12417. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE US ECONOMY. Analyzes the impact of illegal immigration on the US economy. Concludes that the overall net economic effect of illegal immigration is positive, but notes that the distribution of the costs and benefits of illegal immigration is unequal, with certain employer segments and skilled native workers deriving the bulk of the benefits, and legal immigrants and (to a lesser extent) unskilled native workers absorbing the bulk of the costs. Also notes that the states absorb more costs than the federal government. 24 pages, 49 footnotes, 27 bibliographic sources.