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Everyone agrees that our immigration system is broken and needs reform. While only Congress has the
power to fix the immigration system once and for all, until it acts, there are important steps the president
can take that will start fixing our system while also increasing tax revenues, and strengthening our
economy. Today, there are 48,000 undocumented immigrants living in Kentucky. Enabling even a
portion of these immigrants to register with the government, request a reprieve from removal, and apply
for a temporary work permit would increase Kentuckys tax revenues by $31 million, over five years, and
lead to a cascade of economic benefits.
Expanding deferred action will permit undocumented immigrants to work legally. Temporary work
permits will provide these workers with the ability to secure jobs that match their skill set and enhance
their productivity. As immigrants get on the books and work legally, their earnings will rise, and so too
will their tax contributions. Executive action on immigration is a step toward fixing our broken system,
and for Kentucky, it is a step toward a stronger fiscal and economic future.
Fiscal Benefits of Executive Action in Kentucky:
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There are 15,000 undocumented immigrants in Kentucky are potentially eligible for deferred action
under President Obamas recent executive actions on immigration. If these immigrants are able to
receive a temporary work permit, it would lead to a $31 million increase in tax revenues for
Kentucky, over five years.
Expanding deferred action will significantly strengthen Kentuckys economy. When undocumented
immigrants can work legally, they are able to shield themselves against workplace exploitation and
move freely across the labor market to find jobs just like anyone else. Combined, this leads to an
8.5% increase in their earnings. For the average undocumented immigrant that means they are
taking home an additional $1,872 each year. As these extra earnings are spent throughout the
economy, demand for goods and services rises, spurring job creation and raising the wages of all
American workers.