…for the Fairfax Times…

As Virginia grapples with a budget deficit brought on by the current recession, state and local policymakers would do well to keep in mind that immigrant communities are a potent force for economic recovery.  Immigrants, and the adult children of immigrants, already contribute billions of dollars to the state economy each year as workers, taxpayers, consumers and entrepreneurs.  These contributions would be even greater if currently unauthorized immigrants had a pathway to legal status, thereby drawing all of them into the tax system.  Moreover, newly legalized workers could earn higher wages, further increasing their tax contributions and the amount of money they have to spend in Virginia businesses…

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