CBO Report States New Immigration Bill Would Save the U.S. Nearly Nine Hundred Billion Dollars
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
| CONTACTS: | |
|---|---|
| George Tzamaras 202-507-7649 gtzamaras@aila.org |
Belle Woods 202-507-7675 bwoods@aila.org |
Decrease the federal deficit by $197 billion over the next 10-year period
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional budget analysts said Tuesday that legislation to overhaul the nation's immigration laws would cut hundreds of billions from the federal deficit over the next two decades.
A long-awaited analysis by the Congressional Budget Office found that the benefits of an increase in legal residents from immigration legislation currently being debated in the Senate - which includes a pathway to citizenship - would far outweigh the costs. "The findings in this report give proof that implementing smart immigration reform will strengthen the U.S economy," said Laura Lichter, President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Ms. Lichter continued, "Creating an immigration system that puts immigrants on a path to citizenship will not only boost wages and entrepreneurship, but will also bring more tax contributions and spending to small businesses in their local economies."
The report estimates that in the first decade after enactment, the immigration bill's net effect of adding millions of additional taxpayers would decrease the federal budget deficit by $197 billion, even with higher spending on border security and government benefits. Over the next decade, the report found, the deficit reduction would be even greater - an estimated $700 billion, from 2024 to 2033.
"Now that they have this new report in hand, showing that the benefits of immigration reform will make a real difference to our country, there is no excuse for Congressional inaction. We need the Senate to move forward with renewed momentum and forge a bipartisan consensus to fix America's broken immigration system," Ms. Lichter concluded.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.