Immigration Policy Center

Myths & Facts about Birthright Citizenship

Washington D.C. - The Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution affirms that all persons born in the United States (and subject to its jurisdiction) have a birthright to citizenship, or, in other words, are automatically U.S. Citizens upon birth. During the last presidential election cycle the issue of birthright citizenship was used to challenge the legitimacy of both major parties' candidates. And this year, like every other, bills will be introduced in Congress to deny U.S. citizenship to the children of unauthorized immigrants as a "cure" to our broken immigration system.  However, what are the legal and practical issues surrounding birthright citizenship? What does the Constitution provide for and what is at stake when it comes to preserving the birthrights of our citizens? Read more...

Washington, D.C. - The failure of Congress and the White House to act on immigration reform last year combined with the fiery election campaigns has opened the door for political attacks on immigration and immigrants. Lost in the rhetoric is a sober analysis of the trends and facts crucial to a constructive debate. What is the real story about the importance of immigration for America's future? Two different stories are being told, and they can be compared with real data.  In a soon-to-be-released report for the IPC, Myers examines trends in U.S. immigration. Among his findings: (1) rates of immigration to the U.S. are slowing down, not speeding up; (2) reliable indicators show immigrants are learning English and advancing socially and economically; and (3) the immigrant population provides important economic benefits to a U.S. society with a large, aging generation of Baby Boomers.  Myers's research covers several key states including:  California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina.   Read more...

What Legalizing Undocumented Immigrants Would Mean for the U.S. Economy

Washington D.C. - The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) will release a wide-ranging review of academic and government data that shows what legalizing undocumented immigrants would mean for the U.S. economy today, Monday, April 13th at 2pm EST.

Join leading economic analysts Gerald D. Jaynes, David Dyssegaard Kallick and Dan Siciliano, along with UFCW labor leader Esther Lopez, to learn more about how comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to legalization for undocumented workers would  impact wages and working standards; affect tax revenue; and address undocumented immigration. Read more...

The Impact on Native, Naturalized, and Immigrant Workers

Washington D.C. – Mandatory use of a federal database known as E-Verify (until recently known as Basic Pilot) to verify the employment eligibility of all workers is at the heart of a number of federal and state proposals.  The Shuler-Tancredo bill (H.R. 4088) is the subject of a "discharge petition" gathering signatures in the U.S. House of Representatives, and there are other similar proposals under consideration in Washington.  The state of Mississippi joined Arizona and Oklahoma in mandating the use of E-Verify by all employers while Idaho, Indiana, and Virginia recently rejected such proposals. Read more...

What Thousands of Interviews with Undocumented Migrants Tell Us about Achieving Effective Enforcement

Washington D.C. - While the immigration issue remains the subject of countless hearings, speeches, and speculation on Capitol Hill, for the last 3 years researchers at U.C.-San Diego have been documenting and assessing the impact and effectiveness of the U.S. border-enforcement strategy through interviews with over 3,000 migrants and potential migrants. The U.C.-San Diego research team has conducted interviews in Mexicans' hometowns in the states of Jalisco, Zacatecas, Oaxaca, and Yucatán, as well as in the U.S. cities that are their primary destinations.  Their most recent study was conducted in Oaxaca and San Diego County, from December 2007 to February 2008.  The research team's data, gathered from the people whose behavior has been targeted by the U.S. enforcement strategy, is the most direct and up-to-date evidence of whether border-enforcement efforts are actually keeping undocumented migrants out of the United States, and reveals the border strategy's significant unintended consequences. Read more...