Immigrants play a vital role in the U.S. economy

As an immigrant, you come to America or want to come to America with the hope of having success. You want a better life for yourself and for your family.

While there is always talk among Americans of how immigrants might negatively affect the country, the reality is that most people understand that immigrants positively impact business communities and the U.S. economy. They are an essential part of the national economy and contribute to economic growth.

Immigrants make essential contributions to the economy, but those contributions could be even greater if the right laws were in place. Many would like to see a direct path to citizenship, even for those who came to the United States illegally or who overstayed as unauthorized immigrants. These people shouldn’t have to live in fear of deportation while supporting the American economy.

Immigrants are vital to the economy

Immigrants are vital to the United States economy. Why? They make up approximately 28 percent of small business owners and are twice as likely to become entrepreneurs than those who are born in the United States.

Immigrant businesses generated over $775 billion in sales in 2010, for example, and they paid over $126 billion in payroll taxes. If that’s not enough to sway opinions, consider the fact that approximately $11.64 billion in state and local taxes are contributed thanks to unauthorized immigrants. These same unauthorized immigrants contribute around $13 billion in payroll taxes each year, helping the Social Security system significantly. It should be mentioned that unauthorized immigrants often cannot access those same benefit programs that they are paying into.

In the past, former president Barack Obama wanted to see more immigration through the proper channels. His administration wanted to encourage those who came to the country illegally to find paths to citizenship, so they could continue to work in the country and provide essential economic supports.

Today, the Trump Administration does have different opinions on immigration, but many people see the reality. Immigrants are essential to the U.S. economy. If you want to come to the United States to work or are already working illegally within the United States, you should talk to your attorney about paths to citizenship. There may be solutions that can help you guarantee a right to stay in the United States, so that you don’t have to worry about deportation. Asylum, among other options, could be right for you depending on your situation.