Friedberg’s Immigration Test: Workers vs Welfare

Friedberg proposes an immigration framework centered on distinguishing between 'makers' and 'takers'—categorizing immigrants by their primary motivation for coming to the United States. He argues that individuals whose primary motivation is to access social support services, payments, or welfare should be denied immigration status. Conversely, those motivated by work, self-improvement, and economic advancement should be granted immigration status because they contribute positively to the economy. Friedberg addresses the common misconception that immigration operates as a zero-sum game regarding job creation, asserting instead that productive immigrants—defined as those who create more value than they consume—generate economic growth and create additional jobs that benefit all Americans. He further argues that work-motivated immigrants will naturally culturally assimilate because American culture is fundamentally built on the values of productivity, hard work, and individual agency. According to Friedberg, immigrants who take advantage of these opportunities will organically embrace American ideals, eliminating concerns about cultural incompatibility.