Thread: Some fear potential impact of immigration legislation

http://www.mlive.com

Some fear potential impact of immigration legislation
Sunday, January 22, 2006
By Ted Roelofs
The Grand Rapids Press
Raising concerns about pending immigration reform, West Michigan Hispanic leaders are fearful measures passed by the U.S. House may only inflame -- but not solve -- the problems of illegal immigration.

"I think it's terrible, not only for the Hispanic community but for the whole community," said Andres Abreu, editor of the El Vocero newspaper.

"People should know how this reform can affect them."

Abreu and other community leaders have summoned a forum Monday to inform area residents of the potential impact of reform measures passed last month by the House. It is scheduled for United Methodist Hispanic Church at 100 Burton St. SE.

The legislation, billed as a border protection, anti-terrorism and illegal immigration control act, would enlist military and local enforcement to stop illegal immigrants and require employers to verify the legal status of their workers.

The bill makes unlawful presence in the United States a felony, upgrading it from a civil offense.

The House also voted to end the visa lottery program for countries that send few immigrants to the United States.

The Senate is expected to take up immigration reform in February.

The Washington D.C.-based Urban Institute, a nonpartisan social policy research organization, has placed the number of U.S. undocumented immigrants at 9.3 million. Its estimate, based on 2002 census data and other sources, puts Michigan's total at 120,000 to 150,000.

Estimates for West Michigan range as high as 40,000.

Abreu maintained that a punitive approach will not necessarily solve the problem, since powerful economic factors continue to drive immigrants to cross U.S. borders.

"There are a lot of people working in the United States without documents," he said. "They have no documents, but they pay taxes anyway."

Tell me, Andres Abreu, editor of the El Vocero newspaper, since this is all about illegal immigration, how will it "terrible for the Hispanic community"? Hispanics are affected just as all other US citizens. You see, ILLEGAL, get with the program. Period.