Immigration Fact Check

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The Economic Impact of Immigration at the State and Local Level

At a time of economic recession, rising unemployment, and deepening budget deficits, policymakers and the public are increasingly concerned about the impact of immigration, especially undocumented immigration, on state and local economies. Accurately assessing the costs and contributions of immigrants, particularly undocumented immigrants, is a challenge, but research shows that between one-half and three-quarters of undocumented immigrants pay federal and state income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes. The Immigration Policy Center provides a survey of a number of state studies which have found that immigrants in general—and the undocumented specifically—contribute to the public treasuries and economies of many states and localities. (April 28, 2009)

Separating Fact From Fiction About Immigrants and Crime

In an effort to provide factual analysis to recent media stories about the ongoing debate over immigration and crime, the Immigration Policy Center prepared a fact sheet and blog post about the myth of a supposed link between immigration and crime, which has long been based on emotion rather than fact. Although study upon study over the past century has demonstrated that immigration is not associated with more crime, the "myth of immigrant criminality" persists. (April 3, 2009)

Immigration Impact.com: House Hearing Shows 287(g) �Sets Police Profession Back to 1950�s�

In response to evidence piling up suggesting that the 287(g) program is experiencing an array of problems, the House Judiciary Committee�s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law and the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held a hearing today to learn more about the program�s alarming effects. (April 2, 2009)

A Stimulus for Fear: Anti-Immigration Groups Raise Specter of Undocumented Construction Workers

The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), as well as the Heritage Foundation, have recently claimed that up to 300,000 construction jobs created by the economic stimulus bill could be filled by undocumented immigrants. CIS arrives at this scary number by using a job-creation formula designed for highway expenditures in 2007, and then tacking on an estimate of the undocumented construction workforce from 2005—before the mass layoffs that have plagued the construction industry. Beyond the use of fuzzy math, CIS also suggests that the federal government's "E-Verify" employment-verification pilot program could prevent undocumented immigrants from securing these new jobs. Yet numerous reports—from the Congressional Budget Office, the Social Security Administration's Inspector General, and a Department of Homeland Security contractor, among others—indicate that rushing to implement E-Verify on a national scale would be a costly mistake that would ensnare U.S. citizens in database errors and wouldn't actually stop undocumented immigrants from getting jobs. (March 9, 2009)

Immigrants, Latinos, and Asians Indispensable to California Economy

Immigrant, Latino, and Asian workers and entrepreneurs are integral to California's economy and tax base. The Immigration Policy Center has compiled research which shows that immigrants, Latinos, and Asians are a political and economic powerhouse in California. California is standing proof of the contributions that immigrants make to our country and that the role they play in securing the future of California is undeniable. (February 26, 2009)

New Americans in the Silver State

There are few states where the growing political and economic clout of immigrants, Latinos, and Asians is as apparent as in Nevada. Immigrants make up nearly 20% of Nevada's population, and 38% of them are naturalized U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote. Latinos account for one-quarter of all Nevadans and wield over $14 billion in consumer purchasing power. Read this latest fact sheet demonstrating why immigrant, Latino, and Asian workers and entrepreneurs are integral to Nevada's economy and tax base—and why they are an electoral force with which every politician must reckon.

The U.S. Economy Still Needs Highly Skilled H-1B Workers

It might seem that the recent souring of the U.S. economy and rise in unemployment has rendered moot the debate over whether or not the United States really "needs" the highly skilled foreign workers who come here on H-1B temporary visas. But the demand for H-1B workers still far outstrips the current cap of only 65,000 new H-1B visas that can be issued each year. In fact, this quota has been filled within one day in each of the last five fiscal years. (February 13, 2009)