The plan is key to boosting immigration and productivity.

According to the research, because Mexican-origin workers rely heavily on whatever social security benefits they might receive – either from Mexico or the U.S. — changes to that system will significantly affect the length of their careers.

“Given the impact of social security wealth in our analyses, we expect future changes in the U.S. social security system will strongly affect labor force participation and retirement decisions of Mexican-born immigrants,” the researchers say.

Some promising policy changes could come in the form of totalization agreements, which enable immigrants who work in one country for at least five years to receive its retirement benefits, even if they are not citizens. Pension or social security benefits are determined by the numbers years during which a person contributes.

Currently, the U.S. has totalization agreements with , according to the Social Security Administration. Mexico is not one of them.

“Instituting such an agreement,” the research states, “would enable Mexican-born immigrants and return-migrants to more readily access social security benefits and to improve their wellbeing in retirement.”