US Internal Immigration Enforcement: Not a Model But an Alarum

Abstract:     
Despite, or because of geopolitical and demographic realities, nativism in the US and the EU has been one response to irregular immigration during difficult current economic cycles. Hastily-created and under-enforced restrictions in immigration laws only nominally reduce unauthorized immigration but also cause measurable negative effects. Enforcement is discriminatory and penalties are harsh. Securitization leaves unaddressed critical labor shortages in host countries. Finally, immigrants abide in an underground and unregulated economy that creates a competitive disadvantage for law-abiding market players and deprives employed immigrants of basic legal protections.

JEL Classification: J00

working papers series