Center for American Progress: The President to Discuss Sensible Immigration Policies in El Paso

[pampango]

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/05/on_the_border.html

The president’s speech will undoubtedly focus on his administration’s achievements at boosting border security, and should provide an opportunity for him to present a careful assessment of what more is needed to ensure a functional border and sound immigration policy—something the American people overwhelmingly support, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll.

These security and economic arguments need to be made in the face of cynical assaults by anti-immigrant conservatives on the administration’s record—attacks designed to stymie the serious reform efforts we need to debate for the good of our country. Despite claims to the contrary, the Obama administration now boasts a record-breaking number of agents along the border with Mexico, working with now functioning technology based on wise investment decisions designed to stem the flow of undocumented immigrants.

Indeed, their alternative—mass deportation—would cost U.S. taxpayers and our national economy hundreds of billions of dollars every year. A CAP report found that the Department of Homeland Security would have to spend $285 billion, or $23,148 per person, to arrest, detain and deport all of the unauthorized immigrants in our country, resorting to tactics that by any measure would be profoundly un-American.

In contrast, comprehensive immigration reform would be unarguably beneficial. CAP’s analysis of the economic benefits of legalizing undocumented immigrants now working here instead of their deporting them suggests a national difference of $ 2.6 trillion lost versus $1.5 trillion gained in cumulative GDP growth over 10 years. Arizona alone would see an increase of $1.68 billion in tax revenue if the state’s undocumented workers were legalized as opposed to a 10 percent loss in state income if they all had to leave the state.
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The Pew poll referred to above:

[dennis4868]

1. Has Greenwald....

had a meltdown over the speech yet even though it has not happened yet?