The Immigration Debate

4/24/2007

Profile of Immigrants

• 1 million legal and 500,000 undocumented enter the country annually

• Total foreign born population: 37 million– 12.4% of US population– 61% (21.7 Million) Legal Permanent Residents– 29% (10.3) Million Undocumented– 3% Temporary and 7% Refugees

• Where are they from [Legal] (Illegal)– Latin America [53.3%]

• Mexico (57%)• Other Latin American Countries (24%)

– Asia [25%] (10.4%) – Europe and Canada [13.7] (6%) – Africa and Other [8%] (4%)

Profile Continued

• In the workplace– Service Industry

• Foreign Born (23.3%) Native (14.9%)

– Unemployment (March 2003)• Foreign Born (7.5%) Native (6.2%)

– Labor Force Participation• Illegal Men (94%) Highest of any group

– Age• 18-64 Foreign Born (80%) Native (60%)• 25-44 Foreign Born (45.1%) Native (27%)

– High School Graduates• Foreign Born (67.2%) Native (87.5%)

Profile Continued

• Living Situation– Central City: Foreign Born (44.4%) Native

(26.9%)– Metropolitan Area: Foreign Born (50.3%)

Native (52.9%)

• Wages– <$20,000 Foreign Born (30.5%) Native

(16.5%)– >$50,000 Foreign Born (21.8%) Native

(30.2%)

Immigration Law

• Legal Entry– Family Connection (480,000/year)– Employment Opportunity (140,000/year)– Refugees (110,000/year)– Diversity Requirement (55,000/year)

Policy

• Bush Policy (Temporary Workers)– Control the borders– Provide laborers where needed

• If there is no willing American

– More rights for those working here• Allow travel across border with documentation

– Incentives to return home after work is complete

Fiscal Costs and Benefits

• Government Benefits– Must show documentation to receive medicaid– $7 billion in Social Security Payments– $79.6 Million unpaid care in California due to

undocumented immigrants– 25% of all unpaid care in southernmost

California and Texas– <1% Came to the US looking for government

services

Policy

• Bush Policy (Temporary Workers)– Control the borders– Provide laborers where needed

• If there is no willing American• Limit the number of visas

– More rights for those working here• Allow travel across border with documentation

– Incentives to return home after work is complete

Policy Continued

• Alternative Views– McCain/Kennedy

• Those with a clean record should be given opportunity to receive Permanent Legal Status

– Kyl/Cornyn• Immigrants should leave before receiving legal status

– Opponents of Temporary Worker Programs• Similar to granting amnesty to illegal immigrants• Allowing immigrants to stay will further drive down wages• The proposal doesn’t do enough to help Americans find the

jobs they need