Study: Legalizing undocumented adult Latinos would be boon to state's economy

California could reap an economic boon worth $16 billion by legalizing its 1.8 million undocumented adult Latino immigrants, according to a USC study released today.

The economic benefits would come as newly legalized immigrants earned higher wages, spent more consumer dollars, paid more taxes and helped create jobs, according to the study by the USC Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration.

“People keep using our economic condition as an excuse to not do comprehensive immigration reform,” said Manuel Pastor, one of the study’s authors. “It’s just the opposite: What we need to do to right our economy and move forward is create a path to legalization.”

But Steven Camarota of the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies said that legalization would also cost taxpayers. He said the majority of illegal immigrants already pay taxes, but legalization would make them eligible for scores of public services, including welfare, unemployment insurance and non-emergency healthcare.

“Whatever the drain is now, it just gets bigger with legalization,” he said.

The USC study did not examine the added costs in services to the state.

The study was released at a kickoff rally in Los Angeles to renew lobbying efforts for legalization, more worker and family visas and other elements of comprehensive immigration reform. Amid balloons, posters and lively cheers, several labor, religious and immigrant rights leaders spoke in favor of reform.

Angelica Salas of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles said activists plan to hold town halls, identify and register pro-reform voters, and visit all 53 congressional representatives and two senators in the next few months.

The California effort is part of a 50-state campaign to amass enough congressional votes for reform legislation by May 1.

--Teresa Watanabe

More breaking news in L.A. Now:

Chief budget analyst calls Schwarzenegger's federal aid bid unrealistic

Judge orders L.A. Unified teacher to be fired 

Spurred by Metrolink crash, rails move closer to installing automatic brakes

Safety, traffic concerns raised when 3.5-mile-long freight train rolls through L.A. Basin

Lawmakers want to stop Orange County fairgrounds sale

Man fleeing six-car Laguna Beach collision shot by police, officials say

Assembly committee OKs bill to legalize marijuana

High surf, possible flooding expected along Southern California coast

Comments

[Blenda M]

Oh god. Who heads this USC study...the La Raza?

[Manny Menendez]

Who has first claim on scarce American jobs and public dollars...

legal or illegal residents ?

[ed martin]

"The USC study did not examine the added costs in services to the state. "

What? Does this miss the obvious? Sounds like they started with a positon then tried to formulate an argument but came up way short.

[Whatever in LA]

The biggest issue of legalizing illegal immigrants is that it will draw even more illegal immigrants in. Remember the amnesty of 1986? Wasn't it supposed to be the end of illegal immigration?

Illegal immigrants broke our law. Amnesty will once again prove that our law is worthless and there are no consequences to breaking it.

I compare legal immigration to invited guests; illegal immigrants are uninvited guests that have broken into our house and our abusing our resources.

[Lornaj]

All studies on illegals Always say will help economics, and the benefit us. The studies never say what it will cost the tax payers. These studies are always for Latinos, and no one else. The studies are always done by Latinos, and some by USC. About 2 weeks about USC had another study supporting this issue. We are paying enough tax as it is because of them. CA is in a big mess, and we can no longer continue the way we are going .Illegals are not the only cause, but they are one of the causes.

[Aurora]

Thank God for this...I'm all for it.

[regman999]

This takes for granted that the new 'legal' immigrant would get a regular job. What would keep them from earning the money they are now making without paying taxes and sucking up the free medical and social services they're getting now. Complete BS. I think this study was done at U.S.E. The University of South El Monte

[Hollywood]

If the Illegals are made legal, I'm leaving the state!

[Faux cul]

Another vomit inducing pseudo study done by a group of nostalgics of the
gulag era.Imagine not taking into account the ruinous additional costs to
the state.No wonder that minus-habens like Boxer and moonbeam get
elected here.

[Adam Vant]

Gee, I would have never guessed that the illegal alien-loving LA Times would tout a study about the so-called benefits of illegal aliens. You never give up promoting illegal aliens, pushing for amnesty, and raising illegal aliens to some kind of exalted noble stature. Illegal aliens are finished in this country. American citizens won't stand for amnesty. We're tired of our hard-earned tax dollars being used to comfort and coddle illegal aliens. We're sick of them marching in American cities in American streets waving Mexican flags and demanding rights and privileges to which they're not entitled. Amnesty was beaten back twice, and we'll beat it back again.

[Enrique]

Free healthcare, free education, free everything.... why would any Mexican stay in Mexico when your neighbors to the north are going to take care of you. This will only encourage millions more to come and we simply cannot handle the load of more poor, unskilled, uneducated, and unemployed people.. Not trying to be mean, but we have to be realistic.

[Reality]

Amazing. Do these people really believe this?

Every study I have seen shows that the poor use more in services than they pay in taxes. We already can't afford our safety net, and now they want to add to it.

This is nothing more than political posturing.

[dudeabides]

Pure desperation does not make this research valid or merited-but seems to demonstrate the actual degree of desperation. 22 Billion dollar deficit?.....the undocumented will fix it!!! Ms Watanabe loves her pet cause and has been relentless...so relentless that I would not use this rag (or subscribe again) to line my litter pan.

