Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation researches and calculates the number of immigrants which would result from the Hagel-Martinez bill within 20 years (the first number is just a middle of the estimate).

Much attention has been given to the fact that the bill grants amnesty to some 10 million illegal immigrants. Little or no attention has been given to the fact that the bill would quintuple the rate of legal immigration into the United States, raising, over time, the inflow of legal immigrants from around one million per year to over five million per year. The impact of this increase in legal immigration dwarfs the magnitude of the amnesty provisions.

In contrast to the 103 million immigrants permitted under CIRA, current law allows 19 million legal immigrants over the next twenty years. Relative to current law, then, CIRA would add an extra 84 million legal immigrants to the nation's population.

The figure of 103 million legal immigrants is a reasonable estimate of the actual immigration inflow under the bill and not the maximum number that would be legally permitted to enter. The maximum number that could legally enter would be almost 200 million over twenty years – over 180 million more legal immigrants than current law permits.

Here's the new acronym buzz word for immigration reform – CIRA (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act). Remember it cause you'll be hearing about it for a long time.

There are 3 legal statuses for an immigrant from this bill: temporary, near-permanent(convertible status) and legal permanent residence(LPR). Here's the thing – all of these statuses can actually convert to permanent legal status with the ability to become legal permanent residents and then citizens. And those in the LPR status can bring spouses and minor children into the country. There is no limit on spouses, children and parents that may be brought into the country.

The guest worker portion of this bill is pretty much an open door for business.

See this growth chart projection:

Here's the point which bothers me. Do any of these Senators ever do their homework on calculating the effect of their proposals? I know the taxpayers pay for too damn many staffers to support these dolts. Who believes that the US could ever assimilate and support over a third of the existing population within 20 years? This is beyond absurd and ridiculous. Just think, there's no restriction on any of these immigrants receiving government entitlements. There's no requirement on skills, education or health status.

This is nothing more than an Open Border policy. Why don't they just admit? They ought to be impeached since they are not protecting our borders and have no intention of ever protecting our borders. Just open the damn flood gates!

Senate Immigration Bill Would Allow 100 Million New Legal Immigrants over the Next Twenty Years

For more information on the Immigration Reform debate see Heritage links:

Amnesty and Continued Low Skill Immigration Will Substantially Raise Welfare Costs and Poverty by Robert Rector
May 12, 2006 (Backgrounder #1936)
The fiscal impact of immigrants varies strongly according to immigrants’ education level.

Background on the Immigration Debate

Immigration Enforcement and Workplace Verification: Sensible Proposals for Congress by James Jay Carafano

Making Citizens: The Case for Patriotic Assimilation by Matthew Spalding

4 Responses to “Doing the Math on the Hagel-Martinez Immigration Bill”