Opinion: More illegal immigrants, please.
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Popular as illegal-immigration raids are, plenty of studies have shown that immigrants (legal or not) are a boon to the U.S. economy. But in certain areas the benefits can be, shall we say, a little more direct ... Check out this Town Talk article, titled ‘Immigrant-detainee facility brings economic boost for Jena’s economy’:
JENA -- Tuesday morning’s humidity couldn’t dampen the positive attitude of Jena Mayor Murphy McMillin as he spoke at a ceremony to commemorate the grand opening of the LaSalle Detention Facility. McMillin outlined the economic benefits of the immigrant-detainee facility, located at 830 Pinehill Road in Jena, to a crowd of state and local officials as well as other onlookers. These benefits include an approximately $1 million boost in property taxes and an estimated $60 million impact in ‘new money chasing goods and services.’ McMillin quipped that the money brought in by The GEO Group, the facility’s owner and second-largest operator of prison systems in the world, made him very happy. ‘We would invite any kind of expansion,’ he continued, breaking off into a chuckle.
And yes, it’s that Jena.
-- Amina Khan