President Obama’s new DREAM relief policy would allow undocumented youth who qualify to request temporary relief from deportation, making them eligible to receive work permits and a social security number.
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Good for Workers and Honest Employers
Legalization Would Level the Playing Field for Workers and Honest Employers
- Most undocumented immigrants in this country are working outside the system in a shadow economy that artificially depresses wages, allows unscrupulous employers to cheat the system, and exposes workers to abuse and labor violations. One of the most horrific examples of this underground system is the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant: after the plant was raided in 2008, the public discovered that the undocumented workers employed there had been exploited by low wages, health and safety violations, and even physical abuse.
- Reports have shown that under the Bush Administration, these unscrupulous employers have not been penalized for unfairly exploiting workers. A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified cases in which the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor inadequately investigated complaints about employers who failed to pay minimum wage and overtime. Another GAO report found a marked decrease in Wage and Hour Division enforcement actions during the Bush administration.
- Under a legalization program, undocumented workers would be made legal and subject to all wage and labor laws that govern the workplace. This would result in improved wages and labor standards for all workers.
Legalization Would Lift the Wages of All Workers
- According to a report released in December 2009 by the Center for American Progress and the Immigration Policy Center, comprehensive immigration reform that includes a legalization program would increase the real wages of less-skilled legalized workers by $4,405 per year. Higher-skilled workers would see a yearly wage increase of $6,185 per year.
- These increased wages would result in increased consumer spending which would support 750,000 to 900,000 jobs in the U.S.
- This report found that the alternative to comprehensive immigration reform, mass deportation, would result in widespread job loss.
- An analysis done by the Drum Major Institute of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity Act, found that the bill’s legalization program would allow undocumented workers to earn legal status, creating a workplace that enables effective enforcement of U.S. wage and hour laws, workplace safety standards and other labor regulations. This would ultimately benefit all working people who rely on these protections.
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We honor our men and women in the armed forces, and congratulate our military DREAMers for their continuing successes…
Learn MoreThis Memorial Day, America’s Voice and America’s Voice Education Fund would like to take time to honor our men and women in uniform. We’d also like to congratulate our military DREAMers, who won a big victory this week when the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senator Blumenthal’s amendment 12, which would allow DREAMers to serve in the [...]
Learn MoreToday, America’s Voice Education Fund and fellow immigration experts held the thirteenth in a series of weekly press briefings, or Immigration Reform “Office Hours.” Each week, a different and diverse group of speakers shares the latest information on the players, politics, legislation and other developments in the debate in Washington and around the nation. Moderated [...]
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Learn MoreThis week, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Gang of 8’s immigration bill with a bipartisan vote (13-5), clearing the first official legislative hurdle for final passage in 2013. After a robust debate featuring over 200 amendments—141 of which were adopted—the bill heads to the Senate floor with the core provisions intact. At the same [...]
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Learn MoreMore than 100 influential conservative economists today released an open letter to Congressional leadership calling for immigration reform and highlighting its economic benefits. The letter’s signers comprised a who’s who of notable conservative economists, including Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Art Laffer, Glenn Hubbard, Ed Lazear, Larry Lindsey, June O’Neill, George Schultz and more (many of whom have served in the Bush [...]
Learn MoreThere has been a persistent myth in the immigration debate that the anti-reform side is large, powerful, and organized. However, the 2013 immigration debate is revealing that assessment is profoundly untrue. According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: The Senate Judiciary Committee markup confirms what we already knew – this year’s reform debate is [...]
Learn MoreUpdate: He’s doing it! Tom Tancredo said that he will soon officially announce his bid for Colorado Governor. From the Denver Post: Tancredo last week indicated he is strongly considering a run for governor in 2014. As of Wednesday night, Tancredo had not filed the necessary paperwork with the secretary of state’s office. Tancredo did note, however, [...]
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