Immigration Reform.pdf

Key points from the Economic Policy Institute briefing paper on immigration reform:

The US has struggled to pass effective immigration reform legislation, with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) being flawed and ultimately accelerating unauthorized immigration.
The number of unauthorized immigrants in the US has grown from an estimated 3-6 million in 1986 to 10-20 million today.
Immigration is not the problem, but rather the legal status and integration of immigrants into American life.
Unauthorized immigration poses significant issues, including exploitation of migrants, suppression of domestic workers' wages, and undermining of the rule of law.
Immigration has important implications for the US economy, with immigrants accounting for over half of workforce growth in the 1990s and 86% of employment growth between 2000 and 2005.
The US will rely heavily on immigration to support economic growth, as there will be no net increase in prime-working-age natives over the next 20 years.
A comprehensive mix of policies is needed to address immigration, including a secure worker identity and work authorization system.
The failure of IRCA was due in part to its lack of a secure worker identity and work authorization system, which made other control measures less effective.
* Mexico's economic and political developments are closely tied to US immigration policy, with remittances from Mexican immigrants in the US being a significant source of foreign exchange.