The System is Broken Everyone can agree that we don’t have a common-sense immigration process in place. Many have questions about what the solution is, or how it’d benefit America’s workers. Let’s explore some common myths about immigration and then talk about our campaign for reform.

1. Why Mobilizing for Equality & Citizenship
Benefits ALL Working Families

2. The System is Broken
 Everyone can agree that we don’t have a common-
sense immigration process in place.
 Many have questions about what the solution is, or
how it’d benefit America’s workers.
 Let’s explore some common myths about immigration
and then talk about our campaign for reform.

3. Myth #1:
 “Immigration reform means more competition for
fewer jobs”

4. Fact:
Immigration reform would
create LESS competition by
raising working standards
and protecting good jobs.
The higher earning power of
aspiring citizens in just the
first 3 years after the passage
immigration reform would
generate enough consumer
spending to support 750,000
to 900,000 jobs.
Source: “Raising the Floor for
American Workers.”

5. Myth #2
 “Immigration reform will be costly – we just can’t
afford it.”

6. Fact:
The Congressional Budget
Office estimates that
immigration reform with a
roadmap to citizenship
would generate an additional
$1.5 trillion to the economy
over 10 years.

7. Myth #3:
 “Immigration reform only benefits immigrants – it
doesn’t affect me.”

8. Fact:
Studies show that
immigration reform with a
roadmap to citizenship can
raise wages for immigrant
workers by 6%.
Raising wages for low-wage
workers protects good jobs
and raises working standards
for EVERYONE.
Immigrant rights ARE
workers’ rights.
Source: “Immigration for
Shared Prosperity.”

9. Fact:
“High Road” employers
who obey the law and treat
workers with respect will no
longer be at a competitive
disadvantage.

10. Myth #4:
 “Immigration reform isn’t a workers’ rights issue.”

11. Fact:
Workers without a roadmap
to citizenship frequently
experience threats of
deportation or physical
violence, unsafe conditions
and wage theft because they
work in an underground
economy without full rights
and too often without a voice.
Immigration reform would
unite and strengthen worker
power and help stop
unscrupulous employers.

12. Myth #5:
 “Immigrants strain public services that are already
stretched too thin.”

13. Fact:
 Added tax revenues from immigrants’ higher wages will help improve
public services, including education.
 Even the libertarian CATO Institute argues that immigration reform
with a roadmap to citizenship would yield at least $1.5 trillion in added
GDP over 10 years as a result of increased consumption, job creation
and additional tax revenue.
 The labor of out-of-status workers already adds billions to our
economy, but that money doesn’t always trickle down to public services
because of misclassification and wage theft. Immigration reform
would fix that.
Source: Immigration Policy Center , Time.com

14. Myth #6:
 “Immigrants come here to use our welfare and they
don’t pay taxes.”

15. Fact:
 Immigrant families come here because they love this country and want
to contribute to our economy.
 In most states, welfare options are closed to undocumented
immigrants.
 In 2006, the IRS Commission told Congress that many undocumented
immigrants file federal taxes – paying almost $50 billion at tax time
between 1996 and 2003.
 Undocumented immigrants paid MORE in taxes than General Electric
in 2010, paying $11.2 billion in state and local taxes.
Source: Immigration Policy Center , Time.com

16. Myth #7:
 “Immigrants of today are different than ones from
generations past.”

17. Fact:
“Until 1918, the United States
did not require passports; the
term [undocumented
immigrant] had no meaning.
New arrivals were required only
to prove their identity and find
a relative or friend who could
vouch for them.”
Source: Washington Post

18. Fact:
 Washington Post: “Most of the concerns voiced today --
that too many immigrants seek economic advantage and
fail to understand democracy, that they refuse to learn
English, overcrowd homes and overwhelm public services -
- were heard a century ago.”

19. Fact:
Throughout America’s history,
people around the world have
moved here to work hard in
order to make life better for the
next generation.
We need a process that reflects
our roots and our values and
rewards people who work hard
and make a contribution to our
communities.

20. Myth #8:
 “Immigrants can just get in line to become citizens.
They should wait in line like everyone else.”

21. Fact:
For many immigrants, there
is no line to get into in order
to become a fully-
participating citizen.
It’s easy to become “out of
status” – it’s often
unintentional.
Natives of over 20
countries aren’t even
eligible to apply for
diversity visas.
Deporting all 11.5 million
undocumented aspiring
citizens living here would
take 30 years and cost
millions of dollars.

22. Myth #9:
 “Guestworker programs are a good solution to help us
meet labor market needs and legalize undocumented
immigrants.”

23. Fact
Guestworker programs are
more like indentured servitude.
These temporary visas tie
immigrant workers to their
employer – meaning that if a
worker raises concerns about
working conditions or tries to
form a union, s/he risks being
not just fired, but deported.
The programs are not based on
real data – no commission
exists to independently assess
labor market needs.

24. Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Roadmap to
Citizenship
Future Flow
Interior
Enforcement
Border
Enforcement

25. 1. Independent commission to
assess labor market shortages
2. Effective work authorization
mechanism
3. Rational, humane control of the
border
4. Fair adjustment of status through
a roadmap to citizenship
5. Improvement, not expansion, of
temporary worker programs like
the H1-B and H2-B programs

27. Everyone Benefits
 Raises standards & protects good jobs
 Enriched civic community
 Boosts economy & creates jobs
 The right thing to do

28. More than three in five union members are in favor of a
comprehensive immigration reform proposal that includes a
roadmap to citizenship and emphasizes workers’ rights.
62
23
16
37
15
Favor Oppose Not sure/DK
ComprehensiveImmigration Reform

29. AP Poll:
According to a new
Associated Press poll, more
than 60% of Americans favor
allowing undocumented
immigrants to eventually
become U.S. citizens.

30. Our Campaign for Citizenship
 Talking with union members across the country
 Launching a multi-city tour to build support for
immigration reform
 Opportunity to broaden and build labor movement
 Take the next step:
 Check out www.aflcio.org/immigration to learn more
 Visit www.workingfamiliestoolkit.com and present a
workshop

31. Contact: Jenn Kauffman
jkauffman@aflcio.org
202-637-5299