America's Voice Blog

Posted 04/08/10 at 02:48pm By Guest Blogger

Weekly Diaspora: Busting Immigration Myths

This post is a weekly feature by Erin Rosa, Media Consortium Blogger:

According to a recent study described by New America Media, passing comprehensive immigration reform and providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants  wouldn’t negatively impact the job market for those who are already citizens. This is one of many myths promoted by anti-immigration groups that have recently been busted wide open.

In an interview with Public Policy Institute of California research fellow Laura Hill, New America Media editor Sandip Roy notes, “People say in the current economy with 10 percent unemployment we cannot afford immigration reforms because native born Americans would lose out on jobs. Is that borne out by your study? ”

The answer is no, the study shows. “It won’t cause competitive hardship for native born workers because there is not suddenly mobility among the people being legalized,” Hill tells New America Media. “So this is not a sudden new adverse competition for those already in the workforce.”

Click here to read more.
Posted 01/12/10 at 03:23pm By Mahwish Khan

Washington Post: Growing Number of Wealthy Immigrants Investing in American Business

Here's an interesting story you don't hear every day -- yet another way in which immigration is a vital piece of our economic recovery.

Under the EB-5 visa program, which was established in 1990, immigrants who have created at least 10 US jobs with their investment of $500,000 - $1 million can be granted legal permanent residency. An appropriate thank you, don’t you think, for those who are creating jobs in a country desperately in need of them?

According to the Washington Post , the number of immigrants taking advantage of the program tripled from 1,443 in 2008 to 4,218 in 2009, partly because the recession motivated the government to streamline often slow-moving procedures -- and the benefits of doing so have been tremendous. The Washington Post reports:

Statistics on the total invested through the EB-5 program are not available, but the capital infusion has been a boon to Washington area businesses. The Capitol Area Regional Center, a real estate investment fund based in the District, has been working to raise a projected $250 million from immigrant investors for use in Washington area construction projects. …"Normally, to get equity capital to these areas is almost impossible," said Michael Wallach, chief operating officer of the corporation.

Though a city benefits monetarily, it’s not always true or likely that the investor does. In fact, the Post reports it as "unlikely" that Eric Canal-Forgues, a participant in the EB-5 program who invested half a million in a regional center that funded the construction of a Philadelphia-based project, "will get more than a 1 percent return by the five-year point at which he will be allowed to withdraw his money. That will barely cover the roughly $50,000 in administrative costs of his investment, let alone the loss of value because of inflation."

This example pokes yet another hole in the stubborn myth that immigrants and immigration reform would hurt American workers, as does a report released earlier this week by the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center.  The report finds that legalizing undocumented immigrants would create revenue of $1.5 trillion over 10 years, and support 750,000-900,000 jobs.  And a month ago, both Labor Secretary Locke and Commerce Secretary Solis stated that comprehensive immigration reform would strengthen the US economy.

As Seth Hoy at Immigration Impact writes, commenting on the recent uptick in investments:

While state and local governments continue to dig themselves out of the current economic recession, the message here is clear -- immigrants are not only an economic benefit, but an economic necessity.

Posted 09/30/09 at 01:43pm By Jackie Mahendra

Extreme Groups Push Amendments to Bar Legal Immigrants, Block Millions from Buying Insurance

UPDATE:  The Sen. Kyl amendment for tax credits, which would have undermined the confidentiality of tax information, went down after a brief debate. Senator Rockefeller called it dreadful, and Sen. Bingaman repeated that it was a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.  Thanks to all who have made phone calls already.

nasty graphicToday the Senate Finance Committee is considering several key amendments on immigration to the current health insurance reform legislation.   The worst amendments are sponsored by Senators Kyl (R-AZ), Grassley (R-IA) and Ensign (R-NV).

Check out this alert by reform advocates working on the intersection of healthcare and immigration policy -- please take a moment to call your Senators now to oppose amendments that are bad policy for all Americans.

As you’d expect, anti-immigrant organizations are calling on their members to light up the phones. FAIR, the leading anti-immigraton lobbying organization, which is recognized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is urging its activists today to oppose any inclusion of legal immigrants in health insurance reform. Hate groups like FAIR will continue to spread lies about immigrants and health care.  And, they’ll continue to feed misinformation to their allies on Capitol Hill. 

We’ve reached a point in the health care debate where yesterday we had to ask legislators who support such measures, "What part of LEGAL don't you understand?"

