giving facts a fighting chance 100710

8/8/2019 Giving Facts a Fighting Chance 100710

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OCTOBER 2010

GIVING FACTSA FIGHTING

CHANCEANSWERS TO

THE TOUGHEST

IMMIGRATION

QUESTIONS

IMMIGRATIONPOLICYCENTER

A M E R I C A N I M M I G R A T I O N C O U N C I L

A GUIDE


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GIVINGFACTSAFIGHTINGCHANCE

ANSWERSTOTHETOUGHESTIMMIGRATIONQUESTIONS

IMMIGRATIONPOLICYCENTER

OCTOBER2010

ABOUTTHEIMMIGRATIONPOLICYCENTERTheImmigrationPolicyCenter,establishedin2003, isthepolicyarmoftheAmericanImmigrationCouncil.

IPC's mission is to shape a national conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its

research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate

informationabouttheroleofimmigrantsandimmigrationpolicyonU.S.society.IPCreportsandmaterials

arewidelydisseminatedandrelieduponbypressandpolicymakers.IPCstaffregularlyservesasexpertsto

leaders on Capitol Hill, opinionmakers, and the media. IPC is a nonpartisan organization that neither

supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office. Visit our website at

www.immigrationpolicy.organdourblogatwww.immigrationimpact.com.
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013sB3H4Ngeb8u23v8DTLYuHff5o3A9Y7fC7wsO-myYRJX8RIQtjCJU2lT5w5MoDBNruFtlQCCVis4BypKz358QSnkHIGy4kZ3WjQGc9mhqFGdO-75dEFf5V4SGNJr23Hf&id=preview&id=previewhttp://www.immigrationimpact.com/http://www.immigrationimpact.com/http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0013sB3H4Ngeb8u23v8DTLYuHff5o3A9Y7fC7wsO-myYRJX8RIQtjCJU2lT5w5MoDBNruFtlQCCVis4BypKz358QSnkHIGy4kZ3WjQGc9mhqFGdO-75dEFf5V4SGNJr23Hf&id=preview&id=preview


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TABLEOFCONTENTS

WHYWENEEDCOMPREHENSIVEIMMIGRATIONREFORM..................................................................1

ImmigrationReform

and

the

Current

Economy........................................................................3

ImmigrationEnforcement .........................................................................................................5

WorksiteEnforcementandEVerify..........................................................................................6

ImmigrantsandPublicBenefits.................................................................................................8

UnauthorizedImmigrantsandTaxes.........................................................................................9

ImmigrantsandCrime .............................................................................................................10

LocalPoliceandImmigrationEnforcement.............................................................................11

BirthrightCitizenship ...............................................................................................................12

StateLevelImmigrationLegislation ........................................................................................13

WhyDont

Unauthorized

Immigrants

Just

Come

Legally? ......................................................15

ImmigrantIntegration .............................................................................................................16

ImmigrationandtheEnvironment ..........................................................................................17

SURVIVINGIMMIGRATIONINTERROGATIONS....................................................................................18

SolvingUnauthorizedImmigration......................................................................................... 18

BorderControl ........................................................................................................................ 18

ImmigrantsandtheEconomy................................................................................................. 19

Immigrants

and

Taxes............................................................................................................. 19

BirthrightCitizenship .............................................................................................................. 19

StateLevelImmigrationLegislation ....................................................................................... 20

ImmigrantsandCrime ............................................................................................................ 20

ImmigrantsandIntegration.................................................................................................... 20

ImmigrantsandWelfare......................................................................................................... 21

ImmigrantsandtheEnvironment........................................................................................... 21


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1

WHYWENEEDCOMPREHENSIVEIMMIGRATIONREFORM

Americans arejustifiably frustrated and angry with our outdated and broken immigration system. The

problemiscomplex,andacomprehensive,nationalsolutionisnecessary. Politicianswhosuggestthatthe

U.S.candeportitswayoutoftheproblembyremoving11millionpeopleareunrealistic. TheU.S.needsa

fair,practicalsolutionthataddressestheunderlyingcausesofunauthorizedimmigrationandcreatesanew,

nationallegal

immigration

system

for

the

21st

century.

Immigrationreformmustberational,practical,andtough: It isunacceptabletohave11millionpeopleinourcountrylivingoutsidethelegalsystem. Toenhanceoursecurity,wemusthavesmart

borderandinteriorenforcement,targettherealcausesofviolencealongtheborder,andprosecute

thosewhoexploitimmigrantlaborandthosewhoprofitfromsmuggling. Additionally,unauthorized

immigrants should be required to come forward to legalize their status, pay back taxes, learn

English, and pass criminal background checks. Finally, we must create sufficient legal channels to

supportthelevelofimmigrationourcountryneedsinthefuture.

Effortssimplytodeportareoftenpoliticalgames,notseriouspolicyproposals: Overthepasttwodecade,tensofbillionsofdollarshavebeenspentonimmigrationenforcement. Theannualbudget

ofthe

U.S.

Border

Patrol

has

increased

nine

fold

and

the

number

of

Border

Patrol

agents

stationed

along the southwest border has increased nearly fivefold since Fiscal Year (FY) 1992, yet the

unauthorizedpopulationhastripledinsize. Billionsintaxpayerdollarsarewastedeveryyearwhen

weattempttospendourwayoutoftheproblemratherthansolveit.

THEPUBLICWANTSSOLUTIONS

AmajorityofAmericansfavorrealisticreformoverunachievablerhetoric:Pollsconsistently findthatAmericanssupportatoughbutcomprehensivesolution forthoseherewithoutauthorization

over an enforcementonly immigration policy. According to polls of likely 2010 general election

votersconductedforAmericasVoicebyLakeResearchPartnersandBenensonStrategyGroup,66%

ofall

voters

and

74%

of

Latino

voters

supported

comprehensive

immigration

reform

as

opposed

to

enforcementonlymeasures.This included62%ofRepublicans,67%of Independents,and69%of

Democrats. Finally, 67% of all likely voters believed that unauthorized immigrants should be

requiredtoregister,meetcertainconditions,andeventuallyallowedtoapplyforcitizenship,rather

thanleavingthecountryorbeingallowedtostayonlytemporarily.

Thepublicseescomprehensive immigrationreformasconsistentwith,notworkingagainst,ournationseconomicrecovery: Nationwide,67%ofvoterssaidWewouldbebetteroffifpeoplewho

are intheUnitedStates illegallybecame legaltaxpayerssotheypaytheirfairshare,vs.28%who

saidWewouldbebetteroffifpeoplewhoareintheUnitedStatesillegallyleftthecountrybecause

theyaretakingawayjobsthatAmericansneed.

Thebestwaytosolvetheproblemistofacereality: MostunauthorizedimmigrantsareintegratedmembersofU.S.familiesandcommunities. Nationwide,unauthorizedimmigrantscomprise5.1%of

theworkforce,andinstateslikeArizona,theunauthorizedshareoftheworkforceisevenhigher. In

certainsectors, likeagricultureandconstruction,unauthorizedworkerscompriseupto25%ofthe

workforce. Nationwide, there are approximately 4 million U.S.citizen children with at least one

unauthorized parent, and policies that target their parents have grave effects on the children.

