An Immigration Stimulus: The Economic Benefits of a Legalization Program for Unauthorized Immigrants

A central point of contention in the legislative debate over immigration reform is whether or not to create a pathway to legal status for all or most of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States.  

In evaluating the pros and cons of a legalization program, this fact sheet from the Immigration Policy Center states that it is important to keep in mind that legalization is not only a humanitarian act; it is also a form of economic stimulus. The example of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act demonstrates that workers with legal status earn more than workers who are unauthorized. And these extra earnings generate more tax revenue for federal, state and local governments as well as more consumer spending which sustains more jobs in U.S. businesses.

Recent studies suggest that the economic value of a new legalization program would be substantial amounting to tens of billions of dollars in added income, billions of dollars in additional tax revenue and hundreds of thousands of new jobs for native-born and immigrant workers alike. In short, a new legalization program for unauthorized immigrants would benefit everyone by growing the economy and expanding the labor market. (Summary by the Immigration Policy Center.)

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