Senator Steve King (R-IA), as blogger Dave Neiwert pointed out at Crooks and Liars, was so eager to throw immigrants under the bus this week that he even eschewed traditional conservative values of the free market:

In typical fashion, Rep. King read the word “immigrant” and jumped on it, telling the Washington Times: "If anybody can, with a straight face, advocate that we should provide health insurance for people who broke into our country, broke our law and for the most part are criminals, I don't know where they ever would draw the line.”  Never mind the fact that no one was advocating taxpayer assistance to undocumented workers, but simply the right to purchase health insurance with their own money.  Since when were Republicans like King so opposed to the free market?  Oh right – when it involves undocumented immigrants, who “for the most part are criminals,” according to King.

Free-market Steve King vs. Anti-immigrant Steve King. That pretty much sums up how absurd this debate has become.

I'm no health policy expert, but it makes sense that immigrants should have access to affordable health care.  Even Fox news anchors agree that it pays to let undocumented immigrants buy their own health insurance, instead of blocking them from doing so.

On a positive note, common sense has triumphed in some areas of the debate today. Senator Grassley proposed a new verification requirement that would have caused problems for U.S. citizens and immigrants alike.  Fortunately, It was defeated by a 10- 13 margin. All the Republicans, including Olympia Snowe (ME), on the Finance Committee voted with Grassley. All the Democrats opposed his amendment.

Your phone calls to Congress do matter -- so don't forget to tell Congress where you stand.

Note: Cross-posted at Daily Kos.

Posted 09/10/09 at 02:19pm By Jackie Mahendra

Action: Fight FAIR- Fewer “Lies!” and More Solutions

Last night Rep. Joe Wilson from South Carolina shouted “YOU LIE” at President Barack Obama during the President's Congressional health care address. And what was the issue that had him so riled up?

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, of course.

In last night’s televised address, President Obama was denouncing myths spread by cable news, talk radio, and anti-immigrant politicians that immigrants living in the U.S. illegally would receive free coverage under his health care plan. In fact, they are barred from doing so, as CNN, the Associated Press, FactCheck.org, and others have highlighted repeatedly.

Many of our email supporters have written in to express their concerns about this very exclusion:

"It troubles me that illegal immigrants will not be eligible for health care.  Are they not human beings, also?  They pay taxes like everybody else.  What reason is there to deny health care to somebody merely on the basis of where they were born?" --- John Wheat Gibson, Sr, Texas

"I would have hoped illegal immigrants would not be banned from receiving health care." ---Eldon R.

 "I support President Obama and health care reform. I'm a liberal Democrat. But I'm not very happy that undocumented immigrants cannot access our health care system except for emergencies. We need to extend our compassion to them also!" ---Rev. Aja, Kentucky

It's obvious that the specter of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is being used by politicians like Rep. Joe Wilson as a divisive wedge issue-- he has become a mouthpiece for groups whose main agendas are rooted in white nationalism, fear, and xenophobia. 

One such organization is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), classified as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. FAIR has been lobbying Congress for years now and is storming DC this week for its annual "Hold Their Feet To The Fire" lobby days. FAIR's founder, John Tanton, has been quoted:

"As Whites see their power and control over their lives declining, will they simply go quietly into the night? Or will there be an explosion?"

To be clear, these folks don't care about the facts, when it comes to immigration policy. They're looking to block any kind of comprehensive solution. Their solution? The mass deportation of 12 million people. Fewer rights for workers. More people living in the shadows.

The facts didn’t stop Rep. Wilson from shouting angrily at the President of the United States yesterday about “benefits for ILLEGALS.” Isn't it time we stop giving extremism a free pass?

Watch our "What is FAIR?" video and help us send a message to Congress about who this hate group really is. Together, we can fight FAIR.

Posted 09/09/09 at 09:17pm By Jackie Mahendra

“LIES” on Health Care and Immigration, Which Way Forward for the GOP?

Taking a cue from the "tea parties" and rowdy townhalls this summer, perhaps, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) shouted, "You lie!" at President Obama during his speech last night. The topic? "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS" of course...

According to the Associated Press: 

OBAMA: "The reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." One congressman, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson, shouted "You lie!" from his seat in the House chamber when Obama made this assertion. Wilson later apologized.

THE FACTS: The facts back up Obama. The House version of the health care bill explicitly prohibits spending any federal money to help illegal immigrants get health care coverage. Illegal immigrants could buy private health insurance, as many do now, but wouldn't get tax subsidies to help them...

Watch the clip:

Wilson also made it clear that the immigration wedge strategy Republican politicians have used unsuccessfully during so many policy debates and so many elections just won't die.  Already this year, Republicans have tried to use the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS bogeyman to derail progress on a number of issues, from SCHIP expansion, to the flu pandemic, to economic recovery, but they've only succeeded in further marginalizing themselves among Latino voters and other swing demographics who want policymakers to solve tough problems-- not pander with cheap scare tactics.