Approximately53%ofunauthorizedimmigrantshavebeenintheU.S.tenyearsormore. Thevast

majorityofunauthorizedimmigrantsaresimplyheretowork. Unauthorizedimmigrantswhowork,
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://amvoice.3cdn.net/56a19baae3cb88385d_tsm6va6cl.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/125.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://amvoice.3cdn.net/56a19baae3cb88385d_tsm6va6cl.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdf


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2

paytaxes,donotcommitcrimes,andwanttobeAmericansshouldberequiredtocome forward

andregisterforlegalstatus.

THESOLUTIONIS:

First and foremost, the United States needs a legal immigration system that enhances oursecurity,

strengthens

our

economy,

and

supports

our

communities:

The

most

practical

and

realisticwaytoreduceunauthorizedimmigrationdramaticallyistobringU.S.immigrationpolicyin

line with economic and social realities. Lawmakers should devise immigration policies that are

responsive to labordemandsandensure fairwagesand goodworkingconditions forallworkers,

bothnativebornandforeignborn,andwhichrequireunauthorizedimmigrantsalreadylivinginthe

UnitedStatestoapplyfor legalstatus. Lawmakersmustalsobuildamoreflexibleandresponsive

system for temporary and permanent employmentbased immigration that can adapt quickly to

changingeconomictimes,supportsinnovationandentrepreneurship,andallowsthosewhowantto

contributetheirskillsandtalentstothiscountryanopportunitytodoso. Finally,lawmakersshould

address the delays and restrictions that impose unreasonably long waiting times on hardworking

familiesseekingtojoincloserelativesintheU.S.


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4

IMMIGRANTSHELPDRIVETHEECONOMY

TheU.S. economywill eventually improve, and immigrationhelps to expand the economy: A2007 report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers concluded that immigration

increasesGDPbyroughly$37billioneachyearbecause immigrants increase thesizeof thetotal

laborforce,complementthenativebornworkforce intermsofskillsandeducation,andstimulate

capitalinvestmentbyaddingworkerstothelaborpool.

Immigrationraiseswages formostAmericans: A2010report fromtheEconomicPolicy Institute(EPI)foundthattheeffectof immigrationfrom1994to2007wastoraisethewagesofU.S.born

workers, relative to foreignborn workers, by 0.4% (or $3.68 per week). Even the small (and

shrinking)numberofU.S.bornworkerswithlessthanahighschooleducationsawarelative0.3%

increaseinwages(or$1.58perweek)asaresultofimmigrationduringthisperiod.

Thepurchasingpowerof immigrant communities isenormousandgrowing: According to theSelig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia, the purchasing power of Latinos

totaled$978.4billionin2009andisprojectedtoreach$1.3trillionby2014. Thepurchasingpower

of

Asians

totaled

$508.6

billion

in

2009

and

is

projected

to

reach

$696.5

billion

by

2014.

The entrepreneurship of immigrant communities employsmillions of people: The U.S. CensusBureau estimates that in 2002, 1.6 million Hispanicowned firms provided jobs to 1.5 million

employees,hadreceiptsof$222billion,andgeneratedpayrollof$36.7billion. Thesameyear,1.1

million Asianowned firms providedjobs to 2.2 million employees, had receipts of $326.4 billion,

andgeneratedpayrollof$56billion.
http://207.245.165.145/cea/cea_immigration_062007.htmlhttp://207.245.165.145/cea/cea_immigration_062007.htmlhttp://207.245.165.145/cea/cea_immigration_062007.htmlhttp://epi.3cdn.net/7de74ee0cd834d87d4_a3m6ba9j0.pdfhttp://epi.3cdn.net/7de74ee0cd834d87d4_a3m6ba9j0.pdfhttp://epi.3cdn.net/7de74ee0cd834d87d4_a3m6ba9j0.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csasian.pdfhttp://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200cshisp.pdfhttp://www.terry.uga.edu/selig/docs/GBEC0903q.pdfhttp://epi.3cdn.net/7de74ee0cd834d87d4_a3m6ba9j0.pdfhttp://207.245.165.145/cea/cea_immigration_062007.html


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5

IMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENT

For more than two decades, the U.S. government has tried without success to stamp out unauthorized

immigration through enforcement efforts at the border and in the interior of the country, without

fundamentally reforming the broken immigration system that spurs unauthorized immigration in the first

place. While billions upon billions of dollars have been poured into enforcement, the number of

unauthorizedimmigrants

in

the

United

States

has

increased

dramatically.

Enforcement

alone

will

not

solve

ourimmigrationproblems.

ENFORCEMENTALONEWILLNOTSOLVEOURIMMIGRATONPROBLEMS

Taxpayerdollarsarebeingmisused toacttough: TheannualbudgetoftheU.S.BorderPatrolstood at $3 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010a ninefold increase since FY 1992. The number of

Border Patrol agents stationed along the southwest border grew to 17,000 in FY 2010a nearly

fivefoldincreasesinceFY1992.

Wecantdeportourwayoutofthisproblem: ForyearstheU.S.governmenthasattemptedtouseemployer

sanctions,

border

walls,

worksite

raids,

and

other

deportation

only

measures

to

stop

unauthorizedimmigration,buttheunauthorizedpopulationoftheUnitedStateshastripledinsize,

fromroughly3.5millionin1990to11.1millionin2009.

Its not enforcementits the economy: Some are saying that increases in immigrationenforcementareworkingbecausetheunauthorizedpopulationoftheU.S.hasrecentlydeclinedin

size. However,mostresearchersagreethatunauthorizedimmigrationtotheUnitedStatesisdriven

largelybyeconomics. AccordingtoaJune2008reportbyWayneCornelius,DirectoroftheCenter

for Comparative Immigration Studies at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego, undocumented

migrationclearly responds tochangingU.S.economicconditions,withsteep increases inthe flow

towardtheendofexpansionphasesofthebusinesscycleandsignificantdecreasesduringeconomic

downturns. Moreover,thepatternofundocumentedmigrantsrespondingtoeconomicconditions

ratherthan

policy

decisions

has

continued

during

the

border

enforcement

build

up

that

began

in

1993.

Americaneedsleaderstobalancegoodimmigrationpolicywithenforcementpriorities: Themostpractical and realistic way to reduce unauthorized immigration dramatically is to bring U.S.

immigration policy in line with economic and social realities. Such a policy must include the

following elements: a realistic legal immigration framework that protects U.S. workers while

providing needed labor to American businesses; controlled but reasonable limits on family

immigrationwhichencourageunificationof familiesandstablecommunities;andatoughbut fair

legalizationprogramforthoseherewithoutauthorization. Theundergirdingofsuchanimmigration

regimen is enforcement at the border and the workplace which is targeted at wrongdoers and

genuinethreats,

rather

than

those

merely

seeking

abetter

life.
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CCISbriefing061008.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/FewerJobOpeningsFewerImmigrants10-01-08.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Enforcement_During_Recession_090910.pdf


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WORKSITEENFORCEMENTANDEVERIFY

UnauthorizedimmigrantsprimarilycometotheU.S.towork,andaccordingtothePewHispanicCenter

approximately 5.1% of the American labor force is unauthorized. Enforcing the law at the workplace is

important because it protects vulnerable workers from exploitation, and protects U.S. workers and law

abidingemployersfromunscrupulousemployerswhohireunauthorizedworkers. Employersmustbeheld

accountablefor

employment

and

labor

law

violations.

