According to the World Journal, with the introduction of Arizona's SB1070 bill, the question of whether to strictly limit illegal immigration has once again become a hot topic of discussion among American politicians and the public. Both proponents and opponents of deporting illegal immigrants relate their views to the economy and social life in the United States. The Fiscal Policy Institute in New York, the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, and the Pew Research Center have recently published survey reports that provide data helpful for analyzing related issues.
Illegal immigrants predominantly occupy low-wage, non-skilled jobs. The Pew report indicates that 30% of illegal immigrants work in the service industry, while 12% are employed in manufacturing and agriculture. Data from the Economic Policy Institute shows that illegal immigration does pose a threat to native-born workers in the United States, lowering average wages by 2.9%, but the affected group is limited to unskilled workers with education levels below high school.
Gordon Hanson, director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), also points out that, overall, the impact of illegal immigration on the economy is quite minimal, with an effect estimated at only about 1%. Hanson observes that the vast majority of illegal immigrants have education levels below high school, and at best, they can only compete with the 10% of the U.S. population that is unskilled, while the white-collar class feels no impact from illegal labor.
Hanson believes that illegal labor fills certain demands in the U.S. economy. Theoretically, these job opportunities should be reserved for legal workers brought in from abroad, but the visa process for legal workers is complex and slow, making it difficult to meet demand. Without illegal labor, certain industries would experience a labor shortage. Another point of contention is whether U.S. finances are affected by illegal immigrants not paying taxes or paying fewer taxes. The aforementioned studies show that illegal immigrants do pay taxes; for example, the rent they pay includes property taxes, and they pay sales tax when shopping. Some even pay social security taxes using false identities. Additionally, due to fear of exposure, they often utilize emergency services less than citizens and legal residents.
