Today the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) hosted a live webcast interview with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. During the webcast, both parties made the case for the necessity of comprehensive immigration reform, decrying individual state movements such as the controversial immigration law in Arizona as a means for racial profiling and shifting blame for economic failures onto undocumented workers.
Trumka outlined the AFL-CIO’s proposed five-point approach, which he noted is the first position to receive unanimous support from every member union of the AFL-CIO. The five points are (1) a mechanism to let current undocumented workers gain legal status, (2) an independent commission to monitor labor shortages, preventing immigration from being a way to drive down wages for the rest of the American people, (3) reasonable border enforcement, (4) strict employer compliance, which includes issuance of some form of tamperproof identification, and (5) putting an eventual end to guest-worker programs.
Secretary Solis also voiced support for identifying the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States and allowing them to become naturalized upon fulfillment of certain requirements (such as payment of back taxes and having no record of criminal activity). She further highlighted the importance of removing the “magnet” that draws undocumented workers into the United States by requiring strict employer compliance with existing immigration laws and controls.
Learn more about how immigration laws affect employers in Mastering HR: Immigration
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
As for the undocumented workers, as was attributed to Ronald Reagan “It’s the Economy, Stupid”. When the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. This too will pass, the real problem is the narcos, arms and people smugglers and that’s what the focus should be on.
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.
What the problem is that the illegal immigrants are exactly that–illegal. When is wrong to follow the law? If the law is wrong, then the law needs to be changed first, not ignored.
I have no problem with persons immigrating to this country legally. I do have a problem with having to work 40+ hours a week, pay for my own food, transportation, health care, etc., and then having to pay a large chunk of my money (taxes) to allow illegals to get those items paid for by the government.
I know many people claim that illegals pay taxes to because they pay sales taxes on purchase; however, unless that worker is using an illegal social security number, he/she is not paying social security taxes or medicare taxes. Unless he/she has a social security number, he/she is not paying income taxes. Sales taxes are just a portion of the taxes I pay.
I don’t see that it takes a rocket scientist to understand why Arizonans and others are concerned.
If immigrants, both legal and illegal, would become a part of America instead of try to change America into Mexico (or any other country), they would be more accepted. It’s ok to keep some of their customs & traditions, but protesting with their flags, disrepecting the Americn flag, refusing to learn English, demanding services without earning them, etc. only fan the flames of American anger. Consider the immigrants of earlier years who assimilated into our communities and became a part of America.
I agree with Gin concerning the free money/services illegal immigrants receive, while the rest of us work and pay for them. Nothing fair about that! Also, if our borders aren’t secure, who can know what type of people are entering our country – terrorists? We can’t be sure, can we?
I am happy to have anyone who wants to work in this country work here legally. The key is to LEGALLY enter. The Feds have had decades to address how to do this, but refused to deal with it. Now with the strain on social services and violence of drug cartels moving into the southern border state, those same states must draw up their own plans. It is disingenuous of the Federal government to proclaim their outrage-they have lost their credibility with many law abiding citizens who have patiently awaited ANY discussion of the issue only to be ignored time and time again.