Illegal Immigration's Effects on the U.S. Economy and Policy

This event marks the release of an MPI Labor Markets Initiative paper on the economics and policy of illegal immigration. This thought-provoking paper explains the key questions in the economics of illegal immigration. How do unauthorized immigrants affect the economy and the labor market, especially in sectors such as agriculture and construction where they comprise a major component of the less-skilled labor force? What makes illegal immigration different from legal inflows? How will these things change under the various policy strategies that Congress could enact as part of a comprehensive immigration reform package? Paper author and University of California, San Diego Economics Professor Gordon Hanson presented his findings at the event. Jeanne Butterfield, Senior Advisor for Legislation and Policy at the National Immigration Forum and former Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and MPI Senior Policy Analyst Marc Rosenblum shared their thoughts on the paper and discuss its implications for immigration policy reform. MPI Senior Vice President and Director of Studies Michael Fix will moderate the discussion.