenophobia is often disguised as patriotism, Hernandez offers a deeply hopeful and pragmatic vision: a country strengthened—not weakened—by newcomers. Highly recommended for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of America.
Selected Quotes
“Newcomers often see possibilities where others see limits—they disrupt industries, create markets, and reimagine what’s possible.”
“Immigration is not America’s problem—it is our superpower.”
“They may arrive as outsiders, but their commitment often surpasses that of those born here.”
“Successful societies are not the ones that keep people out. They are the ones that wisely and humanely let them in.”
Zeke Hernandez is a Presidential Associate Professor at Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. In case you don’t know that is a big, big deal. I didn’t know anything about him but came upon the book while researching the topic. I was surprised to learn that we have a lot of things in common. We are both LDS, have graduate degrees from the BYU Marriot School, have lived abroad in poverty-stricken areas while serving mission for our church. (I wish I shared his genius). It’s certainly unusual that a kid who grew up in poverty in Uruguay would end up as a professor at one of the most prestigious schools in the world. His family’s circumstances improved when his father found stable work in administration that led to living in Argentina, Guatemala, and Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala.
He came to the US on a student visa and became a citizen after marrying his wife. He describes the challenges and difficulties of running the immigration gauntlet even in something that should be so simple as marriage to a US citizen. He takes a data driven approach to his analysis of immigration. Something that has been lost on many in today’s political climate that is more driven by xenophobia and wholesale lies. But along with the data the book is interspersed with compelling descriptions that describe the reality faced by immigrants.
Below I list 5 reasons that the data supports why we need immigration:
Fueling Entrepreneurship & Innovation - Immigrants are 80% more likely to start businesses than native-born Americans, from mom-and-pop diners to cutting-edge tech startups
Boosting Investment & Economic Growth - Hernandez describes an “investment‑immigration‑jobs triangle”, immigrants attract capital (often from home countries), which fosters job creation in host communities
Sustaining the Workforce & Social Safety Nets - As native birth rates decline and baby boomers retire, immigrants fill labor shortages and contribute taxes that support Social Security and Medicare.
Enhancing Creativity & Productivity - While immigrants make up 18% of the inventive workforce, they account for 36% of US patents. Additionally, native colleagues are more productive working alongside immigrants.
Cultural Enrichment & Civic Engagement - Far from diluting American values, immigrants bolster them: they join the military, volunteer, start community institutions—injecting cultural richness and civic energy.
The Truth About Immigration is a masterfully written, thoroughly argued, and deeply hopeful book. Hernandez leverages his scholarly credentials and lived experiences to craft a persuasive case: immigration isn’t merely compassionate, it’s pragmatic. This book is invaluable in today’s polarized debate, offering a vision of openness rooted in data, prosperity, and shared values.
Hernandez also goes into great detail in debunking the anti-immigration arguments we hear time and again from MAGA world.
Misleading “Invasion” Narrative - Despite political rhetoric, foreign-born population shares are lower now than in the early 1900s. Immigration has been steady—not an overwhelming surge.
Crime Myths - Contrary to the claim that immigrants increase crime, Hernandez cites studies showing they commit crime at lower rates than native-born Americans. And are less likely to be incarcerated or arrested, across violent, property, and drug offenses.
Economic Burden - Critics argue immigrants depress wages and take jobs, but data show they actually expand the economic pie, raising overall incomes and employment for all.
The Border Wall Illusion - A physical border wall misses the real problem: visa overstays and complex legal systems. Immigration policies grounded in facts—not fear.
Misconception About “Merit-Only” Immigration - An elite‑only immigration system misses key contributions from less‑skilled immigrants. Hernandez highlights how all skill levels contribute to growth.
The Truth About Immigration is a thoroughly researched, well written, and morally urgent book. Hernandez combines the insight of a top academic with the passion of someone who knows this story personally. For those tired of misinformation and fear-based narratives, this book is a breath of fresh air—and a call to action. In today’s political climate, where xenophobia is often disguised as patriotism, Hernandez offers a deeply hopeful and pragmatic vision: a country strengthened—not weakened—by newcomers. Highly recommended for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of America.
