The takeover
It’s an all-too-familiar story: hordes of immigrants flooding into the United States, displacing local workers, and fundamentally altering the culture of entire regions. They come in waves, settling in large numbers, often clustering in certain states until they become a dominant force. They bring with them their strange customs, food, language, and habits, forcing themselves into the fabric of American society. And the worst part? They’re taking jobs that rightfully belong to hard-working Americans. It’s time to face the uncomfortable truth: these immigrants are a significant part of American history, yet their impact is often underreported. If you think I’m talking about recent immigration trends, think again. The data speaks for itself, and the numbers don’t lie—immigrants have been infiltrating our job markets and reshaping our country for over a century.
In some states, immigrants make up over 40% of the population, particularly in the Midwest and the Great Plains. For example, in Wisconsin, immigrants comprise 44% of the population, while in Minnesota, they represent 39% of the total population. In fact, there are towns and regions where the immigrant population far outnumbers native-born citizens. In North Dakota, some rural areas report an immigrant population of up to 50%, reshaping the communities completely.
But what is perhaps most alarming is the economic takeover. These immigrants are not just filling jobs in industries that native-born Americans supposedly don’t want—they’re dominating entire sectors. Take agriculture, for instance. In many states, particularly those with large farming industries, immigrants hold over 50% of agricultural jobs. In Iowa, immigrants dominate the farming industry, representing over 60% of the workforce in agriculture-related jobs. This influx has had a direct impact on wages for native-born Americans, who find themselves displaced by workers willing to do the same job for less.
The industrial sector is another area where immigrants have completely taken over. In states like Pennsylvania, over 35% of the manufacturing workforce is made up of immigrants, often working in factories that once employed generations of American families. Even in the dairy industry, a backbone of Wisconsin’s economy, nearly 45% of workers are immigrants, pushing native-born workers out of jobs that have been held by locals for generations.
Even more troubling is how these immigrants have managed to integrate themselves into the political system. Many states with large immigrant populations have seen a significant shift in their voting patterns. In states like Ohio and Illinois, where immigrants make up a significant portion of the electorate, voting trends have shifted drastically, with many attributing this to the influence of immigrant communities. These immigrants have not only changed the economy but have also begun to sway the political landscape in their favor.
This is not just about jobs and voting patterns, though. The cultural changes these immigrants have brought are impossible to ignore. Entire towns have been reshaped, and native-born Americans often feel like strangers in their own country. In places like Minnesota, entire communities celebrate holidays that most Americans are unfamiliar with, and in North Dakota, local traditions have been replaced by foreign customs, foods, and festivals. Even language is shifting, with some regions now offering dual-language services to accommodate the growing immigrant population.
And this is only German immigrants.
They began arriving in the U.S. in large numbers in the 19th century and have come to dominate much of the Midwest and other regions, transforming the landscape in ways that have profoundly affected the country.
The descendants of these immigrants still hold onto much of their culture and have influenced everything from Oktoberfest celebrations in Cincinnati to the beer industry in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. They were once seen as outsiders, arriving in waves, taking jobs, and transforming the culture of the United States—much like the narratives often associated with immigrant groups today. The irony, of course, is that what was once considered an "invasion" of German immigrants is now celebrated as part of the rich cultural fabric of America.
When considering Italian or Irish immigrants, the sentiment was much the same. These groups, like the Germans, faced widespread prejudice and were seen as outsiders who threatened American jobs and culture. Italians, arriving in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, were often viewed with suspicion due to their Catholic faith and cultural differences. Similarly, Irish immigrants, who began arriving in waves during the Great Famine of the 1840s, were met with hostility and discrimination, accused of stealing jobs and lowering wages for native-born Americans.
Today, German, Italian, and Irish immigrants fly their flags proudly, often telling stories of what their ancestors overcame to make it in America. Whether it's tales of hardship, perseverance through discrimination, or the pursuit of opportunity, these stories reflect the deep pride they have in their heritage. Across the country, you'll see Irish flags flying high on St. Patrick's Day, Italian flags at festas, and German flags during Oktoberfest—all celebrations of cultural identity that once made them targets of prejudice but now represent cherished parts of American life. The triumphs of their ancestors, who fought to build better lives in the face of adversity, are honored today as symbols of strength and resilience, illustrating how immigrant communities shape the nation's identity.
At the same time, these are often the same people who now advocate for closing the borders to Mexicans and other South Americans who are fleeing conditions similar to those faced by German, Italian, and Irish immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. These South American immigrants are escaping poverty, political instability, and persecution—just as many European immigrants once did. Yet, instead of welcoming them with the same understanding and empathy that their own ancestors sought, some descendants of past immigrant groups now resist offering the same opportunities to today’s immigrants. It’s a striking irony that those who proudly tell stories of their ancestors’ struggles to find a better life in America are sometimes the same voices pushing to deny others that very chance. This contradiction highlights the ongoing tension in America’s relationship with immigration, revealing a gap between the celebration of past immigrant successes and the treatment of current immigrant groups seeking refuge and opportunity.
What we haven't learned from the past is that immigrants take the jobs nobody else will do, becoming the backbone of the American economy. Whether it was Irish and Italian immigrants working in factories and building railroads in the 19th century or Mexican and South American immigrants today laboring in agriculture, construction, and service industries, they have consistently filled critical roles that keep the country functioning. Beyond their contributions to the workforce, immigrants also bring rich culture and traditions that shape American life, from food and festivals to music and art. It’s this diversity, woven from generations of immigrants, that makes America what it is today—vibrant, dynamic, and ever-evolving. The irony is that while we celebrate the contributions of past immigrant groups, we too often fail to recognize that today’s immigrants continue to provide the very same economic and cultural benefits that have always made this country strong.
Americans don't really oppose immigration reform—they're confused. Bombarded with political fear-mongering, many are misled into thinking that immigration is somehow harmful to the economy or a threat to national security. But at the core, what Americans truly want is opportunity: the chance for a stable job, upward mobility, and a secure future for their families. Immigrants want the same thing. Just like the millions who came before them—Germans, Italians, Irish—today’s immigrants are seeking a better life, willing to work hard to achieve it. What’s often forgotten in the political rhetoric is that immigrants strengthen the economy, contribute to society, and embrace the same ideals of opportunity and freedom that define the American dream. Instead of seeing them as a threat, we should recognize that their pursuit of opportunity mirrors our own, and that their success is intertwined with the nation's prosperity.
