Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
On the same day that the Feds filed a lawsuit against Arizona's immigration law, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has just released a report claiming that illegal immigrants cost the U.S. $113 billion a year. In immigration circles, FAIR is about as conservative as it comes: it wants to stop virtually all immigration, legal and illegal, to the United States.
But a study put out two years ago by the Texas-based Perryman Group concluded the opposite. According to the Perryman Report, illegal immigrants contribute $245 billion in GDP to the U.S. economy, not to mention millions of jobs.
So do illegals help or hurt the U.S.?
Personally, I'm with Peter on the question of illegal immigrants--a position he explained beautifully last month in the Wall Street Journal. Amnesty plus border security.
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May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
The two studies looked at different things. The FAIR one looked only at taxes collected and spent. The Perryman one only looked at economic contributions.
Amnesty is one of the few things George W. had right. I wish people could look at the issue rationally and come to a good decision. The current 'debate' has more heat than light, and that's not good for any of us in the end.
I don't think it's a question of whether the illegals are good or bad for the country. It's what we do about it that's important.
Jul '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
I have observed that when someone is unable to successfully make an argument, an appeal for the other side to be "rational" is not long in coming. Americans have even more reason to mistrust government with the left in power. Why would they believe in any plan or promise in the absence of a watertight border? They were fooled about this in the Reagan administration. What better outcome could be expected from the Democrats? As for the future of the Republican Party, it seems to me a rather large portion of the Democratic Party has rather conservative beliefs about illegal immigration. If they are not served by the party on this issue, they will migrate to where their views will be respected.
May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
With numbers that big and issues this complicated, I don't trust anyone's calculations.
The greatest cost will be cultural, rather than economic. Central and South American countries have long histories of dictatorships and big, powerful governments. While many immigrants (legal or otherwise) from those nations have adopted the American ideal of rugged independence, many have retained the statist ideals of their cultural heritage. As U.S. demographics swing in that direction, so will the direction of our government.
May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
To me, the issue is not all that complex. To get a handle, go back about 3 years when emotions weren't roiled by the current economic tumult. Who was talking about immigration reform? Practically speaking, no one. So immigrants are easy scapegoats when the economy tanks. Further, back then it seemed fairly clear that the economy was capable of supporting the immigrants that were here.
So, seal the border. Enact pro-jobs policies to get everyone back to work. And then put in place a set of requirements that leads to citizenship over a period commensurate with the time it takes to obtain legal entry. Give those interested a "blue card" (or pick your favorite color), and as long as they work, pay taxes, and keep their nose clean, they're in when they'd paid their dues.
May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
I think the "amnesty plus border security" proposal is the only one that corresponds with a free-market mindset. If businesses should be able to exchange goods across national borders in the absence of coercive interference, why should individuals attempting to cross those same borders be prevented from doing so by force?
May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
I agree with Emily and Peter, and I think Tom articulated a sensible solution above.
But I am not sure those solutions go quite far enough. George Will made a convincing argument in the Washington Post in March of this year, suggesting that we end the practice of "birthright citizenship." I have to think this would help lessen the impact of the illegal immigrants' drain on our health system and educational systems.
May '10
Re: Illegal Immigrants: Cost 0r Benefit?
I would not trust any study done by FAIR on this subject. Go back and look at their parent and background organizations. These are not groups about which most center-right persons of good will would feel good, regardless of their occasionally lighting on a position of merit.
Here is Linda Chavez's commentary which includes infoirmation about FAIR and their radical population-reduction agenda (scroll down about 3/4 of the way):
Chavez on immigration at NRO