WASHINGTON, D.C. – Immigration has always been a hot topic nationally and in our local communities. In congress, members of congress looked at how immigrants impact our economy. Migration is grabbing some major headlines recently, a recent influx of migrants is straining resources in New York City. Republicans continue to put pressure on the Biden administration on border control and recently, a judge ruled against the DACA program. The program halts deportations and allows work permits for immigrants known as dreamers, kids that were brought to the us as children. In a recent congressional hearing, Senators looked at how it impacts our economy.
“The existing academic research strongly indicates that immigration leads to large gains in productivity, innovation and business and economic growth,” said Dr. Britta Glennon, a professor at the Wharton School.
“Immigrants are about 80 percent more likely to start a business than those born in the US and immigrant entrepreneurs create jobs for US born workers,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. “More than one in five small businesses in the US are immigrant owned and more than 40 percent of fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or the child of an immigrant.”
While some republicans agree that immigration can be beneficial, their concern focuses on illegal migrants.
“Our communities benefit from the economic contribution of legal immigrants and immigrants benefit from the opportunities and protections offered when they’re here legally,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R- IA). “We all benefit when state and local and federal resources are not drained dealing with people entering our country illegally. No one benefits from mismanaged border policies that incentivize illegal immigration and poor implementation of legal immigration programs.”
Both sides and researchers said congress needs to reevaluate and modernize our immigration policy.
