(PDF, Jonathan Blazer & Josh Bernstein, CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW, Nov.-Dec. 2008). Immigration reform that both broadly legalizes undocumented immigrants currently here and legalizes future immigration flows would (1) improve the economic well-being of legalized immigrants and their families, who are disproportionately low-income; (2) have a positive economic impact on other low-income individuals and on economic recovery and growth; and (3) create political space for broader antipoverty legislation.
By enacting the Ensign amendment, Congress set a dangerous precedent. If Congress is willing to start pulling at the thread of the contributory principle underlying the Social Security entitlement program, there is no telling where it will stop and who else it will harm. (1/08; posted 2/19/08)
Proposals requiring legalized workers to forfeit Social Security credit for their prior work and tax contributions would impoverish future citizens, burden state and local governments, frustrate efforts to correct Social Security records, and undermine immigration reform. (5/10/07)
