NEW YORK — As the United States grapples with a ballooning national debt and a perennial political deadlock over fiscal responsibility, a new proposal suggests the answer may not lie in tax hikes or spending cuts, but in the nation’s immigration ports.
Dr. Daniel Di Martino, a Venezuelan-born economist and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, presented a novel and provocative roadmap for fiscal stability. His central thesis: by treating immigration policy as a strategic economic lever, the federal government could reduce the projected debt-to-GDP ratio by more than 24% without touching the tax code or existing social programs.
The Fiscal Math of Merit
Speaking to journalists in New York City, Di Martino argued that the current U.S. system is failing to optimize the “net fiscal impact” of new arrivals. He suggests a “selectionist” approach, prioritizing younger, highly educated immigrants who contribute more in lifetime taxes than they consume in public services.
A cornerstone of his proposal includes the controversial recommendation to end green card sponsorships for elderly parents of U.S. citizens.
“Most elderly parents come into the country in their 60s and 70s with little education or as retirees,” Di Martino explained. “They end up not contributing to the workforce but suck up resources of the federal government through Medicaid, hospital bills, and other government programs.”
“Policy choices like that one we can produce the debt to GDP ratio in the US relative to the projected counterfactual of the federal government by over 24% of GDP … about a little over a third of the increase we are going to experience in government spending without increasing taxes… immigration policy can go a long way towards balancing the fiscal crisis that the US is facing and by the way this is not destroy the United States.”
Besides the United States, Di Martino, who immigrated from Venezuela, argues also that “countries could really shape their entire future through immigration policy which is why it’s so important we talk so much about spending and we talk too little about how immigration policy interacts with spending on taxation.”
For decades, fiscal policy has been trapped in a binary choice: the “Right” demanding spending cuts to programs like Social Security, and the “Left” calling for increased taxes on the wealthy. Di Martino argues his data offers a third way.
By shifting toward merit-based visas—specifically targeting STEM graduates and high-earners—the U.S. could cover over a third of the projected increase in government spending. This “human capital” approach aims to rebalance a workforce that is currently aging and shrinking.
Redefining the Immigration Debate
Di Martino’s Venezuelan heritage provides a unique backdrop to his advocacy. He stresses that immigration isn’t just a social or humanitarian issue, but the single most powerful tool a country has to “shape its entire future.”
“We talk so much about spending and we talk too little about how immigration policy interacts with spending and taxation,” Di Martino said. He maintains that these changes would balance the fiscal crisis without “destroying” the American identity, but rather by reinforcing its economic foundation.
The Challenges Ahead
While the proposal has gained traction in conservative policy circles, it faces significant hurdles. Critics argue that ending family reunification visas (like those for parents) could discourage high-skill workers from coming to the U.S. if they cannot bring their families. Others contend that the “indirect” economic contributions of lower-skilled workers—who fill vital roles in agriculture, construction, and childcare—are undervalued in Di Martino’s fiscal models.
As the 2026 fiscal cycle approaches, Di Martino’s research is expected to play a central role in shaping the debate over how a modern superpower manages its borders and its bank accounts simultaneously.
