Posted on 09/30/2010 1:39:17 PM PDT by jazusamo
(CNSNews.com) -- News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch said he supports amnesty for “law abiding” illegal immigrants because as legal residents they can help the nation’s economy by adding to “our tax base.” He also said he supports securing the border to prevent more illegal immigrants from entering the United States.
At a hearing on Thursday before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, Murdoch testified, “I joined Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg in organizing the Partnership for a New American Economy because I believe that all Americans should have a vital interest in fixing our broken immigration system so we can continue to compete in the 21st century global economy.”
“While supporting complete and proper closure of all our borders to future illegal immigrants, our partnership advocates reform that gives a path to citizenship for responsible, law-abiding immigrants who are in the U.S. today without proper authority,” said Murdoch, who was born in Australia and is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The News Corp. CEO, whose company owns the Fox News Channel, further said it is fiscally unfeasible to deport the illegal immigrants who are already in the United States, which he estimated as totaling about 12 million people.
“It is nonsense to talk of expelling 12 million people,” testified Murdoch. “Not only is it impractical, it is cost prohibitive.”
Murdoch cited a study that gauged “the price of mass deportation at $285 billion over five years,” which amounts to $57 billion per year, adding that “there are better ways to spend our money.”
“A full path to legalization – requiring unauthorized immigrants to register, undergo a security check, pay taxes and learn English – would bring these immigrants out of a shadow economy and add to our tax base,” said Murdoch.
He continued, “According to one study, a path to legalization would contribute an estimated $1.5 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product over 10 years.”
Murdoch did not cite the source for the studies he cited during his testimony.
Regarding border security, Murdoch said “we need to do more” than spend money on resources to secure our borders.
“We can and should add more people, technology and resources to ensure that we have control over who comes into this country,” said the CEO, “but I worry that spending alone will not stop the flow of illegal immigrants.”
He claimed that while the United States has increased border security funding every year since 1992, “the estimated population of illegal immigrants has more than tripled.”
“That number only started to decline when our country hit a recession and there were fewer jobs,” said Murdoch. “So, our border security must also be matched with efforts to make sure employers can’t hire illegal immigrants.”
Both Murdoch and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg testified about the role of immigration in strengthening America’s economy.
“Our system of immigration, I think it fair to say, is broken,” said Bloomberg before the subcommittee. “I think it’s undermining our economy, it is slowing our recovery, and it really is hurting millions of Americans. And we just have to fix it.”
“Creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants will strengthen our economy,” said Bloomberg.
Bloomberg also said that his and Murdoch’s experience with the issue stems from having hired thousands of people over the years.
In contrast to what Murdoch and Bloomberg said before the subcommittee, Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies, testified that the economic losses caused by illegal immigrants outweighed the benefits.
He pointed out that the National Academy of Sciences has examined the fiscal impact of immigration.
“They found that the fiscal impact was enough to eat up the entire economic gain,” said Camarota. “So if you put the economic gain with the fiscal impact, you get no benefits at all, it would seem.”
Camarota also testified that illegal immigrants take jobs from Americans while also lowering wages. He said that the wage loss is 12 times bigger than the benefits.
Well that’s an oxymoron if I ever read one ... how could there be law abiding ‘illegal’ aliens ... they’ve broken the immigration law just by being here illegally ....
If any of you are still watching Fox News....you are supporting this idiot and his liberal agenda
Murdoch is pro-illegal, pro-terrorist, and pro-communist (his dealings in Communist China). Do not forget the fundraiser he held for Hillary a few years ago
Thank God I stopped watching Fox News. Only a fool and a liberal thinks they are conservative.
I actually woundn’t have a problem with this with a few basic conditions.
1. They have learn English!
2. Positively no criminal record!
3. The border must be secured FIRST!!!
4. They have to pay a fine for being in the country illegally!!!!
No!
Let me say that again in Spanish. No!
There should at least be a provision to fund sending them a letter telling them "Thanks for applying. You can forget it now."
bookmark
That’s why they should have to pay a great big fat fine.
Besides, Democrats would never go for any of the conditions I’ve listed, especially securing the border. They want blanket amnesty.
If we reward the lawbreakers and spit in the face of those who do things honestly we will get more of the former.
It might come down to the citizenry having to take up arms and drive them out, once and for all. If that happens, I say send the amnesty crowd packing along with them! America belongs to Americans, not third world interlopers. The large players in the service industries are now in bed with the socialists. Americans have one hell of a fight ahead.
Adding to "our tax base"! LOL. Let me see. Most all of them are illiterate, make minimum wage, have a house full of children. I just don't understand how they'll add anything to the tax base. Their Earned Income Credit alone would cost us millions. Poor people don't pay taxes. If he watched Fox News he'd know that.
I understand what your saying, but if the border is secure, you don’t have to worry about encouraging more of the same.
No matter how you go about it, securing the border is a must!
So ‘conservative’ Murdoch agrees we should destroy our culture and nation.
Just remember kiddies Fox News is on your side...
Mr. Murdoch forgot to mention that we spend 113 billion dollars minimum annually to support illegal immigrants so we would recoup the 285 billion in about 2 years!
Oh that will only save taxpayers money, guess its not a good idea then.
Great part of a great post...in a thread of great posts.
The tactics of internationalist (no boundaries/no borders/high security for them) POS totalitarian elitists.
Thanks very much for this ping (and all of your pings), HiJinx!
Murdoch’s statement is too stupid for words.
So, let me just say this: If you live on the edge of the ‘hood, and you put a big sign out in front of your house that says, “Anyone who wants can move in here,” how long do you think your house is going to be livable for you and your family?
Murdock is a profiteer first. He’s about business first and business makes money off of illegal immigrants, while we taxpayers are given the honor of subsidizing them.
The first illegal amnesty was awarded by a Republican President - Reagan and Democratic Congress who promised in return to enforce the borders. 15 years later GW Bush and a Republican Congress refused to enforce our immigration laws after illegal immigrants attacked us on 9-11. I became an “apolitical one” after this because it became perfectly clear to me that the USA is not run for we the people per our Constitution. It is run for the interests of profits and non USA corporations while we the US people are expected to subsidize it all. Conservative equals Constitution not Corporation.
Vote for the candidate not the Party that meets your conservative priorities.
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