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Washington Examiner

Biden: Illegal immigration is 'part of the reason' for booming US economy

LACONIA, New Hampshire — Joe Biden said the U.S. economy is boosted by illegal immigrants coming in as “replacement workers” while xenophobia is holding the economies of China and Japan back.

“One of the things that in fact is a myth is that, quote, ‘those people here undocumented cost millions of dollars in social security,’” Biden said at a town hall campaign stop on Friday. “They extend the life of social security because more people are out there working and then paying into social security.

"They are, in fact, part of the reason why we’re in a better position than any country in the world to own the 21st century because we have replacement workers,” the former vice president added. He said that there should be a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Biden was answering a question from a woman who said that while it is good news that unemployment is low, some businesses are struggling to find enough workers. She mentioned a local restaurant that had to close before Labor Day because it could not find enough help.

Biden said that bringing in immigrants helps keep the U.S. ahead of other countries. “China has no replacement workers because they’re so xenophobic, they won’t let anybody into the country. Japan has that — just had to change their whole idea, it’s called Abe — it’s called Abeconomics,” Biden said, referring to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s economic policy.

“Women in Japan are as well-educated as men, but the tradition is, once you have a child you have to drop out of the job market. Well, now they’ve changed the project, because they’re xenophobic and they’re not going to allow other people in to fill those spots, but they need more people to work.

“We’re one of the few countries that has replacement workers available to them. But there’s got to be a process whereby you work your way, a path to citizenship."

[ Also read: 'You need to ask first': Iowa teacher blasts Biden for grabbing her hands when she asked him a question]