Deporting Undocumented Immigrants Would Help Our Economy, Right?

WRONG.

Fact: Eliminating undocumented immigrants from the workforce in the U.S. would not help the economy; in fact, the average loss of 3% of all jobs country-wide would cost the U.S. over $651.5 billion dollars in yearly economic output, as well as $1.757 trillion in annual spending.

-Source: Report from the The Perryman Group

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Fact: Overall, the cost to state and national economies would be astronomical if undocumented workers were removed from the workforce; and this cost would come on top of the cost of litigating and implementing labor laws seeking to remove undocumented immigrants from the workforce.

Source: The Immigration Policy Center report: “The Economics of Immigration Reform: Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Benefit All U.S. Workers and Businesses.

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Fact: The costliness of enforcing local immigration laws has already been exemplified by the following case studies.

-ARIZONA: S.B. 1070 led to a boycott of Arizona’s tourism and convention industry that will ultimately cost the state $253 million in economic output and upwards of $86 million in lost wages over the next 2-3 years.

HAZELTON, PENNSYLVANIA: Currently has an immigration control ordinance undergoing litigation.  The litigation has already cost $2.8 million, and it is estimated the cost could exceed $5 million.

RIVERSIDE, NEW JERSEY: The town briefly enacted its own immigration law.  During its brief enactment, Riverside spent $82,000 and lost commercial tax revenues because of business closings.  Riverside reversed the law in hopes of bringing immigrants back to the town to help refuel the economy.

FARMERS BRANCH, TEXAS (a small Dallas suburb): This suburb has already spent $4 million defending its immigration ordinance.  Legal fees are estimated to hit $5 million.

Source: Center for American Progress


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About the Sources…

The Perryman Group is an economic and financial analysis firm.  The firm was founded by Dr. M. Ray Perryman, a widely accredited economist.  Although TPG’s founder Dr. Perryman has been acknowledged by the U.S. Congress and the Texas Legislature, he does not openly express any political ties that would have biased this information.

-This particular study was conducted for Americans for Immigration Reform, the Business community’s voice on sensible immigration reform.

The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research and policy arm of the American Immigration Council. IPC’s mission is to shape a rational conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. IPC, formed in 2003 is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.

-The IPC is responsible for the American Immigration Council’s research. The American Immigration Council (formerly the American Immigration Law Foundation) was established in 1987 as an IRS designated 501(c)(3),  tax-exempt, not-for-profit educational, charitable organization.

Center for American Progress: The Center for American Progress (CAP) is a self-described “progressive” organization.  It openly admits that it is critical of conservative policymaking. Nonetheless, the Center for American Progress Action Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization.