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MPR News Staff

Darrell Bricker: Why the U.S. needs more immigrants

Statue of Liberty seen through a fence
Seen through fencing, the Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in August 2019 in New York City.
Drew Angerer | Getty Images 2019

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Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs based in Toronto, spoke at the College of St. Scholastica's Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice and titled his talk, "Why the U.S. Needs More Immigrants."

Bricker says immigration is the United States' "secret weapon" in a demographically changing world.

“The U.S. remains the No. 1 most appealing place for immigrants to go,” Bricker said, adding this shows potential for the U.S. compared to its strategic and economic rivals.

Immigration should not be a “test of your compassion. … Americans need to see that the system has a clear purpose and integrity.” Bricker added it’s hard to build support for immigration policies without it. It has to be seen as in the national interest.

It is difficult to know how much the COVID-19 pandemic will affect demographic trends worldwide, he said. But it will have an effect.

China and India are “responsible for 36 percent of humanity,” Bricker said. “What’s happening there is the most important trend in the world.” India will become No. 1 in population, and Nigeria will be No. 2, followed by China and then the United States.

The three major demographic forces are urbanization, fertility and aging and they all work together: Urbanization reduces fertility. People are living longer than anybody anticipated. One of the most influential trends is migration from rural to urban areas, and this is a global phenomenon, Bricker said.

The empowerment of women is a key factor in our changing world. “It’s increasingly a woman’s world,” Bricker concludes.

Bricker spoke, virtually, at an event hosted on Feb. 11 by the College of St. Scholastica's Alworth Center for the Study of Peace and Justice in Duluth, Minn.

Bricker and John Ibbitson are the authors of “Empty Planet: The Shock of Global Population Decline.”

Following his 40 minute talk, Bricker answered questions from the audience. Listen to his responses by using the audio player below:

Darrell Bricker answers audience questions