{"id":9017,"date":"2015-06-02T16:03:37","date_gmt":"2015-06-02T20:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-immigrationreform.pantheonsite.io\/?p=9017"},"modified":"2018-12-28T14:16:49","modified_gmt":"2018-12-28T19:16:49","slug":"combat-global-inequality-by-increasing-immigration-to-the-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immigrationreform.com\/2015\/06\/02\/combat-global-inequality-by-increasing-immigration-to-the-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Combat Global Inequality by Increasing Immigration to the United States?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DHSEconomics writer Matt O\u2019Brien penned a column\/blog in the Washington Post on June 2<\/a> focused on unequal earnings around the globe. (\u201cWhen it comes to a person\u2019s wealth, geography is often destiny, research finds\u201d) His conclusion is that there is nothing that would reduce global inequality more than the United States inviting in more immigrants.<\/p>\n

But, wait. What would that do for us already here? O\u2019Brien notes that, \u201cIf we let everyone who wanted to come to the United States into the country, it would drive down wages for the people who already live here \u2013 maybe as much as 20 percent \u2013 in at least the short-to-medium run.\u201d Right! If having a larger population were a route to prosperity, why do China and India have such extensive poverty? And, why are some small countries in Europe so prosperous? And, why are international development programs in less fortunate countries often marked by a family planning component aimed at slowing population growth?<\/p>\n

Besides, assuming that O\u2019Brien is not in favor of entirely open borders, it\u2019s difficult to imagine how many more he would like to admit. Perhaps he does not realize that we already have an overly generous admission policy for legal immigration \u2013 more than a million a year \u2013 joining more than a million guest workers and topped off by illegal immigration that \u2013 contrary to suggestions that it has stopped \u2013 continues in a copious flow across our borders as well as by visa scofflaws.<\/p>\n

The open-the-door-wider crowd<\/a> may think that we are not doing enough to reduce global income inequality<\/a> by taking in more immigrants, but that view is not shared by U.S. public opinion for good reason<\/a>.