Cost of Illegal Immigration (moral, Earth, America, organizations, Article)

[Quiddity]

Cost of Illegal Immigration May Be Less Than Meets the Eye

By EDUARDO PORTER
Published: April 16, 2006

CALIFORNIA may seem the best place to study the impact of illegal immigration on the prospects of American workers. Hordes of immigrants rushed into the state in the last 25 years, competing for jobs with the least educated among the native population. The wages of high school dropouts in California fell 17 percent from 1980 to 2004.

But before concluding that immigrants are undercutting the wages of the least fortunate Americans, perhaps one should consider Ohio. Unlike California, Ohio remains mostly free of illegal immigrants. And what happened to the wages of Ohio's high school dropouts from 1980 to 2004? They fell 31 percent.

As Congress debates an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, several economists and news media pundits have sounded the alarm, contending that illegal immigrants are causing harm to Americans in the competition for jobs.

Yet a more careful examination of the economic data suggests that the argument is, at the very least, overstated. There is scant evidence that illegal immigrants have caused any significant damage to the wages of American workers.

The number that has been getting the most attention lately was produced by George J. Borjas and Lawrence F. Katz, two Harvard economists, in a paper published last year. They estimated that the wave of illegal Mexican immigrants who arrived from 1980 to 2000 had reduced the wages of high school dropouts in the United States by 8.2 percent. But the economists acknowledge that the number does not consider other economic forces, such as the fact that certain businesses would not exist in the United States without cheap immigrant labor. If it had accounted for such things, immigration's impact would be likely to look less than half as big.

Continued.....
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/bu...rssnyt&emc=rss

Would your opinion change of illegal immigration if the were a benefit to the economy? If not, why not? If so, why?

[FatMan]

Since my opinion is based on the fact that people should not be in any country without declaring so, it has nothing to do with economics, but rather a skirting of the rules and regulations that everyone else follows.

I really fail to see how support of illegal immigration is anything but support for a lack of societal structure.

[Wandered Off]

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anything in that article that mentioned the infrastructure costs of educating them and providing government assistance, and especially free medial care. Hiring illegals allows business to transfer costs onto society.

National security seems to be another issue lost in this study.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by FatMan

Since my opinion is based on the fact that people should not be in any country without declaring so, it has nothing to do with economics, but rather a skirting of the rules and regulations that everyone else follows.

I really fail to see how support of illegal immigration is anything but support for a lack of societal structure.

It certainly does have to do with economics. That was certainly the outcry I heard in most all radio stations.

Sports players for example get to the front of line in the immigration process. Why do you think this is? Anything that benefits the American economy gets to take the toll roads.

I somewhat agree with you on the support of illegal immigration but it's certainly not that simple.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anything in that article that mentioned the infrastructure costs of educating them and providing government assistance, and especially free medial care. Hiring illegals allows business to transfer costs onto society.

National security seems to be another issue lost in this study.

As far as I know, the study took everything into account. As far as National security I agree with you.

Now would you like to answer the question.

[!Fluffy!]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anything in that article that mentioned the infrastructure costs of educating them and providing government assistance, and especially free medial care. Hiring illegals allows business to transfer costs onto society.

National security seems to be another issue lost in this study.

Yup. Frubals.

Plus, I'm getting a little weary of people's lack of comprehension viz a viz legal vs. illegal immigration.

No one can support ILLEGAL immigration and suppose they're taking the moral high ground.

[FatMan]

Originally Posted by Victor

It certainly does have to do with economics. That was certainly the outcry I heard in most all radio stations.

Perhaps I misstated my position that MY OPINION has nothing to do with economics.

By the way, what you hear on the radio isn't always true. Micheal Savage would have you believe gays want to run the earth

[Wandered Off]

Originally Posted by Victor

Now would you like to answer the question.

Oops. No, I would not favor it if it were found to be economically benefical. I think the rule of law is a more important ideal to uphold.

[Faint]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see anything in that article that mentioned the infrastructure costs of educating them and providing government assistance, and especially free medial care. Hiring illegals allows business to transfer costs onto society.

National security seems to be another issue lost in this study.

Exactly.

As for the OP, correlation does not equal causation. Just because Ohio's wages fell further than those in Cali (one of the WORLD's largest economies) does nothing to change the fact that illegal immigration is a burden on our national pocket book and security.

[Quiddity]

Originally Posted by FatMan

Perhaps I misstated my position that MY OPINION has nothing to do with economics.

By the way, what you hear on the radio isn't always true. Micheal Savage would have you believe gays want to run the earth

Thanks for your wisdom, but I listen to more then one station and don't consider then as the infallible word of God.