Immigration: We Simply Cannot Afford This
In the weeks since the US Government shutdown over a partisan border wall dispute, an essay written more than two years ago had jumped back into the conversation, with more than 35,000 new readers in recent days.
Many of new comments debate the contributions illegal immigrants make to our economy. More argue that “their ancestors” entered legally and so, too, should everyone else. No doubt, immigration is a complex issue with no easy answers, and we are not suggesting that we have an appropriate policy recommendation. We do, however, believe that this complex issue must be addressed in a fact-based discussion. To ground and advance discussion, we offer these facts:
Illegal vs. Legal Immigrants and Entrepreneurship
While the high-profile entrepreneurs in the cover image may not have entered the country illegally, it does not mean entrepreneurship is only the domain of legal immigrants. “Despite financing and licensing obstacles, undocumented immigrants frequently start their own businesses. In 2014, almost 10 percent of the working-age undocumented population were entrepreneurs. In more than 20 states, they boast higher rates of entrepreneurship than either legal permanent residents or citizens of the same age group. These self-employed workers frequently create American jobs. Their companies also generated $17.2 billion in business income in 2014”.