Thread: Opinion by Ernesto Portillo Jr. : Businesses join fight for

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/related/177434.php

Opinion by Ernesto Portillo Jr. : Businesses join fight for immigration law

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.08.2007

Richard Walden's family has been farming in Southern Arizona for about 60 years.

He's fluent in Spanish and, with his wife, Nan Walden, they head up Farmers Investment Co., operators of 4,500 acres of pecan groves near Green Valley, plus two other sites in Arizona and Georgia.

These days, in addition to overseeing more than 240 employees who receive benefits and a 401(k) savings plan, the Waldens are on a statewide mission along with other employers, business groups and individuals.

The Waldens are pushing to reform our country's busted immigration laws.

They understand the need for a sensible and realistic policy that would allow foreign workers to legally enter the country. Our aging population will rely more on foreign workers to sustain a healthy national economy, Walden said.

"We need to do it," he said.

As Congress prepares for a second consecutive year of hearings and debates on immigration policy and how to reduce illegal immigration, the state's businesses and organizations are raising their voices louder and clearer.

Walden is part of Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform, a coalition of business and trade associations. Nationally business organizations have partnered with humanitarian and religious groups, immigrants' rights groups and labor unions — not your usual political alliance — to try to persuade Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Wednesday, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords hosted a meeting with local and state business leaders to talk about immigration and STRIVE Act 2007, a new proposal introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Giffords, a freshman Democrat in District 8, is an original co-sponsor of the bill.

The legislation's key components are increased border enforcement, a guest-worker program and a path to legal residency and citizenship for some of the estimated 12 million-plus undocumented immigrants currently in the country.

Giffords told the business audience the bill is the best proposal and has a good chance of receiving congressional approval. If Congress doesn't pass immigration legislation by the fall, Giffords said new immigration legislation will be shelved as the country enters the 2008 presidential election cycle.

Giffords, after the meeting, said businesses have to play a larger role in immigration reform.

Farrell Quinlan, a spokesman for the Arizona employers' group, said the act doesn't satisfy all concerns of all constituent groups, but it's acceptable.

Walden, Quinlan and the employers' group believe immigration reform cannot be done by law enforcement alone and businesses should not have to play the role of deciding who can or cannot work legally in this country. They insist businesses need a reliable national worker verification program.

From Payson to Phoenix to Pennsylvania, cities and states are imposing stricter penalties on employers who are found to have hired undocumented workers. The federal government has stepped up workplace raids, arresting some business owners and disrupting hundreds of families of undocumented workers.

American employers are often accused of "enabling" illegal immigration. If only employers stopped hiring low-paid undocumented workers, illegal immigration would cease, goes the argument.

While some employers do exploit undocumented workers, who have no legal protection, Walden said the federal government has abdicated its role in creating workable immigration laws.

Responsible employers insist they cannot determine a person's legal residency without a near foolproof system. Without it, employers will likely resort to hiring on the basis of skin color and ethnicity, which would open them to charges of racial discrimination.

"Employers want a reliable legal work force," Quinlan said.

● Contact columnist Ernesto Portillo at 573-4242 or eportillo@azstarnet.com.

They understand the need for a sensible and realistic policy that would allow foreign workers to legally enter the country. Our aging population will rely more on foreign workers to sustain a healthy national economy, Walden said.

Yeah, Europe did that and we've seen what happened!

There is not one argument in the article for why they should become citizens and bring additional family members in! This is disgusting...

Giffords, after the meeting, said businesses have to play a larger role in immigration reform.

That may be her opinion but after I seen yesterday what illegals or immigration is costing the American taxpayers don't you think it is time we the people have some say in this. pesonally I don't care anymore if these companys move to Mexico as they are employing illegal workers so they are not much good to the U.S. citizen are they!
Calif. alone $440 milllion for welfare in LA county alone 24% to illegal aliens!! Imagine what it is costing the nation while bussiness get fat off us. Time to stop this NOW they have gotten gready!

path to legal residency and citizenship for some of the estimated 12 million-plus undocumented immigrants currently in the country.


We don't want any more citizens . Especially ones that are uneducated and will be a drain on us for life times to come.