| Cato Policy Analysis No. 5 | October 20, 1981 |
Immigration Policy: A New Approach
by Jennifer Roback
Jennifer Roback is an assistant professor of economics at Yale University.
Executive Summary
Since economic migration is an investment, migrants tend to be young, ambitious, future- oriented, and, ultimately, economically successful. Immigrants, as both laborers and consumers, increase the country's total wealth. The illegal-alien "problem" is largely a creation of current policies. Open immigration would help the American economy, save tax dollars, enhance America's image abroad, and substantially reduce our foreign-policy costs.
President Reagan has proposed a new immigration policy for the United States that includes a slight increase in the number of immigrants permitted from Canada and Mexico, a ten- year waiting period for permanent resident status for illegal aliens already in this country, a revival of the guest worker ("bracero") program, and stiff penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. The proposal has been roundly denounced by Latino groups as well as by many members of Con- gress. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) said there was no demon- strated need for Mexican workers while Americans remain unemployed, and Sen. Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) questioned the need for employer sanctions and asked why a counterfeit-proof identification card was not required.
In all the debate over immigration, no one seems to be considering the possibility of returning to America's tra- ditional open immigration policy. Yet that policy, which served us so well until the introduction of the quota system in 1921 and which allowed many of our ancestors to enter the United States, has much to recommend it. Both the theory of migration and our experience with immigrants suggest that an open immigration policy would be in the interests of U.S. citizens.
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© 1981 The Cato Institute
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