Can’t Live Wit ‘Em, Can’t Deport ‘Em: Why Recent Immigration Reform Efforts Have Failed

Abstract

The United States has a passionate love/hate relationship with undocumented immigrants. The refrain “We are a nation of immigrants” competes with the exhortation “We are being invaded.” Many Americans fault undocumented immigrants for breaking U.S. laws, not waiting their turn in line for lawful immigration and diluting already scarce public resources. Other Americans applaud the strong work ethic that many undocumented immigrants exhibit and the economic strength they bring to the country. In the post-September 11 years, the debate has reached a boiling point.

The conflicting emotions of the immigration debate aside, the United States’ need for immigration is indisputable. First, the U.S. workforce is aging and becoming increasingly skilled. Fewer native born Americans fill jobs in agriculture, manufacturing, service occupations (jobs such as healthcare support, food preparation and cleaning/maintenance), and construction. Experts predict that as the U.S. population continues to age and advance, more workers will be needed in service industries such as elder and child care. In addition to aging and becoming increasingly skilled the U.S. workforce is experiencing a growth slowdown.

Keywords: undocumented workers, undocumented immigrants, U.S. laws, lawful immigration, economic strentgh, immigration debate, workforce, aging, skilled, service industry, manual labor, growth slowdon, immigration reform, necessary workers

JEL Classification: H00, G00, A00, D50, D59, E60,H70, I10, I20