Borders, Bias, and Belonging: A Critical Look at Immigration Myths and Economic Realities

Puedes leer la versión en español aquí

"Immigrants, especially Muslims, are ruining our values and way of life!"

You've heard it before. But ask the person which values, and that's where the cat catches their tongue.

Let's take a look at two sets of values.

• Respect for human dignity
• Freedom
• Democracy
• Equality
• Rule of law
• Respect for human rights, including those of minorities

• Religion
• Life
• Family
• Mind
• Wealth
• Some contemporary scholars suggest either justice or liberty to be the sixth category.

Do you know which of these values are European and which are Islamic? The first set is European values according to the European Parliament, and the second set is Islamic values according to The Religion of Islam. American values? I can't find a reliable institution to get information from anymore (thanks, Trump). But according to AI, it's individualism, freedom, equality, and hard work.

Since I know my readers are smart, I doubt I need to explain the syllogistic logic behind my argument. But this is the internet, and I know some of you are skimming. Those who complain about immigrants (mostly Muslim immigrants) value religion, life, family, and wealth, but seem to give zero shits about human dignity and respect for human rights.

At Born Without Borders, we imagine a world where compassion crosses borders. But we also face a reality: compassion alone doesn’t fix housing shortages, integrate refugees, or create jobs. What does? Evidence-based policy, honest public discourse, and intentional action.

Is Immigration a Modern Crisis? The History of Human Displacement

More than 123 million people are forcibly displaced today—an all-time high (UNHCR). Yet, migration isn’t a modern crisis; it’s human history. To believe one culture belongs to one country is both historically false and, often, thinly veiled racism.

Yes, immigration can have short-term costs. Yes, housing markets feel pressure. But the evidence overwhelmingly shows that with proper policy, immigration boosts economies, revitalizes communities, and helps host countries manage aging populations (OECD, Pew Research).

Do Immigrants Get Free Housing? Debunking a Common Myth

We often hear: “Why do newcomers get free housing while locals struggle?”

Here’s the truth:

• Housing support for newcomers is typically temporary and minimal, designed to help people enter the private rental market, not to replace it (Canadian Council for Refugees).
• Refugees and asylum seekers face significant housing insecurity, from discrimination to overcrowding to lacking rental history.
• In places like Australia and Canada, the majority of refugees rely on friends, short-term shelters, or underfunded government programs, not government-owned homes (Refugee Council of Australia, IRCC).

This myth is driven by a neoliberal narrative: if someone gets help, they must deserve it by demonstrating self-reliance. And if they’re struggling? Fuck them. That’s not just untrue; it’s inhumane.

How Do Immigrants Impact the Economy? Are Migrants Net Contributors?

Let’s get straight to it. Here’s what the data shows:

• Australia: Migrants are expected to contribute $1.6 trillion to GDP by 2050 (Australian Treasury).
• Germany: A recent analysis by Prof. Martin Werding at Ruhr University, commissioned by Mediendienst Integration, finds that increasing annual net immigration by 200,000 people would reduce Germany’s federal budget deficit by approximately €104 billion. (alternativkraft).
• Canada: Economic immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive, and refugees contribute increasingly over time (Fraser Institute).
• New Zealand: Migrants add nearly $2 billion annually to the economy. (New Zealand Government).

Despite political rhetoric, refugees aren’t drains. Once they’re allowed to work—and many aren’t immediately—they integrate quickly, pay taxes, and fill labor shortages.

“The faster refugees are allowed to work, the faster they contribute.” — OECD

Do Immigrants Steal Jobs? The Truth About Labor Markets

Immigrants are vital to sustaining the labor force in aging societies.

• In OECD countries, migrants make up 15–20% of the workforce.
• In the U.S., they accounted for 67% of workforce growth in recent years.
• In Canada, one in four healthcare workers is an immigrant (Statistics Canada).

The fear that they depress wages? Vastly overstated. A meta-analysis found that a 1% increase in immigrants reduces wages by no more than 0.1%, mostly in low-skilled sectors and only temporarily.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Building the Future

Immigrants don't just work jobs. They create them.

• Immigrants account for approximately 24–29% of new firms, often exceeding 40% in high-immigrant regions, and are 2–3 times more likely to found startups compared to native-born Americans. (NBR, Econofact, American Immigration Council).
• Refugees often become entrepreneurs at higher rates than natives, especially in regions where resettlement has revitalized economies.
• In Australia, 5 of 8 billionaires in a 2000 list had refugee backgrounds.(Home Affairs).

Supporting immigrant entrepreneurship means supporting job creation, innovation, and economic resilience.

Is Immigration Causing the Housing Crisis? Policy vs. Demand

Yes, immigration increases housing demand—but the real culprits behind unaffordability are corrupt construction practices, inflated land costs, high interest rates and governments that benefit from high housing prices via property taxes and capital gains.

• Across advanced economies, mortgage rates rose by more than 2 percentage points in early 2023, squeezing affordability despite some (modest) price drops in countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand
• A European Central Bank study found that rising real interest rates lead to higher rents, even as house prices fall—especially hurting young and lower-income households in countries without strong credit controls.
• Governments often benefit from rising property values through property taxes, capital gains, and fees tied to real estate development. In many jurisdictions, there is little incentive to lower prices.

Blaming immigrants is a convenient political scapegoat that distracts from the intentional policies keeping housing expensive—from under building and land banking to municipal reliance on ever-rising property values. Governments often have little incentive to make housing truly affordable when higher prices mean higher revenues.

Healthcare and Education: Contributions and Challenges

Healthcare:

• Migrants often arrive healthier (the “healthy immigrant effect”), but that advantage fades without access.
• They face barriers—from language to discrimination—but also fill critical roles. In Canada, they are 25% of all healthcare workers.

Education:

• Outcomes vary. In Canada and Australia, immigrants perform as well—or better—than native-born students.
• In parts of Europe, early tracking and under-resourced schools widen gaps. The lesson? Policy matters more than origin.

The Lens of Responsibility: Who Deserves Help?

Beneath many debates on immigration is a deeper question: Who deserves public support?

Neoliberalism has reframed social assistance into something conditional—only granted to the "deserving" poor, the "model" refugee. Immigrants are forced to perform worthiness to access basic needs. If they fail, they’re labeled as burdens. Remember the values I started this article with?

This is compounded by "color-blind" ideologies that pretend equal opportunity exists for all while ignoring systemic inequalities—whether it's cuts to public transport, healthcare barriers, or housing discrimination.

Conclusion: What Kind of Society Do We Want?

Immigration isn't a zero-sum game. It's a choice.

Do we choose short-term fear or long-term prosperity?

Do we choose individual blame or collective investment?

Most studies, success stories, and datasets tell us: migrants and refugees are not the problem—they are part of the solution.

But only if we build systems that are fair, inclusive, and humane.

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I also recommend reading Europe and the Refugee Response: A Crisis of Values? You can find the book for free here or on Amazon.

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