The Brain Drain

• The United States accepts a limited number of legal immigrants each year. Many of the resident visas it issues are for jobs in science and technology that cannot be filled by its own citizenry. By attracting the best and brightest from other countries, the U.S. causes a brain drain from within. Rather than improve the quality of its own math and science programs, it compensates for the lack of an educated populace by importing workers from abroad. Furthermore, it harms foreign countries by taking away smart and talented individuals who could help develop their technological sophistication and economic competitiveness.
  
  

Demographics

• Migrants tend to be disproportionately young and productive. By leaving their home countries, they may cause a demographic crisis in which a shrinking population of young people must support a growing population of retired people. The crisis can feed upon itself, causing even more young people to migrate and worsening the situation for all who remain.
  
  

Racism

• The ideal of a "melting pot" society is a rich, harmonious multicultural fabric of many peoples from many lands. Unfortunately, in the near-term, discrimination can result from a large influx of foreign people. No matter how ethical or intelligent an immigrant may be, native inhabitants may accuse him of "stealing their jobs." On the contrary, the migrant may face higher hurdles in securing employment due to discrimination and the attendant difficulties of assimilating to a foreign culture. And if a migrant becomes downtrodden, then the nativist invokes the other typical complaint: The immigrant must be a criminal. Of course, statistics prove the opposite. For instance, Time Magazine notes that immigrants make up 35 percent of the state population of California but only 17 percent of its prison population.
  
  

Familiarity

• Leaving home may be necessary but sad. You may no longer visit certain friends and family. Holidays and other traditions may not be observed in a new land. Inhabitants may speak a different language. Even certain features of everyday life such as cuisine and entertainment will not be the same. While some may embrace the novelty of a new culture, others will find certain aspects to be alienating.