Neal Peirce: Illegal Immigration And Economic Potential

Neal Peirce looks at opportunities for economic growth and jobs in the new cross-border culture.

1 minute read

May 19, 2006, 9:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"It's true, there are aspects to illegal immigration...that we all abhor. Not to mention the disgraceful wages (plus zero benefits) some U.S. employers force on intimidated 'illegals.' But a radically different picture emerges if one focuses instead on new people-to-people and cultural ties, the emerging economies and opportunity scenarios emerging along America's flank to Mexico and broader Latin America...the potential for economic growth and jobs is immense, reports San Diego Dialogue, the trailblazing binational citizen-business partnership begun in 1991. In its latest report, "Borderless Innovation," the group points to big potentials in such clusters as biomedical devices, marine biotechnology, aerospace, defense and pharmaceuticals."

Sunday, May 14, 2006 in The Washington Post Writers Group

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

People board a bus in Seattle.

Seattle passes record-breaking transit services expansion

Proposition 1 will double the city’s transit tax to add 95,000 more bus trips and preserve 180,000 bus trips annually.

November 6 - KOMO News

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.