Thread: Illegal work hurts U.S., official says

Illegal work hurts U.S., official says
Immigration changes due, panel is told
4/18/07

A top U.S. immigration official warned that reforms on who enters, lives and works in this country are inevitable, but many people aren't going to like the outcome.

Those wishing to send millions of illegal immigrants back to their home countries probably won't be pleased.

Those who believe some type of general amnesty for the more than 12 million estimated illegal immigrants is appropriate won't like it.

And some employers, especially those who strategically use inexpensive illegal workers to reduce costs, can expect megafines for using employees who don't have the proper documentation.

"You can be rest assured, no one is going to get a pass on this," said Emilio Gonzalez, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an undersecretary position within the Department of Homeland Security.

Gonzalez spoke to 75 people Tuesday at the seventh annual Business Ethics Conference at Harris Corp. headquarters.

The all-day conference, put on by Florida Tech's College of Business Center for Ethics and Leadership and sponsored by Harris, focused on the current debate over immigration reform and what it means to the fabric of U.S. society and business in the future.

Gonzalez called immigration reform the most pressing matter the United States has faced in at least three decades, and the thorny questions the issue presents will not be easily resolved.

He called it a matter of balancing "compassion with precaution."

"Which one wins?" Gonzalez asked.

He said he envisioned reform measures that grant some sort of amnesty, or "guest worker" status, to some 10 million people now considered illegal in the United States. That probably means more than 2 million being deported.

Those deported may be your longtime neighbors, co-workers and students -- many who will leave families and careers behind, he said.

"That's very hard. That's very tough," Gonzalez said. "We have to be able to say no to the few so the public will allow us to say yes to the many."

Gonzalez also noted the country's peculiar history with immigrants and immigration policies.

Most Americans, whose lineage begins at someplace outside the United States, appreciate individuals leaving one country and coming to America for its freedom and economic opportunities, Gonzalez said.

But the impact of undocumented workers on schools, hospitals, prisons and other services also takes a huge toll that many people and lawmakers find distressful. And that doesn't even take into account security issues related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"We love immigrants, but we hate immigration," Gonzalez said. "That's a very, very tough duality."

The emotions that come with immigration issues weren't lost on many of those attending Tuesday's ethics conference.

Melissa Goude, a senior at Satellite High School, said her parents immigrated to the United States from Taiwan in 1988.

"It's interesting to me to see how the agency works from the top down," Goude said. "I've seen it at the bottom end, with immigration services in Miami. I now can see what goes on at one end, and how that affects what goes on at the other end."

Terika Haynes, an administrator at Health First, said she was interested in Gonzalez's comments on the H-1B visas, a program that allows expedited entrance into the United States for highly skilled workers.

Gonzalez expects the number of H-1B visas -- curtailed last year -- to increase substantially in the years ahead.

"I completed a master's program at the University of Florida, and I had a classmate that had to go back to Japan because she couldn't get an employee-sponsored visa," Haynes said. "I definitely think there needs to be an increase in H-1B visas."

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.d ... 3/business

See related link on HB-1 visas and why we should not increase them.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=60639

He called it a matter of balancing "compassion with precaution."

I do have compassion Gonzalez. I have compassion for people worldwide who have been waiting in line patiently, legally for a piece of the American dream. I do NOT have compassion for illegal aliens though.

He said he envisioned reform measures that grant some sort of amnesty, or "guest worker" status, to some 10 million people now considered illegal in the United States. That probably means more than 2 million being deported.

No amnesty, no way, no matter what color lipstick you try to put on it.

Since there are probably 30 million illegal aliens in the US today (and growing by an estimated 3 million per year), does this mean he really "envision" sending 20 million back home?

More governmental BS in my opinion.

NO AMNEST.WHAT WORDS ARE YOU NOT GETTING.

NO MORE NO AMNESTY NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER
DO YOU UNDERSTAND
NO MAS

NO AMNESTY.PERIOD.SIMPLE

NO MORE H1B VISA'S EITHER