OneenforcementmeasurethathasbeenexpandingisEVerify:alargelyvoluntaryelectronicemployment

verificationsystemthroughwhichanemployerverifiestheworkauthorizationofallemployeesevenU.S.

citizensusing the databases of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security

Administration (SSA). Currently, approximately216,000 employers of the over 7.4 million in the U.S. are

signeduptouseEVerify. MakingEVerifymandatorywouldrequirerunning60millionnewhiresthrough

thesystemperyear,wherejustover13millionwereprocessed inFiscalYear(FY)2010. Moreover,there

arestillsomeseriousproblemswithEVerifythatmustbeaddressed. ThedatabasesuponwhichEVerify

relies contain errors which could result in U.S. citizens and lawful immigrants being incorrectly denied

permissiontowork.Therearealsoconcernsregardingpotentialmisuseoftheprogrambyemployers.

Evenan

improved

EVerify

is

not,

by

itself,

amagic

bullet

and

will

not

fix

the

broken

immigration

system.

SimplyexpandingEVerifywillnotresolvetheunderlyingproblemswithour immigrationsystem,andcan

have a negative impact on U.S. workers. EVerify is part of a comprehensive solution that also includes

improvedenforcementofemploymentand labor laws, legalizationofthecurrentunauthorizedworkforce,

andcreationofsufficientlegalchannelsforfutureimmigrationsothatneededworkerscancometotheU.S.

legally.

EVERIFYALONEISNOTTHESOLUTION

Weneedpracticalandsensiblesolutions: WecannotexpecttouseraidsoremployerauditsorEVerify to deport 11 million people, and we cannot deny employers the workers they need until

therearelegalchannelstobringthemtotheU.S. Weneedanewimmigrantworkerprogramthat

provides visas for workers who can fill U.S. labor needs, while protecting U.S. workers and

businesses from the unscrupulous employers who exploit vulnerable immigrant labor at the

expenseofU.S.workers.

Enforcementmustincludeemploymentlawenforcement. Comprehensivereformmustrecognizethat strong employment protections for all workers reduces the incentive for unscrupulous

employers to hire and mistreat unauthorized workers, thereby improving wages and working

conditionsforallworkers.

Despite improvements, even the government has trouble making Everify work: The SSAestimates that 17.8 million of its records contain discrepancies related to name, date of birth, or

citizenshipstatus,

with

12.7

million

of

those

problem

records

pertaining

to

U.S.

citizens.

This

implies

thatasmanyas1 in25newhirescouldbeerroneouslyflaggedasineligibletowork. Theseerrors

mean that thousands of U.S. citizens could be denied work because of government errors. Even

thoughthegovernmenthasreducedthepossibilityoferrorbycleaningupdatabases,anykindof

immediate, mandatory program is likely to overwhelm the system, resulting in problems for

employers and workers. Any expansion of the program must go hand in hand with protections

ensuringthatemployeescancorrectandchallengeinaccuratedecisions.
http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/EEVSbythenumbers04-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/EEVSbythenumbers04-08.pdfhttp://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/126.pdf


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7

Eventhegovernmentmisusesthesystem: AccordingtoaJanuary2010reportreleasedbytheSSAInspector General, the agency failed to use EVerify on 19 percent of its new hires. SSA also

improperlyrancheckson169volunteersand individualswhohadnotyetbeenhiredandviolated

program ruleswithrespecttothe timingof itsverifications49percentofthetime. The factthat

one of the two agencies responsible for administering the EVerify program misused it in direct

violationofthe lawdoesnotbodewellforexpandingtheprogramormaking itmandatory forall

employers.

Proposalsthat toutmandatoryEVerifyasasilverbulletwouldbeprohibitivelyexpensive: TheCongressionalBudgetOffice(CBO)foundthattheSAVEAct,whichwouldmakeEVerifymandatory,

woulddecreasefederalrevenuesby$17.3billionfrom2009to2018because itwouldresult inan

increase in the number of people working in the underground cash economy, outside the tax

system. Atthesametime, itwould increasespendingbyover$23billion,resulting inawhopping

pricetagofover$40billionoverthenext10years. CBOalsoestimatedthatSAVEwouldcostU.S.

employers over $136 million to comply in at least one of the first five years its mandates are in

effect.

The impact of amandatory program,without safeguards, could harm Social Security benefits:Scores

of

organizations,

including

the

American

Association

of

Retired

Persons

(AARP),

have

serious

concernsaboutoverloadingtheSocialSecurityAdministrationwithnewmandates. IfEVerifywere

suddenlymandatory,SSAwouldseeanestimated3.6millionextravisitsorcallstoSSAfieldoffices

byAmericanstryingtofixerrorsintheirrecordssotheycanwork. WithAmericansalreadywaiting

up to 500 days for a disability claim decision from SSA, and 78 million Baby Boomers soon to be

eligible for retirement benefits, the SSA cant become a required stop for millions of frustrated

Americansunabletoworkbecauseofgovernmentdatabaseerrors.
http://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdfhttp://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdfhttp://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdfhttp://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdfhttp://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/SSANotReadyforPrimeTime03-08.pdfhttp://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/110/MaraMayor.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CBOandSAVE04-08.pdfhttp://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/A-03-09-29154.pdf


11/24

8

IMMIGRANTSANDPUBLICBENEFITS

Many Americans fear that immigrants disproportionately use welfare programs or public benefits. Some

believe that immigrants are eligible for special benefits that Americans cannot receive. The fact is that

unauthorizedimmigrantsarenoteligibleformostpublicbenefitsanddonotusethemsurreptitiously. Legal

immigrants are also restricted from receiving many benefits. Immigrants pay taxes to fund welfare

programs,but

are

not

eligible

to

reap

the

benefits

of

many

of

them.

UNAUTHORIZEDIMMIGRANTSARENTELIGIBLEFORPUBLIC BENEFITS

Unauthorized immigrants are not eligible for federal public benefits: This includes incomesupplementse.g.,SocialSecurity,SupplementalSecurity Income (SSI),andTemporaryAssistance

forNeedyFamilies(TANF),healthcare(MedicaidandMedicare),andfoodstamps.

Legal immigrants face tough restrictionsonaccessingpublicbenefits: Federal law also imposesharshrestrictionson legal immigrantseligibilityforpublicbenefits. Mostdocumentedimmigrants

cannotreceivefederalMedicaid,TANF,foodstamps,orSSIduringtheirfirstfiveyearsorlonger in

theU.S.,

regardless

of

how

much

they

have

worked

or

paid

in

taxes.

Immigrantsuse lesshealthcare,onaverage,thanU.S.citizens: Lowincome immigrantsare lesslikelytoreceivepublicbenefitsthanareU.S.citizens. ImmigrantsdonotcometotheU.S.toreceive

public benefits, and once they are here, they do not disproportionately use public benefits.

According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, immigrants do not impose a

disproportionatefinancialburdenontheU.S.healthcaresystem. Thepercapitatotalhealthcare

expenditures of immigrants are less than half those of U.S.born persons, and immigrants are

significantlylesslikelytousetheemergencyroomthanarecitizens. Furtherrestrictingimmigrants

accesstobenefits isnotasolutiontoour immigrationproblems. In fact,themorepeoplepaying

into a healthcare system, especially healthier workingage people, the more the costs are spread

out.

