Immigration Reform

1
Immigration Reform

• Your Voice Counts!
• Dorrit Marks
• Member LWVUS Immigration Study Committee
• November 2007

2
Shaping immigration policy U.S. employment needs

• American workers entering market place just
  replace workers retiring
• U.S. economic growth plus replacement of retiring
  baby boomers open (est.) 56m jobs between
  2002-2012
• Domestic supply does not meet demand, U.S. needs
  1.5m more workers each year
• U.S. admits, only, 1m legal immigrants
  annuallyshortfall, 500,000

3
Shaping immigration policy Undocumented
cost/benefit

• Undocumented increase U.S. competitiveness lower
  the costs consumers pay for goods and services
• Low wages, reduced costs, raise company profits
  which can be invested in factories, facilities
  and create jobs
• Undocumented rent (or buy) homes, purchase
  furniture, clothing and pay sales tax
• Many workers pay social security income taxes
• State and local tax burdenundocumented attend
  schools, families use of health services
• The cost to states is about 200 more for
  undocumented than native-born families
• Costs and benefits not well allocatedfederal
  government gets more benefits
• Should federal government reimburse States and
  local governments?

4
Shaping immigration policy Global interdependence

• Expanding international trade, investment and
  information foster migration
• Disparities in living standards and increase in
  U.S. labor needs sustain migration
• Mexico needs 1.3m new jobs each year40 of those
  15-24 cannot find a job
• Millions cross the border seeking work
• U.S policies can improve job opportunities in
  sending nations
• Interdependence reflected by 60 billion sent to
  Latin America Caribbean (2006) by workers

5
Shaping immigration policy Family reunification-
immigration rules

• Under current law preference given family
  reunification (families of citizens)
• Legal permanent residents (green card holders)
  families have to wait years for entry visas
• Green card holders enter without families
• Should legal entrants be admitted with family?
  (U.S. lottery system winners come in with family)

6
Shaping immigration policy Economic/business
interests

• Should preference system be changed and
  preference given to high-skilled immigrants?
• Nation needs scientists and engineers
• Businesses need high-skilled to be competitive
• Large backlog for foreign worker authorization
• U.S. faces reverse high-tech brain drain if
  green card applicants seek work in other countries

7
Shaping immigration policy How to deal with
undocumented?

• Encourage undocumented to come forward, adjust
  status (Issue permits to 12 million without path
  to citizenshipSen. Arlen Specter)
• Security is enhanced if we know who is here
• Should undocumented be deported? Mixed
  familiescitizens, legal permanent residents,
  undocumented, children all in one household
• Who should enforce lawcustoms officials, border
  patrol, local police, employer human resource
  departments?

8
Shaping immigration policyDeal with
unauthorized entry

• Build fence at Mexican bordertechnological
  surveillance, sensors (2000-mile border)
• Canada border (5000 miles)
• Add personnel to control land borderscost?
• Increase staff (ICE Immigration Customs
  Enforcement)cost?
• Expand US Visit program to monitor arrivals
  (and exit) of temporary non-immigrant visa
  holders
• 40 percent of unauthorized immigrants enter with
  legal visas and overstay their visa
• Combine with tough, verifiable employment process

9
Shaping immigration policy Identifying
unauthorized workers

• Employers determine eligibility of
  employeesverify Social Security numbers and face
  stiff penalties
• Verification is difficultcards are not reliable
• Intentional violation by employer difficult to
  prove
• Should all residents be required to have a secure
  identification card, like social security card,
  passport? Does National ID raises question of
  privacy?
• Effective Dec 2009 Real ID law requires state
  drivers licenses be issued based on verifiable
  informationa photo ID, documentation of birth
  and current address, and proof of Social Security
  number

10
Shaping immigration policy Values and Culture

• U.S.a nation of immigrants
• Cultural diversity adds vitality, innovation
• Immigrant ethnic identity, language (and culture)
  create concern and barriers
• 70 of Americans want more restrictions to
  protect way of life from foreign influence, 75
  favor tighter border control (2007 Pew Global
  Attitudes Survey)

11
Immigration Reform

• Adjust annual allotment of employment visas to
  balance supply with demand
• Let legal immigrants enter with immediate
  families
• Create a temporary worker program to meet
  seasonal or fluctuating needs
• Institute effective identification with secure
  biometric identifiers to facilitate employer
  verification