Basic Income and the Question of Immigration: Evaluating Citizen-Based vs. Residency-Based Proposals

Author: Judy Ke

Field of Study: Arts and Humanities

Program Affiliation: TRiO (SSS, Upward Bound, etc.)

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 58

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Basic income is a government welfare program whose primary goal is to alleviate poverty, provide economic security, and reduce inequality. Many non-citizen immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers would stand to gain benefits if a basic income were implemented in the United States. Yet inclusion of such groups is highly controversial. Some experts argue that including immigrants in a basic income program would increase the immigration rate and cause spending to spike. Drawing on the process of naturalization, tax contributions of citizens and immigrants, and already established arguments, this research paper examines the debate over residency- vs. citizenship-based basic income. In taking the arguments on both sides, this paper will lay down the foundations for whether welfare is a pull factor in immigration and recognize if the politics of a non-citizen basic income plan could decrease the possibility of passing the program.