Issue Analysis 1
5-2 Project Two Submission: Issue Analysis
Samantha Nelson
Southern New Hampshire University, PAD-
330
, Issue Analysis 2
When discussing immigration policy, it is important to discuss the political, social,
economic, and cultural variables that impact its development and enforcement. To discuss the
economic impacts of both legal and illegal immigration in the United States, we must first
understand that as of 2012, “more than 40 million immigrants resided in the United States…
accounting for about 13 percent of the total U.S. population. Of these 40 million immigrants,
slightly less than half (46 percent) are naturalized U.S. citizens” (Costa et. al., 2014). This 13
percent is important to remember when considering that legal immigration, as described above,
has proven to have a positive impact on the U.S. economy. Specifically, “all available evidence
suggests that immigration leads to more innovation, a better educated workforce, a greater
occupational specialization, better matching of skills with jobs and higher overall economic
productivity…it also has a net positive effect on combined federal, state, and local budgets”
(Penn Wharton: University of Pennsylvania, 2016). Part of the reason for these positive
outcomes stems from the increased supply of labor leading to, “…spend[ing] [money] on homes,
food, TV, and other foods and services and expand domestic economic demand” (Penn Wharton:
University of Pennsylvania, 2016). With evidence of such benefits, the United States federal
government has shown support in its policies to welcome legal immigration. The Immigration
Reform and Control Act (i.e. the Simpson-Mazzoli Act) of 1986 for example, “granted a
pathway to permanent residency to unauthorized immigrant workers who lived in the U.S. since
1982 or worked on certain agricultural jobs…[furthermore], all spouses and unmarried children
of people who were legalized under [this law] could apply for permission to remain in the
country and receive work permits” (Cohn, 2015). In this way, we see the federal government
taking a supportive role toward immigration policies.
5-2 Project Two Submission: Issue Analysis
Samantha Nelson
Southern New Hampshire University, PAD-
330
, Issue Analysis 2
When discussing immigration policy, it is important to discuss the political, social,
economic, and cultural variables that impact its development and enforcement. To discuss the
economic impacts of both legal and illegal immigration in the United States, we must first
understand that as of 2012, “more than 40 million immigrants resided in the United States…
accounting for about 13 percent of the total U.S. population. Of these 40 million immigrants,
slightly less than half (46 percent) are naturalized U.S. citizens” (Costa et. al., 2014). This 13
percent is important to remember when considering that legal immigration, as described above,
has proven to have a positive impact on the U.S. economy. Specifically, “all available evidence
suggests that immigration leads to more innovation, a better educated workforce, a greater
occupational specialization, better matching of skills with jobs and higher overall economic
productivity…it also has a net positive effect on combined federal, state, and local budgets”
(Penn Wharton: University of Pennsylvania, 2016). Part of the reason for these positive
outcomes stems from the increased supply of labor leading to, “…spend[ing] [money] on homes,
food, TV, and other foods and services and expand domestic economic demand” (Penn Wharton:
University of Pennsylvania, 2016). With evidence of such benefits, the United States federal
government has shown support in its policies to welcome legal immigration. The Immigration
Reform and Control Act (i.e. the Simpson-Mazzoli Act) of 1986 for example, “granted a
pathway to permanent residency to unauthorized immigrant workers who lived in the U.S. since
1982 or worked on certain agricultural jobs…[furthermore], all spouses and unmarried children
of people who were legalized under [this law] could apply for permission to remain in the
country and receive work permits” (Cohn, 2015). In this way, we see the federal government
taking a supportive role toward immigration policies.
