FAIR argues legalization is a siren call to foreigners to cross the border and illegally take American jobs.
If this particular debate got any hotter, we’d likely see politicians duking it out in the House. Legalize. Don’t legalize. What will Washington do with over 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S? The other burning issue is that no one seems to know what Washington will do, including Washington itself, and therein lies the conundrum.
Part of this fractious debate is how illegal immigrants affect the economy. FAIR states loudly that legalizing immigrants would just lure more over the border illegally to take jobs from Americans, and that they would not contribute to the ailing economy. That is backwards thinking. If Americans wanted the jobs the immigrants fill each year, they would be out there working. They are not.
FAIR also thinks the low-skill, low wage workers would not be paying net contributions to taxes, which would then make the eligible for benefits, draining the economy. However, if Americans took the same jobs and got paid the same wages, what would be different about that picture?
On the other side of the fence are those more open-minded individuals who see legalizing those 11 million undocumented workers as being a boon to the economy. If you do the math, that makes sense. Apparently though, if does not make sense to others. Simply put, those immigrants would be the equivalent of, or over, $1.5 trillion added to the gross domestic product in roughly ten years. That’s a whole lot of zeros that would boost the economy. Let’s get on with it.
The more money making the rounds in the economy, the better, because creates and sustains jobs —- a win-win situation for everyone. If the U.S. does not add new workers to stimulate the economy, then the economy does not grow. While it’s not rocket science, it seems the politicians can’t do math too well, except when it comes to their pensions. Put another way, legalizing immigrants would generate more taxes, increase consumption and open doors for workers to get decent jobs, which would generate more taxes, increase consumption and so forth. You get the idea.
Wondering what happens if the nation deports large numbers of immigrants? Good question. It seems it would cost at least $2.6 trillion to the gross domestic product over a period of ten years, but that does not include the price tag on the deportation process, which is about $8,318 per person. So, in reality that number would be far larger. Which will it be then — a $1.5 trillion bonus to the economy on a steady basis or a $2.6 trillion plus deficit each year?
Sally Odell – Rifkin & Fox-Isicoff, PA is an immigration lawyer in Miami with immigration law offices in Orlando and Miami Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.rifkinandfoxisicoff.com.
