Amnesty would provide the United States with a "foundation for robust, just, and widespread economic growth" according to Chicano Studies Professor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda. In his report for the Center for American Progress, Dr. Hinojosa-Ojeda cited that comprehensive immigration reform would benefit both the American worker and the American economy.
It's highly doubtful legal American citizens will agree with the professor since the US unemployment rate is currently 17.5% (including those who are part-time, but desire full-time employment and those who have given up searching for a job). In fact, Bloomberg predicts that the labor force will probably grow this year, creating an even higher unemployment rate.
After the 1986 amnesty, American taxpayers accrued $78.7 billion in additional taxes over the next decade. Furthermore, in a violation of civil rights, Black Americans are disproportionately the highest affected legal worker due to a mass undocumented labor force. Leading immigration economist, George Borjas of Harvard University, proved that illegal immigration cut wages by $1800 per year for those Americans in the low-skilled labor market.
California happens to be home to the nation's largest illegal alien population. Today, the golden state is experiencing a statewide depression while facing over $68 billion in public debt. In contrast to the American Progress report, I would submit that amnesty is not the solution for the California economy. An alternative solution would be ending all public benefits for illegal aliens. The education, medical care, and incarceration of illegal aliens cost California taxpayers at least $10.5 billion annually. And LA County Supervisor, Michael Antonovich, reported that illegal aliens drained county residents of $1 billion per year in welfare benefits alone.
As illegal immigrants continue to pour into our state, California's unemployment is over 12% and rising. Our state's economy cannot handle the huge volume of undocumented workers. Americans need jobs.
By ending public benefits in a work depression, illegal immigrants will be forced to return to their homelands which would open up employment opportunities for legal California residents. In addition, our state would save billions of dollars in expense, laying a foundation for a robust, just, and sustained economic growth for the American worker and California economy.