Thread: Hazleton: Federal chamber against IIRA

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Federal chamber against IIRA
Monday, 05 March 2007
By L.A. TARONE
tarone@standardspeaker.com
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sided with plaintiffs in the suit against Hazleton’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

The federal chamber filed a brief on behalf of plaintiffs in the case in U.S. Middle District Court in Scranton Monday afternoon.

Text of the brief was not available Monday night.

But City Council President Joe Yannuzzi said he received a call about the filing Monday evening.

"I was very disturbed over it," Yannuzzi said. "I’m a businessman for years and I understand how it works. But I didn’t think the (U.S. Chamber) would do that."

Yannuzzi underscored that the U.S. Chamber, not the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, filed the brief. He noted that the local chamber has taken no position on the issue.

Yannuzzi was the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce’s president for years.

Mayor Lou Barletta has not seen the brief, but was informed Monday afternoon it had been filed. He said he was "disappointed" by the U.S. Chamber’s actions.

"Unfortunately for some, this is more about businesses profiting than it is about illegal aliens," Barletta said. "Our ordinance does the opposite. It stands up for the legal worker and punishes businesses trying to profit from the use of illegals. I’d rather be on the side of the American worker."

Barletta said he disagrees with those who contend illegal aliens will do jobs Americans won’t.

"They’re getting construction jobs and putting legal American businesses out of business – because they are getting undercut by firms to hire illegals and pay them under the table," Barletta said. "It’s a shame the chamber would take the position it has."

Barletta pointed to a Wal-Mart distribution center construction site near Gordon that was raided by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement last summer.

The trial pitting the city against the American Civil Liberties Union, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, as a handful of local people and several private law firms is set to open Monday.

The U.S. Chamber’s brief is not the only one filed. Barletta noted Judicial Watch – which describes itself as "a non-partisan educational foundation, promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law" – has filed one on behalf of the city.

Such briefs are not unusual in such cases. Lawyers have debated for years whether they carry any legal weight.

The U.S. Chamber has long supported a liberal immigration policy. It strongly supported the "Comprehensive Immigration Package" passed by the U.S. Senate last summer – a package that ran into a firestorm of opposition in the House over charges of "amnesty’ for those in the country illegally.

Its Web site lists actions it will take and support during 2007. The list includes:

o "Push for comprehensive immigration reform that: increases security; has an earned pathway to legalization for undocumented workers already contributing to our economy, provided that they are law-abiding and prepared to embrace the obligations and values of our society; creates a carefully monitored guest or essential worker program to fill the growing gaps in America's workforce recognizing that, in some cases, permanent immigrants will be needed to fill these gaps; and refrains from unduly burdening employers with worker verification systems that are under-funded or unworkable.

o Urge Congress and the administration to address delays, backlogs and disruptions in our immigration and border management systems that impede the movement of legitimate cargo and travelers across U.S. borders."

The U.S. Chamber has also urged expansion in the use of temporary visas for what it terms "professionals and highly valued workers."

Critics have charged the U.S. Chamber with pandering for cheap labor.

Enemies of America, show yourself. Join the suit against the citizens, which are enforcing and creating laws to protect themselves from criminals.

You will all be flushed out before it's over.

Dixie

I'm a little surprised at this, but not totally. We've known along where Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez stood on the criminal alien issue. He's bought and paid for by big business. Isn't he also one of criminal alien Elvira's biggest supporters too?