A Day Without Immigrants February 14

A day without immigrants February 14th is the perfect time to focus on the millions of undocumented workers who are helping to keep our economy on its feet. These workers pay over $11 billion dollars in state and local taxes and provide vital services that keep our society running. Whether you support their presence or not, let’s all do our part to ensure that they have a job and access to health care.

Undocumented immigrants keep the U.S. economy on its feet through labor and spending

If undocumented immigrants were granted citizenship, they could generate a combined $1.7 trillion in income over the next decade. This would be an enormous stimulus to the U.S. economy.

Undocumented immigrants have long been necessary to the nation’s economic prosperity. They have a variety of roles, from caring for patients at hospitals to educating future generations of Americans. The impact of these immigrants has been both positive and negative.

Immigrants come to the United States to find work. However, in some states, such as Ohio, the cost of housing has grown much faster than wages. As a result, more immigrant workers may find themselves renting in Colorado instead of Ohio. In addition, there are fewer low-wage laborers available.

When compared to native-born Americans, immigrants commit crimes at lower rates. They are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol. And Asians are half as likely to do so.

However, the opioid epidemic has killed more Americans than the Korean and Vietnam wars. Suicide rates have also increased.

Many American families are immigrant-headed. While these families are often unable to access government benefits, they are not unable to provide for their loved ones. There is a pathway to citizenship for those without legal status.

Putting undocumented immigrants on this pathway is critical. It would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, boost GDP, and increase the wages of all workers.

To estimate the economic outcomes of undocumented immigrants, it is essential to measure the impacts on wages and skills. Fortunately, this can be done through data from the Current Population Survey.

The CPS includes a two-year sample of undocumented laborers. It also incorporates the demographic characteristics of “Dreamers,” young immigrants who are eligible for citizenship despite their legal status.

They disrupt Valentine’s Day by not showing up to work, school, or the stores

The “Day Without Immigrants” (DWI) campaign has taken the nation by storm. This is a movement that seeks to highlight the plight of immigrant workers in the U.S., while putting pressure on President Biden to prioritize protecting immigrants. It was inspired by the success of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and may be the first of its kind to hit the mainstream.

One of the more interesting aspects of DWI is that it is gaining support from national immigrant organizations, and many of its most enthusiastic advocates are undocumented. In an effort to make a point, some immigrant-owned businesses have decided to shutter on Valentine’s Day. Many others have opted to stay open to demonstrate the importance of labor.

A small but vocal contingent of Occupiers have also jumped on the bandwagon. Amongst them is comedian Stephen Fry, actor David Harewood and a host of other notables. They have taken to the streets with a few balloons and a smattering of love hearts to prove their point. Some have also embraced the trend by starting their own social media channels to encourage people to participate in the fun.

Despite the hype, there is no definitive list of participating companies or stores. Several organizations have stepped up to the plate and are coordinating national and local events to spread the word. One of these is the Climate Coalition, which is made up of more than 100 organizations.

Another prominent player is the TikTok social media star Carlos Eduardo Espina, who has over 2.5 million followers. As with the rest of the DWI movement, Espina is attempting to nudge DWI’s more conservative siblings into action with an eye-catching and well-produced campaign video.

They pay more than $11 billion in state and local taxes

Immigrants are a hugely important part of our economy, supporting local schools, Medicaid, and Social Security. While they make an outsized contribution, it’s also true that they are largely excluded from some public benefits.

Undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in state and local taxes each year. In fact, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) estimates that the undocumented population pays more than 50 percent of all state and local taxes.

The ITEP’s study uses a microsimulation computer model to apply state tax laws to undocumented immigrant tax returns. The results show that overall, undocumented immigrants paid $492 billion in total taxes in 2019.

Considering the number of undocumented immigrants in the country, it’s no wonder that they contribute so much. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, granting legal status to all 11 million undocumented immigrants would boost state and local tax contributions by about 2.1 billion annually.

Among undocumented immigrants, the second-generation group is the most fiscally responsible. The group is estimated to contribute $1,700 per person and per year. This is a significant increase from the estimated $588 in taxes paid by first-generation immigrants.

Despite the plethora of debates over immigration reform, there is little consideration of what undocumented immigrants actually pay. They are disproportionately affected by local taxes, such as property taxes, sales and excise taxes, and sales and income taxes. Additionally, they do not qualify for federal or state Earned Income Tax Credits.

Compared to the national average, undocumented immigrants contribute a bigger share of the national budget in terms of taxes than the top 1 percent. However, the total tax burden for all taxpayers remains the same.

They disrupt schools and child-care centers

A study conducted by the Center for American Progress examined the impact of disruptions to child care and work on families and children. It found that a significant number of parents and family members were negatively affected by work-care disruptions.

Researchers conducted a survey with a representative sample of hourly service workers with young children. More than one quarter of low-income Hispanic households reported disruptions from five to nine days. The same pattern was observed in the overall sample of low-income households.

Disruptions are often caused by last-minute shift changes or short notice of work hours. In turn, they cause families to lose pay. Nearly half of low-income households lost pay when they were late for work or left early. This could result in a decrease in the labor force participation of parents.

Immigrants are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to experience disruptions. During the pandemic, frequent disruptions caused a daily burden for families. Among low-income households, the majority of disruptions occurred during work weeks. Approximately 1 in 10 households experienced more than ten days of disruption during a three-month period. Among non-Hispanic blacks, the proportion was 56 percent. However, among non-Hispanic whites, it was only 13 percent.

Low-income Hispanics were less likely to report disruptions than other racial/ethnic groups. For example, only 47 percent of non-Hispanic Hispanic households reported a disruption during a single day. Among immigrant Hispanics, the proportion of disruptions was lower, but the rate of disruptions was higher.

Low-income households with children not in school showed similar results to the overall sample. Among immigrant Hispanics, a subsample of households with children younger than six also showed similar results.

They disrupt the holiday by not taking kids to school

There has been an immeasurable amount of hype surrounding the “A Day without Immigrants” campaign. The campaign is being spearheaded by 23-year-old Carlos Eduardo Espina who has created a Facebook group to coordinate his cause. He is also making an effort to make his campaign more relevant to a wider audience by creating videos in English and translating his marketing material.

In the Philadelphia area, dozens of immigrants joined a national “A Day without Immigrants” rally at LOVE Park in Center City. Others joined a similar demonstration at the Municipal Services Building in Upper Darby. Among the aforementioned aforementioned was a group of immigrant-run businesses that planned to close their doors for the day.

On the other hand, a number of locals skipped school and consumer purchases. Many businesses across the region have opted to take a break from their workdays to show their appreciation for their employees.

This all comes in the context of the national economy. The government and private sector provide the majority of the nation’s income, and immigrants play a significant role in supporting the economy. Whether they are in the workforce or not, the economic benefits are undeniable. However, the government has been slow to deliver on its promises. Several ground-level organizations are disheartened at the lack of immigration reform and the administration’s failure to deliver.

While the national “A Day without Immigrants” march was not a game changer in terms of legislation, its impact on public perception was clear and unmistakable. With the election of President Trump, the immigrant community has found its voice and is ready to make the case for the enlightenment they have been denied for years.