Take It To The Bank: Helping Young Aspiring Citizens Will Boost Our Economy

Let me get right to the point: Helping young aspiring citizens remain in America is good for America. Removing the immediate threat of deportation for young people who were brought here as children will have remarkable economic benefits.

The Obama administration's policy of "deferred action," which the president announced June 15, will allow nearly one million young immigrants to remain in the country with their families and make them eligible to apply for work authorization without fear. These American-raised, hardworking youth yearn for a chance to use their diplomas and degrees.

As the Center for American Progress points out, we can expect several economic benefits as a result of the policy the president announced:

• It will create thousands of new taxpayers who will bolster our economy. More taxpayers means more tax revenue, reducing our country's budget deficit.
• New Americans complement the existing labor force, adding tens of billions of dollars to our economy each year.
• Work authorization helps prevent employee exploitation. This increases wages for native-born workers, and more money to spend means more jobs and a better economy.
• Deferred action will encourage our young aspiring citizens to continue pursuing their educations, meeting the demands of our labor market, and working side by side with Americans to produce goods and create jobs.

Those of us in the labor market who were born here should not feel threatened. We need skilled workers in all parts of our economy, from the farm to the Fortune 500. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day for the next 17 years, we need a new generation of hard workers -- no matter where they were born.

And, as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress on July 19, deferred action is financially self-sustaining.

Secretary Napolitano was clear about this when she told Congress that the cost "is not anticipated to come out of taxpayer funds." Yes, the process could cost hundreds of millions of dollars -- but the application fees are expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars, directly offsetting any costs.

This is not a novel idea. It's exactly how existing programs within our country's citizenship and immigration office work. Unlike most federal agencies, our immigration agency, USCIS, is a self-funded, fee-based organization. For example, say you came here legally and want to apply for a green card. It will set you back $1,070 -- $985 for the application itself and an additional $85 "biometric fee" (for a fingerprint check).

Five years later, when you're eligible to become a citizen, you'll pay another $680 just to apply -- including another $85 for your prints.

So our concern should not be that American taxpayers will have to pay for this endeavor -- because we won't.

(Detention and deportation costs are another story -- and another good reason to grant relief to upstanding young people who want to go to work or school and not to a detention facility where we foot the bill.)

In fact, our concern should be for a clear-cut, accessible process, one that helps these new Americans integrate and contribute as quickly as possible. The Department of Homeland Security must provide a clear roadmap for them -- not an obstacle course.

We've seen enough barriers from Congress. The administration's temporary action should inspire a bipartisan effort to create a permanent immigration process that adheres to our values of equality and hard work.

Our economy deserves nothing less.

Ali Noorani is the Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum.

 

Follow Ali Noorani on Twitter: www.twitter.com/anoorani

Comments

[Brobdingnag]

04:12 AM on 08/06/2012

Noorani is a paid propagandist for an organization which opposes immigration law and its enforcement. The Center For American Progress is also for amnesty of any type, not just categorical, and does not want the law enforced at all. The most you'll get from these types is that they favor "humane" or "smart" enforcement. That means preferably none and as little as possible. The next time Noorani or CAP favor anything which would actually prevent illegal immigration will be the first.

[greyhound2]

10:16 AM on 07/31/2012

The problem with illegal aliens is that there are too many of them. LEGAL immigrants usually have some education, job skills and enough money to tied them over. ILLEGAL aliens usually have no education, no job skills and are poverty stricken peasants who have no place to go except the welfare office. Make e-verify mandatory as the current voluntary program is a joke for obvious reasons.

[sillygames]

03:50 PM on 07/30/2012

Those of us in the labor market who were born here should not feel threatened. We need skilled workers in all parts of our economy, from the farm to the Fortune 500.

Mr. Noorani I realize you are being paid to promote immigration. But, you must realize a nation that has outsourced close to 90% of what we consume, THERE AREN'T enough American Jobs for Americans all you THINK TANK guys are alike. It looks great on paper, the numbers but REALITY and your stinking thinking don't cut it.

[voyager48]

12:23 PM on 07/30/2012

Ummmm - ALL of your arguments ignore the FACT that we still have a significant influx of illegals and there really is no great amount of regulation on immigration???

Fact - GAO reports that less than 45% of our southern border is under effective control.
Fact - GAO reports an apprehension rate by CBP of around 28%
- This extrapolates to more than 1 million illegals having entered the US last year.
- Simply allowing more people to work does not magically expand the economy.
- Paying laborers more does not automatically put more money into the economy. this is like saying that if you give your kids a bigger allowance, the family will have more money!?
- Your newly minted legal workes will find themselves out of a job as soon as they ask for a living wage - simply to be replaced by another illegal.

NOTHING WILL IMPROVE TILL IMMIGRATION CAN BE REGULATED.

This is an enforcement issue first and foremost till then ALL other arguments and discussions are moot.