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  1. #1
    Senior Member PatrioticMe's Avatar
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    WA - Immigration reform remains a sticky wicket

    Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial Board



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    The announcement Monday that two major labor federations have decided to join forces and push for an overhaul of immigration laws appears on the surface to be a big step forward.

    But beware of the potential missteps in between. And for this accord, there are one too many.

    The AFL-CIO and the Change to Win federation endorsed legalizing those illegal immigrants already in the United States while opposing any large new program for employers to bring in temporary immigrant workers. When the last effort to make comprehensive immigration reform fizzled in Congress in 2007, these two labor groups had failed to reach common ground on the issue.

    The two labor federations wanted to reach a compromise so that kind of impasse doesn't happen again.

    Legalizing the status of illegal immigrants has its ardent supporters, especially when estimates indicate there are more than 7 million undocumented immigrants working across the nation. In terms of farm workers, experts say more than 70 percent are undocumented.

    The two labor groups say legalizing this group of workers would help maintain standards for all others.

    However, the second key element in labor's accord doesn't sit well with everyone. Just check out what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had to say
    about it.

    "If the unions think they're going to push a bill through without the support of the business community, they're crazy," said Randel Johnson, the chamber's vice president of labor, immigration and employee benefits.

    The main sticking point is the need for a significant guest-worker program. The two labor federations don't favor that, believing it would undercut jobs for Americans.

    What the two federations want is for the federal government to set up an independent commission that would monitor and control levels of foreign workers to be admitted for jobs.

    But any comprehensive immigration reform must embrace not only surveillance and enforcement along our borders, but also a robust supply of guest workers for agriculture. Will this labor commission be up to that challenge? That must be answered.

    In the Yakima Valley, a shortage of farm workers is a real problem and a constant threat to our region's economy. When the nation eventually does pull itself out of this recession, agriculture will again face the prospect of widespread labor shortages.

    Clearly the current federal
    H-2A guest-worker program needs improvement. It's difficult to navigate and expensive to run.

    Without an agreement on a revamped and flexible guest-worker program, immigration reform and stronger border security will fall apart as it has in the past, despite President Obama's recent desire to get a measure before Congress.

    Any plan that doesn't address all three items will either fail to make it through Congress or fail miserably when implemented.



    * Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Barbara Serrano, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.

    http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/20 ... cky-wicket

  2. #2
    ELE
    ELE is offline
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    Enforcment, Attrition and Deportation.

    There can be no compromise.........illegals are breaking our laws and must get out of OUR country.
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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