On balance, contrary to popular perceptions of immigrants mercilessly sucking up public benefits, immigrant demographics translate into a boon for aging boomers. Federal data shows that immigrant workers tend to be young (offsetting population aging trends). And many older immigrants do not have enough registered earnings to qualify for benefits.

With equity in mind, some progressive economists have pitched realistic policy changes to make retirement more sustainable for all, such as strengthening Social Security tax policies and creating a national retirement income system.

Whatever uncertainties are on the horizon for Social Security and Medicare, there's clear evidence that immigration reform could ease the strains of America's increasingly lopsided demographics.

The National Foundation for American Policy projected that a 33 percent increase in legal immigration would bring about $138 billion to Social Security over 50 years. And according to a 2005 White House assessment, 50 to 75 percent of undocumented immigrants are already paying state and federal taxes (indirectly subsidizing other retirees with unclaimed funds)

The Immigration Policy Center argues that immigration reform needs to be a part of the conversation on sustaining Social Security and Medicare.

The aging of the native-born population will leave the U.S. economy short on workers and taxpayers just when more workers and taxpayers are needed to support the increasing number of retiring Baby Boomers... sensible immigration reform would maximize the economic contributions of immigrants, which will shore up not only Social Security and Medicare, but the U.S. tax base and the U.S. workforce as well.

If conservatives are so worried about the alleged Social Security crisis, maybe they'll finally stop writing off immigrants' potential contributions to core social programs. After all, they wouldn't be trying to ram through shortsighted policies and score political points at the expense of the truth, would they?

Image: Urban Arts