Trump wants to close the southern border, keeping immigrants from entering the country. Many point out that it’s keeping people from seeking asylum and/or reaching a better life.
Where the Reason Originated:
This is a known Reason, as Trump originally campaigned on closing the borders and building a wall. He continues to campaign on the border and removing a large amount of illegal immigrants. Numerous articles and statements by politicians and civil/immigrant rights activists.
Reason Additional Information:
The Nation. – 11 Arguments for Open Borders
MSN – Illegal border crossings surpass 12.5 million since Biden-Harris took office
What we know about the Reason:
Many people feel that we need to be openly accepting immigrants into the country, lawful or not. The United States was built, from the ground up, by immigrants from around the world. There are many who feel that the US should embrace a global stance, while others feel that we should close the borders and take care of our own citizens prior to helping others.
The Facts and/or What We’ve Found So Far:
Here is some insight from Grok:
The debate over the economic impacts of illegal immigration is contentious, with various studies and opinions highlighting both positive and negative effects. Here are some of the negative impacts often cited, based on economic discussions and analyses:
- Wage Suppression: Some argue that illegal immigrants, willing to work for lower wages, might suppress wages for low-skilled jobs. This could potentially affect native workers in sectors like construction, agriculture, and services where undocumented workers are prevalent. However, the extent of this impact is debated among economists.
- Fiscal Burden: There’s a contention that illegal immigrants can pose a fiscal burden on local and state governments due to the costs associated with education, healthcare, and other public services. Since undocumented immigrants often pay less in taxes (due to lower wages and often working off the books), there might be a mismatch between the taxes they contribute and the services they use.
- Job Competition: Critics argue that illegal immigrants compete directly with low-skilled native workers for jobs, potentially leading to job displacement or reducing the number of jobs available for citizens and legal residents. However, this view is contested, with some economists pointing out that immigrants often take jobs that natives are less inclined to accept.
- Economic Measurement and Labor Market Distortion: The presence of a significant number of workers outside the formal economy can distort labor market statistics and economic policies. This informal workforce makes it harder for economists to accurately measure and predict economic trends.
- Social Services and Infrastructure Strain: In areas with high concentrations of illegal immigrants, there can be increased strain on social services, public schools, and healthcare facilities, which might not be fully compensated by the economic contributions of these immigrants.
- Inflation and Housing: Some arguments suggest that illegal immigration can lead to increased demand for housing, thereby pushing up prices and rents in certain areas. However, this is part of a broader impact of immigration (both legal and illegal) on housing markets.
- Deportation and Economic Disruption: Mass deportation efforts, as discussed in some policy circles, could lead to significant economic disruptions. Removing a large number of workers would decrease the labor supply in several sectors, potentially leading to inflation as businesses raise wages to fill positions, and could result in a notable reduction in GDP.
- Security and Legal Costs: The enforcement of immigration laws, including detention, deportation, and border security, incurs substantial costs, which are borne by taxpayers.
However, it’s crucial to balance these points with the economic benefits that many economists attribute to immigration, including illegal immigration:
- Economic Growth: Immigrants, including undocumented ones, contribute to economic growth by increasing the labor force, spending money on goods and services, and often starting businesses.
- Filling Labor Gaps: They often fill essential roles in the economy, particularly in industries where there’s a shortage of labor, thereby keeping industries operational and contributing to economic stability.
- Tax Contributions: While they might not pay all forms of taxes, they do contribute through sales taxes, property taxes (directly or through rent), and even payroll taxes in some cases where fake Social Security numbers are used.
- Demographic Balance: Immigrants help balance the demographic scales, contributing to the workforce as the native population ages.
The complexity of immigration’s economic impact means that while there are undeniable costs, there are also significant benefits. The net effect can vary greatly depending on the specifics of immigration policy, enforcement, the integration of immigrants, and the economic structure of the receiving country.
Our additional Thoughts:
- Consider the advice you get when you prepare for a flight. The flight attendants tell you to put on your own mask before assisting others. Why is that? You have to be stable in order to help someone else.
- Also think of those you may know who have entered the country legally, it’s a process. I have been involved in this process with the wife of a friend and that took months, despite being married. Have you had someone cut in front of you in line? How does cheating fit into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, especially Equity?
- Look at programs created to assist those that are not US citizens. In Oregon, there is a government funded group offering down payments on homes to non US citizens. Research suggests that this will lead to inflated prices on homes, not only causing homes to cost more, but putting US citizens in an even tougher situation to try to get a home. Article
