Immigrants have always been vital assets to the U.S. economy and contribute greatly to the nation’s total economic output and tax revenue. In 2013, for example, immigrants added $1.6 trillion to total U.S. gross domestic product, or GDP. Economists have found that immigrants complement native-born workers and increase the standard of living for all Americans. Additionally, as consumers in local communities, immigrants create demand for small businesses and strengthen the economy. Immigrant entrepreneurs have also played a significant role in advancing technological innovation and creating businesses.
Although immigrants’ economic contributions are significant, they could be even greater. If Congress enacts a legislative reform that includes a pathway to citizenship, then more unauthorized immigrants could participate in the formal economy. The same would be true if the Supreme Court permits two critical components of the Obama administration’s November 2014 actions on immigration—the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA, and an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or expanded DACA—to be implemented. These political and legal battles are preventing millions of people from joining the formal economy and, in turn, holding back U.S. economic prosperity.
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