Immigrants: The Engine of American Greatness Faces New Threats
NEW YORK (AP) — America’s strength has always been inextricably linked to its immigrant population, a reality increasingly challenged by restrictive policies. From powering the agricultural sector to driving innovation in STEM fields, immigrants are not simply *part* of the American story – they *are* a fundamental component of its success.
Recent data underscores this vital contribution. Over 1 million farmworkers in the United States are undocumented, with immigrants comprising roughly 70 percent of all U.S. farmworkers. The impact of tightening immigration enforcement is already visible. Intensive ICE raids in California’s Central Valley in July 2025 led to labor shortages, leaving crops to rot and driving up food prices, demonstrating the fragility of the food supply chain when reliant on a vulnerable workforce.
Beyond the Fields: Immigrant Labor Across Key Sectors
The reliance on immigrant labor extends far beyond agriculture. Immigrants are heavily represented in construction, hospitality, and food processing, accounting for approximately 33 percent of meat processing and over 80 percent of food manufacturing workers. In the leisure and hospitality sector, they make up roughly 18 percent of the workforce, and over 30 percent of hotel staff.
Fueling Innovation: Immigrants in STEM
The impact of immigrants is particularly pronounced in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). According to the National Science Foundation, foreign-born workers account for approximately 22 percent of the U.S. STEM workforce. Among those with doctorates in science and engineering, that figure rises to about 43 percent, exceeding 55 percent in computer and mathematical sciences.
Approximately 30 percent of full-time science and engineering faculty at U.S. universities are foreign-born, often concentrated at leading research institutions. Restricting immigration threatens to create significant talent shortages, hindering research, slowing scientific progress, and eroding America’s competitive edge.
A Legacy of Service: Immigrants in the U.S. Military
Immigrants have a long and proud history of military service. In 2017, roughly 4.5 percent of active-duty service members were foreign-born, with approximately 8,000 non-citizens enlisting annually. As of 2022, around 4.5 percent of all U.S. veterans were also born abroad, and immigrants have earned over 20 percent of all Medals of Honor.
Echoes of Reagan: A Vision of American Identity
The enduring importance of immigration was eloquently articulated by President Ronald Reagan, who observed that America uniquely allows individuals from any corner of the globe to become fully American. He argued that this continuous influx of new arrivals is a vital source of the nation’s strength, innovation, and global leadership.
That vision stands in stark contrast to rhetoric that demonizes immigrants. The shift from Reagan’s welcoming embrace to divisive language represents a profound moral cost.
To close the door to immigrants is to jeopardize the very qualities that have made America exceptional. Embracing diversity and welcoming newcomers, regardless of background, is not merely a matter of policy – it is an investment in the nation’s future.
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This article is based on reporting by Alon Ben-Meir, Inter Press Service, February 23, 2026.
