The Economic Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in America

“But all Americans are hurt by uncontrolled, illegal migration. It strains public resources and drives down jobs and wages” (Trump). America has always been known as the melting pot, a place where people come from any country imaginable to live the “American Dream”. While racism has always existed in this country toward people of color it also has a history of hate towards immigrants. It does not help that the current administration has fueled and allowed its believers to express their bigotry in public. The current president himself has thrown the words criminal, rapist, gang members as derogatory forms to describe people from Mexico specifically. His behavior and “alternative facts” created a false narrative about immigrants and their intentions to come to this country. Many Americans fear the undocumented community due to false information on how they negatively affect the economy, but currently research has demonstrated that they help America more then they hurt it.

Immigrants from all around the world migrate to American sometimes with little to no money in hopes of having a better life. In order to make their dream come true they obtain jobs that are the easiest to get when you lack documents, such as social security, birth certificate, citizenship, and even residency papers.These jobs tend to be the most back breaking and in many cases dangerous like farm working. In America, there is a speculation that immigrants are taking the jobs of hard-earned Americans all throughout the United states. According to Pia M. Orrenius and Madeline Zayodny who write on behalf of the Population Association of America have studied and done research that shows any low paying and labor-intensive job is good enough for immigrants no matter the risk it has on their life. Low paying jobs are given and aid the employers in making more profit as well as keeping cost low of agricultural products for consumers. Without the workers now we would not have what we do in stores. This is due to the fact that average Americas will not accept agricultural jobs as easily as undocumented immigrants will. In a study they found that many undocumented immigrants accepted the jobs that were asked of them even if their lives were at risk in fear that they would lose their job. (536) Since undocumented immigrants do not have many alternatives for jobs they are still able to find one, while native-born have a larger pool for jobs and receive more opportunities.

Undocumented immigrants do not exclude DACA students. Although the policy for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival is still in practice these undocumented immigrants still face a possibility of being deported to their place that was once home in certain circumstances. DACA was a program once set up for any child arriving in the U.S at age sixteen and below. DACA aids these children by allowing them to stay in America for a period of two years to stay without the worries of being deported. It also helps these children acquire workers permits. Sometimes as young adults we get lucky and receive our parents support to go to school or to live freely and travel. This is not the case for many undocumented immigrants that sometimes come alone or come at adolescent ages and began to work to help their family. Many do not even have support to continue at a higher education and must work full time as well as attend school full time. Most of this is in consideration that immigrants do not qualify for most of if not any government help that an average citizen would be able to receive. This includes social security benefits, subsidized health care, and government aid, for example, food stamps and even unemployment insurance. From working for low wages, the federal law states that no matter your status you must comply and file taxes. Many immigrants do so because they come to help support their families and fear deportation if they break the law. With this being said many people believe immigrants take advantage of this and use government aid and also do not give back as much as they are taking. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, $1.1 billion dollars come from half of undocumented immigrants who file personal tax returns. (Sacchetti) What many people forget to understand is immigrant do pay into social benefits as well. A huge one is social security, they pay in but receive nothing in return even when they bring in so much of the revenue. They as a matter of fact in some cases must pay the government back a lot of money. An example the article by Maria Sacchetti give is one of many, she explains “Maria, a 30-year-old maid from El Salvador, said she would have to set up a payment plan to settle her $1,130 state and federal tax debt. 'I came here to help my family,' the Silver Spring resident said. 'I don't have a lot of money.' (Sacchetti) Immigrants all across the country pay taxes and sometimes in tax season end up owing the government money they do not have. The argument should not be that immigrants receive more benefits then they qualify for, but should be immigrants should get benefits everyone else gets if they pay taxes and put it forward.

Being an undocumented immigrant student and even a DACA recipient can be especially hard. These students both will be denied federal financial aid as well as most state financial aid. FAFSA, government funded scholarships and grants that have supported millions of students that are on their way to college into a new chapter of their lives, of course, if they qualify. Citizens will always have a chance to sign up and possibly even receive much needed aid to pay for school, but some other students are not as lucky. Undocumented immigrants and DACA students cannot apply because they lack the papers. Instead these students have to apply for in state assistance if the state allows it and they also will rely on scholarships. There are about 22 states in America that have programs that are aimed to aid Undocumented immigrants. According to New England Journal of Higher Education, writer Pooja Patel brings into light that these students not only have to worry about school payments but also about everyday life necessities they must support themselves and work while attending school.

Receiving a higher education not only helps the students but also helps universities as well as communities. 'We support all students' educational goals and dreams, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because investing in all our students improves the sustainability of our communities and the economic competitiveness of our state.'(Patel) When one receives a higher education than a high school diploma the opportunities become endless for said person. According to data found in 2015 there are 40 million immigrants and 12 million of which are undocumented. Of these immigrants a grand total of $775 billion are generated from immigrant run business which employ native born Americans with wages paid to at a staggering amount of $126 billion. (Bluestein) Undocumented immigrants are crucial to our economic health. They help create millions of jobs.

Immigrants only help themselves not America, they are a greater burden on us then help.

Steven Camarota Research Director, Center for immigration Studies states that with the less undocumented immigrants lower level labor jobs would increase wages and would give Americans more jobs. Labor wages should not be the main subject of discussion because wages should already be at the federal minimum for all workers especially when most pay taxes. Another important factor that Camarota should take into consideration is the cost and affect deportation will have on America. Deportation would create a loss to the GDP (gross domestic product) at approximately $2.6 million in the span time of ten year. This will as well lower wages all across the fields of higher skilled workers.

“Plus, the immigrants themselves produce additional output, generating even more profits. In the end, the aggregate wealth of natives rises by about $50 billion annually” (Borjas). Immigrants impact on the economy that a facts all of society is a grey area. The gain as well as the fiscal loss can fluctuate at immense rates easily. With the addition of immigrant’s nationwide come an increase of taxpayers that help pay for social benefits. With this aid Medicare and social security can be funded without the U.S. taking any unnecessary steps that could possibly affect citizens by increasing taxes as well as cutting taxes. Finding an exact fiscal impact that immigrants have on the economy is difficult because we do not have all the factor, but a surplus of immigrants helps generate an income that is not such a burden to America.

America is the land of opportunities. A nation open to everyone has become a nation that has closed off the doors for immigrants. They are rapist, drug dealers, and even monsters. Words spread throughout the nation about people of color. This has risen the hatred from many people to be expressed in an even louder manner. This hatred has represented immigrants in a negative manner which makes believe that all immigrants are bad for America and even our economy. Research now shows that beliefs like these are false, and in turn immigrants actually help America more then one can imagine. They help by creating jobs, paying taxes without receiving benefits, and even by taking millions of jobs the average American would not take. Some like agricultural work, construction, and other risky jobs that can out one’s health in harm. Immigrants are not bad for our economy or for the people.