Posted on 08/15/2006 10:22:17 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO ---- Americans need to think of illegal immigrants as economic contributors and not law breakers, said five advocates for immigration reform Monday.
The five advocates, including a farming advocate and a U.S. Chamber of Commerce director, spoke during a press conference in response to a hearing held by the U.S. House Government Reform Committee. The Republican-led committee met Monday in San Diego to discuss the costs of illegal immigration to San Diego County's educational, health and legal systems.
Viewed in an economic sense, the advocates said, the loss of a labor force made up largely of illegal immigrants could cripple the nation's agricultural and other industries.
"Immigrants, legal or not, are woven deeply in the fabric of our society and economy," said Dick Castner, executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's western office. "If they were to disappear, the impact would be significant."
The five representatives spoke to promote action on immigration reform at the event sponsored by People for the American Way, a 900,000-member organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to countering conservative publicity. The group held the press conference to show that illegal immigrants contribute as much to society as they cost, if not more.
Several members quoted a recent Pew Hispanic Center report that discussed the importance of workers, including illegal immigrants, to fields other than agriculture, such as construction and hospitality.
Opponents of illegal immigration say illegal immigrants use American facilities, such as schools and hospitals, without paying income tax, and that helping illegal residents become citizens promotes law-breaking.
Luawanna Hallstrom, a board member for the Western Growers Association and California Farm Bureau, said it was wrong to say illegal immigrants don't contribute to American society because they don't pay income taxes. She said illegal immigrants pay several taxes, from sales taxes to property taxes.
"These people never see anything from that money," she said. "We haven't given them the legal means to participate."
Dan Siciliano, executive director of the Law, Economics & Business program at Stanford Law School, said something had to be done to meet future U.S. labor needs. He said retiring baby boomers and a national birth rate under two per American female are going to strain the U.S. work force and make it difficult to sustain economic growth.
The advocates supported the recent U.S. Senate bill, passed in May, that includes a temporary work program and more access to citizenship for illegal immigrants. They preferred that bill over a U.S. House bill, passed in December, that calls for a crackdown on immigration enforcement.
He appears to be of the John Kenneth Galbraith variety.
Baloney. Free schooling, free health care at emergency room rates, section 8 housing for the anchor babies. They get a hell of a lot of services for the meager contribution. Conversely, I'm pay $70,000 in federal income tax, $19,000 in state income tax and the max social security. I have no children in school and my employer sucks $400 per month from my paycheck for a health insurance premium with $1500 per person per year deductibles. Who's getting screwed here?
The illegals need to be arrested and deported ASAP. There are plenty of capable people around to fill the jobs they are illegally performing.
This could create a few problems, but it would solve a whole lot of problems.
What is the quota on the H2A temporary ag worker visa?
Employer makes application based on need & agrees to terms/conditions.
It's granted & he drives to border to P.U. his new braceros.
AgJobs, was the bill to reform ag worker visas and was the first one introduced in 2003. It was rolled into CIRA.
The quota is nowhere near adequate
The regulations are so complex, very few use it
It is for temporary workers only
I understand that ....& why would you want 'em here after the year's harvest?
Someone needs to tell the RNC and the morons at the WSJ op ed pages what non enforcement of illegal alien workplace rules amounts to, and that is a de facto govrenment subsidy. So much for the "free"market.
As I mentioned in my other post, businessmen who pull this BS are only hurting themselves long term, because not only are they bringing in socialist leaning voters, but in the short term they are severely angering American born citizens. I guess they will renain clueless untill we go beyond Carter era levels of taxation.
Because there is a need for longer term employees.
why can't these phony immigrants and criminal aliens just use their REAL ID? Perfectly legal in the US!
"the loss of a labor force made up largely of illegal immigrants could cripple the nation's agricultural and other industries."
BIG FAT LIE!!!!
75% of those jobs are still done by legal Americans.
I assumed that your intent was to spread mis-info.
"Americans need to think of illegal immigrants as economic contributors... said five advocates for immigration reform Monday."
"That's funny: slave-owners felt the same way about slaves.
Didn't mean it was right, though."
Absolutely right! What would you expect advocates to say??
Big deal....it's still BS
This American is never going to see them as anything but fence-jumpers and line-cutters...a residential burgler is a criminal..not an "uninvited house guest"..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.