A Fed and State Issue: Immigration

For better or for worse, immigrant workers are already a fundamental piece of the U.S. economy. Unraveling the complex politics of immigration reform and piecing together a cohesive national policy have proved no easy task, however, especially in a nation of our size and diversity.

History and basic economics tell us that poorer people always have and always will come to richer economies. And large sections of the U.S. economy including the farming, construction, hospitality, and restaurant industries rely heavily on immigrant workers– particularly to fill jobs that American workers are unwilling to perform for low pay.

All Americans benefit from immigrant workers. Inexpensive labor provides us with the low prices for goods and services that we have come to expect and rely on.

All American’s, however, also pick up the cost through taxation of public schools, healthcare, welfare, and housing for workers below or near the poverty line.

Since 911, the security of US borders has been a major concern, and legislators have been under additional pressure to clamp down on illegal immigration.

In particular, state legislatures are passing laws to keep employers from hiring undocumented workers. Illustrating the complexity of the issue, however, business owners in the same states are feeling the pinch, and in some cases fighting back.

State Legislatures and State Business

Although immigration is by definition, a federal issue, more than 175 bills addressing undocumented workers were introduced in states in 2008, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Employers in states like Arizona, Oklahoma, and California have been fighting newly introduced state immigration policies, using the legislature and the courts to fight labor laws that they believe hurt their businesses and the broader economy.

In Arizona, business-owners successfully lobbied to change a 2007 law that revoked the licenses of businesses caught twice employing illegal immigrants. Employers convinced the legislature to narrow the law to apply only to workers hired after 2007.

In Oklahoma, local chambers of commerce went to federal court to suspend a 2007 state law that requires employers to use a federal database to check the immigration status of new hires. The court granted their request.

In California, businesses are lobbying elected officials to stop federal immigration authorities’ raids on long-established companies.

Raids

Raids are one of the primary ways that the federal government is cracking down on illegal workers, with 4,940 arrests in workplaces in 2007.

So far, the biggest raid of 2008 was at a kosher meat plant in Postville, Iowa, where more than 300 workers were arrested. The plant, called Agriprocessors, is the country’s largest producer of meat that is glatt kosher, widely regarded as the highest standard of cleanliness.

Analysts have said the raid and subsequent closing of the plant is devastating to the local economy and will raise the cost of kosher meat nationwide.

The effects of raids like the one at the Agriprocessors plant present a stark example of a choice faced by all Americans, between immigration and higher prices – what do you choose?

Bush administration point of view

Although the first version of the rule was held up last year by a federal court injunction, on June 9 2008 President Bush ordered all federal contractors to check new workers with an electronic verifying system.

The administration is pressing forward with a rule that would pressure employers to fire within 90 days any worker whose identity information does not match the records of the Social Security Administration, as frequently happens with illegal immigrants.

Bush administration officials say that raids are the price employers must pay to persuade voters to agree to open the gates to immigrant workers with Bush’s temporary worker program.

After six weeks of negotiations in Congress, President Bush’s immigration reforms failed in the Senate in June 2007, largely due to his own party’s rejection of the bill.

Click Here to get the details of the Congressional debate on immigration and find out what derailed past attempts at comprehensive reform.

For more on immigration, listen to our Radio Show, Migrations: Who, Where, and Why?

What do you think?

Let your representatives know what you think!

About WomenMatter

WomenMatter is a place to discuss life issues with other women. We don't want to wedge women apart, but rather bring them together to dialogue.

WomenMatter is the place where we can take one issue at a time, match what we do about it every day of our lives to the facts of the bigger system that we all live in and recognize that every idea for making it better has tradeoffs.

WomenMatter is dedicated to engaging women in the political process. To do this we have invested in the most in-depth NONPARTISAN information, because we trust each woman to make up her own mind.

• We track nine issues every week and update this website several times a week.
• We do continuous research to make sure that we are meeting the needs of women across the country of all ages, races, incomes, preferences, and religions.
• To explore our archive of past Jobs, Taxes, and Benefits Issue updates, click here.

We offer all our services free of charge without memberships or subscriptions. To help us maintain this work - not just in election years but as a continuing part of women's lives - please make a tax deductible donation, click here.

click here to go to next section

return to top