A range of tweets shone the spotlight on Wilson -- he's become the top "trending" topic on Twitter since last night's outburst:

RT @politicalbaron: I applaud Congressman Joe Wilson and his brave battle with Tourettes.

RT @blakerutherford: RT @TheFix: Donations to Joe Wilson's D opponent -- Rob Miller -- now over $200K since "You Lie". within two hours after Joe Wilson yelled out 'You lie' to the president, his opponent Rob Miller raised $25,000 from people via Twitter!

RT @lancole NEWS: Lou Dobbs apologizes for ventriloquism prank involving Congressman Joe Wilson.

Posted 09/02/09 at 11:38am By Web Team

Immigration Reform as Economic Stimulus

Immigration Policy Center just released a new report by Senior Researcher Walter Ewing this week, which injects “a healthy dose of economic realism” into the debate over how the government should handle the 12 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

According to Ewing, our current economic situation needs immigration reform that helps, rather than hurts, the US economy.  He goes on to list three potential changes in immigration policy and compares their economic impact – leaving aside the moral and civil issues that surround the various options. He asks:

Even more to the point in the current economic climate, how can we best tap these millions of unauthorized workers, consumers, and--yes--taxpayers as a force for economic recovery?

Here is Ewing’s analysis, shortened and in layman's terms:

One: Deport Them All

  • The deportation process alone would cost between $206-230 billion over 5 years.

  • With the loss of these workers, the amount of money generated by the US economy would decrease by $245 billion.

  • More than 2.8 million US jobs would be lost.

Two: Deportation through "Attrition through Enforcement." specifically through use of "E-Verify:"

  • Implementation of mandatory E-Verify would cost 12 billion over ten years.

  • $17.3 billion less would be collected in federal taxes over 10 years.

Three: Improved Process of Legalization:

  • The 2006 immigration reform bill would have generated 66 billion in revenue over 10 years, mostly from income and payroll taxes from new and newly-legalized immigrants.

These findings come on the heels of another recent report, from a slightly different perspective, which highlights how immigration reform is a key to revitalizing the economy. The report, entitled, "Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform," was issued by the CATO Institute late last month.

This latest economic report by Immigration Policy Center concludes:

Legalization also acknowledges the fact that, since the US economy is now in recession, incorporating currently unauthorized immigrants into our strategy for economic recovery makes far more fiscal sense than spending untold billions of dollars, the middle of multiple budget crises, in a quixotic quest to force them all out of the country.

We hope this dose of economic realism will encourage lawmakers to move on real reform that's in our nation's best interest.

By Guest Blogger Nora Feely.

Posted 06/03/09 at 09:15am By Jackie Mahendra

WSJ: Economic Downturn Could Bolster US Immigration Overhaul, New Polling Finds

Wall Street JournalNew public opinion research by Lake Research Partners showed up in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, ripping to shreds the conventional wisdom that immigration reform can't happen in a down economy:

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Tough economic times may be a boon for supporters of a broad overhaul of the nation's immigration policies, according to pollsters who are testing the waters ahead of an upcoming White House summit on immigration.

"If anything, the economic climate has actually improved the environment for immigration reform, at least as far as the public is concerned," said Celinda Lake, who heads Lake Research Partners.

"A salient issue is that reform would make immigrants all taxpayers," Lake said during a telephone briefing.

Lake's research team, which released its findings yesterday, conducted a series of six focus groups across the country in advance of the Presiden't June meeting on immigration reform. They found that the bad economy has put voters in a problem-solving state of mind.

The participants, which included several key swing demographic groups from Kansas City to Phoenix, strongly favored the specifics of a comprehensive immigration reform proposal in which undocumented immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, learn English, pass a background check, and apply for citizenship. Participants broadly rejected proposals calling for mass-deportation or enforcement-only tactics in favor of pragmatic proposals that move America forward.

Check out the America's Voice polling roundup to learn more.

Posted 04/27/09 at 06:15pm By Jackie Mahendra

Warning: Toxic Immigrant Blame Game Tied to Pandemic Paranoia

ToxicAs usual, right-wing media is off blaming immigrants for everything wrong with the world. To recap: yes, swine flu is wreaking havoc in Mexico and has taken over a hundred lives there. Yes, it is a major disaster that needs to be tracked, treated, and contained - and our government is working to do that. But no, Michelle Malkin, swine flu is not the fault of immigrants living in our nation.

Kudos to Media Matters for some great analysis of the air-borne paranoia (call it blame the immigrants fever) at play:

Following an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and subsequent confirmation of dozens of cases in the United States, conservative media personalities have baselessly blamed Mexican immigrants for spreading the disease across the border, continuing their long-standing trend of scapegoating immigrants while discussing major news stories. However, Rear Adm. Anne Schuchat, M.D., the interim deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's science and public health program, stated in an April 26 media availability: "I know that we have confirmation of disease in people who have traveled to Mexico, and I don't know the numbers, but I know that that is definitely the case in some of our cases, and that's an important factor to consider." Indeed, several media reports on U.S. swine flu patients indicated that they had recently traveled to Mexico.