BUTTHEYPAYANYWAY

Immigrants pay taxes into the system that funds public services: Even the majority ofunauthorized immigrantspay federal and state income taxes,Social Security taxes, and Medicare

taxes. And all immigrants pay sales taxes and property taxes. Many studies have found that

immigrants pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits. The National Research Council

estimated in 1997 that the average immigrant pays nearly $1,800 more in taxes than he or she

costsinbenefits. Manystatelevelstudieshavealsofoundthatimmigrantscontributemoretothe

economythantheytakeout.
http://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/State_and_Local_Study_Survey_041310_1.pdfhttp://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5779http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Including_Legal_Immigrants_in_Health_Care_Reform.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/health/costs-less-than-citz-2009-05-26.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immspbs/research/imms&publicservices_2006-9-12.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/pubs/guideupdates/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2010-04-08.pdf


12/24

9

UNAUTHORIZEDIMMIGRANTSANDTAXES

As the debate over unauthorized immigration continues to rage, some pundits and policymakers are

claimingthatunauthorized immigrantsdonotpaytaxesandrelyheavilyongovernmentbenefits. Neither

of theseclaims issupported by the facts. According to the Pew Hispanic Center,unauthorized men have

workforce participation rates that are higher than other workers, and all unauthorized immigrants are

ineligiblefor

most

government

services,

but

pay

taxes

as

workers,

consumers,

and

residents.

MANYPAYBUTDONTCOLLECT

Like the restofus,unauthorized immigrantspay taxes: Between onehalf to threequarters ofunauthorized immigrantspay federal and state income taxes,Social Security taxes, and Medicare

taxes. Allunauthorizedimmigrantspaysalestaxes(whentheybuyanythingatastore,forinstance)

andpropertytaxes(eveniftheyrenthousing).

Unauthorized immigrants pay into Social Security, but do not collect: The Social SecurityAdministration(SSA)hasconcludedthatunauthorizedimmigrantsaccountforamajorportionof

thebillions

of

dollars

paid

into

the

Social

Security

system

under

names

or

Social

Security

numbers

thatdontmatchSSArecords;paymentsfromwhichimmigrantscannotbenefitwhileunauthorized.

AsofOctober2005,thereportedearningsonwhichthesepaymentsarebasedwhicharetracked

throughtheSSAsEarningsSuspenseFile(ESF)totaled$520billion.

STATESTUDIESANALYZEUNAUTHORIZEDTAXCONTRIBUTIONS

TEXAS: A2006studybytheTexasStateComptrollerfoundthattheabsenceoftheestimated1.4millionundocumentedimmigrantsinTexasinfiscal2005wouldhavebeenalosstoourgrossstate

productof$17.7billion. Undocumentedimmigrantsproduced$1.58billioninstaterevenues,which

exceededthe$1.16billioninstateservicestheyreceived.

OREGON: A 2007 study by the Oregon Center for Public Policy estimated that unauthorizedimmigrantsinOregonpaystateincome,excise,andpropertytaxes,aswellasfederalSocialSecurity

andMedicaretaxes,whichtotalabout$134millionto$187millionannually. Inaddition,taxes

paid by Oregon employers on behalf of undocumented workers total about $97 million to $136

millionannually. Asthereportgoesontonote,unauthorizedworkersareineligiblefortheOregon

HealthPlan,foodstamps,andtemporarycashassistance.

IOWA: A2007reportfromtheIowaPolicyProjectconcludedthatundocumentedimmigrantspayanestimatedaggregateamountof$40millionto$62millioninstatetaxeseachyear. Moreover,

undocumentedimmigrantsworkingonthebooksandtheiremployersalsocontributeannuallyan

estimated$50millionto$77.8millioninfederalSocialSecurityandMedicaretaxesfromwhichthey

willnever

benefit.

Rather

than

draining

state

resources,

undocumented

immigrants

are

in

some

casessubsidizingservicesthatonlydocumentedresidentscanaccess.
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.iowafiscal.org/2007docs/071025-undoc.pdfhttp://www.ocpp.org/cgi-bin/display.cgi?page=issue070410immighttp://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/undocumented/undocumented.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/031406testpo.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Undocumented%20as%20Taxpayer%2011-29-07_0.pdf


13/24

10

IMMIGRANTSANDCRIME

The persistent myth that immigrants are more prone to criminality than the nativeborn continues to

circulate viciously among politicians, commentators, and the public despite a centurys worth of contrary

evidence that immigrants are less likely than the nativeborn to be in prison, and that high rates of

immigrationarenotassociatedwithhighercrimerates.

IMMIGRANTSHAVELOWERCRIMERATESTHANTHENATIVEBORN

Immigrantsarefivetimes less likelytobe inprisonthanthenativeborn: A2007studybyUniversityof

CaliforniaIrvinesociologistRubnG.Rumbautfoundthatthe3.5% incarcerationratefornativebornmen

ages1839was fivetimeshigherthanthe0.7%rate for immigrantmen in2000. The lower incarceration

rates of immigrants compared to natives holds true especially for the Mexicans, Salvadorans, and

Guatemalanswhomakeupthebulkoftheundocumentedpopulation.

Unauthorized immigration is NOT associated with higher crime rates: Although the unauthorized

immigrantpopulationdoubled from1994to2005,theviolentcrimerate intheUnitedStatesdeclinedby

34.2%

and

the

property

crime

rate

fell

by

26.4%

during

the

same

period.

Border

cities

and

other

cities

with

largeimmigrantpopulationsalsoexperienceddecreasingcrimerates.

HIGHERIMMIGRATIONRATES=LOWERCRIMERATES

Crime is lowest in the stateswith themost immigrants: According to a 2008 report from theconservative Americas Majority Foundation, crime rates are lowest in states with the highest

immigration growth rates. From 1999 to 2006, the total crime rate declined 13.6% in the 19

highestimmigrationstates,comparedtoa7.1%declineintheother32states. In2006,the10high

influxstatesthosewiththemostdramatic,recentincreasesinimmigrationhadthelowestrates

ofviolentcrimeandtotalcrime.

o NewJersey: AnanalysisofdatafromtheNewJerseyDepartmentofCorrectionsandU.S.CensusBureaubyNewJerseysStarLedgerinApril2008foundthatU.S.citizensaretwice

as likelyto land inNewJerseysprisonsas legalandillegal immigrants. Infact,nonU.S.

citizensmake up 10% of the states overall population, butjust 5% of the inmates in

prison.

o California: Foreignborn adults in California have lower incarceration rates than theirnativeborncounterparts. AccordingtoaJune2008reportfromthePublicPolicyInstitute

of California, the incarceration rate for foreignborn adults is 297 per 100,000 in the

population, compared to 813 per 100,000 for U.S.born adults. The foreignborn, who

makeuproughly35%ofCaliforniasadultpopulation,constitute17%ofthestateprison

population,aproportion

that

has

remained

fairly

constant

since

1990.

