Thread: New report clarifies reality vs. perception in immigration d

New report clarifies reality vs. perception in immigration debate

Posted: Saturday, May 22, 2010 8:45 am | Updated: 2:17 pm, Wed May 26, 2010.

Garin Groff, Tribune | 34 comments

From one perspective, Arizona's immigration debate is about stopping a wave of criminal invaders who threaten our economy and safety.

On the other side, the state's new enforcement law will cost a fortune and create a police state reminiscent of Nazi Germany.

As the fight has spilled onto the national scene, a new, more rational voice is struggling to emerge.

Those who follow immigration warn the debate has spun out of control, in part because some assertions behind the arguments are wrong - and making a messy issue even worse.

The calls come from policy groups and people as partisan as Karl Rove, George W. Bush's political strategist.

The Morrison Institute for Public Policy began its campaign for calmness in recent days, issuing a report on the perceptions and realties of immigration. The institute looked at nine assertions about immigration, including its impact on crime, the economy, schools and the workforce. It found illegal immigration is no doubt a problem, but not always to the extent it's often portrayed.

The study's author acknowledges simple answers would make the issue easier. But senior policy analyst Bill Hart said the debate could become more civil if people considered the nuances of illegal immigration.

"So often a clear-cut answer just isn't there, and that's not real popular all the time," Hart said. "We just hope that it helps people focus more carefully on facts and data and less on emotional appeals to help us all get through this."

The institute doesn't advocate a position on immigration issues. That includes SB 1070, the measure that gives police broader powers to arrest illegal immigrants.

The resulting debate has become so heated that even Rove - known for hardball campaigns - called on politicians to cool it in Friday's New York Times.

"I applaud Arizona for taking action, but I think the rhetoric on all sides ought to be lowered," Rove said.

Immigration's underlying issues - race, national identity, jobs, poverty and more - make the issue contentious in any time.

Those controversies will remain even when new policies and laws go into place, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.

"I'm not sure it ends," he said. "There's no solution to immigration. It's one of those things you have to manage. It's like traffic; it's something you have to manage."

His organization advocates a sharp reduction in immigration but a greater acceptance of those who are allowed in. The nation is moving toward a more secure border and other reforms that will eventually ease tension, Krikorian said. But he sees more difficulty in achieving that with the heated talk.

"The language here about Nazism and apartheid is just outrageous," Krikorian said. "There's literally no excuse for it. People engaging in this rhetoric ought to be ashamed of themselves and I have yet to hear an apology."

SB 1070 opponent Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, said the debate has divided people who actually support the goals of comprehensive immigration reform. She believes most want secure borders, a reformed immigration policy and a path to citizenship for some residents.

"I feel a little frustrated when folks say, "What side are you on?'" she said. "Because that's not reflective of the American public."

The complex issue would be easier to solve if various sides had a set of facts they could agree on and a neutral arbiter to guide the discussion, Sinema said.

"I don't know who would play the role to fill this, someone who has the ability to command the respect of both parties," she said.

Sinema is a sharp critic of SB 1070's supporters and their rhetoric, but also of what their opponents respond with.

"The people on the left should not make accusations about people being racist or compare them to Nazis, but on the right they should not say all undocumented immigrants are murderers or rapists," she said. "I'm not sure how you stop this because it's such a passionate issue."

The debate around SB 1070 could change when guidelines are approved on how police will enforce it. Those rules will make the law's impact more clear once police know what constitutes the "reasonable suspicion" standard required to question people on their immigration status. The guidelines are being drafted now by the Arizona Police Officer Standards Training Board in advance of the law taking effect in July.

Critics and supporters have vastly different views on how much police power will expand. The guidelines likely won't end the debate on the law, which also faces legal challenges.

The Morrison Institute knows immigration issues will survive regardless of SB 1070's fate. As the debate advances, it seeks to have all sides consider its findings while being viewed as a neutral researcher.

"Regardless of which side in a debate it might help or hurt, our aim is to try to put out information that may help people think more clearly about this and help the debate be more productive and less shrill," Hart said.

PERCEPTION VS. REALITY

The Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University released a paper on the perceptions and realities of immigration. The report notes 9 common assertions - and whether they are solid, not provable or false.

1) Virtually all Arizonans consider undocumented immigration a threat.

• REALITY: 70 percent of Arizonans supported a law to authorize police to stop and verify the immigration status of anybody suspected of being an illegal immigrant, according to an April Rasmussen poll. At the same time, 57 percent favored a policy welcoming all immigrants except criminals, those who threaten national security or those here for welfare benefits.

2) Most violent crime is committed by undocumented immigrants.

• REALITY: That sentiment doesn't separate types of crime, such as drug cartel violence in Mexico, crime by drug smugglers against their rivals and general crime. Arizona's crime levels have declined or been level for years. From 1999 to 2006, states with high numbers of immigrants like Arizona saw crime drop more than the national average.

3) Undocumented immigrants are entering Arizona in record numbers.

• REALITY: The flow peaked about a decade ago. It has slowed or even stopped since the economic decline. The Department of Homeland Security estimated 460,000 undocumented immigrants in Arizona in 2009.

