Immigrants play essential roles in the U.S. workforce

As an immigrant who plans to live and work in California, or who is already settled, you may be subjected unfairly to negativity at times because the U.S. is not your country of origin. This type of bias is offensive, and it is often based on false information. At the U.S. Law Center, we understand that the economy in California and in the United States depends on the workers who come here from other countries.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits Division, documented and undocumented immigrants contribute to the economy through their spending and their taxes. If you are an undocumented immigrant, you may be even more beneficial to the system than some citizens. After all, you pay taxes, but may find yourself ineligible to receive many public benefits, such as the following:

• Social Security
• Food stamps
• Financial aid for higher education
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Although there is medical care available to you, depending on your situation, you may have to pay for it without assistance. Becoming eligible to work in the United States provides immigrants with some, but not all, of these benefits.

Statistics indicate that the country’s need for the presence of immigrants in the workforce will continue to grow as the aging Baby Boomer population begins retiring. U.S. citizens should understand that you did not move to this country to take advantage of the system, but to contribute your fair share and to partake in the freedoms that should be available to all who live here. For more information about employment in the United States, please visit our page.