Ever hear of Karthick Ramakrishnan? If you answer no to that question, don't be surprised. Mr. Ramakrishnan is a professor of "public policy" at the University of California and a "global fellow" at the Wilson Center. He is also the author of an op-ed column that just appeared in the LA Times. What makes Mr. Ramakrishnan notable is not that he is a fellow, excuse me, a global fellow at a place named for a noted racist, but rather that he puts out an entire column based upon totally faulty data. The point of the column, you see, is that the number of Mexican immigrants illegally in the USA is actually declining. There's a net outflow according to Ramakrishnan. The only problem with what Ramakrishnan has to say, is that he is entirely wrong. He relies, you see, upon a "study" from the Pew research center which does not show any decline in current immigration or any increase in current emigration.
Let me explain. In 2008 and 2009, at the depth of the recession, there actually was a halt to much of the illegal immigration. Not surprisingly, many of the people coming from Latin America did not see the point of being in the USA where there were no jobs for them. The recession also led to an increase in the number of illegal aliens who departed from the country. In most years, thousands of illegal aliens depart; usually the ration is about twice as many arrivals as departures. During the depth of the recession, however, there were more departures than arrivals. Once the economy stabilized and slow growth returned, the situation reversed. The numbers of illegal immigrants started soaring and the number of departures fell. The Pew study was initially done about three years ago at a point where we had just had the big decrease in illegal immigration due to the recession. Recently, that study was updated by adding another year to the base period. As a result, since the most recent years when the number of arrivals exploded were not included, Pew announced that more illegals were actually leaving than arriving. To say the least, the Pew study was designed to come up with that result.
What the Pew study actually shows, however, is something quite different. Forget the bogus statistics which are supposed to convince people that the current immigration problem is not real. Look instead at the effect that the lack of jobs had on the illegal immigrant community during the recession. When the jobs dried up, many of the illegals departed. What this tells us is that if programs like "E-verify" are used, the numbers of illegals will decline. E-verify is a computer system that will let an employer know if his prospective employees are in the country legally. If that system is available for an employer to consult and if the penalties for employing illegals are imposed through diligent enforcement, the number of jobs available to illegals will plummet. This will have two good results: 1) The number of jobs available to American citizens and legal residents of the USA will increase. All those unemployed and underemployed people who want to work will find it easier to gain employment. 2) The number of illegal aliens staying in the USA will decline. To use Mitt Romney's word, they will self-deport. This system has to be coupled with a denial of welfare benefits to those here illegally.
Let me explain. In 2008 and 2009, at the depth of the recession, there actually was a halt to much of the illegal immigration. Not surprisingly, many of the people coming from Latin America did not see the point of being in the USA where there were no jobs for them. The recession also led to an increase in the number of illegal aliens who departed from the country. In most years, thousands of illegal aliens depart; usually the ration is about twice as many arrivals as departures. During the depth of the recession, however, there were more departures than arrivals. Once the economy stabilized and slow growth returned, the situation reversed. The numbers of illegal immigrants started soaring and the number of departures fell. The Pew study was initially done about three years ago at a point where we had just had the big decrease in illegal immigration due to the recession. Recently, that study was updated by adding another year to the base period. As a result, since the most recent years when the number of arrivals exploded were not included, Pew announced that more illegals were actually leaving than arriving. To say the least, the Pew study was designed to come up with that result.
What the Pew study actually shows, however, is something quite different. Forget the bogus statistics which are supposed to convince people that the current immigration problem is not real. Look instead at the effect that the lack of jobs had on the illegal immigrant community during the recession. When the jobs dried up, many of the illegals departed. What this tells us is that if programs like "E-verify" are used, the numbers of illegals will decline. E-verify is a computer system that will let an employer know if his prospective employees are in the country legally. If that system is available for an employer to consult and if the penalties for employing illegals are imposed through diligent enforcement, the number of jobs available to illegals will plummet. This will have two good results: 1) The number of jobs available to American citizens and legal residents of the USA will increase. All those unemployed and underemployed people who want to work will find it easier to gain employment. 2) The number of illegal aliens staying in the USA will decline. To use Mitt Romney's word, they will self-deport. This system has to be coupled with a denial of welfare benefits to those here illegally.
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