US Immigration
Policy &
Impacts
Larry D. Sanders
Oklahoma State University
July 2013
Tulsa Regional Chamber of
Commerce Policy Forum
Diversity of US
Population
Ethics
Aging US
Population
Defining the
problem
Less
Developed
Economies
Climate
Change
Populist
Public
Budgets
[OK: 55,000-95,000]
Employment
Growth (%)
2001-2011
Oklahoma grew at 1.0% over this
period. Source: Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Local Area
Unemployment Statistics
Hispanic
Population
Growth
2000-2010
Note: not specified as
undocumented
4
Courtesy of D. Shideler, OSU
http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/in-the-news/immigration-and-the-rural-workforce.aspx#Hired
Immigration Reform proposal: 2013
• S. 744 passed w/some amendment 27 June 2013
• Current summary of S. 744:
– Path to citizenship—wait in line (13 yrs?) & pay fines
• Registered Provisional Immigrant temporary visa
• Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) “green card”
• Expedited for DREAMers*
– Increased border security—”militarized zone”
– Guest worker program for temporary work (i.e., ag
workers “blue card”; “W card”)
– E-Verify for employers
• House not likely to vote on 744; considering options
(*Note: Development, Relief & Education for Alien Minors)
Immigration Policy Options & Consequences
Strong Controls
-Most costly to Fed
short run
-Costly to some
business
Public
Policy
(support/
restrict)
Market Solution
-Reduced cost to Fed
-More immigration in
short run; flux over time
-Security risk up
-Costly to some business
House proposals
Current policy
Immigration Reform (S. 744)
-Enforcement, security costly to Fed
-Ag & Business generally pleased, costly to some
-Tax revenue increases; some social program cost
-Some risk to labor markets; wages increase over time
-Humanitarian impacts positive
-Economic growth increases
Challenging times…
http://photos.denverpost.com/2013/03/06/no
gales-mexico-tirabichi-landfill-dump-photos/#1
Thanks!
larry.sanders@okstate.edu
Note: not specified as undocumented
?
<40,000?
Oklahoma Immigration Law
• HB 1804 (2007) touted as one of toughest in US
– Violation to shelter/transport illegals
– Proof for public benefits/i.d. required
– Restricts resident tuition
– Requires use of federal database for work eligibility
• Status:
– relatively minimal impact
– Increasing number of legal and illegal aliens in state
Labor intensive
Crop production