The Role of Immigrants in the U.S. Labor Market

The role of immigrants in the U.S. labor market has long generated substantial interest among policymakers. Lawmakers have considered a broad range of issues concerning foreign-born workers, from the number of immigrants permitted to enter the United States and the criteria for determining who is admitted to the rules governing their employment and myriad questions related to undocumented workers. Bills introduced in the 109th Congress, for example, would alter the laws governing the admission of temporary workers under the H-2A program for agricultural workers and the H-2B program for other workers; change the requirements for gaining permanent admission to the United States; and take steps to reduce illegal immigration. President George W. Bush has called for a new temporary guest worker program that would provide temporary legal status to certain foreign-born workers who are working in the United States without authorization.