Summary: Natalie Torres interviewed Cecilia Esterline about the economic impacts of immigration in the US. Cecilia explained that immigration generally has a neutral impact on native-born workers’ wages, as immigrants and Americans often don’t compete for the same jobs. Immigrants can enable upward mobility for Americans and fill critical gaps in industries facing labor shortages, such as healthcare and construction.

Cecilia noted that while there can be some job displacement for low-skilled native workers, immigrants also generate demand for goods and services, creating new jobs, resulting overall in a net neutral impact. She highlighted that US immigration laws are outdated and need reform to align with current labor and economic demands, including updating visa numbers and criteria.

Both high- and low-skilled immigrants are vital f ...