May 19, 2026 - Virutal Event on US Immigration Now and Then-Myths and Facts
US Immigration Now and Then—Myths and Facts
Two Acclaimed Professors Reveal the Data on Immigration
In 1920, 14 percent of the US population was born in another country. A century later, in 2020, the same 14 percent of the US population was born in another country.
What’s the difference today? And why do these opinions and questions prevail:
How do immigrants today compare to immigrants, mostly from Europe, 100 years ago? Do they assimilate at the same rate? How quickly do they become fluent in English? Do recent immigrants move up the economic ladder as fast as their predecessors from the last century? Do they integrate into other neighborhoods at the same rate? Are new immigrants or their children marrying spouses born in the US or other nations? Are immigrants hurting job prospects of US born citizens? Do they commit more crime?
Our speakers, Stanford Prof. Ran Abramitzky and Yale Prof. Leah Boustan (Harvard PhD 2006), are the first to compile a verifiable big data set comparing immigration today and to immigration in the early 20th century. They revealed their ingenious process to gather data, and the results of the comparison, in Streets of Gold: America's Untold Story of Immigrant Success. Using modern analysis techniques to construct a huge dataset and find answers, their comprehensive research included US immigration records, analysis of thousands of personal letters, and a compilation of millions of records from Ancestry.com. They led comprehensive searches of Social Security records, IRS tax records and birth certificate files across the country. Research assistants scoured hundreds of interviews and conducted extensive surveys. Streets of Gold was chosen as a Best Book of 2022 by The New Yorker, and Best Business Book of 2022 by Forbes.
Hear from Profs. Boustan and Abramitzky as they lead a virtual discussion on the myths of immigration and answer questions; they will also describe new results and findings since the publication of their book.
Reading the book is not required. But for those who do, or are inspired to read the book by attending our session, we will also have a Zoom discussion a few weeks after the event so we can exchange ideas.
Registration is required for this virtual event; the Zoom link will be shared with registered participants close to the event date.
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 pm PT
Virtual Event
Registration Fee: Free for HCSD members (join HCSD for only $35/year HERE); non-refundable registration fee of $10 for non-members.
100% of profits will support the Harvard Club of San Diego Summer Community Service Fellowship which provides funding for a current Harvard undergraduate student to work at a local not-for-profit organization.
REGISTER HERE! Registration ends May 18, 2025 at 1:00pm.
