New Americans Demographics and Power Distribution 

  • Current statistics show that the Asian American population is growing more than the Latin American population. Before 2000, there has been a parallel growth between the Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. From 2000 till 2010, both communities have 44 percent increases. But from 2010 to 2015, the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have a 17 percent increase while Latino Americans have a 12 percent increase. 
  • The power and demographic redistribution are shown in the last two elections where Asian Americans and Latinos voted heavily for democrats. Obama was reelected in 2012 with the support of 73 percent of Asia America voters and 71 percent Latino voters. 
  • In 2014, 8.5 million lawful permanent residents were eligible to become citizens by naturalization. In 2015, 730,000 citizens became citizens by naturalization, and they were eligible to vote. Some barriers to become a citizen by naturalization such as paying $680 for the application form, withhold some people to become a naturalized citizen, and therefore unable to vote. 
  • The Obama administration introduced the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS. It enables almost 1 million immigrants to become naturalized citizens. This service reduces the application form to $320 for families whose annual income is between $36,450 and $48,600 for a family of four. 

The Impacts of the Immigrants on the American Economy 

  • In 2016, immigrants living in the United States contributed $2.6 billion to the U.S. GDP. Immigrants also boost the productivity of the country by setting up businesses and joining the labor force. 
  • In 2010, immigrants founded over 500 companies in the country— 90 were established by the direct immigrants and 114 by their children. These companies provide employment opportunity to most people all over the world. 
  • Between 2011 and 2013, children of immigrants contributed $1,700 to the state and local budget, while the Immigrants’ grandchildren added $1,300 per person. 
  • According to some researchers Ethan Lewis, Will Somerville, and Madeleine Sumption, immigrants never compete with U.S. born children; instead, they complement and increase productivity in the country. 
  • According to Economist Heidi Shierholz’s, from 1994 to 2007, the U.S. citizens’ income increased weekly due to immigrants. It was recorded that their revenue increased by 0.4 percent, which is equivalent to $3.68 per week. 
  • From 2020-2030, 7 million U.S. born citizens are expected to leave the labor force, while 2 million immigrants and 6.9 million immigrants’ children are expected to join the labor force even at the same period. Also, from 2015 to 2065, it is estimated that immigrants and their children will account for 88 percent of the U.S. total population. 

The Issue Of Deportation 

  • In 2010, immigrants paid $13 billion to social security and Medicare but benefited only $1 billion in service. This saves $12 billion to social security and Medicare. From 2000 to 2011, immigrants have added $35.1 billion, more than what they benefit from social security and Medicare. 
  • Illegal immigrants pay an estimated amount of $11.7 billion for taxes. Over 7 billion is realized from sales and excise taxes, $3.6 billion from property taxes, and almost $1.1 billion from personal income taxes. Sometimes, legal immigrants also contribute so that illegal immigrants can receive some benefits they are barred from receiving. 
  • Introducing DACA has increased citizens’ income by 42 percent per hour, allowing them to buy cars and homes, increasing the revenue at the state and local level. 
  • Ending DACA would send a significant number out of the labor force and cost the country’s GDP to fall by $433.4 billion. It will also reduce social security and Medicare by $24.6 billion. 
  • If illegal immigrants are deported, it will lead to a percentage decrease in the USA’s GDP by 2.6 percent, equivalent to $434 billion. Mass deportation will also cost the government $900 billion within ten years. 
  • If mass deportation occurs, most states will experience a fall in GDP. California would lose $103 billion, Texas $60 billion, New York $40 billion, and New Jersey $26 billion. 

Interior Enforcement and Border Security 

  • In 2006, the patrol employed 12,349 agents. But by 2016, the agents have increased by 61 percent — 19,828 agents. On the southern border, there was a 54 percent increase from 11,032 agents in 2006 to 17,026 in 2016. 
  • Since 2005, the border patrol has implemented a rigid policy against illegal immigration. Instead of just deporting an unlawful migrant, they are placed on formal removal orders, making it impossible to re-enter the country for the next five years or even permanently. In case they try to re-enter illegally, they will face immigration-related criminal charges. 

How Effective Is DHS In Measuring Border Security 

  • The apprehension of immigrants at the U.S. border gives insight into the number of people who illegally come into the country. 
  • The U.S. government spends more on Immigration Enforcement than any other law enforcement agency. Between 1986 and 2012, the government spent $187 billion on Immigration Enforcement. This is more than the total money spent on Marshals Service, FBI, Secret Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. 
  • The government built 653 miles of fences along the southern border, 352 miles for pedestrian restriction and 300 miles for vehicle restriction. These costs vary from $2.8 million to $3.9 million per mile. The total cost spent on bridges is a minimum of $66.9 billion. 
  • In 2016, 240,225 people were deported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The total amount of people deported from 2007 till 2016 is around 2.7 million. 

The Obama Administration Tend To Favour Immigrants 

  • In 2016, the Obama administration tried to release suspects of terrorism, immigrant gang members and immigrants convicted of felonies. 
  • In 2014, the jurisdictions proposed a system to remove Immigrants with criminal background from the country, called the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP). In August 2015, this program replaced the DHS program, and it was supported by 33 among the 49 largest jurisdictions. In January, Trump cancelled this program and restored the Secure Communities program. 

Detention Cases 

  • The ICE is to provide 34,000 detention beds for illegal immigrants daily. Detention is very risky for seniors and LGBT Immigrants. Mass detention is too expensive for the government because it will cost them $55 million daily. But if low-risk immigrants are released, they will earn $1.44 billion per year from taxpayers. 
  • LGBT are vulnerable to sexual assault than every other detained immigrant. Between 2008 and 2014, a minimum of 200 assault cases was recorded against LGBT immigrants during their detention. 
  • In 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice informed the Bureau of Prisons that they should eliminate private prisons. This is because the use of private prisons is risky, and they provide less security to detained immigrants. 

Neda Zaman Esq.
Immigration Attorney in Encino, Los Angeles
Services in English, Farsi, Arabic, Armenian, Turkish

Address: 16633 Ventura Blvd suite 510, Encino, CA 91436
Phone: +1(310)855-0992 | +1(818)290-3625
Email: NEDA@NEDALAW.COM