Stricter Immigration Enforcement Must Include Comprehensive
Bleeding Heart California Lib-Idiot/Dem Business Moron:
Stricter Immigration Enforcement Must Include Comprehensive Reform
August 30, 2007 @ 10:45 AM
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.p ... 244&ptid=9
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Steve Westly
The Bush administration's announcement that the Department of Homeland Security will require employers to fire employees with invalid Social Security numbers threatens the health of California's economy. This new policy also stands in stark contrast to the carrot-and-stick approach to immigration reform that the Senate debated, and the president supported, as recently as June of this year.
California's economy is as large as it is diverse. Our state is home to the largest agricultural sector in the United States, popular tourism destinations, and a vibrant construction industry. The new immigration enforcement guidelines, set to take effect in September, will threaten each of these sectors at a time when we can ill afford it.
One worrisome example of the immediate effect these guidelines will have is the upcoming fall harvest period, when California's farmers rely heavily on seasonal labor. Without access to seasonal workers, farmers will be unable to harvest their crops and the $32 billion agricultural industry will face what Senator Dianne Feinstein has predicted will be a "catastrophe."
In addition to the effect on California's largest economic sectors, tax revenues will decrease and demands on social programs will increase. Migrant workers will be left with the option of unemployment or working in underground jobs where employers do not pay taxes or file the necessary paperwork for their employees.
The new guidelines are also unenforceable. A recent article in the Oakland Tribune points out that the Social Security Administration is prohibited from sharing information about inaccurate Social Security numbers with the Department of Homeland Security, the very department responsible for enforcement.
So, how do we solve this pressing issue? For the sake of California's economy, a crackdown on illegal immigration should only coincide with comprehensive immigration reform. This means an increase in the number of H-1B visas available for highly skilled foreign workers so Silicon Valley companies can hire the programmers and engineers they need to remain competitive. Congress should also enact the proposed AgJOBS program that provides a path to legal residency for illegal immigrants who commit to working in the agricultural industry. We also need a broader guest worker program that allows immigrants to work here for part of the year in order to support their families back home. Finally, for temporary and illegal workers who have proven to be positive and productive members of society, we should provide a path for permanent residency and citizenship. If you make a positive, long-lasting contribution to American society, you deserve the right to live in this country.
My wife was born in China and came to California as a young girl. Her family didn't have much, and her father passed away shortly after they arrived, leaving her mother to raise five children alone. But, they were fortunate enough to be able to come here legally, and they benefited from a network of social programs that helped them put food on the table and allowed her to go to good public schools and attend San Diego State University. She became a successful high tech executive, and helped take a company public, which created hundreds of new jobs. California made this possible because we saw the value in supporting immigrant families that want nothing more than the opportunity to make a better life.
The United States is a shining light of prosperity for people around the world, and Californians should be proud that our innovation has fueled America's economic growth. However, the growth and stability of our economy relies on the availability of labor, so we must do everything we can to ensure our economy has the workers it requires. I strongly urge the Congress to oppose President Bush's new immigration enforcement measures and to pass immigration reform that balances our economic needs with respect for the law.
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Steve Westly is CEO of The Westly Group, a venture advisory firm which helps entrepreneurs build the clean technology companies of the future. He currently sits on the boards of the electric car company Tesla and the biofuels company Altra, while consulting for a variety of startups. Before launching his firm, Mr. Westly was California State Controller. He also chairs the California Leadership Committee, a PAC dedicated to supporting the next generation of Democratic leaders.
