Editor’s Note: Demetrios G. Papademetriou is President and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based think tank dedicated exclusively to the study of international migration. He also serves as Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on Migration.
By Demetrios G. Papademetriou – Special to CNN
Substantive immigration reform continues to elude America. Politicians are mired in disagreement over the future of the nation’s unauthorized immigrant population.
This is not surprising. The United States has the largest unauthorized immigrant population of any industrialized economy – by far.
But while the reform debate remains stalled, the competitive forces shaping global economies continue to operate. In recent years, the United States has watched other countries fashion more nimble immigration policies allowing them to fill gaps in their workforces.
In many ways, the policy questions regarding future immigrant flows will prove more crucial – and harder to resolve – than the illegal immigration conundrum.
How much immigration do we need? Which of the would-be immigrants should get priority? How can employment-based immigration be more responsive to changing economic realities?
These questions are important and they do not have simple answers.
If the United States is to retain its competitive advantage, its universities, firms and industries will continue to need a healthy flow of talent from abroad – especially at a time when other countries are rapidly expanding their capacity to attract and retain qualified immigrants.
A definitive “solution” to the question of future flows of immigrants cannot spring out of one piece of legislation, however wide-ranging. But steps can be undertaken to improve the nation’s posture on immigration.
First, policymakers must devote sustained attention to immigration. We need to collect rigorous evidence and data about how the nation’s immigration system is currently working in order to improve it in the future.
Second, the system needs flexibility to respond to a changing economic and global environment.
Currently, we have an immigration apparatus that is neither flexible nor evidence-based. It has been essentially unchanged for decades.
To help collect rigorous evidence about immigration and provide flexibility, we propose the creation of a Standing Commission on Labor Markets, Economic Competitiveness and Immigration.
This permanent, independent, non-partisan expert body would gather information and provide timely, evidence-based advice to Congress and the President on the employment-based immigration levels that would be optimal for the U.S. economy.
Staffed with career professional economists, demographers and other social scientists, the Standing Commission would inject realism into a conversation all too often fraught with opinion disguised as facts.
The Commission would be on hand to answer specific questions about the impact of proposed policies.
For example, the Commission could address how increased enforcement directed at employers affect the economy. Georgia is currently grappling with this question having enacted a tough new immigration law that has raised sharp concerns for the state’s agribusiness interests.
Another question might be: What would happen if we changed the terms and conditions of the H-1B visa?
The Standing Commission would facilitate regular reviews of immigration policy by bringing new information and analysis to the debate.
Of course, immigration is not just about economics. The core decisions remain political, and Congress is the right place to hash them out. But legislating on immigration is particularly difficult because decision-makers often cannot agree on the facts. This is why they need an objective and non-partisan, expert body to answer questions.
Elsewhere in the policy world, expert bodies of this kind are considered a no-brainer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides in-depth analysis of employment data. The International Trade Commission examines the impact of changes in trade regulations. The U.S. Sentencing Commission assists Congress and the executive branch in the development of effective crime policy.
Meanwhile, governments around the world now look to expert bodies for answers on the tricky economic questions in immigration policy. For example, the United Kingdom has the Migration Advisory Committee.
In the unforgiving global economy of the 21st century, employment-based immigration represents a strategic resource. If managed well, immigration can actively support economic growth and competitiveness while protecting U.S. workers’ wages and working conditions.
But this is hard to do without reliable, ongoing and detailed analysis of how the system is working, how our immigrants fare and what role they are playing in the labor market.
A Standing Commission would help lawmakers to meet this challenge. More crucially, it would allow the United States greater nimbleness as a player in a global marketplace. This is a marketplace that is becoming evermore competitive as countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and others routinely adjust their immigration policies to attract the human capital they need to compete in this dynamic world.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Demetrios G. Papademetriou.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The Statue of Liberty once represented this country as a proud woman. With the Mexican invasion, she has become a tired, old ho.
In my country, you are what we call a racist bigot. Oh, yeah, almost forgot to mention, I am a U.S. citizen.
Good one, Luis.
DON'T BRING YOUR ILLEGAL FRIENDS AND RELATIVES INTO MY COUNTRY
You know instead giving away what so many have worked so hard to get. Gee why not have those who want to be Americans (SERVE) in our military. After 4-6 yrs of honorable service then give them the right to be called a proud American. HELLO those who call themselves our leaders when are you going to stop giving away the DREAM.
There is no proof in the theory that the US needs immigrants to thrive! What a crock! Diversity is the death of a culture and a nation! Rome,Britian , the Austria-Hungerian Empire and and now the US failed because they tried to be all things to all people. During good times diversity suceeds but when tough times occur a more homogeneous population is much more capable of withstanding adversity due to its culutral and ethinic ties.
sound like KKK.
I don't think that all man-kinds should be segregated or classified by race, ethnicity and skin color. Human are human. It seems to me that you are trying to say that one race is better than any other races. I don't think so.
