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Illegal immigrants don't help economy

By: MARK WYLAND

The notion that the United States receives a net economic benefit from illegal immigration is often cited in an attempt to minimize the problem.

After all, the argument goes, we receive enormous economic benefit from these "willing workers" who fill jobs that Americans don't want. This justification is largely a myth. Illegal immigration may benefit a few citizens, but it hurts many more.

As we consider the economic impact of illegal immigration, we should acknowledge that there are many reasons other than the economy that should encourage us to solve this problem. Most people recognize that illegal immigration is unfair to tax-paying citizens and unfair to legal immigrants who wait their turn in line. Further, the United States is a nation built on the rule of law, and failure by the government to enforce immigration laws is a dangerous lesson that law in general may be selectively enforced or obeyed.

There are now approximately 3 million illegal immigrants in California, not including the children of illegal immigrants who are born here and who thus are U.S. citizens.

Now to the myths:

Myth 1: Most illegal immigration is agriculture related. In fact, the majority of illegal immigrants live in urban areas and compete for jobs with working-class California families. For those who are here for agricultural labor, many Californians would gladly consider a seasonal "guest worker" program that included genuine border security.

Myth 2: Illegal immigrants work only jobs citizens wouldn't. In fact, most illegal immigrants are competing directly with America's most vulnerable citizens: our working poor and those with less education and skills.

Studies demonstrate that between 1980 and 2000, the overabundance of immigrant labor has decreased the average yearly earnings of citizens by $1,700, or 4 percent. Worse, citizens without a high school diploma have experienced a 7.4 percent decrease in their earnings directly attributable to this competition.

Myth 3: Illegal immigration is a net economic benefit. In fact, while some employers are making more money and some products are cheaper because of illegal labor, it is the taxpayer who pays for illegal labor's health care, education and law enforcement bills. In California this bill adds up to $10.5 billion a year in state taxpayers' money, or more than $1,400 for a family of four.

Furthermore, the data show that any taxes paid by illegal immigrants are outweighed by their costs. Education is the most expensive: Billions of dollars every year are spent to educate the children of illegal immigrants, most without English language skills, in increasingly overcrowded schools.

Health care in California is in crisis, with hospital emergency rooms (used extensively by illegal immigrants for basic health care services) closing at an alarming rate. And our penal system is overburdened. The cost this year simply to house the tens of thousands of illegal immigrant criminals is in excess of $734 million.

Let's put an end to the myths. Illegal immigration is not an economic gain to the vast majority of Americans.

Assemblyman Mark Wyland lives in Del Mar.