Resolved: Immigration policies should be expanded to compensate for a growing U.S. society

Thank you, ColeTrain, for inviting me to this debate, particularly given the strength of the other applicants. I gladly accept, and will endeavor to live up to your hopes for a compelling debate.Expanding immigration is good for everybody. It furthers humanitarian goals, it serves as economic stimulus, and it contributes to a free and diverse civil society. Analysts across the political spectrum [1] recognize that expanded immigration results in higher incomes, more tax revenue, and more new jobs for immigrants as well as native-born workers. [2] Increased immigration improves society - it promotes positive growth, and better equips a nation to compensate for crises.Thus, I will be arguing for two specific policies that expand immigration and contribute to the growth, health, and stability of society:1) expanding visas targeted at attracting educated, skilled, and entrepreneurial immigrants. 2) addressing illegal immigration by expanding immigration for non-skilled workers.After explaining the substance of and reasons for both reforms, I will close by explaining how expanding immigration through these programs would vastly benefit everyone in the United States - citizens, residents, and guests alike.The U.S. should attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals through expanded immigrationIntel. Google. Yahoo. YouTube. eBay. Instagram. What do these companies have in common? Innovation, technology, job creation, incalculable contributions to American life and productivity? All of the above. Also, all were founded by immigrants. [4] Immigrants account for some of the most productive and innovative workers in our nation. Immigrants start more than a quarter of new businesses, account for more than 20% of Fortune 500 CEOs, and employ about 10% of all Americans working in the private sector. This is particularly important in the tech field. Silicon Valley has historically attracted more foreign-born scientists and engineers than any other part of the country; more than half the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) work-force there is foreign born. [5] The amount of economic productivity attributable to this class of workers is astounding - from 1990 to 2010, 10-25% of the total combined productivity growth across 219 American cities was due to immigrant STEM workers. These productivity gains translate into better economies and higher wages, for all workers. [6]Outside our borders, millions of educated, driven people around the world are asking for their shot, making the United States far and away "the world's most desired destination for potential migrants." [7] But we aren't the only country making offers - rival economies in Europe and Asia are spending billions to attract the top-level talent that once came to the United States. [8] Our byzantine immigration system, with its categories and quotas and lotteries, is damaging the effort to remain at the forefront of technological excellence and entrepreneurial innovation. [5] Hampered by visa restrictions, leading companies are unable to hire the number of skilled workers they seek. [9]Thus, I would propose expanding immigration for skilled workers in three ways:-Remove all caps and country quotas from the skilled worker H1-B visa, to allow companies to hire the skilled workers they wish to hire-Make students who enter on F-1 visas eligible for green cards, so that we can retain the benefits of expertise provided by an American education-Establish an entrepreneurial visa for immigrants who desire to use their resources to start job-creating American businesses.Expand immigration for non-skilled laborersThe American illegal immigration problem is simple: we have developed a de facto guest worker program in which illegal immigrants are both exploited for their labor and yet feared as threats to economic security. This has made U.S. companies dependent on cheap foreign labor, led to long-term settlement of supposedly temporary sojourners, and created a standing population of marginalized workers. [10]While the legal status of undocumented aliens already present is beyond the scope of this debate, I will argue that going forward legal immigration must be vastly expanded in order to convert the majority of those who today cross the border illegally into legal immigrants.To begin with, let us acknowledge the contributions of illegal immigrants. They make a disproportionately large share of the U.S. labor force. Far from being leeches on government services, the vast majority of illegal immigrants are taxpayers, contributing more than $11.8 billion in just state and local taxes in 2012. [11] And unlike citizens, they are ineligible for many of the benefits (social security, medicaid) that they pay taxes for. They earn their keep - overall, "immigrant tax payments total $20 to $30 billion more than the amount of government services they use." [12]Part of what anchors illegal immigrants to long-term residency is the certain knowledge that they would be unable to return to the U.S. following deportation or even voluntary exit. So, they stay put, even if the work that brought them was only temporary or seasonal. Making it easy for immigrants to come to the U.S. to work on either a permanent or temporary basis would help reestablish a circular migration pattern between the U.S. and Mexico. [10]Expanded immigration has both humanitarian and economic benefits. Apart from the stress reduction that comes from eliminating the fear of deportation (and the wrenching apart of families that necessarily entails), expanded legal immigration will make immigrants more likely to seek medical assistance when needed, or call the police when in danger. And legitimizing the presence and labor of low-skilled immigrants will make them more productive workers, increasing tax revenue and growing the economy.The benefits of expanded immigrationLet's talk numbers. What would my suggested changes mean for our society? If these reforms were adopted - along with a path to legal status for those already here - the positive outcomes would be overwhelming. Reform would mean: -An increase in net personal income of $10 to $12 billion per year -An increase of $1.5 to $1.8 billion in tax revenue per year -An increase in consumer spending sufficient to support 250,000 to 300,000 new jobs per year -Over a decade, the additional economic activity would increase GDP by somewhere between $37 and $52 billion -Over a decade, a cumulative reduction in the federal deficit of over $2.5 trillion [2]In light of this data, expanding immigration is more than just a good idea - it is imperative if America wishes to maintain its place as a global innovator and economic leader.With that, I turn the floor over to Con.[1] https://hbr.org...[2] http://www.immigrationpolicy.org...[3] http://harvardmagazine.com...[4] http://fundersandfounders.com...[5] http://www.inc.com...[6] http://thehill.com...[7] http://www.gallup.com...[8] http://immigrationimpact.com...[9] http://www.cnet.com...[10] http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu...[11] http://www.thefiscaltimes.com...[12] http://www.immigrationpolicy.org...