Thread: Experts: Poor economy raises immigrant backlash

Experts: Poor economy raises immigrant backlash
BY DAVE MARCUS


May 5, 2008

As the economy sinks, hostility against undocumented workers ratchets up.

That's the conclusion of immigration experts from different political viewpoints who spoke yesterday at a panel discussion at Molloy College in Rockville Centre. While speakers sharply disagreed about immigration policy, they found common ground when discussing an anti-immigrant backlash.

Fast-rising gas and food prices, coupled with increasing angst about tight salaries and layoffs, are already fueling anger against undocumented workers, the experts said.

"My concern is that as costs keep rising, employers will be more inclined to hire illegal aliens," said Michael Cutler, a former U.S. immigration agent who has crisscrossed the country calling for a crackdown on undocumented workers. "This will cause more resentment."

As the conversation turned into a debate, Luis Valenzuela, executive director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance, agreed with Cutler on just one matter - that immigration has become a "flash point" as the economy sputters.

Sentiment against undocumented immigrants has become especially edgy on Long Island, where residents already have high taxes and a high cost of living, the panelists said.

"When there's economic pain, the extreme elements tend to look for someone to blame," said Roger Clayman, executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, who wants to avoid blaming undocumented immigrants for problems. With the housing industry stalling, he said, workers will blame immigrants who work for low wages.

Yesterday's discussion, sponsored by Molloy's Institute for Christian-Jewish Dialogue and the Long Island chapter of the American Jewish Committee, followed several discussions at Adelphi and Hofstra universities, along with churches and village halls, in recent months. But this one had a sense of urgency because of increasing fiscal woes and a debate over the Suffolk legislature's attempt to crack down on contractors hiring undocumented workers.

That legislation, like many other issues, divided the panelists. Cutler, now a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank, saw merit in the bill proposed by Legis. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach) and others. But Clayman dismissed such moves, saying "they are designed to benefit politically a few folks who introduce the legislation."

Panelists couldn't even agree on terms to use. Cutler insisted on talking about "illegal aliens," saying the phrase is used in many other countries. But Valenzuela rejected that as offensive to undocumented workers who, he said, come to this country for a better life.

After Cutler derided immigration lawyers as greedy, audience member David Sperling of Huntington, got a laugh by introducing himself as an immigration lawyer.

Sperling rejected the federal government's plan to build a fence on parts of the U.S.-Mexico border: "If you build a 10-foot-high fence, someone's going to build an 11-foot-tall ladder to get over it."

www.newsday.com

As the economy sinks, hostility against undocumented workers ratchets up. [color=red]Well at least that's a good effect of our bad economy. color]

That's the conclusion of immigration experts (then we are all EXPERTS HERE!) from different political viewpoints who spoke yesterday at a panel discussion at Molloy College in Rockville Centre. While speakers sharply disagreed about immigration policy, they found common ground when discussing an anti-immigrant backlash.

Fast-rising gas and food prices, coupled with increasing angst about tight salaries and layoffs, are already fueling anger against undocumented workers, the experts said. Let's hope this gets people OFF the couch...

"My concern is that as costs keep rising, employers will be more inclined to hire illegal aliens" "This will cause more resentment." Maybe states will pass good laws then, ones that protect Americans and NOT ILLEGALS!

Sentiment against undocumented immigrants has become especially edgy on Long Island, where residents already have high taxes and a high cost of living, the panelists said. This surprises me. Thanks for joining the battle.

"When there's economic pain, the extreme elements tend to look for someone to blame," said Roger Clayman, executive director of the Long Island Federation of Labor, who wants to avoid blaming undocumented immigrants for problems. With the housing industry stalling, he said, workers will blame immigrants who work for low wages. And rightly they should. The bosses should worry too.


Panelists couldn't even agree on terms to use. Cutler insisted on talking about "illegal aliens," saying the phrase is used in many other countries. But Valenzuela rejected that as offensive to undocumented workers who, he said, come to this country (ILLEGALLY) for a better life. And to ruin ours you nutjob.


Sperling rejected the federal government's plan to build a fence on parts of the U.S.-Mexico border: "If you build a 10-foot-high fence, someone's going to build an 11-foot-tall ladder to get over it." Yes, that's why armed guards with permission to shoot would be better. Like the Americans are teaching the Iraqi to do to guard their borders

Originally Posted by jean

Panelists couldn't even agree on terms to use. Cutler insisted on talking about "illegal aliens," saying the phrase is used in many other countries. But Valenzuela rejected that as offensive to undocumented workers who, he said, come to this country for a better life.

We also would not want to offend Jameel Shaw's killers as the term "illegal aliens" could cause self-esteem problems.

What do we now call Americans who are now dead from these Mexican terrorists? How about "permanently retired documented citizens"?

I am now realizing that I am waking up in a country that is now a nightmare compared to what it used to be....

Originally Posted by jean

That legislation, like many other issues, divided the panelists. Cutler, now a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank,

Washington-based think tank?

Isn't that an Oxymoron?

Panelists couldn't even agree on terms to use. Cutler insisted on talking about "illegal aliens," saying the phrase is used in many other countries. But Valenzuela rejected that as offensive to undocumented workers who, he said, come to this country for a better life.

I don't give a WHO-HAA that the terms offends illegal aliens, THAT is the legal term and illegal aliens are ILLEGAL! The term offends them? Awwww, then GET OUT of MY country! IA's taking money, education, medical, housing, food and jobs meant for Americans OFFEND ME!

Originally Posted by millere

Originally Posted by jean

That legislation, like many other issues, divided the panelists. Cutler, now a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington-based think tank,

Washington-based think tank?

Isn't that an Oxymoron?

Hehehehe. Yep, you got that right.

And, re: Mr. Valenzuela's apparent problem with 'illegal alien'...hmm, that's funny, those are the exact same terms used in numerous US Immigration Laws. Maybe he doesn't know what those laws say, or has ever tried to give them an even cursory look...?

And besides, many 'undocumented workers'....
a). Have 'documents' and
b). Do not work.

"My concern is that as costs keep rising, employers will be more inclined to hire illegal aliens" "This will cause more resentment."

Why should they be inclined to hire more illegals??? If an American is out of a job or has NO job-ANY job is better than NO JOB! Why not hire a jobless American?!?! Idiot!

Panelists couldn't even agree on terms to use. Cutler insisted on talking about "illegal aliens," saying the phrase is used in many other countries. But Valenzuela rejected that as offensive to undocumented workers who, he said, come to this country for a better life.

I am certain sex offenders find the term sex offender offensive too but that doesn't change reality.....one is who one is.

All illegal aliens are illegal aliens, and their term 'undocument workers' is a misnomer because not all illegal aliens work. An illegal alien baby or toddler is certainly not a worker.

Distrust and caution are the parents of security.
Benjamin Franklin

Originally Posted by SicNTiredInSoCal

"My concern is that as costs keep rising, employers will be more inclined to hire illegal aliens" "This will cause more resentment."

Why should they be inclined to hire more illegals??? If an American is out of a job or has NO job-ANY job is better than NO JOB! Why not hire a jobless American?!?! Idiot!

Because you have to pay them what the other Americans get, you have to insure them, and buy Workman's Comp for them. Americans can complain and turn you in for forcing you to do to many hours...