US Govt. Report: Undocumented Immigrants Boost Economy

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The Spin

Democratic narrative

Even conservatives — if they truly believe in free market capitalism — have to acknowledge that immigration is not draining the welfare system but rather helping cut back the debt. When immigrants come to America, whether legally or not, they end up working and paying significant amounts of taxes. Instead of blocking or deporting migrants, the government should encourage more people to participate in the American economy.

Reason.com

Republican narrative

One study on tax revenue doesn't outweigh the myriad of evidence proving that immigrants take jobs from native born Americans. When waves of immigrants come into the country, they move to up-and-coming cities, which means Americans who live there are driven out and those who planned to move there no longer have the chance. America is a nation of people, but those in power have chosen to ignore their wellbeing in pursuit of abstract GDP growth.

Cis

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 22% chance that the US phases out per-country caps on employment-based visas before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Political split

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