Fact check: How do US immigration quotas compare to other developed countries?

1. Summary of the results

The US immigration system operates under a strict quota of 675,000 visas annually, with a unique 7% per-country limit that creates significant backlogs for high-demand countries like India, Mexico, and China ^[1]. Compared to other developed nations, the US system is relatively restrictive, taking in fewer immigrants per capita than other OECD countries ^[2]. The US system is primarily family-based, with two-thirds of residency visas allocated to family reunification, contrasting with merit-based systems used in countries like Canada and Australia ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• Current Demographics: Immigrants represent 13.7% of the US population, which is comparable to historical levels ^[2]
• Public Opinion:
• Two-thirds of Americans believe diversity strengthens the country
• 40% support current immigration levels
• 36% want reduced immigration
• About one-third worry about demographic replacement ^{[4] [5]}
• Alternative Systems:
• Canada/Australia use point-based merit systems
• EU allows free movement between member states
• Gulf States focus on temporary labor
• Japan/South Korea maintain extremely restrictive policies ^[3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself oversimplifies a complex system that can't be reduced to simple comparisons. Several stakeholders have vested interests in how this information is presented:

• Political Interests: The rise of "replacement theory" in political discourse, with approximately 20% of American adults believing its core tenets, suggests political motivation in how immigration data is presented ^[5]
• Economic Stakeholders: The positive economic and social contributions of immigrants are often understated in public discourse ^[2]
• Reform Advocates: Those pushing for system reform often point to the outdated nature of current US policies, suggesting the need to incorporate elements of merit-based systems while maintaining family connections ^[3]

The current system's evolution from explicitly racist national origin quotas to the present preference category system represents progress, but still maintains restrictive caps that can result in decades-long waiting periods ^[1].