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One of the biggest arguments against a gentler, more humane approach to illegal immigration is that immigrants, both legal and illegal, are a net drain on the economy.  And as jobs evaporate and the U.S.’s economic climate worsens, this is one of the most common and loudly voiced arguments against immigration.  But reports from two universities, one in NY and another in Nebraska, find that immigrants are net contributors to the economy:

A report by Adelphi University’s Center for Social Innovation suggests that both documented and undocumented immigrants are net contributors to Long Island’s prosperity. After subtracting what local governments in Suffolk and Nassau spend to provide services for immigrants, Long Island still receives a net benefit of $1.07 billion. The study also found that immigrant spending power added $10.6 billion to total Long Island output and generated 82,000 jobs in 2006.

New York is far from alone in benefiting from immigrant productivity. The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha also found that immigrants give more than they receive and help create jobs. In 2006, immigrant spending in Nebraska generated more than 11,800 jobs there, according to a recent study.

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