Immigration Policy Proposals and Potential Budgetary Effects

During the past two years, the Congress has considered proposals to modify the nation's immigration system. The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, passed by the Senate in June 2013, addresses multiple facets of immigration policy, including changes to the existing visa system, improvements in border security and law enforcement, and changes to the status of people who currently live in the country without legal authorisation. Other proposals have focused on one component of immigration policy -- for example, improving border security or changing certain aspects of the visa system. Whether the proposals involve broad or narrow changes to immigration policy, they could have a variety of consequences for both citizens and non-citizens, for the federal government, and for state and local governments. This book examines some of those proposals and how such changes would affect the federal budget.