UCLA study: Legalizing undocumented immigrants helps the economy
January 7, 2010
A new study out of UCLA suggests that comprehensive immigration reform would add an estimated $1.5 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product over the next ten years. [Los Angeles Times]
The report, authored by UCLA associate professor Raul Hinojosa–Ojeda, claims immigration reform would create jobs, increase wages, and generate more tax revenue.
Released on Thursday, the study is based in part on surveys done after 1986 legislation which legalized nearly 3 million undocumented workers. Those workers moved on to better-paying jobs and became more educated, resulting in increased tax revenue and spending.
Hinojosa-Ojeda also believes that the U.S. economy would benefit from a temporary worker program by rasing the GDP by $792 billion. The UCLA study is being released as the Obama administration renews its commitment to support legislation that would ultimately grant citizenship to 12 million illegal immigrants currently in this country.
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