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Feb 24, 2026

The link between immigration and longer life

An NBER study finds that immigrants help keep older adults out of nursing homes — and reduce their mortality rates.

The link between immigration and longer life — kate_sept2004/Getty Images

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Segments From This Episode

Is immigration good for the health of older Americans?
by David Brancaccio, Alex Schroeder and Emma Condon
Thierry Zoccolan/AFP via Getty Images
The short answer: Yes. A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that a 25% increase in the flow of immigrants into the U.S. would prevent 5,000 deaths among older Americans.
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The Team

David Brancaccio Host
Meredith Garretson Morbey Supervising Senior Producer
Alex Schroeder Senior Producer
Ariana Rosas Producer
Erika Soderstrom Associate Producer
Tamar Faggen Assistant Producer
Ashley Rodriguez Assistant Producer
Emma Condon Assistant Producer
Dylan Miettinen Digital Producer
Rachel Brees Audio Engineer
Tessa Bloch Audio Engineer