What Would Happen To Michigan If We Deported All Undocumented Immigrants?
Founder of New Michigan Media says it would cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars
“America has been made great again and again through immigrants, by immigrants,” says Hayg Oshagan.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently split on whether President Barack Obama’s immigration reforms could survive. The 4-4 split meant the executive actions no longer stand and families could be split up and subjected to deportations.
It’s the latest in a long list of immigration issues that could play a role in the upcoming presidential election. While Republican Donald Trump has received a lot of attention for the wall he says he wants to finish along the border with Mexico, here in Metro Detroit we also pay close attention to how the candidates feel about immigration from the Middle East.
New Michigan Media founder Hayg Oshagan joins Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson to talk about the decision and what immigration means for the state.
“If you took out unauthorized immigrants from Michigan, it would affect the economy,” says Oshagan. “We would lose about 20,000 jobs in Michigan and $4 billion” in economic activity.
Oshagan says this year’s election rhetoric has created a negative connotation regarding immigration as something to be feared. He addresses the subtext of Donald Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
“America has been made great again and again through immigrants, by immigrants,” he says.
To hear the full conversation, click on the audio player above.
