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Notes -
Under current circumstances, an asylum seeker can apply for a work permit and then work legally for years until their hearing takes place. Not only does that pay far more than the underground economy, in the meantime they might develop grounds for acquiring legal status even if their aslum application is denied: Maybe they will get married, or find an employer willing to sponsor them for a work visa. A lot can happen in 8 years. And that creates an enormous incentive to come to the US and give it a shot.
All those incentives disappear if applications are adjudicated in 6 months. Far fewer people are going to come here in order to work in the underground economy forever than are willing to come and a) work legally; and 2) have a shot at a green card.
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