Step into any restaurant kitchen, construction site, or agricultural field, and you’ll find them—working tirelessly in the shadows, sustaining the industries that make American life comfortable. The undocumented workforce is not a faceless statistic; it is the silent engine of the U.S. economy. Yet in national debates, they are scapegoated, demonized, and used as political fodder. 

Immigration attorney Hillary Walsh sees this contradiction firsthand. “Our immigration policies punish the very people who help hold up our economy,” she says. “It’s not just a legal injustice—it’s economic insanity.” As the founder of New Frontier Immigration Law, Walsh has spent years fighting for the rights of undocumented individuals, many of whom pay billions in taxes yet receive none of the benefits they fund.

So why does America continue to vilify the very people who help keep its economy afloat?

The Economic Backbone of America

Forget the stereotype of undocumented immigrants as a drain on public resources. The truth is quite the opposite. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants contribute nearly $11.7 billion annually in state and local taxes. They also pump billions more into Social Security and Medicare—funds they will never be able to claim.

The industries most reliant on undocumented labor—agriculture, construction, food services, and hospitality—are among the most vital to daily American life. Without these workers, the cost of food, housing, and essential services would skyrocket. “The next time you pick up a carton of strawberries or walk into a new office building, consider this,” Hillary Walsh notes. “It was likely made possible by someone who has no legal pathway to citizenship, yet pays into the very system that denies them basic rights.”

At a time when labor shortages are crippling industries, the undocumented workforce remains an untapped economic resource. Yet instead of recognizing their value, U.S. policies continue to push them into the shadows.

Legal Limbo and Systemic Barriers

America’s immigration laws are riddled with contradictions. Undocumented workers pay billions in taxes, yet they cannot access Social Security, Medicare, or most public benefits. They fill crucial labor shortages, yet legal work permits remain nearly impossible to obtain. Even those married to U.S. citizens face an uphill battle to gain lawful status; they often encounter bureaucratic obstacles that can take decades to resolve.

“Everyone agrees that our immigration system is broken,” Hillary Walsh says. “Yet no one wants to do the hard work of fixing it. Meanwhile, the immigrants and their families suffer.”

Take the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and T visas, two legal pathways that provide relief to undocumented survivors of abuse and human trafficking. New Frontier Immigration Law specializes in these cases, helping thousands gain protection and legal status. But the process is grueling, often requiring survivors to relive trauma just to prove their eligibility. “It’s a system that demands proof of extreme suffering before granting dignity,” Walsh explains. “And that’s unacceptable.”

A Humanitarian and Economic Imperative

Beyond the moral argument, there’s a clear economic case for immigration reform. Research from the Congressional Budget Office suggests that granting legal status to undocumented immigrants would increase GDP by nearly $1.5 trillion over the next decade and add hundreds of billions in new tax revenue.

Yet, legislative gridlock continues to stall meaningful change. Instead of addressing the economic reality, policymakers rely on fear-mongering and performative enforcement measures that do little to solve the problem. “We need to stop pretending that mass deportations are the answer,” Walsh argues. “The real solution lies in legal pathways that recognize the contributions of these workers.”

The economic impact of undocumented immigrants extends beyond labor shortages—it has played a crucial role in stabilizing the U.S. economy. Geopolitical strategist Peter Zeihan put it bluntly: “If the United States hadn’t had the wave of illegal migration that it had in calendar year 2023—about 2 million people—we’d probably be dealing with inflation north of 8% by now.” This influx of workers filled critical labor gaps, preventing wage-driven inflation from spiraling further out of control.

New Frontier Immigration Law is at the forefront of this fight. By advocating for policies that prioritize family unity, humanitarian relief, and work authorization, the firm is not just helping individuals—it is reshaping the national conversation. “The narrative around undocumented immigrants needs to change,” Walsh says. “They’re not burdens. They’re the backbone of this country.”

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