Immigrant impact

Illegal immigration has generated plenty of heated debate and angry rhetoric, much of it fueled by those who claim the costs outweigh immigrants' contributions.

A state lawmaker's attempt to get a true picture of the costs vs. benefits in Kansas recently was derailed. Rep. Nile Dillmore, D-Wichita, proposed a Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit report that would have attempted to estimate the financial costs and benefits of illegal immigration in a state that's home to an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 illegal immigrants, according to a 2005 Pew Hispanic Center estimate.

Instead of the proposed study, the legislative committee that oversees the division voted to have the division's researchers prepare a less thorough report in the form of a summary of existing studies on costs and revenues from illegal immigration, along with its impact on worker wages.

Dillmore had a point when he said some in the Statehouse may fear his proposed study would show that illegal immigration doesn't cost the state nearly as much as some believe. Such studies elsewhere have shown undocumented workers having a net positive impact on their economies.

Kansas lawmakers should know the costs and benefits before adopting any sort of immigration legislation, as anti-immigration laws in other states have brought painful economic losses.

Unfortunately, many conservative Republicans still embrace the shortsighted, enforcement-only approach to illegal immigration, when the only reasonable solution is a comprehensive strategy of stepped-up enforcement and realistic opportunities for immigrants to gain legal status while continuing to work and contribute.

Immigrants (whether here legally or not) reportedly hold about a third of the nation's unskilled, low-wage jobs -- work many Americans don't want. Combine that with the significant number of foreign-born scientists, engineers and other professionals, and there's an irrefutable case for a guest worker program that truly meets the nation's labor needs.

Still, fixing the system to allow immigrant workers to continue making the contributions we've depended on for generations is the responsibility of Congress.

Until that happens, Kansas lawmakers looking to address the fallout of illegal immigration should welcome a chance to better understand its true impact on our economy.

Considering the politics involved, it's no surprise that some would rather steer clear of that reality.