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An evenly split U.S. Supreme Court was unable to reach a decision on the legality of President Obama's executive action on immigration, and the loss is palpable — but not in the way you might think.

Obama's action would have expanded legal authorization to millions of undocumented immigrants who have been living, working, studying and, yes, paying taxes for years. They would not be on a path to citizenship. They would not become eligible for federal benefits such as Social Security. They simply would become eligible for legal authorization to be in the U.S. — a move that would benefit them and the country.

Consider this: To be eligible for authorization, these immigrants must be in school, have graduated, have served honorably in the military or be the parent of a legal U.S. citizen. They can have no criminal record — felonies or any significant misdemeanors are automatic disqualifiers. They cannot pose a threat to national security or public safety. These are strivers: the ones who overcome the longest odds to get an education, get a job and stay out of trouble, despite having no legal standing and being under constant threat of deportation.

Not enough? How about the direct economic benefit? A detailed new report by Katherine Fennelly, professor emerita at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, shows that this state would collect an additional $7 million a year from the increased taxes these workers would pay, because legal status would allow them to pursue better jobs at higher wages in a state that desperately needs workers. Collectively, the 87,000 to 91,000 unauthorized immigrants in this state (not all of whom would be eligible) already pay $40 million a year in sales, excise, personal and property taxes.

Most will never be able to collect on the benefits these taxes fund. Contrary to popular belief — and the lies foisted by some candidates and elected officials — undocumented immigrants are barred from most federal benefits, including Social Security, disability and food stamps, and many state benefits. They are not eligible for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act or for assistance with most nonemergency health care. Obama's action would change none of this. For too long the immigration debate has been driven more by heat than light, and by an outsized sense of injustice intent on punishing those who attempt to circumvent an immigration system that everyone acknowledges is outdated and broken.

It's time for a more rational cost-benefit analysis. Once the misconceptions and canards are brushed away, it is clear that the current immigration model has created a permanent underclass of workers who are subject to exploitation — a situation that hurts all workers. The coalition supporting expanded authorization may surprise you. In Minnesota it includes not only advocacy and union groups, but the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Agri-Growth Council, Hospitality Minnesota, Minnesota Milk Producers, the Minnesota Restaurant Association and others.

The profiles of the immigrants who would be eligible for legal authorization in Minnesota may also surprise you. Most have been here at least five years, and a third have incomes above the poverty level. More than half are high school graduates and fluent in English. More than a third own homes. Many are in service jobs. They cook meals in restaurants, care for the elderly, and clean hotels and office buildings. Some cut up the poultry and beef and harvest the corn that will land on grills this July 4th. About 18 percent are in managerial or professional positions.

The need for such workers in Minnesota is without question. The economic benefits are real. A broad base of business, labor and social-justice groups are in support. The only remaining hurdle is a Congress locked in dysfunction, unwilling to let go of outdated notions and too willing to foster fear and divisiveness that harm this nation's self-interest.

A functioning Congress would have passed immigration reform, obviating the need for a presidential executive action. But however it happens, it must happen.