Selected Quotes
“Newcomers often see possibilities where others see limits—they disrupt industries, create markets, and reimagine what’s possible.”
“Immigration is not America’s problem—it is our superpower.”
“They may arrive as outsiders, but their commitment often surpasses that of those born here.”
“Successful societies are not the ones that keep people out. They are the ones that wisely and humanely let them in.”
September 15, 2025
4.5/5
All politicians, policy-makers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the importance of immigration should read this book.
I've always known that immigration is important for our economy but this book provided an even larger list of reasons as to why we should be welcoming a diverse range of immigrants. This book provides a comprehensive analysis on the historical impacts of immigration, what works and doesn't work, dispelling misconceptions about immigrants, and most importantly, how immigration helps improve communities, the economy, and promote innovation ("innovation is just intellectual migration"). It also touches upon internal migration (since the impacts aren't too dissimilar from international migration) and provides many examples and stats to support the author's reasoning.
It's important to note that while the book may appear to be biased (the author is an immigrant from Uruguay who is now a Professor at a liberal college), the author does have many conservative values and does his best to approach the topic in a bi-partisan way.
Although the author criticizes historical and current immigration practices in USA, this book is also relevant to those who live outside the USA as it provides many worldwide examples (in Russia, China, Switzerland, EU, etc.) of the benefits that immigrants bring to countries and covers examples of immigration policies that work and don't work.
Overall, this book was very educational and easy to understand. There are many benefits to encouraging immigration (immigrants have the highest spending power, can help improve global trade relationships, immigrant founded start ups and businesses are more innovative and help with job projection, etc.). Canadian politicians will benefit from reading this to address our own issues related to immigration.
*** #5 of my 2025 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read a book about immigration or refugees. ***
All politicians, policy-makers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the importance of immigration should read this book.
I've always known that immigration is important for our economy but this book provided an even larger list of reasons as to why we should be welcoming a diverse range of immigrants. This book provides a comprehensive analysis on the historical impacts of immigration, what works and doesn't work, dispelling misconceptions about immigrants, and most importantly, how immigration helps improve communities, the economy, and promote innovation ("innovation is just intellectual migration"). It also touches upon internal migration (since the impacts aren't too dissimilar from international migration) and provides many examples and stats to support the author's reasoning.
It's important to note that while the book may appear to be biased (the author is an immigrant from Uruguay who is now a Professor at a liberal college), the author does have many conservative values and does his best to approach the topic in a bi-partisan way.
Although the author criticizes historical and current immigration practices in USA, this book is also relevant to those who live outside the USA as it provides many worldwide examples (in Russia, China, Switzerland, EU, etc.) of the benefits that immigrants bring to countries and covers examples of immigration policies that work and don't work.
Overall, this book was very educational and easy to understand. There are many benefits to encouraging immigration (immigrants have the highest spending power, can help improve global trade relationships, immigrant founded start ups and businesses are more innovative and help with job projection, etc.). Canadian politicians will benefit from reading this to address our own issues related to immigration.
*** #5 of my 2025 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - Read a book about immigration or refugees. ***
September 27, 2025
Emarrassingly, I let this book sit in my NetGalley queue way too long. I think in the months leading up to the last election, I just wasn't in the place to read a book on economics and immigration policy. But now I am in the right headspace and have been devouring a genre I usually only occasionally dipped my toes into. Partly this is to seek to understand how and why others think the way they do, and part is to build my argument for what I think what I do. As a science brain, I appreciated the hard statistics and extensive research behind this book (I mostly listened to the audiobook where the degree of referencing is less apparent as it is with all nonfiction audiobooks, but I also perused the e-book where the author's argument is clearly referenced in exquisite detail). Mixing his own personal immigration experience with his academic research on economics, politics, and immigration policy made for both an informative and wholistically interesting read. I highly recommend this book for those wanting to understand actual facts on immigration and not just feelings and what gets politicized in mainstream and social media.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
July 14, 2025
A wonderfully researched book on why immigrants (even most of the illegal ones) make our society, economy, and country, as a whole, a better, more vibrant, innovative, and richer place. I knew and suspected many of the reasons presented in this book, as I've observed these benefits in the communities where I've lived. However, it was nice to see them validated and supported by data.
