Economic Impact
Immigrants are essential to the U.S. economy, filling roles from high-skilled tech sectors to agricultural labor and driving economic growth. They also contribute to the tax base and consumer spending. We champion reform that will maximize this effect and create a more diverse and competitive workforce.
DACA Beneficiaries Pay Billions in Taxes
The fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative has left 1.3 million undocumented immigrant youth in limbo. President Trump has assured DACA recipients that they can “rest easy,” but his administration has simultaneously detained and/or deported a handful of them. In addition to the moral… Read More
Say It With Me: Undocumented Immigrants Pay Taxes
Each year, undocumented immigrants file their tax returns, just like all Americans. They pay federal, state, and local taxes, in addition to income, property, and sales taxes. However, there are some anecdotal reports that fewer undocumented immigrants may file their taxes this year. Some tax preparers have reported declines… Read More
Undocumented Immigrants Are Making a Huge Impact as Taxpayers
President Trump made many promises on the campaign trail. One of which was to breathe new life into what some see as a stagnant U.S. economy. In fact, there are indications that it was this one promise that motivated a great many of his supporters and may have won… Read More
In California Cities, Rising Housing Costs Force Immigrants Out
California’s economy is big, and so is the immigrant contribution to it. The state’s economy is the sixth largest in the world, and immigrants provide one-third (or $715 billion) of the state’s GDP. Undocumented immigrants alone contribute $181 billion to the state’s GDP—an amount that roughly equals the economic output… Read More
Immigrant Service Members to be Naturalized and Remembered on Veterans Day
This year on Veterans Day, over 40 naturalization ceremonies will take place and 7,500 veterans, service members, and military spouses will become the newest Americans. While that may seems like a large number of people, it should come as no surprise as immigrant participation in the U.S. armed services is… Read More
USCIS Fees to Increase in December
Fees for immigration transactions will increase by an average of 21 percent beginning on December 23, 2016. Applications or petitions mailed, postmarked, or otherwise filed on or after December 23, 2016 must include the new fees. While the fees for some petitions will remain the same, others will see… Read More
The Balance Sheet on Immigration
This election season, tax returns have become a major campaign issue. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has refused to release his tax returns and admitted that he has not paid federal taxes in many years. In response, billionaire Warren Buffett released detailed information about his tax records. And unauthorized… Read More
Six of America’s 2016 Nobel Laureates are Immigrants
Each year, the Nobel Foundation awards prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace to the most innovative scientists, researchers, writers, and peace-builders in our world. So far this year, six Americans have been awarded the prize in the areas of chemistry, physics and economics—each of whom is… Read More
How Investing in Immigrants Leads to a Tax Surplus for States
While the federal government is responsible for admitting immigrants to the U.S., immigrants live in states and local communities. And at the local level, immigrants are our neighbors, coworkers, and classmates, in addition to being taxpayers and consumers. They contribute to local and state economies and have a fiscal impact… Read More
California Bills Begin to Restore Fairness to Immigrants Caught up in Criminal Justice System
California continues to lead the way on integrating its large immigrant community and protecting immigrants from the extreme consequences of federal immigration laws. On September 28, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed three bills into law that will restore some fairness to a system that is overly punitive… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.