In an article by Paul Wiseman, “Economy could be hurt by curbing immigration,” the author states that “economists say that … immigrants — skilled as well as unskilled — are vital to the economy.”
However, Time magazine (Feb. 26) covers an interesting aspect of immigration that economists should also take into consideration. Listing here just the top three (of the six listed) countries receiving money from immigrants residing in the U.S., we can see that perhaps the U.S. is not benefiting at all from certain types of immigrants: Mexico was the recipient of $28.1 billion, China $15.4 billion and India $10.7 billion. Roughly $58 billion was sent home in 2016 by immigrants from just six countries.
How much should we add for involved welfare and health coverage costs of the immigrants? How can immigration be vital to the economy if money sent home did not circulate in the U.S. to generate jobs and industrial growth?
Granted, seasonal farm laborers should be accepted. But high-school students and unskilled labor have lost a source of income in the fast-food industry and construction, now taken over by legal and illegal immigrants.
Douglas C. Borba, Murray