Americans Lose $68 Billion to Illegals

NewsMax ^ | 02/24/2005 | Donald R. Davis and David E. Weinstein

[Marine Inspector]

Americans Lose $68 Billion to Illegals

Using a new approach, Columbia University economists David Weinstein and Donald Davis estimate the net economic losses from immigration to Americans.

Unlike earlier studies, this new model does not treat the movement of immigrant labor into the country simply as a result of abundant resources and demand for labor, assumptions more appropriate to the 19th century.

Rather, the model takes into account globalization, the technological superiority of the American economy, and the resulting high standard of living.

Among the report’s findings:

In 2002, the net loss to U.S. natives from immigration was $68 billion.

This $68 billion annual loss represents a $14 billion increase just since 1998. As the size of the immigrant population has continued to increase, so has the loss.

The decline in wages is relative to the price of goods and services, so the study takes into account any change in consumer prices brought about by immigration.

The negative effect comes from increases in the supply of labor, and not the legal (or illegal) status of immigrants.

While natives lose from immigration, the findings show that immigrants themselves benefit substantially by coming to America.

Those who remain behind in their home countries also benefit from the migration of their countrymen. Donald R. Davis and David E. Weinstein are both professors of economics at Columbia University, as well as Research Associates at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).

[Right Wing It]

We should deport all the illegals in our country, and then take the abled bodied citizens mooching on wellfare and put them to work doing what might otherwise be the jobs of those illegals

[Marine Inspector]

Sounds good to me.

[Marauder]

immigrants themselves benefit substantially by coming to America.

Not to mention the benefit enjoyed by Mexico as these people send billions in untaxed money back into that country.

Small wonder Vicente Fox is opposed to our enforcing our immigration laws.

[DoctorMichael]

Bttt

[Always Right]

The negative effect comes from increases in the supply of labor, and not the legal (or illegal) status of immigrants.

Scratching my head on this. Having more labor is not a bad thing. It's not like we have some ceiling in this country that says only so much work can be done. Illegals cost us in a lot of ways, but increasing the labor force is not one of them.

[superiorslots]

Quote: Sorry, I don't buy this.


The problem most of us have with this illegal immigration is not immigration by itself but who we are allowing to come across the border unchecked. I'm talking about crime ridden types and ones that want to mooch the system and ones that don't want to leave their(in many cases) inferior culture behind.

I think we should control the borders and allow immigrants in only after they have been screened and make sure they want to become culturly like us, speak english etc.

[PRND21]

Using a new approach,...

Last approach not scary enough?

[kellynla]

I have no problem "letting the Market work", what I do have a problem with is letting illegals profit while others' wages are depressed and even more are priced out of the Market altogether!
While those of us who actually pay taxes are left picking up the tab for illegals' education, incarceration, medical care and food stamps! To the tune of TEN BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN CALIFORNIA ALONE!
Comprendo?

Vicente Fox needs to start solving Mexico's problems instead of dumping them on our back porch.
Mexico is one of the richest countries in the world and it's time for Mexico to take off the American training wheels and start peddling through life on her own.

[sasafras]

Keep em coming elitist king Bush, Rove and the RINOs. Us Americans are just too stupid to realize that illegal aliens are good for us. We need failing schools, health care, higer taxes, more drugs and crime.

[doug from upland]

Many of us have been talking about this problem for 20 years.

[Logical me]

This is a small amount compared to the income lost due to lost of jobs that legals should be taking. The job report of such an increase in jobs are not being taken by legal US citizens but illegals that will work for extremely low wages. We have a huge job loss in America if we factor in the lost to American citizens.

[upchuck]

68B would buy a lot of border inspectors.

Memo to President Bush...

[spectre]

"The cure to illegal immigration is more legal immigration."

Reminds me of the logic that the cure for a hangover is to keep drinking...

sw

[Route66]

1. Illegal immigration keeps agricultural costs down.
2. Withough increased immigration we will lose our dominance as a Superpower to China or India in forty years. Currently illegal immigration is all that is keeping our birthrate and population rate up. Without it we'd be going the way of old Europe. Declining in population and power.
3. The cure to illegal immigration is more legal immigration.

.......................................

I can't agree. In my humble opinion...
1. We have always made it legally possible to have migrant farm workers cross the border to pick crops. The problem is that too many decided not to go home and then became anchors here to bring more. Most of the illegals flooding across the border now have not and will not ever be agricultural workers.