The argument that unauthorized immigrants are criminals because they are illegal is highlymisleading. UnlawfulpresenceintheUnitedStates(suchasoverstayingavisa)isacivilviolation

ofimmigrationlaw,notacriminalviolation. EntryWithoutInspection(enteringtheUnitedStates

withoutauthorization)isamisdemeanor. Moreimportantly,neitheroftheseoffensesconstitutesa

threattopublicsafetyunlikecrimessuchasmurder,assault,androbbery,allofwhichimmigrants

aremuchlesslikelytocommitthannatives.
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Imm%20Criminality%20%28IPC%29.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Imm%20Criminality%20%28IPC%29.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Imm%20Criminality%20%28IPC%29.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/citizens_twice_as_likely_to_la.htmlhttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/citizens_twice_as_likely_to_la.htmlhttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/citizens_twice_as_likely_to_la.htmlhttp://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/jtf/JTF_ImmigrantsCrimeJTF.pdfhttp://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/jtf/JTF_ImmigrantsCrimeJTF.pdfhttp://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/04/citizens_twice_as_likely_to_la.htmlhttp://www.amermaj.com/ImmigrationandWealth.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Crime%20Fact%20Check%2012-12-07.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Imm%20Criminality%20%28IPC%29.pdf


14/24

11

LOCALPOLICEANDIMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENT

Recently there has been increased public attention on the role of state and local police agencies in

immigration enforcement. Currently,about 67 localitieshaveentered intomemoranda of understanding

(MOUs)withImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE)throughthe287(g)program. The287(g)program

referstothesectionoffederallawcreatedin1996thatestablishesaprogramforlocalpolicetobetrained

byICE

to

enforce

immigration

law.

Approximately

1,075

police

and

correctional

officers

had

been

trained

as

ofJanuary2010. Evenwhen localpoliceofficersarenotdeputizedtoperform immigrationenforcement,

ICEdoesworkthroughthecriminaljusticesystemtoidentifydeportablenoncitizensthroughprogramssuch

astheCriminalAlienProgram(CAP)andtheSecureCommunitiesprogram. Criticsarguethatthesepolicies

which involve localpolice in theenforcementof federal immigration law lead to increaseddiscrimination

and racialprofiling,stretch the limited resourcesof lawenforcement,anderoderather thanpromote

trustbetweenimmigrantcommunitiesandthepolice,thusendangeringpublicsafety.

LOCALCOPSDONTWANTTOBEIMMIGRATIONOFFICERS

There is strong and broadbased opposition to local police enforcement of immigration laws:Advocates

for

victims

of

domestic

abuse,

faith

based

organizations,

immigrant

rights

groups,

elected

officials,and lawenforcementofficialsallagreethatstateandlocalpoliceshouldnotbeenforcing

federalimmigrationlaws.

Whenpoliceenforceimmigrationlaws,orareperceivedtobeenforcingimmigrationlaws,publicsafety decreases: When police are turned into immigration agents, immigrants (legal and

unauthorized)whoarevictimsorwitnessesofcrimearefearfulofcooperatingwiththepolice. This

putsentirecommunitiesatrisk.

When police enforce immigration laws, other crimes go uninvestigated: The experience ofMaricopaCounty,Arizona,hasshownthatwhenpolicearehighlyinvestedinenforcingimmigration

laws,othercrimesdonotreceivetheattentiontheydeserve,andresponsetimestoemergency911

callsincrease.

Enforcingimmigrationlawiscostly: Thefederalgovernmentdoesnotcoverthecostsincurredbylocalitiesthatenforceimmigrationlaws. Afteronlythreemonths,MaricopaCountyhadadeficitof

over$1million. ThePrinceWilliamCounty,Virginia,jailspentnearly$800,000morethanexpected

toholdsuspectedunauthorizedimmigrants. Thismoneycouldbebetterspentonpublicsafety.

Whenlocalpoliceenforceimmigrationlawitislikelytoleadtoracialprofiling,discrimination,andcostly litigation: When local law enforcement gets involved in immigration enforcement,

particularlywithoutproper trainingandoversight,peopleareoften targetedonthebasisoftheir

accent or appearance. This can lead to serious violations of the civil rights of legal permanent

residents

and

even

U.S.

citizens.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/section287_g.htmhttp://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/section287_g.htmhttp://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/section287_g.htmhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/LocalLaw/locallaw-limiting-tbl-2008-12-03.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/LocalLaw/locallaw-limiting-tbl-2008-12-03.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/LocalLaw/locallaw-limiting-tbl-2008-12-03.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CommunityPolicingPaper3-09.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CommunityPolicingPaper3-09.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CommunityPolicingPaper3-09.pdfhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503027.html?nav=emailpagehttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6878331.htmlhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/CommunityPolicingPaper3-09.pdfhttp://www.houstontx.gov/police/pdfs/mcc_position.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/LocalLaw/locallaw-limiting-tbl-2008-12-03.pdfhttp://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/LocalLaw/locallaw-limiting-tbl-2008-12-03.pdfhttp://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/JS-Democracy-On-Ice-print.pdfhttp://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/section287_g.htm


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12

BIRTHRIGHTCITIZENSHIP

Antiimmigrant groups and legislators have persisted in their attempts to restrict or repeal birthright

citizenshipinStateHousesandtheU.S.Congress. SeveralbillshavebeenintroducedthatwoulddenyU.S.

citizenship to children whose parents are in the U.S. without authorization or on temporary visas. The

Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitutionthe cornerstone of American civil rightsaffirms that, with

veryfew

exceptions,

all

persons

born

in

the

U.S.

are

U.S.

citizens,

regardless

of

the

immigration

status

of

their parents. Following the Civil War and the emancipation of the slaves, the Fourteenth Amendment

restated the longstanding principle of birthright citizenship, which had been temporarily erased by the

SupremeCourt's"DredScott"decisiondenyingbirthrightcitizenshiptotheU.S.bornchildrenofslaves. The

SupremeCourthasconsistentlyupheldbirthrightcitizenshipovertheyears.

ELIMINATINGBIRTHRIGHTCITIZENSHIPISUNCONSTITUTIONAL,IMPRACTICAL,EXPENSIVE,

COMPLICATED,ANDWOULDNOTSTOPUNAUTHORIZEDIMMIGRATION

EliminatingbirthrightcitizenshipwouldimposeasignificantburdenonallAmericans,whowouldnolongerhaveaneasyandinexpensivewaytoprovetheircitizenship. Ifsimplybeingborninthe

U.S.

and

having

a

U.S.

birth

certificate

were

not

proof

of

citizenship,

Americans

would

have

to

navigatecomplexlawstoprovetheircitizenship. Otherthanabirthcertificate,mostAmericansdo

nothavegovernmentdocumentsthatestablishU.S.citizenship.

AllAmericanparentsnotjustimmigrantswouldhavetoprovethecitizenshipoftheirchildrenthroughacumbersomeprocess. SomeAmericanswouldhavetoprovetheyderiveU.S.citizenship

through one or both of their parentsa process that can be difficult for even experienced

immigration attorneys. In some cases, whether ones parents were married or unmarried at the

timeofonesbirthmakesadifferenceindeterminingcitizenship. Moreover,thegenderoftheU.S.

citizenparentcanaffectthedetermination.

Eliminatingbirthrightcitizenshipwouldnotsolvetheproblemofunauthorizedimmigration. Sincechildren born to unauthorized immigrants would presumably be unauthorized, the size of the

unauthorizedpopulationwouldactuallyincreaseasaresultofthenewpolicy. Whilesomechildren

couldacquirethecitizenshipoftheirparents,otherswouldbeleftwithnocitizenshipornationality,

leavingthemstateless.

