The Biggest Myth About Immigrating to the U.S.

Kevin R. Johnson

12 Aug 2026

Mariano Sana for Slate highlights the simple truth: there is no line for many prospective immigrants to immigrate lawfully to the United States. "For most of these immigrants, there isn’t a line to wait in. . . . The popular notion that any decent foreigner who is willing and able to work hard can come to the United States to pursue the American dream legally instead of `cutting in front of the line' is a myth." Without a line to wait in, millions of immigrants have come to the United States outside the law.

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From the Bookshelves: Asian American History by Huping Ling

Immigration Article of the Day: A Qualified Defense of Immigration Exceptionalism by Anja Bossow

From the Bookshelves: Unwelcome Shores: Black Refugees in America by Bernadette Ludwig

Immigration Article of the Day: Blind Spots: Choice, Colorblindness, and the Contemporary Experience of Latinx Immigrant Students in America's Schools by Rachel E. Moran