Immigration law: Drag on development

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama's new illegal immigration law "is well-intentioned but will be costly to the state economy" according to Samuel Addy, Director and Research Economist from the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration at The University of Alabama.

In a research paper released Tuesday, Addy notes, "Nobody can fault the intent of Alabama’s recent immigration law, which is to deal with the illegal immigration issue. In fact the intent is truly admirable, but the law itself has serious economic costs mainly because it reduces demand in the state economy. Instead of boosting state economic growth, the law is certain to be a drag on economic development even without considering costs associated with enforcement of the law."

He also addresses questions like: "Will the law lower the unemployment rate by providing more jobs for legal residents and citizens?" and "What about the argument that illegal immigrants are a drain on resources because they don’t pay taxes?"

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