Who needs non skilled labor, and i mean non skilled,p eople who speak the language and have no intention of learning it, those with no education or intention of advancing out of the dirt, drug dealers, rapists, murderers. Let them enter the legal way or stay the hell out
I agree, there is no proof that immigration keeps a country on the cutting edge. This is nonsense. For example, we are told we need to be afraid of both China and Japan... much more homogeneous countries than the United States. Ditto Germany and Iltaly, which are quite advanced in many areas. Our country is already very diverse, and at the rate the federal government is letting in both legal and illegal aliens... the feds predict that this country will be 55% immigrants in a few years. Clearly some new policy that U.S. citizens have never approved. I applaud George, Alabama, and Arizona for working to protect their citizens and their tax moneys. Shame on Congress and the President for allowing such nonsense. They no longer represent the citizens of this country and need to be removed. Vote third party.
Vicki, your attitude is the REASON that our country has not fixed this yet. Stop clouding the issue with bigotry. Look at the real issues.
To speak of the Statue of Liberty that way is distasteful in so many ways. Or were you speaking about yourself?
What is it we are competing to be? The country with the lowest wages? The unhappiest place on earth? If the past 20 years of globalization are any indication of what we can expect in the future I say kick out every foreigner and never let another one in. THIS SUCKS.
I'm not competing to be anything, and I say we need to shut down both illegal and legal immigration. 38 Million legal immigrants in 2010! That is absurd. Canada only accepted 6 Million and Mexico 600 thousand. 38 Million means we should shut our doors for at least six years.
Right Vickie, the French would be extremely upset and put the blame on you Americans, for the loss of respect. You haven't take good care of their gift, whose non material value counts more than anything else.
Lost DREAMS
No hope? We can fix this, if there is political will, not game playing.
How many immigrants are needed is determined by our immigration system, which is more than any other country in the world. Foreign freeloaders and criminals have no right to decide we need more.
Billions of U.S. tax dollars is given to foreigners every year when they use our emergency rooms as free health clinics, get free educations for their kids and welfare checks for their anchor babies.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/05/local/la-me-illegal-welfare-20100906
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2011/apr/most-illegal-immigrant-families-collect-welfare
Nevada has the highest unemployment rate and the highest percentage of illegal workers in the country.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/pew-report-nevada-leads-in-number-of-illegal-workers-115030374.html
Illegal immigrants depress our wages.
Illegal immigrants are more likely to commit crimes than U.S. natives, particularly identity theft and tax evasion.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/24/us-immigration-fraud-idUSTRE71N68920110224
Half of the FBI's most wanted for homicide in America are Mexican citizens.
http://www.bing.com/browse?g=fbis_most_wanted&form=msnhed>1=36010#toc=0&citizenship_rbid=20,35&wanted_for_rbid=38
The fires destroying much of Arizona were started close to the border in a park closed to the public on a path used by illegal immigrants. Law-abiding American citizens would not have been in the area.
To expect foreigners who have no respect for our laws to become law-abiding American citizens is illogical. Many illegal immigrants are not here to assimilate, but to take over.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/hispanicleaders.asp
http://www.politicalforum.com/current-events/127275-pro-illegal-immigrant-group-threatens-kill-americans-axes.html
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/arizona-teacher-middle-immigration-debat
Illegal immigrants benefit themselves and unscrupulous employers who lobby corrupt politicians on the U.S. taxpayer's dime and shortchange our own children's chances.
We do not need one country's entire Nation in the USA this is "Not" the way you grow the USA you need small amount's from "all" Nation's in a legal way. Send "all" 20 million back to Mexico now are "debt crisis" would be taken care of. Mr SIMS is worth $ 54 billion plus dollar's let him take care of his "own" people not the USA!
It is blatantly obvious, that education and skills are the best currency a human being has on him, if he wants to emigrate. In a globalised world it is important to possess skills that can be used universally. Those who are not mobile and have grown sclerotic will be the losers.
We would be able to educate our own children if we stopped educating the world. I went to University of Texas at Arlington and 1/3 of the students were from the Middle East. I do not believe we need to educate them to return home, nor to stay here. China is not educating citizens from other countries, nor is Japan. I doubt many other nations are, either. Send them all home, they will be much happier, if you can believe the comments by illegals on this site about how awful it is in the U.S.
We have 10% unemployment in the US. We can't afford the freeloaders.
The illegals have to go.....
And how is THAT going to happen? Really? Are you personally going to go up to everyone that "looks illegal" ask them for their "papers" and put them on buses, or trains back to "where they came from?" Or maybe some "special government forces" will take care of that for you, huh? Gee, that sounds a lot like Nazi Germany to me.
Requrei EVERYON to be subject to review of their citizen status. EVERYON.
But then, people like you won't like that because it still would remove illegals from this nation.
go to mexico where you belong
Actually, it is a lot like Mexico. I lived their for years, and had to show my papers all the time. I have to tell you, if did not feel like Nazi Germany to me. I was white skinned and taller than most of the short, dark-skinned residents. Didn't bother me a bit to show my docs... because I was legal. I also never denied their right to ask. Especially because I LOOK so American.
In fact, there are few countries that will not ask for your identity papers... you can't go to a hotel in India without your travel documents.
This country cannot fully employ all Amercans and we are supposed to allow illegals to stay and bring their rabbit-breeding-like extended families. First, unlike European immigrants in the nineteenth century, Mexican immigrants cost Americans billions in depressed wages, having to educate their uneducated, non English speaking kids, they male our health care rise because they clog our hospitals and of course do not pay their bills. They kill out police, they cause more DUIs than any other ethnic group here in Texas. They are not interested in American culture, American politics, and learning English. Their allegiances are to Mexico and their goal is to recreate Mexico in the American Southwest. We cannot tolerate this. Americans must urge their lawmakers to round up and kick the ilegals out, urge your employers to use E-Verify, and whenever you come across an illegal, make a call to your local ICE office.
You. Are. A. Bigot. And you are ignorant too, because you did not read the article, obviously.
So you come here to blab your ignorant racist crap, with no intention of engaging on the issue presented in the article? Why? Spreading hate is fun in the morning ?
What did he state that was inaccurate? Where, in his commentary, are racist, and bigoted comments to be found?
The only thing that I see, that you might, be able to 'hang your hat' on, is the comment about take-over and the southwest, as being a blanket commentary... but there is much documented truth to it, and people cannot always cover the obvious consideration, (in this case, obviously not *all*) with preface and caveat.
Are you the indoctrinated politically correct? A useful idiot? An illegal, or from an illegal foundation? A paid participant? Or a racist and bigot, yourself?
Feeling participant suicidal, are you? Don't be a 'hater', but also, don't be irrational.
The Dream Act in itself, might be a reasonable law allowing
the students of illegal parents, to be permitted to stay in the United States?
But the ramifications are more ominous, that once the students have legitimacy
they can then start petitioning for family members and that by any other name
is CHAIN MIGRATION. It further challenges more people to simply scorn what lax
laws we have and just enter illegally. Immediate family members overtime can
then bring in even more people, and this has set up a chain reaction. Just like
another possibility of yet a second mass amnesty, it always attributes to
costs. It has been verified that the 1986 accounting, when the final tally was
made that it cost US taxpayers 76 Billion dollars. By the time of a further
amnesty in today’s dollars and cents had been calculated, the Heritage
foundation assessed such final bottom line of in the range of 2.6 Trillion
dollars.
America cannot keep giving anymore and not representing the needs of those of
Citizens and legal residents? Taxpayers have been burdened to long in Georgia,
Alabama, and Arizona that has become the height of outrageous. Rallies or
demonstration are looked upon with disdain and anger, with those
politicians who pander to foreign nationals exhibiting poor judgment.
Arizona outburst against unfair laws was just the beginning and now the real
battle will begin in the coming months as we progress towards the 2012
election.
THOSE STATES THAT HAVE NEGLECTED THE PEOPLES WISHES, BY NOT ADDING SANE
ENFORCEMENT LAWS WILL BE QUICKLY OVERRUN BY ABSCONDERS FROM GEORGIA AND
ALABAMA. ULTIMATELY LAX ENFORCEMENT STATES WILL BE PAYING A HEAVY PRICE,
IN MORE WELFARE AND PUBLIC SERVICES WHEN UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE FROM ECONOMIC ILLEGAL ALIENS? THEY WILL BE
SWARMING YOUR STATE SOON…?
Now this dollar figure is based on the assumption, that there are only 11 to 12
million foreign nationals in the country, a number based on processing,
background checks and an accumulation on other personal data along with medical
examinations. But (FAIR) Federation of American Immigration Reform, (
NUMBERSUSA) and thousands of grass root sovereignty organizations have assessed
the population figures to well over 20 billion. This is an overwhelming number
to consider and a dollar figure to incredulous to even imagine. That would
strip any gains against the $14.5 Trillion dollars we owe outside the shores of
America. This nation must be entirely thankful to the great State of Arizona,
who started this long and dangerous crusade against the tyranny inside the
Obama administration that would welcome into America every indigent family from
across the globe.
Stepping forward now the TEA PARTY is the only true way that will elevate this
massive debt, placed upon taxpayers by thoughtless politicians. We cannot trust
the Imperials in the Republican Party and we certainly cannot trust the
undercover far Left, that has impregnated the Democrats. Either party has had
their own agenda for omnipotent power of new voters through illegal
immigration, or the overall influence from big business to relax laws, so
millions can be used for a lesser form of slavery; except in both ideals the
programmed taxpayer picks up the unknown estimated cost to support them. In
three decades America's working man/ women has lost a percentage of his wages,
to support illegal immigrants. How academia thinks the economy would grow, must
live in a delusional world, when nearly every State is burdened by instant
citizenship baby laws, which under the current misinterpretation payments of
cash to these families, has diluted every treasury.
Our schools are crammed to capacity, full of the children of illegal aliens,
the health system slowly falling apart as more hospitals fail of wanton
families to be treated; many of these institutions unable to survive. Then we
have the US penal system choked with illegal alien criminals, that is yet
another tax hike on the American population. The TEA PARTY is our only remedy
as the Congress, have no sense of urgency to the impending financial crash.
Perhaps Rep. Michele Bachman of Minnesota, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sarah
Palin of Alaska; all regarded as strong supporters of the ever growing TEA
PARTY. Only the TEA PARTY leaders seem to understand the financial predicament
we have truly manufactured for ourselves, from the years of corruption within
equal parties. The TEA PARTY has astounded both political parties in power, and
will release us from the years of rot and poor or intentional mismanagement to
gain favor with open border lobbyists. The TEA PARTY has sworn to the major
majority of the American people, no new amnesties of any kind, which includes
the dismantling of Sanctuary cities and towns, no dream Acts or anything
assigned to foreigners who broke our stagnated laws.
To accomplish this task we must insist our government implement mandatory
E-Verify and Secure Communities, which will track down both illegal workers and
criminal illegal aliens. There must be no compromises, but that Congress should
enforce these laws, without interference from the open border zealots or the elitist
groups discount labor.
hey JimiinTX, how's it going in Texas these days? I moved back to the Pacific Northwest a couple years ago. I lived in Texas thirty years, and you are right on the money. I speak Spanish as well, and listen to the nonsense spouted by Hispanics about their "right" to be here. Under it all is panic that they will, indeed, be returned to their precious homeland. Soon, I hope. Then they can listen to the racist rant in Mexico for a change. I lived there a while and it is much more racist that Texas, any day.
It has been become to easy to immigrate to America. People should see what restrictions there are if they try and move to Europe or Canada. Immigration needs to be managed not just let anybody come in here. Yes America was formed by immigrates however that was when rules of law, economies and space were different. Things have changed and times have changed. Immigration needs to be controled.
Yes, times are different. The only ones who are whining on here about allowing immigrants are the illegals themselves... trying to make it look like there is some groundswell of citizens opposed to deportation of illegals.
First, uneducated lettuce pickets is NOT the kind of immigrant we need. Second, American universities pump out approximately 400 more PhDs each year than American business can put to work so we do not need PhDs worker bees from India. We need entrepreneurs.
WHO is going to pick the lettuce Jim? Are you going to do it? How about your Mom?
That old fieldworker saw? I lived in Texas thirty years and met thousands of illegals from Mexico... in Dallas... and not a one ever worked as a field hand.
You go Jimmy!
We also don't need attorneys! American universities pump out so many attorneys that only five percent ever work in their field. It is so bad that as a paralegal, I am starting to see jobs for paralegals asking for law degrees! Attorneys are so hungry these days they are taking paralegal jobs! No matter the hype, there is a glut of degrees on the market already, we do not need to import any. And illegal immigrants are not just field workers, they take much better jobs than that. The last place I worked had two attorneys that were immigrants... and got their papers because the company committed perjury by saying those positions could NOT be filled by a citizen!
"Immigration is key to U.S. competitiveness" The headlines says it all: CHEAP LABOR. No regulations no human rights, No regard for anyone , only the love of money. via CHEAP LABOR
"Immigration is key to U.S. competitiveness" The headlines says it all: CHEAP LABOR. No regulations no human rights, No regard for anyone , only the love of money. via CHEAP LABOR
YOU are really confused. If people that work hard and pay taxes are allowed to become legal they are HERE in our system, contributing to our well being. Are you saying we have no human rights here? Well, that is now beoming questionable, but we do better than many countries with cheapo labor. We need people to do work HERE, not overe "there."
You are not confused, you are willfully pretending that we do not have enough citizens to fill our own jobs. Immigrant are you? Illegal?
Put an import tariff on all goods from those countries that these illegal immigrants originate from. Mexico-Corona beer, fruits and vegetables, cars, trucks anything we import to America from Mexico and Central and South America – put a tax on it such that the total funds will be enough to capture, house, maintain and return the illlegals, and pay to protect our borders from their people. Increase the price of visas from those countries too. If they want to get here make them pay for it. Then we can use the money to pay for sending them back.
Cheap Labor – Moves jobs to China, now moving jobs from China, Moves jobs to exico, now moves mexico to the jobs, Cheap Labor. It is what made WalMart Big, it is why shareholders get bigger checks, got it- Charp Labor.
Simple solution.
Quit buing products not made in the United States. If there are 2 of the same products. 1 made in america and one made from a foreign source, buy american.
Otherwise your a hypocrit. Its really that simple.
Support your american made and that company will hire more american workers. Don't support american made, and companies will hire who you have shown to support. Foreign nationals.
Yes, LEGAL immigration is good. ILLEGAL immigration is bad. See the difference?? legal vs. illegal????
I'm a loyal Democrat. But it makes me sick to see illegal immigrants here. They DO commit crimes (they all committed one by moving here), and they've changed our way of life and not improved it. They don't get drivers' licenses and they kill people we love.
I had Canadian friends who were promised support from their employers, and then the recession hit. They were forced to return to Canada. WHY? They were professional, tax-paying, contributing members of society. But they also respected the law. Why should THEY be forced back, and ILLEGAL immigrants get a break? I feel sorry for the kids, but that's the choice their parents chose for them - an illegal one.
I grew up with a Hispanic family - our families were very close. I learned Spanish from them and loved them dearly. But they were LEGAL. Big difference.
The Mexican government needs to fix its own country. We need to change this "born in America" equals automatic citizenship. That is not the way it is in other countries. Obviously, it is not working for us.
It's very simple.
Get a visa, show your passport at the border, Welcome to America.
Sneak over the border without a visa, break our laws, get arrested and sent back home.
I get really tired of people carping about us being anti-immigration. We're not against legal immigration, only illegal immigration, and there IS a difference.
The right kind of immigration will help us compete. As Bobbb... notes, what we're getting is mostly CHEAP LABOR. Illegal immigrants depressing wages, and H1B visa holders accepting low pay so in hopes of getting a green card so that they can bring in their entire extended families.
What most people fail to realize is that if we give amnesty to the 12+ million here illegally, the real effect will be much higher over the coming years, as they use their legal status to bring in their relatives. Family unification means nuclear family to most Americans. To the 3rd world, this means grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins... and this is exactly how family unification laws are written.
150 years ago we eliminated slavery, which at its core robbed poor white people with less land – my father's ancestors were in such a position, where they just couldn't compete with the plantations. We now have a new version, where illegal immigrants have replaced slaves, and the rich (mostly white) are again robbing the poor (of all races). Watch the video of Swift, posted by MomTaxpayerCitizen, if you don't believe this.
As somebody who waited YEARS for 2 relatives to LAWFULLY immigrate to this country, I am repulsed and want to literally puke every time the media and regime say its ok to play "Lets make a deal" with the law.Either you are going to live by the law or tear it down and start a new country and let the rest of us go someplace else-the People charged with protecting the country from the President to the beat Cop do NOTHING.In my city 80 plus illegals stand in front of Home Depot waiting to work ILLEGALLY and the Police arrest the Hookers on the road but won't even question the obvious illegals because of this non sense politically correct junk.Something has got to give cause there are two Americas-those of you who are OK with this and those ready to leave or who want the America we once knew back NOW.No compromise,load em up and make em wait their turn LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!
How can they "wait their turn"? There is no line they can join. Without a sponsor, they cannot immigrate, end of story.
I am British, but I grew up here, so I wanted to bring my children here to live. That's when I discovered the only way to do so was to buy a business on an E2 visa. After 8 years I now employ 11 US citizens, but I have no path to citizenship myself and have to keep renewing my visa at huge expense. Americans are always saying 'we welcome legal immigrants' but it is impossible for anyone without a sponsor to immigrate! America should be rolling out the red carpet for people like me who come here legally, invest money and create jobs. Instead, we are made to jump through all kinds of hoops just to live and work here. We cannot sell our businesses or retire. If we do, we have to leave. Our children'age-out' at 21 and have to get their own visa or leave. It's no wonder foreign investors are goint to countries like Australia and Canada where their contributions to the economy are rewarded with citizenship.
So should we allow 200 million illegals from Latin America, Africa, and India to com to the US. Then will we have an America?
It is a very preplexing issue. I grew up in a farming community in Colorado and have been around alot of illegal immigrants, I currently live in a farming community and there are still alot of illegal immigrants. One of the things I have seen over the years is the destruction of our work ethic. The illegals have a work ethic that puts the work ethic of our youth today to shame. How many politicians do you hear say get a skill? It is mostly go to college. I can tell you college teaches you to sit on your butt. I know a few kids mostly farm kids that still have a solid work ethic but for the most part your not going to see a kid out setting irrigation dams hauling hay, shoveling grain or cleaning out a barn or feedlot pen. All of those things I got to start at 10 years old. The illegals will actually do those jobs and they get around $10 an hour. I was making $1 back in the late 60's early 70's. You know what? It didn't kill me. What percentage of kids now days even do the basic chores like dishes, clean house, take out trash, take care of animals? Until the people in our society develop that pride in doing a HARD days work and get over getting their hands dirty we are going to have a problem with illegals. The dream act is not the answer, the immigrants need to come here legally as most of our ancestors did, fill out the paper work, wait for approval, take the test, and EMBRACE OUR CULTURE AND LAWS.
Yes, well, immigration is not like it was in our ancestors' day. Most Americans believe foreigners can just "fill out the paperwork" and wait their turn. It doesn't work like that. To immigrate legally you must have a sponsor – employer or close relative. Obviously, those here illegally have neither, so they sneak in or overstay their visas.
If it was a simple matter of filling in a form, America would have no illegal immigration problem.
We need to be more nimble? You can't get more nimble than looking the other way as millions of people break into our country illegally. The problem is that we already have millions of illegal aliens in addition to the legal immigrants. Add our own high-school and college graduates, plus displaced older American workers and this author still doesn't think we have enough of a work-force pool? The fact that CNN allowed this joke of a column onto its website as a serious missive speaks volumes of CNN's lack of intellect and critical analysis.
How can you give Dream away free of charge to the illegal when real American have to pay their own Dream? I say pack them out of here and they can take their own Dream somewhere else......
Let's face it. There are legal immigrants with green cards farming, landscaping, etc. There are millions without. So why not legalization the right way, like everyone esle. If jobs can't be filled, then green cards may be the answer. Did you read where it will cost the tax payers of Md and most likely Federal $40K for each undocumented (illegal) student to attend. In the meantime, you out of state students will pay big time, those in State will need to wait to take a ticket to get in. Why should this be. More tax dollar to pay for their education. All need an education but not on my taxes when people are barely making it today. Does not make sense. This is another way to keep the tax payer. We need to take care of those legally first.
I have no problem with immigration – this country was built on it. The question is, how do you regulate it and make sure only those authorized to be in this country and officially part of the "economic system" are here. Every nation on earth has the right to regulate its borders and most are much more stringent that the U.S. If the legal immigration system is broken, (and I think it is) then fix it.
Well, If you want to immigrate to Australia, don't even apply unless you speak English. They also want to know all about your education, work experience, finances, criminal history, ability to work (required fields only) and a whole bunch of other stuff. If you want to immigrate to America, none of that matters. All you need is a close relative. THAT'S why 95% of new citizens are Hispanic, and some will never contribute much to the economy.
the Dram Act will allow people who came here, brought by parents that came illegally, but through no fault of their own. They have grown up Americans. They are contributing by being in the military or doing well in school/college. I support the Dram Act.
The DREAM Act is actually a good idea as it will take the brightest young undocumentedforeigners and give them a path to citizenship. However, it is seriously flawed. Children like my daughter, brought here legally, cannot benefit from it. My daughter was considered my dependent until she reached 21 last year. She meets all the criteria of the DREAM Act. She graduated with honors from university this year and has a one year internship. After that, unless she can find an employer to sponsor her (not likely in this economy), she has to go back to England. She grew up here. How about a path to citizenship for the brightest DOCUMENTED foreigners? Take out the word 'undocumented' and you will have an Act that will benefit all children brought here, not just the illegal ones.
The Migration Policy Institute is as biased as LaRaza. Just because it labels itself a "think tank" doesn't mean it is filled with independent thinkers, nor is it neutral and unbiased. I urge readers to investigate the MPI website, and see if they agree with my conclusion that this organization is essentially dedicated to open borders. It does not believe in US sovereignty, and its silence on rule of law speaks volumes. It proposes a Standing Commission on Labor Markets, Economic Competitiveness and Immigration. That's just another waste of taxpayer dollars that would be designed to back up MPI's agenda. There are plenty of University programs already studying these issues. It is good to get data from a variety of sources whose neutrality can be judged by the American people. Giving any one entity, particularly one proposed by so biased an organization as MPI, sole authority to cull data and draw conclusions that would drive legislation is beyond foolish and enters the realm if deranged. A big NO to Demetrios Papademetriou and all others of his ilk.
If you think Immigration is key to U.S. competitiveness, whats holding you back from passing it.
Its important to do what is beneficial. My professor once said we all write our destiny based on the choices we make EARLY in life .
So what exactly are we all waiting for if everyone seems to know that Immigration is key to U.S. competitiveness. I think you guys should move this Topic to the Entertainment Section. Why do they ALWAYS bring this topic up only on the weekends and not during the 5 working days ?????
Its nothing but Idle Gossip - Immigration is key to U.S. competitiveness , LMAO
The Dream Act in itself, might be a reasonable law allowing the students of illegal parents, to be permitted to stay in the United States? But the ramifications are more ominous, that once the students have legitimacy they can then start petitioning for family members and that by any other name is CHAIN MIGRATION. It further challenges more people to simply scorn what lax laws we have and just enter illegally. Immediate family members overtime can then bring in even more people, and this has set up a chain reaction. Just like another possibility of yet a second mass amnesty, it always attributes to costs. It has been verified that the 1986 accounting, when the final tally was made that it cost US taxpayers 76 Billion dollars.
By the time of a further amnesty in today’s dollars and cents had been calculated, the Heritage foundation assessed such final bottom line of in the range of 2.6 Trillion dollars. America is a nation of immigrants, but the majority entered legally. Most people cannot justify giving illegal aliens a pardon, but I do see sanity in offering a visa and a helping hand to the most highly skilled professionals, who wish to enter a new life. They will not become paupers that must be guaranteed by the US administration, or any Leftist politicians financial assistance to survive in our society. In any case with 12 million Americans looking for a pay check, we should not be promoting any hiring competition from illegal aliens or for that legal immigration.
Now this dollar figure is based on the assumption, that there are only 11 to 12 million foreign nationals in the country, a number based on processing, background checks and an accumulation on other personal data along with medical examinations. But (FAIR) Federation of American Immigration Reform, ( NUMBERSUSA) and thousands of grass root sovereignty organizations have assessed the population figures to well over 20 billion. This is an overwhelming number to consider and a dollar figure to incredulous to even imagine. That would strip any gains against the $14.5 Trillion dollars we owe outside the shores of America. This nation must be entirely thankful to the great State of Arizona, who started this long and dangerous crusade against the tyranny inside the Obama administration that would welcome into America every indigent family from across the globe.
Stepping forward now the TEA PARTY is the only true way that will elevate this massive debt, placed upon taxpayers by thoughtless politicians. We cannot trust the Imperials in the Republican Party and we certainly cannot trust the undercover far Left, that has impregnated the Democrats. Either party has had their own agenda for omnipotent power of new voters through illegal immigration, or the overall influence from big business to relax laws, so millions can be used for a lesser form of slavery; except in both ideals the programmed taxpayer picks up the unknown estimated cost to support them. In three decades America's working man/ women has lost a percentage of his wages, to support illegal immigrants. How academia thinks the economy would grow, must live in a delusional world, when nearly every State is burdened by instant citizenship baby laws, which under the current misinterpretation payments of cash to these families, has diluted every treasury.
Our schools are crammed to capacity, full of the children of illegal aliens, the health system slowly falling apart as more hospitals fail of wanton families to be treated; many of these institutions unable to survive. Then we have the US penal system choked with illegal alien criminals, that is yet another tax hike on the American population. The TEA PARTY is our only remedy as the Congress, have no sense of urgency to the impending financial crash. Perhaps Rep. Michele Bachman of Minnesota, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sarah Palin of Alaska; all regarded as strong supporters of the ever growing TEA PARTY. Only the TEA PARTY leaders seem to understand the financial predicament we have truly manufactured for ourselves, from the years of corruption within equal parties. The TEA PARTY has astounded both political parties in power, and will release us from the years of rot and poor or intentional mismanagement to gain favor with open border lobbyists. The TEA PARTY Has sworn to the major majority of the American people, no new amnesties of any kind, which includes the dismantling of Sanctuary cities and towns, no dream Acts or anything assigned to foreigners who broke our stagnant laws.
To accomplish this task we must insist our government implement mandatory E-Verify and Secure Communities, which will track down both illegal workers and criminal illegal aliens. There must be no compromises, but that Congress should enforce these laws, without interference from the open border zealots or the elitest groups discount labor.
You should also introduce yourself to the people who run this devastated country at the Senate—202-224–3121/ House—202-225–3121 and tell them it’s time to depart of fight for the American taxpayer.
for those of you saying deport all illegals. good luck you are already 14 trillion dollars in debt to the chinese. ATTEMPTING to kick out that many people will only dig you deeper into a hole you wont be able to climb out of. Enforcing our Border and giving a temp guest worker visa to the undocumented already here would not only make it cheaper, but it would get rid of identety theft, get rid of government aid for all those undocumented, get more money of taxes cuz they wont be working under the table and get rid of the criminal element of undocumented immigrants, not the civil offenders that crossed an imaginary line. DONT DIG OURSELVES DEEPER IN THIS DEBT HOLE.
> "for those of you saying deport all illegals. good luck you are already 14 trillion dollars in debt to the chinese. ATTEMPTING to kick out that many people will only dig you deeper into a hole you wont be able to climb out of."
What about all the money the US would save on providing health care, and other social services, to illegals? Not to mention all the money the US would save on having to incarcerate so many illegals.
Why can't the US give jobs to it's own citizens, and tax it's own citizens, instead of giving our jobs to illegals?
I disagree with the idea of standing commission. America don't have to be a bureaucratic mess like India and other third world countries. America does things differently and it works for america. Reagan and senior Bush were able to do tax reform and immigration reform with relative ease. They both command enough respect from politicians to get those things done. I guess it takes seasoned leadership for America to big things like tax reform and immigration reform.
This article is typical corporate propaganda. If the US was suffering from a lack of labor, then the US might need more immigration. But the reality is just the opposite. The US is suffering from it's worst long-term unemployment since the great depression. BTW: my understanding is that the USA accepts more immigration than the rest of the world combined.
F.Y.I. Don't know if you noticed, but MJB's had some, in this instance, seriously innocuous posts, censored by DICE.
He is not the first, and won't be the last, but although he can still post, he is no longer going to encourage such behavior, by participating in forum discussion.
Pass it on.
Yep, Corporate propaganda – they LOVE cheap labor and more people to sell stuff to. The US government operates for them, not for the people.
HELP UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS CANCEL ALL TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKNG VISAS LIKE H1-B AND L1.
All I have to say is: the politicians that dreamed up NAFTA, CAFTA, and the like including outsourcing must have had rocks for brains to have ever thought those things would be good for our country. How in the world (no pun intended) could fair trade (what a joke) with all those other countries be good for us!!! It was the beginning of unemployment when those things were voted in. Our companies took off for the cheap labor, and our people lost their jobs. Personally, I would rather pay more for things and have Americans employed than to have cheap products from China that don't hold up for long anyway!!!!
This is just not the case – there is a surplus of "talent" around the world, unemployment of college grads from Italy to China to the US, this is simply about finding the cheapest available labor and forcing down US salaries. Guess what happens when you do that – the real talent leaves the field, and progress grinds to a halt.
Few people argue against ALL immigration. There are some who apparently want unlimited immigration. Today, the US has legal immigration and illegal immigration.
There are laws that limit immigration, but not by much, because today, of all the countries that have a net positive immigration, the United States has more immigration than the rest of the world combined, and there are people who want even more immigration. And those who do not want even more immigration are incorrectly described as opposing immigration.
I don't oppose immigration, but I oppose unlimited immigration. In fact, I support the reduction of immigration to levels similar to the other countries on the planet.
We have allowed so many foreign-nationals to flood the country, that now, they can dictate the terms of our surrender.
America is finished and dying. The Chinese will put a bullet through its head and put it out of its misery. The Land of the Free? What a joke! You are free to do just what your evil master in Washington tell you to do..... Personal Liberties are just as dead as America.
It does appear that we are on the way down – but it is yet too soon, to be absolutely certain... we could, yet again, turn our faces towards GOD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and the Lord might tarry a bit... and those that would wish our nation harm, would be rebuked, as they most certainly will be, when (not if) they attempt to hurt Israel.
I presume, from the context of your message, that you are not an American, (What country are you from?) and that your words are not borne of sadness over the relentless assault of our county's foundation, but rather, joyousness, over same?!
We have done great deeds throughout history, at the cost of great amounts of blood and gold, and when you look around the world, you are witnessing the vacuum created by our descent into Orwellian lunacy.
Don't you think that you, will remain unscathed, should we fall.
How H1B immigrants contributes towards US economy ?
1) H1B employees need a place to live, so they rent apartments. Average Rent paid per year – $12,000.
2) H1B employees need food, water, electricity and other utilities to sustain their families. Money spent on such services per year – $6000.
3) Many H1B employees typically go to school in US for MS. Average tuition fee paid + living expenses – $40,000.
4) H1B employees typically travel back to their home country once every year on vacation – $2000.
5) Average taxes paid to US government – $20,000.
Total Contribution in 6 years = $12,000X6 + $6,000X6 + $40,000 + $2,000X6 + $20,000X6 = $280,000
How Red Tape is hampering H1B program ?
Stringent rules and regulations coupled with increasing costs are preventing more and more companies from hiring H1B employees. Here are some examples -
1) For H1B employees in consulting, Visa is being tied to a project.
2) If an employee moves to a different location an amendment needs to be filed.
3) Increased H1B filing fees.
Due to all these added complexities companies are avoiding hiring H1B employees. This is evident from the fact that for fiscal year 2012 only 18,400/65,000 (general quota) and 11,900/20,000 (Masters quota) have been consumed as of 07/01/2011.
How poorly managed H1B program is adding to US unemployment woes?
1) H1B employees after being denied Visa or due to increased red tape are choosing to go back home.
2) Positions that H1B employees used to occupy are being outsourced or are being left vacant.
3) H1B employees who used to contribute $280,000 to US economy are not there to sustain it.
How is this creating a lose lose situation for H1B employees and US ?
1) H1B employees who have spent several years in US, have to return back to their home countries.(Loss to H1B employee)
2) Corruption is rampant in their home countries so they will have to learn to deal with it. (Loss to H1B employee)
3) The money that H1B employees used to generate towards the US economy is gone and gone with it are any jobs related to services that H1B employees used to consume. (Loss to US)
4) Many of these H1B employees if given permanent residency in US would have started their own companies and created so many more jobs. That will not happen. (Loss to US)
How much more ironic can anything get ? Sad but True
What is causing unemployment in US ? Here is detailed analysis http://goo.gl/MgEcJ