Former President Bill Clinton has shared insights on the need for more immigration to bolster the U.S. economy, particularly in light of declining birth rates. Speaking at an event for Vice President Kamala Harris in Fort Valley, Georgia, Clinton remarked, “America isn’t having enough babies to maintain our population, so we need vetted immigrants to fill the workforce.”
He reiterated his perspective at a later event in Columbus, stating, “We’re experiencing the lowest birth rate in over a century. Without immigration, economic growth will be challenging.” Recent data from the CDC indicates that the U.S. birth rate fell again in 2023, dropping 3% to hit a record low of 54.5 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. This resulted in just under 3.6 million births, a decrease of 76,000 from the previous year.
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The total fertility rate also remains below the replacement level of 2,100 births per 1,000 women— a benchmark that has not been met in the U.S. since 1971. Clinton’s views are echoed by other Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who emphasized in 2022 that welcoming immigrants is essential for a prosperous future.
Declining birth and fertility rates are a global trend. According to Professor Stein Emil Vollset from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, this decline doesn’t have to be viewed negatively. “Lower fertility rates are often a sign of progress—better access to contraception and more opportunities for women’s education and careers,” he noted in a recent article in The Lancet.
In response to these challenges, Harris and Donald Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, have proposed expanding the child tax credit to make parenting more financially manageable.
Meanwhile, immigration remains a hot-button issue in the Trump-Vance campaign, with Trump pledging strict measures against illegal immigration, including mass deportations. At a recent press event, he announced plans to begin deportations in cities like Springfield, Ohio, and Aurora, Colorado, while making unverified claims about migrant activities in those areas.
Following his previous comments, he proposed targeting not just illegal immigrants but also those who are here legally under Temporary Protected Status.