2. We do need to keep our population up and immigration is one way to do that, but through careful immigration planning and limits, we can and should make sure that no one group becomes so dominant that it begins to overpower the American melting pot with one imported culture or race. I live in an area (far from the southern border)where this is happening now and where those who are coming are facing resentment they would never have faced if they were not entering our community in such overwhelming numbers, overloading our systems and services, and changing the very face of our town with Mexican language and culture.

3. More legal immigration won't stop the flood across the southern border because unless we allow ALL who apply, the rest will just come anyway....as they are doing now. There is no respect for any limits we set and there will not be unless we are willing to make the necessary changes throughout the complex muti-governmental system which allows illegals to easily arrive and function here without significant impediment.

[WmDonovan]

"1. Illegal immigration keeps agricultural costs down."

We all know that epidemic levels of morbid obesity are a sure sign of high agricultural costs.

"2. Withough increased immigration we will lose our dominance as a Superpower to China or India in forty years. Currently illegal immigration is all that is keeping our birthrate and population rate up. Without it we'd be going the way of old Europe. Declining in population and power."

Excess population helps China in that they have endless supplies of factory workers who work for $2 a day. Is that the plan? Increase the US population so that wages will go down to China-competitive levels? If we didn't buy all that junk from China they wouldn't be in line to be a super power, but that is another issue.

Agreed that a declining birth rate is endangering the US, but letting loose hordes who have no skills, don't particularly like America to begin with, and send their money back home isn't the way to fix it. Ending abortion, strengthening families (e.g., end the marriage tax penalty, increase child tax credits so that people could afford to have kids early and often, win the culture war) would help with population issues in the US. Otherwise, agreed that some sensible legal immigration would help--but it would have to be for people who really want to become Americans, not simply foreigners wanting to remain foreigners and take advantage of the system.

[WmDonovan]

"Vicente Fox needs to start solving Mexico's problems instead of dumping them on our back porch.
Mexico is one of the richest countries in the world and it's time for Mexico to take off the American training wheels and start peddling through life on her own."

Exactly. Mexico has an unimaginably corrupt system. In Mexico one is either ultra-wealthy or ultra-poor. Your legal rights depend on how much bribe money you can muster. Without the rule of law meaningful private enterprise is out. Without meaningful private enterprise the middle class is out. Without a middle class--and a way for the lower class to move up with hard work--you have Mexico. And instead of solving their ills they find it easier to export the surplus population here; as a bonus their exported masses send billions back home.

There is no reason in the world why Mexico could not have a thriving economy--if anything even better than ours given their mineral and oil resources, quick access to two oceans, etc.--if they would simply kill the corruption which infests the government.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

While those of us who actually pay taxes are left picking up the tab for illegals' education, incarceration, medical care and food stamps! To the tune of TEN BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN CALIFORNIA ALONE! Comprendo?

I comprehend. Part of my purpose was to take issue with the study used as a basis for the thread. Another part was to say that, despite it all, if we could defeat our domestic enemies, the left in all its incarnations, most of the other problems would solve themselves. The third part was to say that we should be able to hire, or offer a job, at the lowest price possible that will get the kind of labor we need. I don't mean that as a justification for illegals to enter this country.

In general, I am in total agreement with you concerning immigration. However, it is easy to just shout the Nike motto of "Just Do It" and quite another to deal with all the complexities of the problem. In a perfect world, according to me, potential immigrants would line up, wait their turn, and we would choose only those who could make a positive contribution to our society. They would then be allowed in, learn our language, history, and laws and pledge an oath to follow them. After a period of several years "probation" it would be decided whether or not they could stay. At one time that was the law. It may still be.

If so, it is simply another area where winking at the law is bearing bitter fruit.

[PRND21]

The annual Economic Report of the President, released last week, said that taken together, research shows immigrants have a slight net positive benefit.

Sure is a quiet thread.

[kellynla]

we've pretty much beat this issue to death...
the overwhelming evidence is that illegals are costing us BILLIONS while the W administration ignores the data, refuses to enforce the immigration laws, refuses to secure the ports and borders and refuses to deport the twenty million illegals roaming about unabated.

One more 9/11 type terrorist attack in America and W can kiss his legacy goodbyyyyye!

[PRND21]

W administration ignores the data

False.

refuses to enforce the immigration laws

False

refuses to secure the ports and borders

deport the twenty million illegals roaming about unabated.

Fantasyland

One more 9/11 type terrorist attack in America and W can kiss his legacy goodbyyyyye!

Keep those fingers crossed.

Your refusal to acknowledge news that doesn't slam Bush and Arnold tells the story.
You're either with us, or against us.