The Benefits Immigration Reform Can Bring

By: Daniel Nardini

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Commentary According to a report issued by the Center for American Progress, the report explains in detail how immigration reform will be a major boost to the economy and to America. The report, entitled “The Economic Effects of Granting Legal Status and Citizenship to Undocumented Immigrants,” by Robert Lynch and Patrick Oakford, details that if 11 million undocumented are granted either citizenship or legal status, it will mean they will be able to go into better paying jobs and no longer have to fear being cheated of their wages and forced to work in dangerous conditions. More important, they will be able to boost production by 15.1 percent, and the sheer numbers will not only benefit American businesses, both big and small, but also the unions.

The granting of legal status with a path to citizenship will mean that families will no longer be split up, and will help to make communities more stable. This in turn will mean that the housing market might be somewhat stabilized if immigrant families are able to stay whole and pay taxes. This makes communities stable and helps to put money into public school districts. The legalization of those immigrants now currently working will mean they will no longer have to look over their shoulder, and will mean that there will be fewer immigration raids which would save the U.S. government a lot of money. It will mean far fewer people being jailed as undocumented and will mean less money will have to be spent to deport them. Those being made legal and some mechanism being put in to help import legally those whose skills may be needed will mean a major boost for business and a more stable work force.

Rather than depressing wages for the average American worker, it will help since a stable work environment with more union workers and people willing to work and pay taxes will create more jobs. Those Americans who wish to create their own businesses will be able to hire immigrant and native-born American workers for jobs that without legalization of the undocumented would not exist otherwise. It is estimated that legalization of the undocumented would boost the U.S. economy by $851 billion over a ten year period. All of this is possible if immigration reform is passed. I can only hope that all of Washington, D.C.’s legislators—be they Democrat, Republican or independent—are looking carefully at this report.

Comments are closed.