In a recent commentary published on The Wall Street Journal, Professor Giovanni Peri and Vasil Yasenov (Ph.D. Candidate in Economics, UC Davis) explored Americans' opposition to the admittance of any refugees from Syria. Rather than exploring the opposition driven by concern over terrorism, Peri and Yasenov focused on the economic impact of admitting thousands of Syrian refugees.
Their commentary cites their research and insights regarding the last time the U.S. accepted a large influx of refugee immigrants during the Mariel Boatlift. They have found that the large influx of Cubans to Miami did not depress the wages or the employment of low-skill American workers. A similar argument could be made for the Syrian immigrants.
