The statement that undocumented immigrants "suppress wages, drain social programs meant for citizens, increase crime, and destroy the public schools" is not supported by the available evidence. Here is a breakdown of each claim based on current research:
Wages
- Undocumented immigrants tend to earn lower wages than legal immigrants and native-born workers with similar skills, largely due to weaker bargaining power and limited job opportunities, not because they drive down wages for everyone else[6][9].
- There is little evidence that undocumented immigrants broadly suppress wages for native-born workers. In fact, mass deportation would shrink the U.S. economy and reduce jobs, as immigrants and natives often have different skills and are not direct substitutes in the labor market[1][2].
Social Programs
- Undocumented immigrants pay billions in federal, state, and local taxes, including contributions to Social Security and Medicare, programs from which they are generally ineligible to benefit[1][3][4].
- Multiple studies show that undocumented immigrants are net contributors to these programs and, in many states, pay more in taxes than they receive in public services[2][4].
Crime
- Research consistently finds that undocumented immigrants have lower crime rates than native-born Americans. For example, their homicide conviction rate is 14% below that of native-born Americans, and their total criminal conviction rate is 41% lower[7].
- The claim that undocumented immigrants increase crime is not supported by data from states with large undocumented populations[7].
Public Schools
- There is no evidence in the provided research that undocumented immigrants "destroy" public schools. While children of undocumented immigrants do attend public schools, the broader economic contributions of their families (including tax payments) help support public services, including education[1][4].
Economic Impact
- Undocumented immigrants are vital to several key sectors, such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality. Removing them would cause significant labor shortages and economic disruption[1][4].
- Their consumer spending and entrepreneurship also sustain local economies and support jobs for U.S. citizens[1][4].
SCOTTS's statement is inaccurate and not supported by current economic or criminological research. Undocumented immigrants are, on balance, contributors to the U.S. economy and social programs, do not increase crime, and are essential to several industries. The suggestion to "import all of Africa" is a rhetorical exaggeration and does not reflect the actual, evidence-based impacts of undocumented immigration on the United States[1][2][4][7].
Citations:
[1] www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org
[2] www.newamericaneconomy.org
[3] cmsny.org
[4] www.ilr.cornell.edu
[5] budget.house.gov
[6] econofact.org
[7] www.congress.gov
Swallow it.