I guess my one gripe/wish related to the book is that the conclusion/summary would have been more detailed; a sort of "these are the reasons why immigration is important" to use as talking points. Then, if people wanted to dive deeper, you could point them to the book as a whole. Hernandez does do something like this for his chapter on how immigration law needs to change. Kind of a playbook as to what needs to change.
I wish all politicians would read this, and many of the populace as well. At the very least, I think it should be required reading for any lawmakers involved in drafting policy related to immigrants... I suppose it's too much to hope that even most supposedly pro-immigration leaders will read it, though, if they did, they could make their case more firmly.
I guess my one gripe/wish related to the book is that the conclusion/summary would have been more detailed; a sort of "these are the reasons why immigration is important" to use as talking points. Then, if people wanted to dive deeper, you could point them to the book as a whole. Hernandez does do something like this for his chapter on how immigration law needs to change. Kind of a playbook as to what needs to change.
I wish all politicians would read this, and many of the populace as well. At the very least, I think it should be required reading for any lawmakers involved in drafting policy related to immigrants... I suppose it's too much to hope that even most supposedly pro-immigration leaders will read it, though, if they did, they could make their case more firmly.
May 13, 2024
“The bottom line: immigrants are net positive contributors to everything that makes a society successful.”
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Books like this are so important. Zeke Hernandez delves deeply into the topic of immigration and how it affects societies as a whole. There is so much relevant information presented that supports the use that immigration is inherently good. A lot of what people assume about immigration is false and is purported by news outlets to instill fear. But in reality, immigration is good for countries.
This book tackles the idea that immigrants cause crime rates to go up and that immigrants are taking jobs, among others. There is no evidence to back these claims up, and Hernandez does a really great job is laying out all of the evidence. He also really connects his own experience as an immigrant.
It can be a little dense in information that sometimes feels just a little bit boring. But the information in this book is really important, especially considering our current political climate and the amount of misinformation.
June 30, 2024
This was a thought-provoking read. Zeke Hernandez's book is dense with statistics and data which are needed to back up his claims, but he lays it all out in a way that allows most anyone to make sense of it. The book is divided into two parts which focus on the economic and the social impacts of immigration, both documented and undocumented. The information he shares is detailed and convincing, and he even offers suggestions for policy changes. The question in still grappling with is how do we get this information into the hands of those making policy decisions, and perhaps more importantly, those who need convincing.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 3, 2025
There is a ton of powerful and potent content here. I read the first half on my Kindle, then switched to listening via Spotify audiobook. I’ll go back and re-read the rest in print so I can highlight and make notes. The most jarring statistic I read was that 70% of Americans (and more than 80% of Europeans) view immigrants as a “good thing” for our countries. The problem is that the anti-immigrant folks are much louder and passionate in their deeply held belief. It has me wondering, how do I speak just as loudly and with passion about all of the positive stories and statistics about the GOOD that immigration brings to our society and economy?
May 23, 2025
Excellent points about the United States as a great country because it is based on its immigrant population. My own family were immigrants arriving around 1638. My father's ancestors from England to Massachusetts and my mother's from France to Quebec. My own experiences working within the food industry, the hardest working employees I had the privilege to work with were from Mexico, Iran, China, Philippines and other countries, some legal and some probably not legal. I doubt Jesus would honor borders. This planet is heaven on Earth if it wasn't for a some who adhere to borders to separate Gods people.
October 14, 2024
Very timely topic. This was a well-researched and written book. It did lean a liiiitle too business-y at times for me (the author is a Wharton management professor…) but was still an informative read.
April 24, 2025
Everyone in the U.S. should read this book. It’s a clear, concise, and objective look at the economic and social impacts of immigration. I also appreciate that it ends on a common sense recommendation for what a well-functioning immigration system looks like.
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