What Immigrants Bring to the American Table: A Discussion Worth Having

In the great and ongoing story of the United States, the chapter titled “Immigrants” is not a footnote—it is the spine of the book. From the earliest settlers seeking refuge to today’s dreamers pursuing opportunity, immigrants—both documented and undocumented—have continuously shaped, strengthened, and redefined the American experiment.

Let’s begin with the economy, where immigrant hands build what native ambition dreams up. Undocumented laborers harvest our food, care for our children, and patch our roofs after storms. They are the quiet force behind industries that are often overlooked: agriculture, hospitality, elder care, and construction. Documented immigrants, meanwhile, engineer software, staff our hospitals, and launch the small businesses that line Main Street. Together, they don’t “take jobs” as the myth goes—they fill the jobs that keep America running.

In culture, immigrants are nothing short of alchemists. They bring the spice that turns blandness into brilliance. They enrich our neighborhoods with the sounds of new languages and the rhythms of distant lands. From cuisine to fashion, music to festivals, the immigrant touch transforms the ordinary into something beautiful, complex, and deeply human.

Let us not forget that immigrants pay taxes—billions annually. They contribute to Social Security systems they may never benefit from. They fuel local economies with every dollar spent on rent, food, and services. Many send remittances abroad, supporting not only their families but also stabilizing global regions and reducing poverty worldwide.

In education, immigrant children remind us what resilience looks like. Many are multilingual by necessity, straddling cultures and expectations with grace. They grow up to become scientists, artists, teachers, and leaders. They remind our own children that grit, curiosity, and kindness are more valuable than comfort.

And in patriotism? Look no further than immigrant soldiers, enlisting not out of obligation but out of love for the promise of a country that still strives toward justice. Immigrants believe in America. Sometimes more fervently than those born here. Perhaps because they’ve seen what life without democracy, opportunity, or safety truly looks like.

To speak of immigrants is to speak of America itself: imperfect, evolving, and full of potential. Whether documented or not, these individuals bring more than just labor. They bring life. They bring faith in a better future. They bring the very spirit of what it means to be American.

So let us not reduce them to statistics or scapegoats. Let us recognize them as partners in this ongoing project called democracy. The table is wide, and the food is better when everyone brings a dish.