Between 3.5 and 5 M people live in the US illegally, the majority from Mexico. Illegal migrants probably displace some US citizens from jobs and their presence in the work force holds down wages and impedes efforts to improve working conditions. They are an exploited underclass, forced to accept illegally low wages and health and safety conditions. However, illegal migrants have revitalized failing industries such as garment making. The availability of cheap labour enables the establishment of new business eg. nursing homes and restaurants, creating jobs in other fields such as trucking and food services. It seems likely that the US economy as a whole is not harmed by illegal migration. The number of illegal residents might be reduced if entry were harder and job finding more difficult.-F.McElhoe Jr

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Mexico labour economic impact