Based on the latest research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a nonprofit organization that looks into the state and federal policies and its effects on low-income families and communities, states have taken it upon themselves to act on immigration rather than wait on Congress to act on a federal level.

Erica Williams, assistant director of state and fiscal research at CBPP, said their latest paper, titled "For States, Inclusive Approach to Unauthorized Immigrants Can Help Build Better Economies," illustrates how state tax and budget policies, among others, are affecting different communities but particularly those in a lower income bracket. Williams said state-based immigration legislation, as a result of the lack of federal comprehensive immigration reform, has been more positive in recent years as many states are looking at how to address undocumented immigrants and bring them into the "mainstream economy," which benefits both immigrant and state economies.

"The most important takeaway is that by taking a sort of commonsense, inclusive approach to unauthorized immigrants, states really can better their economies by producing a more educated workforce, ensuring that more employers are paying their workers fairly -- regardless of their immigration status -- and help to generate additional revenues to pay for the schools and other public services that build a strong foundation for a state economy for broadly shared prosperity," Williams told Latin Post.

"All of that is good for everyone."

In regards to why several U.S. states have been apprehensive to develop or adopt pro-immigrant legislation, Williams said the topic is still a "political issue," and there people with some fears that granting immigrants with certain benefits would somehow reduce incomes or employment for native-born workers. She said the "real truth," however, is that native-born workers will benefit from states bringing in undocumented immigrants into the mainstream economy.

"These are folks that are already living here in the United States. They live and work in communities across the country... if they are doing better, we all do better," Williams said.

"It's particularly true in the case, for example, of labor law enforcement and making sure people are paid the wages that they earned and that they're making at least the legal minimum wage."

Williams noted enforcing labor law enforcement would also benefit native-born workers in ensuring they, too, receive appropriate wages.

According to the CBPP, President Barack Obama's immigration executive actions, although temporary, can attract approximately $845 million in new state and local tax revenues. The CBPP stated the revenue increase is caused through immigrants paying more income taxes and earning higher wages.

Obama's immigration executive actions are the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) programs, which would grant eligible undocumented immigrants to receive permits based on specific standards by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and temporarily stay in the U.S. While DACA has been in effect based on Obama's 2012 guidelines, he expanded the program in November 2014 along with the introduction of DAPA. The extended DACA program and DAPA, however, has yet to be in effect due to legal actions

If comprehensive immigration reform was to be implemented by Congress and provide permanent legal work status to nearly all undocumented workers, the U.S. would see more economic revenues than DACA and DAPA. With comprehensive immigration reform, $2.2 billion in state and local tax revenues would occur.

Back on a state level, states would also reportedly benefit from allowing immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities and obtain financial aid. CBPP said expanding higher education access would boost immigrants' skills and wages within the states' workforce.

Further, granting undocumented immigrants with access to a driver's license would allow them to legally drive to work or shop, as well as providing states with revenue gains from licensing fees. As of November, Washington D.C. and 12 states have passed laws to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont and Washington State.

"States are realizing that they can't just wait around for something to happen at the federal level, that there are people in their communities that are being left out of the mainstream and who could be contributing a lot more if they were just allowed to," Williams said.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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