IMMIGRATION REFORM IS ESSENTIAL

[GeorgiaPeach]

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http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/ ... editorials

OTHER VOICES ON IMMIGRATION

Immigration reform is essential


David Jarman

July 7 2007

There seemed to be something for everyone to hate in the latest stab at comprehensive immigration reform. Immigrant groups thought it offered little hope to low-skilled, mostly Hispanic, would-be migrants and jeopardized re-unification of family members.

Right-wingers contended that it was nothing but "amnesty" for illegals. Companies said it imposed excessive bureaucratic burdens on employers. Left-wingers complained that it would depress low-end wages of American workers.

Let's look at the facts. Each year approximately 1.5 million foreigners enter this country, the overwhelming majority in search of work. Unlike the early 20th century when the majority of newcomers were from Europe, today more than half come from Latin America and a quarter from Asia. The problem is that the U.S. immigration system accommodates only about 1 million; the remaining 500 thousand are illegals, undermining the rule of law, endangering U.S. security and souring native-born Americans' attitudes on all newcomers.

Should these trends continue, America's ethnic profile in 2050 will look much different: Hispanics will grow from 12 percent to 25 percent of the total and Asians from 4 percent to 8 percent, while non-Hispanic whites will shrink from 69 percent to 50 percent and blacks will remain unchanged at 14 percent. This changed ethnic profile could significantly reshape our politics and culture.

Immigration is essential to the functioning of the American economy in today's age of globalization. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, provide a means to match the gap between supply and demand for workers, both skilled and unskilled. Highly skilled immigrants, perhaps 15 percent of the current annual influx, make up some 25 percent of our doctors, nurses and PhDs and 40 percent of our top scientists and engineers.

Unskilled labor is particularly scarce in America, as the share of native-born workers with less than a high-school diploma has fallen from 50 percent in 1960 to 12 percent today. The gap is filled by immigrant workers; some 24 percent of farm workers, 17 percent of cleaners and 14 percent of construction workers are illegal immigrants. Immigrants, both legal and illegal, benefit the businesses that hire them and benefit consumers by providing lower-priced goods and services.

The fiscal burden of illegal immigrants is mixed. The cost of providing K-12 education and emergency medical care is borne at the state and local level and may exceed the gains from sales-tax revenue and needed labor. However, at the federal level the benefits clearly exceed the costs, as illegals contribute each year to Social Security and receive no corresponding benefits. Social Security actuaries calculate that over the next 75 years all immigrants (legal and illegal) will pay some $5 trillion more in payroll taxes than they receive in benefits.

The effects of not reaching a viable compromise are serious. First, illegal immigration will continue to grow. Second, improvements to border security will not occur; the current system will continue to be laughably inadequate. Third, local and state governments will take steps to address their individual situations, often in ways that will be disruptive and unhelpful. Fourth, the gap between supply and demand for workers will grow, and economic growth and price stability will be hampered.

Tamar Jacoby, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, says the important question is how to structure a system going forward that grapples with globalization and the choices it poses for America. This means a flexible system that strikes the right balance between skilled and unskilled, and between temporary and permanent. This will likely result in more permanent immigrant workers, and a flexible mix of skilled and unskilled, depending on economic conditions.

If we establish a flexible program to address future immigration, the status of past illegals becomes less important. In fact, it may prove that the Senate bill approved in 2006, establishing a legal path only for those illegals with over five years residence in-country, may prove a possible compromise.

All sides should recognize that it is in their joint interests to reach closure.

Jarman is a resident of James City County.
Copyright © 2007, Daily Press

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Psalm 139:14

[Paige]

Closure right now consits of amensty. It is better to not have closure or Cloture or whatever you call it then grant amensty.