Pro

Ricardo Parra, former Executive Director of the Midwest Council of La Raza at the University of Notre Dame, in his Aug. 29, 2006 prepared statement to the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Hearing on Immigration, "The Reid-Kennedy Bill: The Effect on American Workers' Wages and Employment Opportunities," stated:

“The claims that illegal immigrants are costing taxpayers so much are unfounded, over blown, or somehow skewed based on how the analysis is done or what factors are often left out. Actually, undocumented [immigrants] have been a benefit to our economy…

Fact: Undocumented immigrants pay taxes in a number of ways, including income and sales tax. The majority of undocumented immigrants pay taxes using Individual Taxpayer Numbers (ITINs) or false Social Security numbers… [T]he Social Security Administration reports that it holds $420 billion from the earnings of immigrants who are not in a position to claim benefits…

Fact: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for the vast majority of state and federal benefits and are only eligible for those that are considered important to public health and safety.”

Aug. 29, 2006