Immigration Math Doesn’t Pass Muster

To the Editor:

An erroneous assumption underlies the letter from Diana Campoamor (“Foundations Shouldn’t Fear Immigration Measure,” June 20), responding to my op-ed in the May 23 issue. It is predicated upon this misperception: “Immigrants are crucial in balancing the age structure of American society, providing an infusion of young, working-age adults who support the country’s aging population.”

Whether immigration is high or low, the percentage of “working-age adults” and the percentage of “the country’s aging” are essentially identical (the difference is less than 1 percent).

According to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, by applying the high-immigration projection for 2060 (net 67 million immigrants), U.S. workers (ages 18 to 64) are projected to make up 57.3 percent of the population.

Interestingly, with the bureau’s low-immigration projection (net 35 million immigrants by 2060), the working-age share is 56.4 percent. The difference is less than 1 percent.

The Census Bureau’s high-immigration projection places 21.3 percent of the population in retirement age at 2060, compared with 22.6 percent in the low-immigration projection.

Again, the difference is less than 1 percent. The explanation is straightforward: Immigrants age just like everyone else.

Immigration merits a respectful, fact-based conversation. It’s the only way to honorably discharge our responsibility to citizens, foreigners, and the nation. Hopefully, the dialogue will not be based on fear-based rhetoric or unwarranted assumptions.

John F. Rohe
Vice-President for Philanthropy
Colcom Foundation
Pittsburgh