Eliminatingbirthrightcitizenshipisadistractionthatmovesusawayfromfixingtherealproblemswithourbrokenimmigrationsystem. ImmigrantscometotheU.S.towork,toreunitewiththeir

families, or to flee persecution. Denying birthright citizenship will not discourage unauthorized

immigrantsfromcomingtotheU.S.,anditwillnotencouragethosealreadyheretoleave.
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Ending_Birthright_Citizenship_061510_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Birthright%20Citizenship%20091509.pdf


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13

STATELEVELIMMIGRATIONLEGISLATION

In April 2010, Arizona governor Jan Brewer signed into law SB 1070,also known as the Support Our Law

Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Acta sweeping law with the intent of eliminating unauthorized

immigrationinthestatethroughstateandlocallawenforcementactions. However,afederaldistrictcourt

enjoinedseveralofthemostcontroversialpartsofthe law, includingtheprovisionthatexplicitlyrequired

state

and

local

lawenforcement

officials

to

inquire

about

immigration

status

during

any

lawful

stop,

detention,orarrest,aswellastheprovisionmaking itamisdemeanorto failtocarryproper immigration

documents. Despite criticism of the Arizona law from Republicans, Democrats, police officials, religious

leaders, and civil rights leaders, legislators in at least 23 statesArkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida,

Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New

Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah

haveintroducedorareconsideringintroducingsimilarlegislation.

SB1070TYPELAWSARENOTAREALSOLUTIONTOOURIMMIGRATIONPROBLEMS

ThejustificationforSB1070doesntholdwater. WhileproponentsofSB1070claimedthelawwasa

crimefighting

measure,

data

from

the

U.S.

Bureau

of

Justice

Statistics

show

that

unauthorized

immigration isnotassociatedwithhighercrimerates. Whilethere isrealviolencealongtheU.S.

Mexicoborder,SB1070doesnothingtoaddressit.

Thepolicehavealwayshadtheauthoritytoarrestimmigrantsforcrimestheycommit. Ifapoliceofficerseesanimmigrantcommitacrime(suchastheftormurder),orsuspectsthatanimmigrant

hascommittedacrime,thatpoliceofficercanarrestthatimmigrantforthatcrime. Thepolicealso

have the authority to arrest immigrants for criminal violations of immigration law, such as re

entering the U.S. after being deported. Furthermore, the police have always had the ability to

contactICEandinquireaboutanarresteesimmigrationstatus,andmanyprisonsandjailshavean

ICEpresence,sothatimmigrantscanbeidentifiedandplacedintoremovalproceedings. SB1070type lawswouldbeexpensive. In addition to the enormous costs of implementing the

legislation,theMayorofPhoenixestimatedthelossofconventionrevenuetoArizonaasaresultof

SB1070willbeat least$90millionover5yearsduetoboycotts. AstudyreleasedinJuly2008by

theUniversityofArizonasUdallCenterforStudiesinPublicPolicyconcludedthateconomicoutput

woulddropannuallybyatleast$29billion,or8.2percent,ifallnoncitizens,includingunauthorized

workers, were removed from Arizona's workforce. About 14 percent of the state's 2.6 million

workersareforeignborn,andabouttwothirdstothreefourthsofnoncitizensareunauthorized.

SB1070typelawscouldleavestateslesssafe. Ifpolicespendtheirtimedetainingandquestioningpeople they suspect of being unauthorized immigrants, it will detract from their ability to

investigateandsolvemoreseriouscrimes. InArizona,SheriffArpaiohasdivertedhisdepartments

resourcesto

immigration

enforcement,

and

response

times

to

911

calls

have

increased,

arrest

rates

havedropped,andthousandsoffelonywarrantshavenotbeenserved.

SB 1070like lawsjeopardize the federal governments ability to set priorities in immigrationenforcement. SB1070woulddivertscarcefederalresourcesawayfromfindingdangerouscriminals

throughouttheUnitedStates,focusing insteadondetaininganddeportingnonviolent immigrants

inonestate:Arizona
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5681/t/5800/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=463http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5681/t/5800/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=463http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5681/t/5800/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=463http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/us/12phoenix.htmlhttp://udallcenter.arizona.edu/immigration/publications/impactofimmigrants08.pdfhttp://udallcenter.arizona.edu/immigration/publications/impactofimmigrants08.pdfhttp://udallcenter.arizona.edu/immigration/publications/impactofimmigrants08.pdfhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_ed8677e0-8999-5a12-8eb8-5f27d6cc0dff.htmlhttp://udallcenter.arizona.edu/immigration/publications/impactofimmigrants08.pdfhttp://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/us/12phoenix.htmlhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/Arizona_Punishment_Doesnt_Fit_the_Crime_042810_0.pdfhttp://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5681/t/5800/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=463


17/24

14

SB1070typelawscouldleadtoracialprofiling. Suchlawsopenthedoortointrusivequestioningforanyonewhenthereisasuspicionthattheindividualmaybeherewithoutauthorization. While

mostU.S.citizensdonotcarrytheirpassports, lackofsuchdocumentationcouldsubject themto

lengthyquestioning,andpossiblyarrestordetention, iftheycannotpersuadeanofficerthatthey

areintheU.S.legally. Inparticular,criticsfearthatpersonswhoareHispanicordarkskinned,who

have accents, or otherwise appear "different" are more likely to face racial profiling given the

demographicsof

unauthorized

immigration.

SB1070typelawswouldresultincostlylitigationforstates. Sofar,sevenlawsuitshavebeenfiledtostop implementationofSB1070 inArizona,andthecostsareyettobeseen. Otherstatesand

localities that passed antiimmigrant legislation and ordinancessuch as Fremont, Nebraska;

Farmers Branch, Texas; and Hazleton, Pennsylvaniahave been caught up in costly litigation to

defendtheirlaws.

Whilepeoplearegenuinelyfrustratedoverthefailureofthefederalgovernmenttofixourbrokenimmigrationsystem,creatingapatchworkofpotentiallyunconstitutionalandconfusing lawsisnot

ananswer. ArecentpollconductedbyPoliticoshowsthatpeopledontnecessarilywantstatesto

jump into the fray as much as they want solutions. While 23% of respondents supported states

takingaction,

61%

supported

passing

comprehensive

immigration

reform

through

Congress.

A

CNN

pollshowedthatwhile55%ofAmericansfavoredSB1070,anastounding81%supportedaplanthat

wouldlegalizeunauthorizedimmigrantsiftheyhadajobandpaidbacktaxes.
http://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdfhttp://www.legalactioncenter.org/clearinghouse/litigation-issue-pages/arizona-legal-challengeshttp://www.legalactioncenter.org/clearinghouse/litigation-issue-pages/arizona-legal-challengeshttp://www.legalactioncenter.org/clearinghouse/litigation-issue-pages/arizona-legal-challengeshttp://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6C306439-18FE-70B2-A82C7AE85F0EC954http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdfhttp://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdfhttp://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdfhttp://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdfhttp://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/27/rel10f1a.pdfhttp://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6C306439-18FE-70B2-A82C7AE85F0EC954http://www.legalactioncenter.org/clearinghouse/litigation-issue-pages/arizona-legal-challengeshttp://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/publications/287gReportFinal.pdf


18/24

15

WHYDONTUNAUTHORIZEDIMMIGRANTSJUSTCOME

LEGALLY?

