US can get some easy money from migrants

Arizona Central (Opinion)

By Linda Valdez

February 25, 2016

US can get some easy money from migrants 

Want some easy money, America?

Give undocumented immigrants a break.

That’s right. Drop the nasty rhetoric, and embrace some of the nation’s most maligned residents.

It’ll pay off in big bucks.

A new report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy says undocumented immigrants pay about $11.64 billion a year in state and local taxes. This includes sales taxes, excise taxes, property taxes and personal income taxes.

That contribution would increase by $805 million if President Obama’s executive orders on Dreamers and their parents were fully implemented.

It would grow by $2.1 billion if these folks got full legal status under comprehensive immigration reform.

In Arizona, the current contribution of $231 million would increase by $42 million will full legalization and $18.6 million if Obama’s executive orders were fully implemented.

This just measures the tax benefits undocumented people bring to this country. It doesn’t count their contributions to the economy in general through their labor.

Giving them a break – letting them come out of the shadows and fully participate in our economy and our communities – brings more than a big money payoff. It’s also the right and humane thing to do.

But Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform. They are challenging Obama’s executive actions on behalf of migrants in court.

Why?

Because migrants are valuable to them, too.

Bashing undocumented immigrants is a sure-fire way to charge up the GOP base. Vilifying and dehumanizing hard working people and their children (many of whom are U.S. born) pays off for Republican candidates. In votes.

Republicans have no interest in the benefits America could reap from offering 11 million de facto Americans a fair deal.

They’d rather continue to exploit them.

For more information, go to:  www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com