December 2007: A recession begins in the United States that will last for the next two years. During this time of crisis, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that nearly 8.7 million Americans have lost their jobs. Unemployment is at an all-time high and the economy has reached a sudden halt in growth. Immigration is also slowing down; the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that the number of immigrants entering the country increased by only 5 percent in 2008 and fell to 2 percent in 2009. This number means nothing to most of Americans if not a positive sign, as many people believe that immigrants are simply taking the jobs that native-born citizens would otherwise have held, overpopulating the country and overall weakening the economy. Contrary to this widespread misconception, immigrants, in fact, strengthen the economy by creating jobs in America both through the practice of entrepreneurship and through the possession of individual and unique skills, reducing the need for outsourcing, adding diversity, and also alleviating the tension between the United States. States and other nations, ultimately receiving the opportunity for a better life than they would have otherwise had, something this country was initially built on. For starters, immigrants are simply more likely to start their own businesses. To put this into mathematical perspective, the Small Business Administration claims that immigrants are an astonishing 30 percent more likely to become entrepreneurs, and that non-natives own nearly a fifth of all small businesses across the country. You might ask, what does this have to do with me? Well before the recession, the Fiscal Policy Institute listed these small business owners among the lowest-paying jobs, while only 26% beg to differ. Since many immigrants typically arrive in America with next to nothing, they will obviously be more likely to work for lower wages. This is also why it is so advantageous for foreigners to start small businesses. Since they are willing to work harder for less money, this reduces the need for outsourcing. Sourcing Line Computer Economics shows that approximately 2.3 million jobs were outsourced in America in 2012. If immigrants were to replace these positions, shipping costs would drop significantly. The value of the US dollar would be better protected. The need for communication between other countries in making products would no longer be necessary. And most importantly, the quality of the products would probably increase. Together, this makes for an attractive package.