Many Americans wonder why unauthorized immigrants do not come to the U.S. legally or simply get in

lineforpermanentresidency(agreencard). Infact,thelegalimmigrationsystemisgrosslyoutofdate

andhas

not

kept

up

with

the

labor

demands

of

our

economy.

Our

immigration

laws

have

not

been

updated

in20years,andthereareonly limitedavenuesavailablefor legal immigration. Theoverlyrestrictive legal

limitsongreencardsmeanthatvirtuallyallunauthorizedimmigrantshavenoalternativeforlegalentryinto

theU.S.

THEREAREVERYFEWWAYSTOCOMETOTHEU.S.LEGALLY

Thereisnolineforthevastmajorityofunauthorizedimmigrants: Accusationsthatanestimated11.1millionunauthorizedimmigrantsabout5%oftheU.S.workforceshouldsimplygetinline

missthepoint: Thereisnolineandtheregularchannelsdonotincludethem.

Unauthorized

immigrants

would

rather

come

legally:

Many

Americans

think

that

unauthorized

immigrants want to be unauthorized. However, opinion surveys of unauthorized immigrants

indicatethat,ifgivenachoice,98%wouldratherliveandworklegallyintheU.S.andwoulddosoif

theycould. Butmostdonothavethenecessaryfamilyrelationshipstoapplyforlegalentry,donot

qualifyasrefugeesunlesstheycomefromahandfulofcountriesexperiencingpoliticalunrest,and

donotworkinprofessionsthatcurrentlyqualifyforagreencard.

Gettingagreencardiseasiersaidthandone: ThewaystocomelegallytotheU.S.arerestrictedtocertaincategoriesofpeople.

o The employmentbased immigration system is out of sync with Americas needs: Thenumber of green cards is limited to5,000peryear for theentireUnitedStates for less

skilledworkers

such

as

landscapers,

hotel

workers,

and

construction

workers.

This

grossly

insufficient number of green cards for workers in these types ofjobs is the crux of the

unauthorizedimmigrationproblemintheU.S.

o Family immigration is highly restricted: U.S. citizens and greencard holders who meetstrict eligibility requirements can petition to bring in certain eligible foreignborn family

members. However, therearenumerical limitsonmost familycategories,anddemand is

typicallyhigherthanthenumberofavailablegreencards. Thisresultsinsignificantbacklogs

for most family members hoping to enter the U.S. legally, with immigrants from some

countrieswaitingdecadesforentry.

o Refugees: Personswhocanproveawellfoundedfearofpersecutionmay,insomecases,be

granted

political

asylum

or

refugee

status.

However,

the

burden

of

proof

is

high

and

the

process is rigorous. An immigrant does not qualify as a refugee because of poverty or

difficulteconomicconditionsinhisorherhomecountry.
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdfhttp://www.immigrationforum.org/press/release-display/listening-to-the-voices-of-immigrants-in-the-immigration-debate/http://www.immigrationforum.org/press/release-display/listening-to-the-voices-of-immigrants-in-the-immigration-debate/http://www.immigrationforum.org/press/release-display/listening-to-the-voices-of-immigrants-in-the-immigration-debate/http://www.immigrationforum.org/press/release-display/listening-to-the-voices-of-immigrants-in-the-immigration-debate/http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/WhyDontTheyGetInLine03-08.pdf


19/24


20/24

17

IMMIGRATIONANDTHEENVIRONMENT

Some commentators argue that immigration contributes to overpopulation in the U.S. and therefore

causes more pollution, greater consumption of scarce resources, and more damage to the environment.

This argument not only ignores the economic forces that drive immigration, but also misses the

fundamental point that overpopulation is not the cause of U.S. environmental woes. Solving our

environmentalproblems

isnt

as

simple

as

curbing

immigration

to

the

U.S.

Ultimately,

immigrants

are

not

the problemthe U.S. lifestyle, our systems of production and consumption, and the policies that shape

themare. Weneedreal,rationalsolutionsandleadershiponenvironmentalissues,notscapegoats.

IMMIGRATIONISNOTBADFORTHEENVIROMENT

Overpopulation is not what damages the U.S. environment: Levels of environmentaldestructionandresourceconsumptionarenotdirectlyrelatedtopopulationsize,evenincountries

suchastheU.S.andthoseoftheEuropeanUnion(EU)thathavesimilarstandardsofliving. Rather,

they are conditioned by a wide range of factors, such as the degree to which a society depends

upon polluting and nonrenewable fossil fuels; utilizes pollutionreduction technologies; develops

systems

of

mass

transit

to

minimize

individual

automobile

use;

uses

plastics

and

other

non

biodegradable materials in manufacturing and packaging consumer goods; recycles potentially

recyclablematerials;andcontrolsagriculturalrunoffintowaterways.

A fewpeople canpollutea lot,ora lotofpeople canpollutea little: According to the WorldResources Institute,theUnitedStates ishometo30%fewerpeoplethantheEuropeannationsof

theEU15,yetproduces40%moregreenhousegases(GHGs),suchascarbondioxideandmethane.

Infact,U.S.emissionsofGHGsonapercapitabasisaremorethandoublethoseoftheEU15. The

problem isnotthenumberofpeople intheU.S.;rather,theproblem isthewaytheU.S.produces

goodsandconsumesresources.

Blaming immigrants forclimate changesuggests that lessdeveloped countriesshould stay thatway:

According

to

those

who

blame

immigrants

for

our

environmental

woes,

immigrants

would

ultimatelyproducelessCO2iftheyjustremainedintheirlessindustrialized(andthereforelessCO2

emitting) home countries. Based on this logic, unauthorized immigration isnt the problem,

increasedwealthandinternationaldevelopmentare.

TheU.S. isnt a lifeboatwith limited resources thatwill sinkwith toomany people: When itcomestotheglobalwarmingcrisis,wellallsinkorswimtogether.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.climateark.org/blog/2007/10/american_lifestyle_is_the_prob.asphttp://www.climateark.org/blog/2007/10/american_lifestyle_is_the_prob.asphttp://cait.wri.org/http://cait.wri.org/http://cait.wri.org/http://cait.wri.org/http://cait.wri.org/http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/07/climate-change-is-a-humanitarian-problem-with-health-consequences-for-all/http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/leadership.htmlhttp://cait.wri.org/http://cait.wri.org/http://www.climateark.org/blog/2007/10/american_lifestyle_is_the_prob.asphttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-kelley/voodoo-science-blames-cli_b_118896.html


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SURVIVINGIMMIGRATIONINTERROGATIONS

QuickResponsestotheToughestQuestions

SOLVINGUNAUTHORIZEDIMMIGRATION:

Q: Whatareyougoingtodoaboutillegalimmigration?A: Immigrationreformmustbetough,practical,andsmart. Itisunacceptabletohave11million

people inourcountry livingoutsidethe legalsystem,andAmericansknowwecantdeport11

millionpeopletosolvetheproblem.