What happened to objective, nuanced journalism? What we have here is boosterism for law breaking budget-breaking "neighbors" that all have the most pitiful and maudlin stories about "ripping" families apart; perilous journeys, their "back-breaking" labor etc etc......

Real facts would be appreciated and helpful on this topic instead of the endless swill of propaganda and purple prose.

[Monique Tavernier]

If Amnesty was granted, we would see a bigger influx of chinese and people from Eastern Europe also. I am wondering if we had a quota of a number of people per country of origin, if the proponent of the amnesty would still support it. You might get more asian or russian or from the middle East. Would the result fron the USC study be the same?
Let's not forget that 10 millions of illegals are allowed to bring their family due to family renification so 10 millions could be in fact 60 millions because 1 illegals with a spouse and 4 kids would amount to that in the first place. Do we have enough jobs. Children will be eligible for education, health care and financial aid. Let's make those programs available to the American middle class first and then we will talk about helping immigrants.

[Lilbunnyfoofoo]

Another thing that was not touched upon here is this:

If the illegal aliens become legal, they will leave the low paying jobs they fill now and move on to higher paying jobs, thus leaving a vacuum in those positions.

Then, you guessed it, MORE illegal aliens will sneak in to fill those lower paying jobs.

The cycle will never end.

With the arrests of the illegal aliens at the Swift meat packing plant, and subsequent hiring of citizens, we proved that there are no jobs that Americans will not do.

Send them all packing and seal the border NOW!

[david mendoza]

First of let me start of by saying that Immigrants do use some of the state services. However is important not to forget that they also are a major parts of communities all over the United States not just in California and they are consumers as well. This allows them to help all of their local economies which equals more revenue for the state. Another thing everybody fails to realize is that children of Immigrants do go to schools mostly public schools and they do use their services of the state, however people do not realize the benefits associated with this. Education leads to more opportunities when the children get older allowing them to continue higher education and start their careers. This means that the State paid for what 12-13 years of the childs life but has to reap the benefits for the rest of the adult lives. It is simple the benefits far outwigh the investment, its not even close. And lets not forget the surge of Immigrants was in part due to NAFTA so in a way the United States is at fault for creating this problem.

[Joseph Ventura]

I would like to know who are the principals of this study, their race and affiliations, and the methodology that was used.

Just because a study is reported in the media doesn't make it a valid one.

[Fed Up Guy]

Shocker! An LA Times article in favor of illegal aliens and based on a study done by illegal alien lovers to boot!

Whatever happened to the notion of journalistic integrity?
Are any journalists left in LA?, CA?, the US?

Are ALL News departments profit driven now days?

It has been already mentioned but bears repeating, amnesty was tried not too long ago ( 8 Mil ) and it only lead us to today's mess ( 20 Mil ) Also, whatever happened to illegals doing jobs Americans won't? Once they're legalized, guess what? They won't want those jobs and more illegals will come in to fill those jobs, etc.

Immigration laws do not need to be fixed, they do need to be ENFORCED.

[Randy L. AZ Resident]

"The USC study did not examine the added costs in services to the state."

So, it's a one sided study that is being used in an incorrect manner to promote an amnesty agenda.

Do you really expect more from people who support illegal aliens? They will stoop to any level to promote this agenda.

[livethruthis]

I agree with Adam Vant......... enough is enough! It won't happen. I won't support it.
Because it will just keep happening and happening no end in sight. All too soon we will be living in a sub- standard, third world atmosphere.

[Reader]

It never ceases to amaze me how much ignorance and hate surfaces over this issue. How quickly we forget that we are in fact a Nation of Immigrants. It is to our benefit, as history has proven, that Immigrants integrate into our society not just because they are the real economic force behind our progress, but because in makes us stronger in ways most of us take for granted. However, in order to understand history you have to read more than the headlines or the op-ed section of the daily news. Its simple, Immigrants work very hard for base wage and have an awesome work ethic, they spend their money locally and rely little on credit. The real fear in most of these comments is transparent: Immigrants challenge us to be better in every way. I suggest that if you're not up for the challenge find another country to live in because this is America, the best of the best, get with it or get out!

[Linda]

The fact is the "reform" that most Americans (citizens) want is genuine and aggressive enforcement of our immigration laws. Period.

[John W.]

Illegal immigrants are NOT soliciting, American restaurants, Gas Stations, Supermarkets, clothing stores....Other than those Run and owned by Immigrants themselves. In addition, the entire work personnel in those places that immigrants go to is nothing BUT latinos, Mexicans, etc.
The immigrants to this state are fortifying the economy alright, just not for this state. I'm not buying the Amnesty thing AGAIN!

[susan]

I am so outta here! LA sucks

[Warren]

Since most of them are paying taxes now and not allow to our social services what is the need for a change in our policy? We just need to reform our interpretation of the 14th Amendment so the babies born to the illegals are also illegal and kick the illegal children out of our public schools to resolve the problem.