Thread: TX: Former INS chief says reviving immigration reform diffic

Feb 21, 2008

Former INS chief says reviving immigration reform difficult

DALLAS -- Reviving talks about reforming immigration law will prove difficult even after a new president and members of Congress take office, the former head of immigration services said Thursday.


Doris Meissner, the Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner under President Clinton, said the next president will want to first tackle issues that have broad support and are likely to glide through Congress.

"And unfortunately, immigration, unless something changes very dramatically ... does not qualify as one of those issues," Meissner told an immigration conference held by the National Council of Jewish Women. "It is a polarized issue."

Strong Latino turnout in the upcoming election could grab lawmakers' attention and get immigration reform back on the agenda, said Meissner, now a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

"It is an issue that is basically in the throes of the extremes and the extreme voices in both parties," she said.

Immigration reform is key to strengthening the nation's economy, Meissner said.

For example, she said, technology and engineering keep the U.S. competitive, but about half the students pursuing careers in those fields are foreign-born. And nearly a dozen of the fastest-growing occupations don't require a high school diploma and attract few American-born workers, she added.

"It is not possible for people to come here legally if they want ... to work and if there is a job here for them, particularly if it is in the low skilled sector," Meissner said.

http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=7907603

aid Meissner, now a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

"It is an issue that is basically in the throes of the extremes and the extreme voices in both parties," she said.

Immigration reform is key to strengthening the nation's economy, Meissner said

Well, I can't tell you what to think, but that sounds rather partisan to me...


I have seen other interviews and comments from people associated with this MPI (Mig. Policy Inst.) and have to really wonder how objective they really are? I am beginning to think they actually have funders with a specific objective.

Also I would like to point out that because of the outsorcing of alot of our high educational jobs, and the importing of foreign born workers, there is little incentive for Americans to persue these fields.

And nearly a dozen of the fastest-growing occupations don't require a high school diploma and attract few American-born workers, she added.

A high school diploma ISN'T required??? Oh, I bet those are wonderful jobs!! We definitely need more of those. Where do I sign up?? I'll be turning in my engineering degree to get one of these fantastic positions!

Can you imagine anyone saying something as idiotic as that????? That is a reason for unfettered immigration???? What kind of job would be so important to our economy that the person doing it wouldn't need at least a high school diploma??
So we need to import more illiterates from 3rd world countries to fill this growing need for these jobs!! Good Lord!
Heck, we don't need nurses, carpenters, accountants, welders and such, we have all these $5/hour jobs that we just can't find people for!!!!!!!