East Ventura News

THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF., Jan. 31, 2024 — Undocumented immigrants contribute more than $151 billion to California’s economy, according to the 2023 study “Demographic Profile and Economic Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in California: Separating Myths from Realities” by Jamshid Damooei, Ph.D., of California Lutheran University School of Management’s Center for Economics of Social Issues (CESI). To discuss and explore the findings, Cal Lutheran is holding the conference “Separating Myths from Realities: Challenges Undocumented Immigrants Face and Their Economic Impact in California.” The conference will be held from 8 a.m. – noon on Feb. 22 in the Lundring Events Center on the Cal Lutheran campus.

The half-day conference aims to bring attention to the moral and economic necessity of helping the integration of immigrants into Californian society. A keynote panel of immigration experts will share their perspectives, the result of decades of work in their areas, on how to bring attention to the needs of undocumented immigrants in the state. Damooei will also release the 2023 study, which defines the socioeconomic profile and economic impacts of California’s undocumented immigrants.

“Our goal is to separate common myths from reality regarding undocumented immigrants’ lives and their economic contribution in the region and the state of California,” said Damooei, a Cal Lutheran economics professor and executive director of CESI.

Dr. Sabith Khan, program director of the Masters of Public Policy and Administration program at Cal Lutheran, will moderate the panel. Panelists include Álvaro de Regil Castilla, executive director, The Jus Semper Global Alliance; Dr. Thai V. Le, research scientist, USC Dornsife Equity Research Institute; Lindsay Toczylowski, co-founder and executive director, Immigrant Defenders Law Center; and Apolonio “Polo” Morales, deputy director of programs and campaigns at the California Immigrant Policy Center.

“The study sheds light on the enormous and irreplaceable economic contribution of undocumented immigrants in California. It will put a human face on the tragedy of how undocumented immigrants are isolated and treated even though more than 73% have lived in the United States for over 10 years,” Damooei added.

Additional study findings to be explored at the conference include:

- Approximately 1.6 million undocumented immigrants work in California; their work creates an additional 1.25 million jobs for other workers in the state.

- Approximately $9 billion annually paid by undocumented immigrants is generated by employer and employee social security contributions from which they will never benefit.

- About 10.9% of undocumented immigrant workforce is employed in professional services, education or health services.

“At Cal Lutheran our mission is guided by social justice and advocacy so we can reimagine education to disrupt inequities. Dr. Damooei’s research study not only aligns with our mission but points to important economic contributions locally, statewide and nationally,” said Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler dean School Management Cal Lutheran.

A Spanish interpreter will be available at conference held at Cal Lutheran W Olsen Road Thousand Oaks There no cost attend faculty staff students Tickets $40 community members Register bit.ly/UndocumentedImmigrantsConference

View additional selected findings from Undocumented Immigrant Study Link

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