Examples of conservative media figures blaming Mexican immigrants for the spread of swine flu into the United States include:

  • During the April 24 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage stated: "Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico." Savage also stated, "If we lived in saner times, the borders would be closed immediately." Savage went on to theorize that the outbreak might be part of a bioterrorism threat: "[C]ould this be a terrorist attack through Mexico? Could our dear friends in the radical Islamic countries have concocted this virus and planted it in Mexico knowing that you, [Homeland Security Secretary] Janet Napolitano, would do nothing to stop the flow of human traffic from Mexico?" Savage continued: "[T]hey are a perfect mule -- perfect mules for bringing this virus into America. But you wouldn't think that way, would you? Because you are incapable of protecting America's homeland, Napolitano." Savage also stated: "How do you protect yourself? What can you do? I'll tell you what I'm going to do, and I don't give a damn if you don't like what I'm going to say. I'm going to have no contact anywhere with an illegal alien, and that starts in the restaurants." He added, "I will have no any illegal alien workers around me. I will not have them in any of my properties, I will not have them anywhere near me."

  • During the April 27 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Neal Boortz asked: "[W]hat better way to sneak a virus into this country than give it to Mexicans? Right? I mean, one out of every 10 people born in Mexico is already living up here, and the rest are trying to get here. So you give -- you give -- you let this virus just spread in Mexico, where they don't have a CDC." Boortz went on to say: "So if you want to get that epidemic into this country, get it going real good and hot south of the border. And, you know, then just spread a rumor that there's construction jobs available somewhere, and here it comes. Because we're not gonna do anything to stop them from coming across the border."

No xenophobia there.

Listen to the whole clip from Media Matters:

Posted 04/15/09 at 10:23am By Jackie Mahendra

On Tax Day, Legalization, not Mass Deportation, will Strengthen Economy

Immigration and the Economy

Day after day, anti-immigrant organizations try to convince the American people that immigration is a drain on the economy and that the mass deportation of undocumented workers is good policy.

Well, yesterday was a new day. Yesterday's news that organized labor has joined forces to push for comprehensive reform highlights the important link between common-sense immigration reform, the economy, and worker protection. As the New York Times argued so succinctly yesterday:

Even in a bad economy - especially in a bad economy - getting undocumented immigrants on the right side of the law only makes sense.

The cold, hard numbers show that immigration reform would be a boon to our economy and help America grow stronger together. Not only would comprehensive immigration reform bolster our nation's tax coffers and level the playing field for all workers and employers, but the alternative- mass deportation- is an outlandishly expensive wager.    

As Jake McIntyre points out in "Labor Feds Unite to Support Common-Sense Immigration Reform," yesterday's major labor news shows that comprehensive immigration reform is the right approach for our economy and the right approach for America's workforce.

Still not convinced?

Take our quick tax day immigration quiz - then put your money where your mouth is (or vice versa)!

Posted 04/13/09 at 05:43pm By Jackie Mahendra

Immigration Impact: Contrary to Popular Belief… the Economics of Reform

calculationsToday the Immigration Policy Center brought together key economic experts to dispel the most stubborn myths surrounding immigration reform and the economy. On the center's blog, Immigration Impact, Andrea Nill outlines why real immigration reform would benefit all Americans: 

Comprehensive immigration reform would also eliminate the "trap door" that artificially suppresses wages and allow workers to compete fairly for the first time.  Cristina Jiménez, an immigration policy consultant at the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy has pointed out that "Consigning undocumented workers to a precarious existence undermines all who aspire to a middle-class standard of living." In a recent post on the Hill's Congress Blog, Jeanne Butterfield, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, explained:

Moving forward with comprehensive immigration reform will ensure that all workers are here legally, will punish unscrupulous employers who undercut their honest competitors, and will restore integrity to the labor market.  It will lift wages for workers, ensure all workers are paying taxes, and restore fairness to our immigration system. 

Elsewhere in the post, Andrea reminds us:

While a policy designed to deport approximately 10 million undocumented immigrants would cost at least $206 billion over five years, or $41.2 billion annually; immigration reform would pay for itself in the form of increased wages, buying-power, and tax contributions that would benefit all working men and women.

Lifting wages? Raising tax revenues? Restoring order to a broken system? 

Sound good to anyone else?

Stay tuned for more coverage on the economics of immigration this week, and check out Immigration Impact for the full coverage from today's briefing. 

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