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What are the positions on DACA and Dreamers?
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DACA negatively impacts the US economy

DACA recipients are able to work in the United States. This makes them take many of the jobs that Americans could have. The decline in jobs for Americans is especially true for unskilled or low-skilled workers.
DACA Immigration Misleading USA

The Argument

The increase in the number of immigrants who are authorized to work through DACA presents competition on jobs with other American workers. The number of unemployed Americans increased by 16 million since 2000. As of 2016, there were 1.5 million fewer native-born employed Americans and 2 million more employed immigrants compared with 2007. Jobs are growing in the United States, but the net gain of job expansion is going to the immigrants and not native-born Americans. Both high and low-skilled Americans are affected by immigration, but because immigrants mainly occupy low-skilled jobs, low-skilled Americans are disproportionately affected.[1] Because there is a large number of immigrants seeking jobs, not only are fewer jobs are available, but job benefits are less. The increase in the supply of workers leads to less demand for them by businesses. Immigrants are willing to get jobs for lower wages, and so businesses do not increase wages or benefits. There is less room for job improvement when there are more immigrants. DACA allows many immigrants to work which introduces competition. The government should eliminate DACA to improve the economy for Americans.[1][2]

Counter arguments

DACA recipients contribute positively to the economy in many important ways. It is expected that the economy would shrink by $280 million if the government eliminates DACA. Some Dreamers also start their own businesses which creates more job opportunities. DACA also increases wages for immigrants which dramatically increases tax revenues. The higher the salaries the larger the taxes immigrants need to pay. Research expects that DACA will contribute about $460.3 billion in revenue over the next decade. The US economy would lose this economic growth would be lost if DACA is eliminated. [3]

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://immigration.procon.org/questions/does-illegal-immigration-disadvantage-american-workers/
  2. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/press-briefing-press-secretary-sarah-sanders-090517/
  3. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2017/08/28/437956/daca-recipients-economic-educational-gains-continue-grow/
This page was last edited on Monday, 2 Nov 2020 at 23:24 UTC

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