4) Undocumented immigrants are a drain on the economy.

• REALITY: They contribute sales tax dollars and billions of dollars annually in federal payroll taxes by workers who are ineligible to collect the benefits. They provide cheap labor that reduces costs. However, they hold mostly low-wage jobs, rely heavily on public services and send money to their home nation. It's probably impossible to calculate the net economic effect in a way both sides would find conclusive.

5) Arizona's prisons are bursting with undocumented immigrants.

• REALITY: The Department of Corrections reports 15 percent of inmates are "criminal aliens." About 19 percent of inmates are undocumented in the Maricopa County Jail system.

6) Stiffer laws and tougher border enforcement will rid Arizona of undocumented immigrants.

• REALITY: This has begun, with illegal crossers falling from 600,000 in 2000 to 241,000 in 2009. It's doubtful most undocumented families would leave because they've been welcomed over the past decade for their labor and have established their lives here with children who were born as U.S. citizens.

7) Undocumented immigrants flood the public health system.

• REALITY: Undocumented immigrants have been ineligible for the AHCCCS health care plan for the poor since 2004. But by law, hospitals must treat everybody in an emergency room, which is partially reimbursed by the federal government. Arizona hospitals report losing $24 million a year for treating undocumented patients. That sum is 6 percent of the $392 lost a year for treatment of all under insured or uninsured patients. Some studies show undocumented immigrants use emergency rooms less than native-born people.

Undocumented immigrants take jobs from native-born Americans and depress wages.

• REALITY: Undocumented immigrants are overrepresented in the low-skilled workforce because the native population is aging. The upcoming wave of Baby Boomer retirements will likely make immigrants the only source of growth among workers 25 to 55 for decades to come. However, low-wage natives are hurt because immigrants push down wages and create competition for those jobs. Low-wage immigrants also pay low tax rates.

9) The influx of children of undocumented immigrants is overwhelming public schools.

• REALITY: That number is not counted in Arizona. Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, pushed a bill to count them but the measure got stalled. Federal law prevents schools from denying education to illegal immigrants. Several foundations calculate 11.9 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., with 1.5 million undocumented children. About 3.5 million children of illegal immigrants are citizens or here legally. Of Arizona's 1 million school children, 150,000 are in English Language Learner programs.


http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizon ... 002e0.html

Garin Groff states he is neutral,unbiased . BS

There is not 2 sides to the Illegal Immigrant problem unless you support lawless behavior.

NO MORE AMNESTY NEVER EVER AGAIN !!!!!

Not sure I follow this story and here is why:

Here is my reality: The border is not secure creating an environment whereby those who want to use the USA for resources, criminals (all who when they ignore the sovreignty of this country) who otherwise wouldn't be allowed here, and those who come across the border, protest, raise their own flags, create civil unrest, etc. The reality extends to all borders, even those who are granted VISA's and don't renew in time (hence become illegals by staying past their welcome).

Here is my perception: The past two administrations will do nothing to secure the border. They are more interested in giving amnesty to the illegals making them voters thinking that former illegals can keep them in office. Both parties want the illegals because they are cheap labor and it justifies modern day slavery.

Here is the fix: Hold congress to term limits. Every sitting congress person needs to be given the boot regardless of party or standing. Further, Congress' retirement needs to be withdrawn and they made to live on what we live on. Lastly, since health care was jammed down our throats, Congress must also use it. Why is this important? It would get congress' attention and make them serve the "will of the people". Why can't anyone see this...dealing with illegal immigrants would be so much easier!!!

We need the link to this source added / included please.

W

link added to story

Karl Rove, George W. Bush and The Morrison Institute for Public Policy have ALWAYS supported illegal immigration for "the good of business.." What is new under the Sun? Right now this Nation has a U6 unemployment rate of 17% - that means that 1 in 5 voters DO NOT have a needed full time job. "Good of business?" W T F ? Talk about extreme views???? F-bomb them! I L L E G A L--- A L I E N S are illegal the law of our NATION says 1) do not cross our border without permission, 2) do not stay in our Nation without permission, 3) do not HIRE anyone who is NOT an American Citizen or who does NOT have Governmental PERMISSION to stay and work in the United States.

Illegal alien lovers like Karl Rove, George W. Bush and The Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Nancy "the Beast" Pelosi, President OBAMAnation the Desolator, Senator "I hate America" Reid, and other traitors to the United States of America say GIVE ILLEGAL, lawbreaking aliens citizenship and guest worker permits to keep our national unemployment HIGH - NOW THAT IS EXTREME!

ALIPAC and those who are against illegal immigration say: enforce U.S. immigration laws fairly and equally and aggressively, do not hire illegal aliens and punish anyone who does hire illegal aliens, have all law enforcement enforce the law and verify right to be in the United States during law enforcement activities, secure the border....THAT is NOT extreme LOL, that is reasonable, rational, practical and patriotic and LAW ABIDING!

God bless America, God protect us from traitors in our midst, God bless alipac and all patriots!