Thread: MI: States can tackle issue of illegals

States can tackle issue of illegals
April 20, 2008

By GLENN GILBERT
Of The Oakland Press

While the federal government dithers about illegal immigration, states across the nation are taking matters into their own hands to deal with the issue.
The number of state laws enacted in 2007 was nearly triple that in 2006:240 compared to 84.

Immigration is being debated in all 50 state capitals, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some 1,562 bills were introduced in the 50 states. Laws were enacted in 46 states in 2007, compared to 32 states in 2006.

"We can do a lot," says state Rep. David Agema, a west Michigan Republican and a leader on the issue in the Michigan House.

Michigan has the reputation as one of the easiest states for illegals to access, Agema says. And although the state has taken recent action to deny driver's licenses for illegals, much of the damage had already been done.

"Thousands upon thousands" of licenses have been issued, Agema says, and the state still hasn't done enough to tighten up the process. It is still possible for illegals to get Michigan driver's licenses with forged documents such as Social Security cards.

That is why Agema is proposing measures to address this issue and other government benefits going to illegals.

He would require the secretary of state to employ the Social Security Online Verification System to match names with Social Security numbers, and also make use of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program that can identify falsified passports. Thirty-nine other states are using these tools.

Agema's legislation also would require contractors doing work for the state of Michigan to make use of E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in partnership with the Social Security Administration. The E-Verify system provides an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.

Agema says Democrats are resisting these measures because if illegals are successful in getting driver's licenses, they also register to vote and might be likely to vote Democratic.

Rep. Tim Melton, D-Auburn Hills, disputed that assertion.

"We're all in the same boat on this," Melton said. "It is not a political issue. If they are in the country illegally ... Illegal is illegal."

Melton said he has not studied Agema's proposals and could not comment further.

Rep. Andy Meisner, D-Ferndale, thinks the Hire Michigan First package of bills pending in the House addresses employment concerns adequately. It would require that only Michigan companies documenting a preference for employing Michigan citizens qualify for any tax incentives.

Meisner points out that state Attorney General Mike Cox's ruling prohibiting driver's licenses for illegals also denied licenses to noncitizens who are in Michigan legally doing business.

"I am not interested in demagoging on this issue. We are a global economy," Meisner said. He said the state should follow the laws, and he urged the federal government to adopt policies encouraging citizenship.

Agema, from Grandville, said he is getting support from Oakland County Republicans such as Fran Amos of Waterford, Chuck Moss of Birmingham, and Marty Knollenberg of Troy.

Agema says the issues pertaining to illegal immigration revolve around national security, and how much illegals cost the state in terms of services such as health care, welfare, jails, schools and jobs.

The latter point has been debated. It often is claimed that illegals take jobs no one else wants. Also, the illegal population undeniably generates economic activity. Illegals become customers for existing businesses.

But Agema asserts that the net cost is an expense to Michigan taxpayers. Each illegal immigrant costs $20,000 more in taxes annually than they contribute, and the net overall annual cost per illegal immigrant is $10,000, he believes.

Agema also believes the national estimates of 12 million illegal immigrants are "not even close." He thinks it's closer to 38 million.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimated Michigan's illegal immigrant population in 2005 at 124,000, which ranks 16th in the United States.

FAIR's projected annual fiscal costs to Michigan taxpayers for emergency medical care, education and incarceration would increase from $394 million currently to $656 million by 2010 if an amnesty is adopted for illegal residents.

However, Ann Morse and Dirk Hegen, researchers for the National Conference of State Legislatures, are less certain about costs and benefits.

"As the courts deliberate state legislative actions on immigration enforcement in the workplace, the economic consequences remain unclear. Are state actions encouraging legal or unauthorized immigrants to leave the state?" Morse and Hegen ask.

"What are the effects on workers and employers? Will states realize savings in education, health care and law enforcement? What will be the effects in terms of property, sales or income tax revenues and the overall economy?"

The bottom line is that federal inaction on the issue needn't hamstring states. Obviously Michigan can do nothing to secure the border with Mexico, but it can do a lot to track down illegals and discourage them from functioning in society -- IF it wants to.

"We're going to have another 9/11 if we aren't careful," says Agema, a retired Air Force fighter pilot. "Can we live with people when we don't know who they are?"

The people have it within their means to answer this and other questions about illegal immigration. They need to let their representatives in Lansing know how they want these issues handled.

www.theoaklandpress.com

I agree with most of what Agema is trying to do but confusing the number of Latin immigrants for the number of illegal immigrants is the tell tale of either a bad researcher or a nut.