Unauthorized Immigration: A Study of Its Economic Impacts

A recent study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas found that unauthorized immigration has both positive and negative effects on the economy.

The study used data from 2021 to 2025 to estimate the impacts of unauthorized immigration in two key areas: the labor market and the housing market.

Researchers at the Dallas bank found that total employment rose directly with the increase in unauthorized immigrants, meaning jobs were either created or open jobs were filled by the immigrants. There was no substitution of immigrants for existing workers.

Wages were not reduced as a result of the influx of unauthorized immigrants, likely because they took new or unfilled jobs and did not compete with workers who were already employed. The report also found that public revenues increased due to the filling of new or vacant jobs.