New report uses same old debunked arguments about immigrants and the economy

A report issued this month by the far-right anti-immigrant organization called FAIR promotes dangerous economic myths about undocumented workers. Far from a drain on resources, studies show that immigrants make substantial economic contributions to North Carolina.

An excerpt from the Justice Center news release (PDF) responding to this study:

“The report, released this month by the far-right Federation for American Immigration Reform, argues that North Carolina spends too much on education, health care and other social services for undocumented workers. But examining only expenditures without economic contributions is unfair, budget analysts say.

“The focus on fiscal or budgetary impacts ignores economic realities – it considers costs without contributions,” said John Quinterno, research associate with the NC Justice Center’s Budget & Tax Center. “If we applied this standard to other groups, it would look like no group in North Carolina makes a positive economic contribution.””