There are many organizations and individuals that support and even advocate for illegal immigrants. They sincerely believe that undocumented workers have a positive impact on the economy and advocate for all immigrants, including illegal immigrants, on the grounds of basic human and civil rights. Organizations such as the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and even Catholic Charities fight for comprehensive immigration reform but without the stricter laws and enforcement. In their fact sheet “Five Facts About Undocumented Workers in the United States” published in 2008, the NCLR points out that immigration’s effect on our labor market is largely neutral and that all immigrants pay taxes in various forms regardless of their legal status.  

     In 2005 the New York Times published an article written by Eduardo Porter detailing how government agencies, specifically Social Security, benefit from illegal workers.  According to Porter the S.S.A. collects almost $7 billion a year in taxes paid by illegal immigrants. Although these workers contribute to Social Security they are not eligible for the benefits upon retirement. (Porter).  In his paper Illegal Immigration: A Positive Economic Contribution to the United States, Ramanujan Nadadur further supports this, adding that about 90% of the wages earned in the U.S. by undocumented workers are spent in the U.S.  (Nadadur pp 1037 – 1052).

     Supporters of these undocumented workers insist they all desperately want to blend into the American culture, learn the language, and adopt this new way of life. They insist our country should welcome everyone with open arms and are fighting for an easier system of legalized citizenship. Support for this is rallied by the idea of a more diverse society. Then there is the humanitarian argument that everyone is entitled to the opportunity to provide a better life for themselves and their families. Supporting organizations argue that corruption, lack of jobs, low wages, poor education and a subpar standard of living are what drive illegal immigrants to the U.S. While some organizations, like Catholic Charities, seek comprehensive immigration reform without amnesty, others, like the NCLR, argue for a reform policy that includes amnesty for all illegal residents currently in the U.S. They feel everyone should be entitled to the same rights and opportunities regardless of legal status.

 Works Cited

Nadadur, Ramanujan. “Illegal Immigration: A Positive Economic Contribution to the United States.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.  July 2009. EBSCOhost. Tarrant County Coll. Lib., Fort Worth, TX. Web. October 14, 2010. <http://www.ebscohost.com>

National Council of La Raza. “Five Facts About Undocumented Workers In The United States.” February 15, 2008. Web. October 14, 2010. <http://www.nclr.org/index.php/publications/five_facts_about_undocumented_workers_in_the_united_states/>

Porter, Eduardo. “Illegal Immigrants Are Bolstering Social Security With Billions” New York Times. April 5, 2005. Web. October 14, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3>