How Does Illegal Immigration Affect The Economy
Kevin Racine
Jamaica Ritcher
English 102
30 November 2011
Illegal Immigration: A Positive Effect on the Economy Imagine being in line at a convenient store and a Hispanic man is in line in front of you at the counter purchasing food and gas. Chances are that you might not even know it, but he just happens to be an illegal immigrant. Through purchasing that food and gas, he just contributed to the economy as a consumer by paying sales tax. This is just one small example of the several ways illegal immigrants contribute to and positively affect the economy of the United States. For countless years there has been a controversial debate over whether illegal immigration has a positive or detrimental effect on the economy. It has especially …show more content…
It is impossible for anyone living in the country, whether legal or illegal to avoid paying either of these two forms of taxes. When illegal immigrants enter the country, they have to find a home for themselves and their family. Whether they rent a house or buy a house, they are paying property taxes. When these immigrants rent a house, they are typically paying a monthly renters’ fee to a landlord who is in turn using that money to pay the government in property taxes. Currently, workers in the construction, contracting, and architecture businesses are struggling with finding projects due to the fact that there are few people currently investing in the housing and building market during this time of economic instability. Illegal immigrants that enter the country and invest into the housing market are helping these workers maintain their job security by giving them work. A 2010 study conducted by the Immigration Policy Center reports that illegal immigrants contributed $1.6 billion in state and local property taxes in the 2010 fiscal year (“Unauthorized immigrants pay…1”). This disproves the assumption that illegal immigrants are flying under the radar when it comes to paying taxes. This money paid from property taxes feeds straight into the economy and is used the same as tax money paid by legal citizens. All illegal immigrants pay sales tax on anything they buy domestically, with this money going straight into the economy as
Jamaica Ritcher
English 102
30 November 2011
Illegal Immigration: A Positive Effect on the Economy Imagine being in line at a convenient store and a Hispanic man is in line in front of you at the counter purchasing food and gas. Chances are that you might not even know it, but he just happens to be an illegal immigrant. Through purchasing that food and gas, he just contributed to the economy as a consumer by paying sales tax. This is just one small example of the several ways illegal immigrants contribute to and positively affect the economy of the United States. For countless years there has been a controversial debate over whether illegal immigration has a positive or detrimental effect on the economy. It has especially …show more content…
It is impossible for anyone living in the country, whether legal or illegal to avoid paying either of these two forms of taxes. When illegal immigrants enter the country, they have to find a home for themselves and their family. Whether they rent a house or buy a house, they are paying property taxes. When these immigrants rent a house, they are typically paying a monthly renters’ fee to a landlord who is in turn using that money to pay the government in property taxes. Currently, workers in the construction, contracting, and architecture businesses are struggling with finding projects due to the fact that there are few people currently investing in the housing and building market during this time of economic instability. Illegal immigrants that enter the country and invest into the housing market are helping these workers maintain their job security by giving them work. A 2010 study conducted by the Immigration Policy Center reports that illegal immigrants contributed $1.6 billion in state and local property taxes in the 2010 fiscal year (“Unauthorized immigrants pay…1”). This disproves the assumption that illegal immigrants are flying under the radar when it comes to paying taxes. This money paid from property taxes feeds straight into the economy and is used the same as tax money paid by legal citizens. All illegal immigrants pay sales tax on anything they buy domestically, with this money going straight into the economy as