Cristina Jimenez
A Path to Legalization for Immigrants Would Help the Economy
Ira Mehlman, media director of the LA office of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)—a hate group that seeks to reduce immigration to the U.S—argues that legalizing undocumented immigrants would hurt the economy.
FAIR and other hate groups like NumbersUSA and the Center for Immigration Studies have been promoting the same flawed argument. History, however, shows us the opposite—a recent report from the UCLA North American Integration and Development Center finds that the legalization program of 1986:
“Produced both wage and consumption gains, and enhanced tax-revenue collection in the midst of a recession of the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, as well as decades of very high rates of educational, home and small business investments by newly legalized families.”
In terms of projecting the gains of immigration policy that legalizes undocumented immigrants, the author of the study states:
“If Congress and President Obama legalized the current 10-12 million undocumented persons in the U.S. an economic stimulus of $30-36 billion in personal income, 750,000-900,000 new jobs, and $4.5 to $5.4 billion in net tax revenue would result”
In addition to helping the economy, as DMI has argued before, bringing undocumented workers out of the shadows will raise wages and labor standards for all workers.
Cristina Jimenez: Author Bio | Other Posts
Posted at 2:32 PM, Feb 03, 2009 in Economy | Immigration
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Comments
Dear me, Mz. Jimenez, you cite the above organizations as hate groups?
I find it odd that you would grant them so much power. With hundreds of millions of dollars dedicated in just the last three years by business groups, weakened unions, ethnic groups, foreign governments and the like to the advancement of a so-called "amnesty" agenda, the above named groups sum contribution to that amount may barely amount to 2% of total lobbyist spending.
How then would you explain the outpouring you cite against the amnesty movement?
Are 80% of the nation intolerant racists? You know, as long as we're bandying about poll numbers and statistics in this debate, the poll numbers showing people oppsed to unbridled illegal immigration. An incredible number considering recent census figures show no one ethnic group maintains such large percentages.
We must all just hate one other then, you think?--Or need we be so?
You are an intelligent, persuasive writer, well versed in your passion for promoting
illegal immigration issues. I presume you are above reproach in this matter, and not
a for-hire mouthpiece, but really believe in a cause. Those attributes I find highly admirable. I've read your credentials and I am also impressed.
I am disappointed with your attack on any organization sharing the same passion and integrity but who do not share your beliefs. I'm sorry to say I find the tactic distasteful, for I have been the victim of unfounded accusations in the same manner, and I pledge to you, they are groundless.
I certainly agree with you that hateful, ignorant and malicious racism, if that's what we are referring to, does exist-but on either side of any such sensitive issue.
I for one, and I believe you, too, will do everything in your power to stamp such hatred out.
Posted by: willie the taper | February 4, 2009 02:59 AM
Comments reposted from another recent topic:
Being privy primarily to my Latino co-workers opinions, (we are union and non-union construction workers, as we've followed the markets for some years now in order to survive) and having Missouri as my birthplace (the show-me state), I feel obligated to report what I know to be true.
Here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul region of Minnesota, the illegal Latino population
has skyrocketed since the emplacement of a Mexican consulate office in St. Paul and the announcement by both city's leaders that they are now "sanctuary cities".
The majority of my Latino co-workers indicate they are here merely to make their
fortunes and return to their homeland to live prosperous lives. I would presume most of the subsequent newcomers are here with the same intent. Coincidently, my established Latin co-workers hate the newcomers with a passion, since each wave intentionally drives down wages and contracted compensation due to the overabundant labor pool created, even during a favorable economic climate. Obviously, native workers are severely affected, too, those being the lowest economic blue-collar class, who also happen to be raising 50% of American children.
I'm afraid that all members of these societies, having been sold false hope, are played one against the other by the greatest purveyor of which is a corporate elite, that leads our political leaders, media and scholarly institutions by the nose.
Posted by: willie the taper | February 4, 2009 08:37 AM
very weak second arguement i agree with te first statement above. Why not legalize the many latinos whoareloiving in the states. They will live there either way, by legalzing them the wages will go up. By keeping them illegalized it only supports the low wages. Most of the country is made up of latinos, why the constant divide, discrimination and racism.
Posted by: Amalia | March 9, 2009 04:15 AM
very weak second arguement i agree with te first statement above. Why not legalize the many latinos whoareloiving in the states. They will live there either way, by legalzing them the wages will go up. By keeping them illegalized it only supports the low wages. Most of the country is made up of latinos, why the constant divide, discrimination and racism.
Posted by: Amalia | March 9, 2009 04:17 AM
i'm tired of hearing about how poor mexico is. the mexican poor are not america's problem and is not an excuse for people breaking laws.
But more importantly, american's don't know what being poor is.. For them being poor is not having a car or a house. Crazy!.
To see poor people, they should visit india or africa. The average mexican is 6 times richer than the average indian; 7 times richer than the average sub saharan african. So should america let all those people come here too?
Following the law does not pay in america!
legal alien indian
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