WASHINGTON — The number of illegal immigrants in the US has been rising after plateuing off in recent years. This alarming finding comes from a report of the non-partisan Pew Research Center. To the question as to how many undocumented immigrants are in the US, the Pew Centre says the US had 11.7 undocumented immigrants in 2012.

The illegal migration touched an all-time high of 12.2 million in 2007. Studying the trends from 2010-2013, Pw Centre  asserted that Illegal immigration is certainly back with a vengeance. The new surge has more to do with the revival of US economy.

The funding is set to more new ammunition to the Republicans who want harsh border patrolling at the Mexico border before it can consider a broader overhaul of the immigration laws in a bipartisan exercise.

The study notes that the total number of undocumented immigrants living in the USA had been flat in recent years, with many entering the country and leaving it. The authors of the report said it was difficult to attribute the possible increase to any one special factor. Jeffrey Passel, the senior demographer at the Pew Research Center noted that rise and fall in illegal immigration traditionally mirrored the state of the U.S. economy.

Precisely it relates to employment opportunities. The new figures come at a time the Congress is trying to pass a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration laws to stop future waves of undocumented immigrants into the country.

Numbers Disputed

Former Border Patrol agents have rejected the theory that only 11 million people are living illegally in the country.They say the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. wiuill be close to 20 million. They also argue that the lesson from the 1986 amnesty was that more people cornered benefits than the government initially envisaged.

Demographers say the number of illegal immigrants peaked at 12.4 million in 2007 before it dropped and leveled off at slightly more than 11 million. The Homeland Security Department estimate with January 2011 as the basis puts the illegal population as 11.5 million.

Many studies have also challenged the government estimates including the Bear Stearns report which contented that the actual number could be as high as 20 million.

Border Security

The Senate passed the new Immigration Reform bill in July in which $46 billion is committed for securing America's border with Mexico and facilitate the 11.7 million undocumented immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship in 13 years.

Bob Goodlatte chair of the House Judiciary Committee that handled most of the immigration bills, said Pew's report only affirms their approach. The increase in illegal immigration invalidates Obama regime’s claim that that the borders are secure than ever, Goodlatte said in a statement. Any successful immigration reform must secure the border and guarantee the enforcement of laws.

The main reasons for fall in undocumented immigration during 2007 to 2009 was the shrinking of US economy and loss of jobs. Border enforcement got tougher under the Obama administration deporting 400,000 people a year. During that time Mexican economy was also improving and would-be immigrants stayed home.
 
Obama’s soft corner for illegal immigrants was amply evident when he promulgated a Presidential order enabling Immigrant work permit for the youth segment in the illegal migrant population.

This Obama Immigrant work permit opened up opportunities for about 1.2 million young undocumented immigrants. This was an olive branch with temporary work and a halt on deportation in a platter. The work permit policy was announced in June 2012 to encourage younger illegal immigrants without any criminal record.

Right Thing to Do

President Obama described his new policy as simply the right thing to do despite facing charges of having overstepped his authority that too after his DREAM Act was scuttled by the Congress.

Obama noted that they pledge allegiance to our flag and Americans in their hearts, minds, in every single way except on paper. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said this was part of a general shift by the Obama administration to focus on deporting high-priority undocumented immigrants. She presented this as an exercise of discretion so that young people are not targeted excessively in the removing system. This also augments the immigration enforcement to manage resources well rather than wasting resources on the removal of low-priority cases involving productive young people.

Many call the immigrants work Permit as a humane policy with a positive response from the incumbents. The employment opportunities for illegal immigrants under the age of 31 will help them to approach the Department of Homeland Security to halt deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

Formalities of Application

To avail this opportunity the probable candidates can apply with the following documents.
  • Fee of $465 
  • Passport 
  • Birth Certificate 
  • School Transcripts
  • Medical Records
  • Financial records 
  • Military Records 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the special work permit, the incumbents prove that…
  • Current age is under 30
  • Came to the U.S. before the age of 16
  • Lived in the U.S. for a minimum five years
  • Not convicted of any crimes or pose a security threat

Benefits

The permit program allows qualified undocumented immigrants to stay back in the country and work legally at least for two years. Prior to the larger immigration debate, the government showed its will to be humane by offering as many as 1.76 million immigrants a way to avoid deportation at least temporarily.

Obama’s permit program thus puts off deportation for many people who came to the US as children. For them in benefiting from this opportunity they have to prove credentials that they arrived before the age of 16 and are younger than 31 at the time of moving the application and are high school or served in the military. They must not be having serious criminal records that threaten to public safety.

Good Response

So far the applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are more than 3,000 per day. Highest number of applications is coming from California and Texas. It may be noted that nearly 75 percent of the applicants originally belong to Mexico. 

