The Economic and Fiscal Benefits of Deferred Action

Last night, after 17 months of inaction by House Republicans on any form of immigration reform legislation, President Barack Obama took the first step toward fixing our nation’s broken immigration system through a smart and sensible set of executive actions. Only Congress can provide a permanent and durable solution, but the president took actions that are within his authority to protect close to 5 million unauthorized immigrants from deportation, and, critically, to grant them temporary legal status and a three-year, renewable work permit. The president also announced a slew of other reforms, including increased border security; new enforcement priorities that will focus our resources on serious criminals, not their family members; and changes for entrepreneurial immigrants, foreign students, and high-skilled workers. Taken together, these actions will strengthen our economy, raise new tax revenue, and create jobs.