Idahoans Tired of Immigrants Taking Jobs
Posted: May 14, 2010 5:16 PM PDT Updated: May 14, 2010 5:16 PM PDT

An untold number of people have made their way to the Treasure Valley in search of the American dream.

Now, native Idahoans are angry that these newcomers are taking their jobs.

According to the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform, employers have said they need American and foreign workers so they can stay competitive in the global market. But with a broken immigration system it's costing a lot of Americans their own jobs.

Steve Wichman, a Middleton farmer, said he's been unemployed for almost 4 years now. He said he's a jack of all trades from running a therapy horse business to welding but employers keep telling him he has too much experience.

"They just don't want to pay my wages and I don't feel like $10 dollars an hour is that much," said Steve Wichman.

Wichman said the problem starts when companies hire illegal immigrants to do his job but for much less money.

"They have to pay another guy that hired them in bringing them in a certain amount. So they're only making $3 or $4 bucks an hour," said Wichman.

But one local organization said businesses thrive on cheap labor.

"The reality is as Americans, as Idahoans we have become addicted to immigrant labor and if that's the case and that's the reality we need to make sure we have a system that works, orderly, that's legal, and that's fair as well," said the Idaho Community Action Network Director Leo Morales.

Wichman said he struggles to get by just on his disability check and hopes one day he can work side by side with legal immigrants.

"They do have a right to be here but they just need to come here through the legal way, not over the border and then take our jobs," said Wichman.

The Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform said they would like to see more border security, increase quotas for guest workers, and ensure businesses are hiring legal foreign workers.

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