Article Source: http://www.aboutus.org/Immigranttaxgroup.org

 

Immigration Tax Laws Will be Relooked When New Immigration Laws are in Force

The bipartisan US immigration Bill has brought many immigrant tax issues to the centre stage. The implications of US Immigration tax Laws have stoked a raging debate over undocumented residents getting citizenships in a fluke. That is why opponents of the bill are seething that it is a gift for lawbreakers and outright “amnesty”.

But what makes the bill stand out is its insistence on making all aliens tax complaints. The Bill proposes settling immigration tax liabilities by the illegal immigrants before being put into the orbit of graduate citizenship in 10 to 12 years.

In a span of 10 years, while preparing the illegal immigrants for citizenship with back taxes and provisional status to green card and regular employment in the U.S, the new Bill underscores making illegal immigrants tax compliant as a basis for mainstreaming. This targets mainly those who entered the USA illegally before December31, 2011. They have to pass a criminal check and pay back taxes to get a provisional status.

There are about 11 million illegal immigrants waiting immediate amnesty and being placed on a path to citizenship. The Senate proposal marks Democrats and Republicans to allow immigrants pay at least $2,000 in fines and immigration tax to meet other valid criteria for citizenship. The Republican members harp more on border security control before the more undocumented people cross over to become citizens.

The premise of the Bill seeks to give an economic advantage colour with the proposed assimilation programme.  US immigration tax laws are tough yet a humane way in the present circumstances. Interestingly the immigration issue also gives Republicans an opportunity to reconnect with Hispanic voters. The 71 percent vote share taken by President Barack Obama in his second time cannot be ignored. Fortunately a climate of consensus is unfolding—around two-thirds of Americans want a citizenship path for the illegal immigrants than harsh deportation.

http://taximmigrants.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/immigration-tax-laws-will-be-relooked-when-new-immigration-laws-are-in-force/


 
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If undocumented immigrants are allowed to work legally it would boost the US state and local tax contributions by an estimated $2 billion annually. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) says that the country's 11.2 million undocumented immigrants or tax immigrants collectively contribute $10.6 billion in state and local taxes (as in 2010) through sales and excise taxes, also via property and income taxes. The number could jump to more than $12.6 billion.

If the undocumented immigrants if allowed to work would pay more in state income tax and participate fully in federal, state and local tax systems. ITEP study indirectly says that legalization would allow the undocumented workers to have better bargain with employers and increase their income and tax contributions.

The controversial Immigration reforms currently before Congress would grant the legal right to work many unauthorized U.S. workers. All leading research reports say that a change would prove economically beneficial.

Leading Studies

Congressional Budget Office study argues that immigration reform bill would reduce the deficit by $197 billion over the next decade.

Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project found an increase in immigrant workers may lead high wages for U.S workers. Majority of Americans argue that granting legal status to undocumented immigrants would do good for the economy and country.

Immigration Tax is the economic impact of legalizing 11 million immigrants who entered the country illegally. Upon naturalization they will be required to pay back taxes. This was the main stumbling blocks keeping conservative lawmakers from backing the path to citizenship.

A study shows that the economic impact of legalizing immigrants is a positive one and not a financial drain. By giving immigrants a chance to work legally in the U.S. state and local revenues will spurt by $2 billion a year. The income tax flows would increase by $1.6 billion, sales tax contributions by $420 million and immigrants will pay an additional $76 million in property taxes.


 
Obama’s incentive for young illegal immigrants in the form of Immigration work permit than a deportation brought him kudos from the lobbies of illegal immigration and advocates while flak came from Republicans and neutral Americans who saw the employment market bursting at the seams with under-qualified aliens being pampered and clouding out the prospects of the skilled yet unemployed sections.

It is estimated that temporary work permits to young but illegal immigrants doomed for deportation will cost the US administration more than $585 million. The paperwork requires $465 as program’s cost. Accordingly an application by the illegal immigrant to stay in the country under the plan “Request for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” will be processed for a 2-year work permit after a back ground check, from August 15.

Eligibility

Those eligible immigrants who have arrived in the U.S. before their 16th birthday and 30 or younger and living in the US for at least five years, in a school or graduated or served in the military become eligible for this leniency. They must not have a criminal record or pose a safety threat. They can stay in the country and get a Immigration work permit for two years but no citizenship will be granted.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services estimated it could receive more than a million applications in the first year. It would cost the state between $467 million and $585 million to process the applications with revenues coming from fees paid by immigrants estimated to be $484 million.

The submitted applications could take between two and 10 days for the Homeland Security Department to scan and file it. It takes four weeks to make an appointment for immigrants to submit their fingerprints and take photographs. A background check could take six more weeks, and three months for the government to make a final decision before a work permit is issued.