According to a new report by the Pew Hispanic Center, the flow of illegal immigrants has slowed from an average of 850,000 people a year in first half of the decade to an estimated 300,000 people a year in 2009. The biggest drop noted in this recent report, 22 percent from 2007 to 2009, was in the number of unauthorized immigrants from Latin American countries other than Mexico. Although some argue that these changes are attributable to tougher border enforcement strategies, many believe these changes more closely relate to the devastating effect of the recession on the U.S. job market.

In a recent statement by Deputy Press Secretary Matt Chandler, the Obama administration attributed this recent drop in illegal immigration to the "Administration's unprecedented commitment of manpower, technology and infrastructure to the Southwest border . . ." The Obama Administration's strategy has included aggressive criminal and civil enforcement against employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, expansion of programs such as E-Verify and IMAGE, and vastly increased numbers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, fencing, and other technologies along the Southwest border. However, he Deputy Press Secretary's statement strongly contradicts the Pew Hispanic Center's noted 22 percent drop in illegal immigration from Latin American countries other than Mexico.

Others, such as Christine Thurlow, a professor of public policy at New Jersey's Rutgers University, believes the noted drop in illegal immigration is less attributable to the Administration's increased enforcement efforts than to the devastating effect of the recession on the U.S. job market. In an interview with the Boston Herald, Professor Thurlow, stated "To me, the decline demonstrates that jobs really are the key attractor." Professor Thurlow's belief that the decline in illegal immigration is more closely tied to the current U.S job market is shared by other experts and is consistent with reports showing the industries hit hardest by the U.S. recession include the housing, manufacturing, and hospitality industries.
 

Critics and immigration restrictionists often claim that immigrants are taking U.S. jobs. Especially in a recession, some commentators call for decreased immigration to get unemployed Americans back in the workplace. However, a group of economists has proven this theory false. In fact, the contrary is true - increased immigration improves the country's economy by creating more U.S. jobs and increasing productivity.

Statistics have shown that immigrants stimulate the U.S. economy by sparking investment and promoting specialization. In addition to wealthy immigrant investors who open new businesses in the U.S., studies prove that additional workers at existing businesses allow the economy to grow. Businesses with larger workforces expand with more output by investing in additional equipment and structures to take advantage of the increased productivity.

A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas indicated that immigrants constituted 11.3% of the U.S. population, but 14% of the labor force. Statistically, American-born individuals tend to pursue different occupations than foreign-born workers. Economists have determined that educated, professional workers born in the U.S. tend to work as managers, teachers and nurses, while immigrants are more likely to work as engineers, scientists and doctors. Many economists theorize that U.S. nationals have better English communication skills and are more likely to take jobs involving communication-intensive tasks than immigrants.

Grzeca Law Group enthusiastically supports Congressional debate on a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that would remove barriers to both nonimmigrants and those seeking U.S. permanent residence. Please contact us if you would like to discuss how you can support this reform to improve the U.S. economy.