A legal immigration reform has gained much attention in the United States within the past five years and it is often the topic of all the national television channels and radio broadcasts. I often listen to newscasts on NPR, and CNN and can’t help but have my own opinion on the matter. I am the product of a Mexican mother that was granted her United States legal residence thanks in part to the immigration reform during President Regan’s leadership back in the 1980’s. It is difficult for me not to support a new immigration reform that is much needed in our country today. With that being said, I would like to take a moment to explore the immigration topic by discussing some of the questions and answers I heard on NPR a few months ago. These questions are often asked about immigrants in the United States and I happen to agree with each response. I am by no means an expert on this topic; in fact, I’m far from it. With that being said, I would like to put my two cents in writing, simply, because I can.

Much of the debate about immigration boils down to a simple economic question: Do immigrants hurt or help those of us who are already here?

Many economists including Adam Davidson, Economist from Planet Money, agree that the answer is pretty simple. For the average American, immigration helps. It doesn’t help the average American by much but by many estimates, they help make Americans about one percent richer. The idea is that immigrants generally perform roles in our society that we – need to be performed – and very few Americans want to do those roles, and immigrants simply do them more cheaply. So the average American’s dollars go a little bit farther.

Yes, this has been a general argument for quite some time but you may also be asking: But doesn’t that hurt people who are already here who would do those jobs?

“Yes, the one group that may arguably be hurt by immigration, particularly undocumented immigrants, is the group of high school dropouts.”

And that’s not a small group of people. There are 30 to 40 million of them in the population and, by some estimates; they may be seven percent poorer thanks to immigrants.

Let’s look at the big picture

Although it’s important to see the pros and cons of the immigration argument, let’s remember, immigrants – documented or undocumented – don’t just come here and work. They also spend their money. They go to restaurants. They get haircuts. They buy cell phones. They rent houses. They buy houses. And as a result, they’re not just takers of jobs. They’re also creators of jobs. There’s also fair bit evidence that immigrants, particularly undocumented low-skilled immigrants, don’t replace American jobs. They complement American jobs.