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More Than 100 Top Conservative Economists Send Letter to Congress Supporting Immigration Reform

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More than 100 influential conservative economists today released an open letter to Congressional leadership calling for immigration reform and highlighting its economic benefits.  The letter’s signers comprised a who’s who of notable conservative economists, including Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Art Laffer, Glenn Hubbard, Ed Lazear, Larry Lindsey, June O’Neill, George Schultz and more (many of whom have served in the Bush and Reagan administrations).

The letter calls for immigration reform that recognizes the contributions of immigrants and better reflects America’s economic priorities.  As the letter states, the signees “believe a reformed and efficient immigration system can promote economic growth and ease the challenge of reforming unsustainable federal health and retirement programs.”

The letter was sent to Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Here’s the full letter below.  View the full list of signees here.

May 23, 2013

Dear Speaker Boehner, Minority Leader Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, and Minority Leader McConnell:

Immigration reform is an opportunity to improve the Nation’s security, address domestic safety and crime, and remove legal clouds from employers and undocumented residents alike.  As well, it is an opportunity to improve the long-term prospects for economic growth, enhance the skills of the U.S. labor force, and augment the flexibility of the Nation’s labor market.

Immigration reform’s positive impact on population growth, labor force growth, housing, and other markets will lead to more rapid economic growth.  This, in turn, translates into a positive impact on the federal budget.  According to the Congressional Budget Office an additional 0.1 percent in average economic growth will, over a ten-year period, reduce the federal deficit by over $300 billion.

We urge you to pass a broad-based immigration reform bill that includes a U.S. visa system more attuned to economic policy objectives. We believe a reformed and efficient immigration system can promote economic growth and ease the challenge of reforming unsustainable federal health and retirement programs.

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