Study: Immigrants add $10.6 billion a year to LI economy

Another study showing that immigrants add more to an economy than they use in services - this one on Long Island. DP

BY DAVE MARCUS, Newsday

newsday.com: Immigrants contribute $10.6 billion a year to Long Island's economy by increasing productivity, generating new business and paying taxes, according to a study to be released Monday by Adelphi University's Center for Social Innovation.

While many Long Islanders have said that immigrants drain government resources, the study says they contribute $2,305 more per person in taxes and government fees than they use in schools, health care and law enforcement. It found that spending by immigrants -- those who are legal residents as well as those who are undocumented -- leads to creation of about 82,000 jobs a year.

Funded by the Hagedorn Foundation in Port Washington, the study is believed to be the first in-depth look at the economic impact of immigrants from all nationalities on Long Island. The author, Mariano Torras, is a professor of economics at Adelphi University and a fellow at the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Latino Studies. He analyzed census figures beginning in 1980, government budgets and other data.

While the report doesn't mention those who have been critical of illegal immigrants, it does seek to contradict their arguments. One goal of the Hagedorn Foundation is reduction of tensions between established residents and immigrants.

"The results should blunt these criticisms," Torras said yesterday, "but I'm also aware of the realities that in these kinds of political economic controversies both sides have their minds made up and find reasons to discredit findings they don't agree with."

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), who had not seen the report yesterday, said he has read some nationwide reports emphasizing the economic benefits of undocumented immigrants and other reports emphasizing the costs. "But economics aside, from the security and the social points of view, we have to control who is in the country. This country has to get control of its border."
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