ACLU and AFL-CIO report says a citizenship pathway would boost wages and cut costs for workers
A new joint report from the ACLU and the AFL-CIO argues that granting a broad path to citizenship would raise wages, create jobs and lower living costs for American workers.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the AFL-CIO released a study that ties the United States' aggressive deportation policies to an affordability crisis for working families. By removing undocumented workers, the report says, key sectors such as construction, hospitality and personal care lose labor, see wages suppressed and face higher consumer prices. It also highlights that federal spending has allocated at least $240 billion to immigration enforcement while reducing resources for food assistance, health care and ACA subsidies.
Naureen Shah of the ACLU argues that ICE raids make workers poorer and more exploitable, while Liz Shuler of the AFL-CIO contends that a comprehensive citizenship pathway would stabilize jobs, raise wages and strengthen worker protections. The study calls on Congress to prioritize citizenship legislation as a means to improve economic security for millions of families.
Why it matters
The findings link immigration policy to wage growth and cost of living, affecting millions of American workers.
In this story
