Article Summary

New research from the Manhattan Institute indicates that Indian immigrants and H-1B visa holders significantly benefit the US economy, projected to reduce national debt and boost GDP. The study found that the average Indian immigrant saves the federal government $1.7 million over 30 years, and H-1B holders reduce debt by $2.3 million while expanding GDP by $500,000 over the same period. It proposes immigration reforms, including increasing high-skilled immigration and granting more Green Cards to clear the Indian backlog, to maximize these economic gains.

TNP AI: Key Insights

This research offers a compelling economic argument for increasing high-skilled immigration and addressing the Green Card backlog for countries like India. It directly counters common anti-immigrant narratives by providing quantifiable data on the substantial fiscal benefits skilled workers bring to the U.S. economy, including significant contributions to debt reduction and GDP growth.

The study's findings on the fiscal impact of H-1B visa holders are particularly relevant given ongoing debates about H-1B reform and caps. For employers, this data underscores the economic rationale for advocating for policies that streamline skilled immigration and improve Green Card pathways, potentially influencing future legislative discussions on talent retention. The proposals to increase high-skilled immigration and prioritize Green Cards for Indians directly address the decades-long waiting periods faced by many H-1B holders.