Center for Sustainable Immigration
Evidence-based research on immigration policy that preserves national identity and cultural cohesion
14.3% of total population - approaching the 1890 peak of 14.8% during the first great wave1
Lawful permanent residents admitted, with another ~3M entering illegally2
Immigration cut from 1.3M (1907) to ~250K annually (1950s avg) through literacy tests and national origin quotas—stayed low for 40+ years3
From 3.5x income in 1985 to 5.6x in 2024—homes now cost 60% more relative to wages than before mass immigration began4
Median rent rose from $600 to $1,837 monthly while wages stagnated—demand outpacing supply5
The Second Wave of Mass Immigration
Foreign-born population and annual immigration since 1970. The Immigration Act of 1990 triggered unprecedented growth.
Foreign-Born Population (millions)
Annual Immigration Flow
Foreign-born residents added since the 1990 Immigration Act
Including their U.S.-born children
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; DHS Yearbook; CIS
Mission
Comprehensive immigration reform that restores America's sovereignty and ensures successful integration.
Reduce Immigration
Transition from mass immigration to sustainable levels that enable genuine integration—economic mobility through fair wages and social belonging within American communities.
Prioritize Compatibility
Focus on immigrants who can assimilate successfully, along with those possessing hyper-specialized skills critical to national interests.
Restore Balance
Significantly reduce immigration to tighten labor markets and allow wages to rise naturally—as they did during the mid-20th century when America last prioritized its workers.
Acknowledging Historical Realities
Even culturally compatible immigration creates challenges when numbers are too high.
The First Great Wave (1890-1924)
America experienced unfettered mass immigration primarily from Eastern Europe, including large numbers of Jewish, Italian, Polish, and other Eastern European immigrants. While many shared religious or cultural similarities with the existing American population, the sheer scale created severe problems:
- Overcrowded tenement housing in major cities
- Dramatic increases in urban housing costs
- Poor sanitary conditions and public health crises
- Strained public services and infrastructure
- Social tensions and cultural conflicts
What Made It Work
Today, descendants of these immigrants—particularly the Christian immigrants—are well-integrated into American society. But this successful outcome wasn't inevitable. Two critical factors enabled integration:
Immigration Restriction
The Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924 dramatically reduced immigration levels, giving existing immigrant communities time to integrate without continuous new arrivals overwhelming the assimilation process.
Forced Assimilation
Strong social pressure, English-language requirements, and civic expectations compelled immigrants to adopt American cultural norms, values, and identity rather than maintaining separate ethnic enclaves.
The lesson is clear: even relatively compatible immigration requires controlled numbers and active assimilation to succeed. Without the 1924 restrictions and the assimilation pressure that followed, the integration of early 20th-century immigrants would likely have failed.
The Three Pillars of Assimilation
Understanding successful immigration requires examining three fundamental dimensions that shape integration outcomes
Religion
Shared religious values, traditions, and moral frameworks create common ground for social cohesion and mutual understanding.
The United States is historically and culturally a Christian country, with a Catholic influence that dates back to the 1800s.
Ethnicity
Common ethnic backgrounds, ancestral heritage, and genetic similarity facilitate natural cultural transmission across generations.
Europeans serve as the bedrock of American identity, with Hispanics representing a large and influential immigrant group.
Culture
The most complex pillar.
Language, social norms, family structures, and civic values shape daily life and long-term integration.
Successful immigrants fill jobs, build businesses, and assimilate into the general population seamlessly—adapting to American culture rather than requiring America to change for them.
Why This Matters
Countries with the most successful immigration outcomes tend to receive immigrants who score highly across all three pillars. When there is significant alignment in religion, ethnicity, and culture, integration happens naturally across generations.
Conversely, large gaps in any pillar—especially culture—create persistent integration challenges that can span multiple generations, affecting social cohesion, economic outcomes, and national identity.
Explore Our Research
Read our in-depth articles and analysis on immigration policy, cultural integration, and comparative international perspectives.
Read Our ArticlesSources
1 U.S. Census Bureau, "Foreign-Born Population in the United States," American Community Survey (2024)
2 Department of Homeland Security, "Yearbook of Immigration Statistics" (2023); Migration Policy Institute analysis
3 U.S. Department of Labor, "Annual Report of the Commissioner General of Immigration" (1907-1930); Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924; Historical Statistics of the United States
4 Visual Capitalist, "American Income vs. Home Prices (1985-2025)"; LongtermTrends.net, "Home Price to Income Ratio"
5 iPropertyManagement, "Average Rent by Year (1940-2025)"; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey