The boon of immigration: Newcomers to America more than pull their economic weight
The need for combining secure borders with a rational policy for admitting newcomers is as pressing today as it was when the last attempted remake went down in flames under President George W. Bush, victim largely of the myth that immigration is a drain on the economy and a threat to native-born workers.
The truth is just the opposite. As documented by the Fiscal Policy Institute, immigration has, in fact, been a vital force in the American economy. Even in tough times, immigrants boost or replenish the labor pool and inject entrepreneurial energy that opens businesses and creates jobs.Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/11/30/2009-11-30_the_boon_of_immigration.html#ixzz0YNpESCVX
RAD~ Wow, I agree with the NY Daily News!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Lou Dobbs, Looking at Public Office, Says He's in Favor of Policy He Used to Spin as "Shamnesty for Illegals" | Media and Technology | AlterNet
Lou Dobbs, Looking at Public Office, Says He's in Favor of Policy He Used to Spin as "Shamnesty for Illegals" Media and Technology AlterNet
Mr. Dobbs couldn't be reached Tuesday. Spokesman Bob Dilenschneider said Mr. Dobbs draws a distinction between illegal immigrants who have committed crimes since arriving in the U.S. and those who are "living upright, positive and constructive lives" who should be "integrated" into society. He said Mr. Dobbs recognizes the political importance of Latinos and is "smoothing the water and clearing the air."
RAD~ Also see the Wall Street Journal article that covers the same topic (doesn't have the nice pic though)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125910998942663259.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy
RAD~ Also see the Wall Street Journal article that covers the same topic (doesn't have the nice pic though)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125910998942663259.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Where the Public Stands on Immigration Reform - Pew Research Center
Where the Public Stands on Immigration Reform - Pew Research Center
Recently the Obama administration announced that it will push for legislation next year to overhaul the nation's immigration system. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the administration will argue for what she called a "three-legged stool" including stricter enforcement, a "tough and fair pathway to earned legal status" for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S., and a more efficient process for legal immigration.
How is the public likely to react to this new push? Since 2007 when the Bush administration failed in its effort to build a coalition in support of comprehensive reform, the issue has been relatively dormant. Pew Research polling has found significant public support for both tougher enforcement and the so-called "path to citizenship," but several factors suggest that the debate could be a difficult one.
First, if the experience of 2007 is any guide, opposition to setting up a process for undocumented immigrants to achieve citizenship may be more intense -- even if less widespread -- than support for it. Second, the nation's economic situation is significantly worse than it was when the issue was debated in 2006 and 2007. Some Republican lawmakers reacted to Secretary Napolitano's speech by raising concerns about the competition for jobs posed by foreign-born workers. More generally, partisan differences on the issue have grown since two years ago, potentially making it more difficult to achieve a consensus in Congress. And third, as the debate over health care reform has shown, there is considerable public anxiety right now about the scope of the federal government's activities and its capacity to undertake major policy changes.
RAD ~ This is going to be a painful process but we will be better off as a country once this debate is behind us.
Recently the Obama administration announced that it will push for legislation next year to overhaul the nation's immigration system. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that the administration will argue for what she called a "three-legged stool" including stricter enforcement, a "tough and fair pathway to earned legal status" for undocumented immigrants already in the U.S., and a more efficient process for legal immigration.
How is the public likely to react to this new push? Since 2007 when the Bush administration failed in its effort to build a coalition in support of comprehensive reform, the issue has been relatively dormant. Pew Research polling has found significant public support for both tougher enforcement and the so-called "path to citizenship," but several factors suggest that the debate could be a difficult one.
First, if the experience of 2007 is any guide, opposition to setting up a process for undocumented immigrants to achieve citizenship may be more intense -- even if less widespread -- than support for it. Second, the nation's economic situation is significantly worse than it was when the issue was debated in 2006 and 2007. Some Republican lawmakers reacted to Secretary Napolitano's speech by raising concerns about the competition for jobs posed by foreign-born workers. More generally, partisan differences on the issue have grown since two years ago, potentially making it more difficult to achieve a consensus in Congress. And third, as the debate over health care reform has shown, there is considerable public anxiety right now about the scope of the federal government's activities and its capacity to undertake major policy changes.
RAD ~ This is going to be a painful process but we will be better off as a country once this debate is behind us.
New US Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman: January Contreras
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman: January Contreras
January Contreras was appointed as the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman for the Department of Homeland Security on November 23, 2009. In this role she leads the Office of the CIS Ombudsman in its efforts to interact with the public and employers to enhance the effective delivery of citizenship and immigration services. Primary efforts include helping to resolve obstacles to accessing services, identifying areas in need of improvement, and recommending solutions to improve services.
RAD~I have used the office of the Ombudsman before to assist my clients...I recommend them.
Update on USCIS moving to Bedford NH
Here is the latest photo of the building...well would'ya believe of the foundation? Progress is being made though - the land is cleared the foundation appears to be in. The entrance is apparently not going to be on Palomino (the vantage point of the photo) but rather on Ridgewood at the far side of the frame. You saw it first, here on WiggiBlawg!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sanders backs guest worker program for farms | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press
Sanders backs guest worker program for farms burlingtonfreepress.com The Burlington Free Press
There...that didn't take long.
This is the painful yet prescient logic of the Obama Administration's enforcement policy change. Punishing aliens by jailing and then deporting them is an ineffective strategy (as the numbers are too great) and if employers face little risk - new undocumented workers can always be found to replace those who have been deported.
Only when important businesses in Congressional districts start to suffer consequences do politicians begin to realize that there may be an economic cost (and thus a political cost) to our restrictionist immigration policy. The undocumented workforce is intregral to many industries like farming, manufacturing, construction, hospitality, elder care, and other services.
As immigration enforcement begins to take a bite out of business owners who vote and contribute to campaigns (rather than just the immigrants who lack the right to vote and very often cannot speak up for fear of deportation) the pressure to change our policy is going to increase. Immigration reform will happen because our economic future depends on it.
When reform does happen...Wiggin & Nourie's Immigration Practice Group will be ready to assist the Dairy Farmers and all the other industries who need to access guest workers and to legalize their current employees.
There...that didn't take long.
This is the painful yet prescient logic of the Obama Administration's enforcement policy change. Punishing aliens by jailing and then deporting them is an ineffective strategy (as the numbers are too great) and if employers face little risk - new undocumented workers can always be found to replace those who have been deported.
Only when important businesses in Congressional districts start to suffer consequences do politicians begin to realize that there may be an economic cost (and thus a political cost) to our restrictionist immigration policy. The undocumented workforce is intregral to many industries like farming, manufacturing, construction, hospitality, elder care, and other services.
As immigration enforcement begins to take a bite out of business owners who vote and contribute to campaigns (rather than just the immigrants who lack the right to vote and very often cannot speak up for fear of deportation) the pressure to change our policy is going to increase. Immigration reform will happen because our economic future depends on it.
When reform does happen...Wiggin & Nourie's Immigration Practice Group will be ready to assist the Dairy Farmers and all the other industries who need to access guest workers and to legalize their current employees.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Immigration officials visit Vermont farms - NashuaTelegraph.com
Immigration officials visit Vermont farms - NashuaTelegraph.com
Posted using ShareThis
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says federal immigration officials are serving subpoenas to dairy farmers asking them to provide payroll records and employee forms.
Spokeswoman Kelly Loftus says the agency heard from four farmers on Thursday who said immigration officials had visited their farms.
The group Dairy Farmers Working Together says as many as 100 dairy farmers could be subpoenaed.
Dairy farmers in Vermont and elsewhere have turned to imported help because of the difficulty hiring people locally to do the work.
~RAD - as if New England Dairy farmers didn't have enough trouble already. I'm sure with Northern New England having its highest unemployment rate in generations they should have no trouble finding US citizens to milk the cows and muck the stalls. Right? I guess we'll find out - hope you like paying $5 a gallon for milk. Senator Leahy now would be a good time to get going on Immigration Reform before Vermont loses any more one of this signature industry.
Why you shouldn't fool around with milk production -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal
Posted using ShareThis
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says federal immigration officials are serving subpoenas to dairy farmers asking them to provide payroll records and employee forms.
Spokeswoman Kelly Loftus says the agency heard from four farmers on Thursday who said immigration officials had visited their farms.
The group Dairy Farmers Working Together says as many as 100 dairy farmers could be subpoenaed.
Dairy farmers in Vermont and elsewhere have turned to imported help because of the difficulty hiring people locally to do the work.
~RAD - as if New England Dairy farmers didn't have enough trouble already. I'm sure with Northern New England having its highest unemployment rate in generations they should have no trouble finding US citizens to milk the cows and muck the stalls. Right? I guess we'll find out - hope you like paying $5 a gallon for milk. Senator Leahy now would be a good time to get going on Immigration Reform before Vermont loses any more one of this signature industry.
Why you shouldn't fool around with milk production -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal
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