Economics

Immigrants Punch Above Their Weight as Taxpayers
As Tax Day approaches, it’s a good time to bring the significant tax contributions of immigrants—including undocumented immigrants—into the spotlight. These contributions are indispensable to the health and success of America’s public services and programs. Immigrant households paid $492.4 billion in total taxes in 2019 alone, based on analysis… Read More

What Are the Benefits of the J-1 Visa?
Over the past year, sweeping orders have banned many non-immigrant visa holders from entering the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic gave many former Trump administration officials the opportunity to restrict immigration based on fears surrounding the spread of the coronavirus and U.S. unemployment and immigration. The extended… Read More

Proposed Student Visa Restrictions Would Disproportionately Impact African Nations
For generations, international students pursuing their studies in the United States have been permitted to remain in the country for the duration of their studies. This helps to guarantee that they are able to complete their degrees before having to depart the country. But under a new proposal put… Read More

With Public Charge Rule Now in Effect, Trump Achieves One of the Largest Cuts to Legal Immigration
After months in the courts, the Trump administration declared victory and began enforcing its new “public charge” rule. The rule goes into effect on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, inside the United States and at consular posts across the world. Under the rule, immigration officials have far… Read More

USCIS Proposes Increased Fees for All Immigration-Related Applications
In a new proposal officially put forward on Thursday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) called for major fee hikes for immigration-related applications. The cost for becoming a citizen would rise above $1,000 for the first time in history. In another first, USCIS proposed a new fee for asylum seekers,… Read More

Poland Enters the US Visa Waiver Program, Signaling a Boost to the Countries’ Relationship
Poland officially began its participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on November 11. Under the program, Polish nationals can now spend up to 90 days in the United States without first obtaining a visa. Overall, Poland’s entry into the program will benefit tourists and business travelers… Read More

What Is Next for Trump’s Health Care Ban?
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s health care ban on Saturday, one day before it was scheduled to go into effect. The ban would have barred entry for any prospective immigrant who could not prove they would be covered by… Read More

How Trump’s New Healthcare Ban Threatens the Legal Immigration System
President Trump invoked the same legal authority used for the Travel Ban to impose a sweeping new ban on legal immigration last week. Under the new ban, which analysis suggests could block as much as two thirds of all immigrants from coming… Read More

Which Military Construction Projects Are Losing Funds to Build Trump’s Wall?
The Trump administration is raiding the Department of Defense’s budget to fund construction of its border wall. According to Pentagon officials, 127 military construction projects will be canceled in order to free up $3.6 billion to build 175 miles of wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. President Trump previously said… Read More

The Opportunity Immigration Presents to the Changing US Economy
The U.S. economy is changing—and immigration can play a major role in how it looks in the future. But how immigration shapes the future of the U.S. economy and its workforce is dependent on a variety of factors—including policymakers’ willingness to see immigration as an opportunity. The United States is… Read More
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