Americawinswhenwefacerealityandtakeactiononimmigration. Realisticsolutionsrequire

theU.S.todomorethansecuretheborder,crackdownonemployerswhooperateoutsidethe

law,andpursuesmugglerswhoprofitfromourbroken immigrationsystem.Wemustaddress

the underlying causes of unauthorized immigration. Moreover, reform wont work unless we

address the11million immigrants livinghere without legal status. Wemust require them to

come

forward

to

legalize

their

status,

pay

back

taxes,

learn

English,

and

pass

criminal

backgroundchecks.

America needs a legal immigration system that enhances our security, strengthens our

economy,andbenefitsour communities. We need a realistic, legal immigration framework

thatprotectsU.S.workerswhileprovidingneeded labor toAmericanbusinesses. Reasonable

limits on family immigration would encourage the unification of families and the building of

stablecommunities. Thefoundationforthiskindof immigrationsystem isstrongandsensible

enforcement that disentangles immigration from crime and national security threats, and

focuses enforcement efforts on weeding out the bad actors in the workplace and our

communities.

BORDERCONTROL:

Q: Howwillyoucontroltheborder?A: Securingourborderisvitalfornationalsecurity,butwecantdeportourwaytosafety. We

mustsupplyadequatemanpowerandgroundbreakingtechnologytosecuretheborder,butwe

cantbe lulled intothinkingthatenforcementalonewillcontrol theborder. Walls,raids,and

billions of dollars spent at the border arent stopping unauthorized immigration. The annual

budget of the U.S. Border Patrol has increased ninefold, and the number of Border Patrol

agentsstationedalongthesouthwestborderhasgrownnearly fivefold,sinceFiscalYear (FY)

1992. ButtheunauthorizedpopulationoftheUnitedStateshastripledinsize,fromroughly3.5

million

in

1990

to

11

million

today.

America

needs

leaders

who

will

move

beyond

the

deportationonlymentalityand implementrealsolutionstosecuretheborderandrestorethe

rule of law. Enacting comprehensive immigration reform and creating legal channels so that

immigrantsenteringourbordersdoso lawfullywillfreeuptheBorderPatroltofocusondrug

smuggling,human trafficking,andothercriminalactivity rather thanchasing busboys through

thedesert.


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IMMIGRANTSANDTHEECONOMY:

Q: Shouldwepassimmigrationreformwhilewereinaneconomicdownturn?A: In this economic downturn, many may argue that immigration reform is not a priority, but

reforming our broken immigration system is an important part of our economic recovery. A

recentstudybyDr.RaulHinojosaOjeda foundthatcomprehensive immigrationreformwhich

includesthe

legalization

of

unauthorized

immigrants

already

in

the

U.S.

would

yield

$1.5

trillion

totheU.S.GDPoveratenyearperiod,generatebillionsinadditionaltaxrevenueandconsumer

spending, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Currently, many unauthorized

immigrantsareworkingintheundergroundeconomy,andunscrupulousemployersareableto

exploit them and create unfair competition by violating labor laws and paying subminimal

wages. WeneedtomakesureeveryoneworkingintheU.S.isworkinglegally,andweneedto

enforce labor laws against employers who undercut U.S. workers and exploit unauthorized

immigrants. Leveling the playing field for both workers and employers will eliminate unfair

competition and improve the wages and working conditions of all workers. Putting all

immigrantworkersintheformaleconomywillincreasewages,taxrevenues,andconsumption.

IMMIGRANTSAND

TAXES:

Q: Isittruethatillegalimmigrantsdontpaytaxesanddrainoureconomy?A: As Ben Franklin said, Nothing is certain but death and taxes. Like the rest of us,

unauthorizedimmigrantspaytaxesontheirpropertyandanythingtheybuy. Morethanhalfof

them have taxes taken out of their paychecks, but because our immigration system is

dysfunctional, these taxes are paid under false Social Security numbers. We need a new

regimeninwhichweknowwhoispayingtaxesandcanensurethatnooneisgettingafreeride.

Theonlywaytodothatistopullunauthorizedimmigrantsoutoftheshadowsandgetthemon

therightsideofthelaw.

Threestate

level

studies

have

found

that

unauthorized

immigrants

pay

more

in

taxes

than

they

useinbenefits. InIowa,unauthorizedimmigrantspayanestimated$40to$62millioninstate

taxes,while theyand their employers contribute an additional $50million to$77.8million in

federal, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from which they will never benefit. InOregon,

unauthorized immigrantswho are not eligible for any state benefitspay between $134

millionand$187millionintaxeseachyear. Finally,inTexas,theStateComptrollerfoundthat,

withoutunauthorizedresidents,thegrossstateproduct in2005wouldhavebeen$17.7billion

less.

BIRTHRIGHTCITIZENSHIP:

Q:Wouldnteliminatingbirthrightcitizenshipresolveourimmigrationproblems?

A: Eliminating birthright citizenship would be unconstitutional, impractical, expensive,

complicated, andwould not stop unauthorized immigration. It would impose a significant

burdenonallAmericanswhowouldnolongerhaveaneasyandinexpensivewaytoprovetheir

citizenship. AllAmericanparentsnotjustimmigrantswouldhavetoprovethecitizenshipof

theirchildrenthroughacumbersomeprocess. Sincechildrenborntounauthorizedimmigrants

would presumably be unauthorized, the size of the unauthorized population would actually

increaseasaresultofthenewpolicy.
http://immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/raising-floor-american-workershttp://immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/raising-floor-american-workershttp://immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/raising-floor-american-workershttp://immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/raising-floor-american-workers


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STATELEVELIMMIGRATIONLEGISLATION:

Q: ShouldmystatepasslegislationsimilartoArizonasSB1070?

A: No. Such laws are not effective at resolving the problems with our broken immigration

system. Onlythefederalgovernmentcanreformourimmigrationlaws. LawslikeSB1070are

expensive, devoteprecious lawenforcement resources to questioning immigrants about their

status,anddivert lawenforcementresourcesawayfrom investigatingseriouscriminalactivity.SB 1070like lawscan also lead to racial profiling and discriminatory behavior. Police already

have the ability to arrest immigrants for any crimes they may commit, and they can already

cooperatewiththefederalgovernmenttoenforceimmigrationlaws.

While people are genuinely frustrated over the failure of the federal government to fix our

brokenimmigrationsystem,creatingapatchworkofpotentiallyunconstitutionalandconfusing

lawsisnotananswer. ArecentpollconductedbyPoliticoshowsthatpeopledontnecessarily

wantstatestojump intothe frayasmuchastheywantsolutions. While23%ofrespondents

supported states taking action, 61% supported passing comprehensive immigration reform

through Congress. A CNN poll showed that while 55% of Americans favored SB 1070, an

astounding81%

supported

aplan

that

would

legalize

unauthorized

immigrants

ifthey

had

ajob

andpaidbacktaxes.

IMMIGRANTSANDCRIME:

Q: Arentalotofimmigrantscriminals?A: Immigrants are less likely to be criminals than the nativeborn. Americans arejustifiably

concerned about crime in their neighborhoods, and immigration restrictionists are quick to

pointthespotlightatcasesinwhichimmigrantshavecommittedhorriblecrimes. Anyonewho

commitsacrimeshouldbepunished,butthereisampleevidencethatimmigrantsarelesslikely

than the nativeborn to be in prison, and high rates of immigration are not associated with

higherrates

of

crime.

In

fact,

the

incarceration

rate

for

native

giving facts a fighting chance 100710

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