My apologies for being out of communication via the blog. I have been back home in Utah this month and am now on my way to address a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Summit in Kazakhstan. I will have more on that when I return. In the meantime, I thought you might like the following:
Already some business groups that hire lots of workers thought to be in the United States illegally - farmers, restaurants, janitors and construction companies - are claiming this crackdown could put them out of business, and cost legal workers their jobs, too.
During the congressional debate over immigration reform this spring that failed to produce legislation, the forces who wanted to make it easier for illegal immigrants to work here legally and eventually become citizens predicted that the U.S. economy would grind to a halt if federal officials enforced the existing statutes.
Those opposed to the reform plan that President Bush, and most of the Democratic and Republican leaders agreed to, said there were plenty of Americans willing to work, especially if the absence of illegal immigrants meant that wages would increase.
These folks also argued that if the laws were strictly enforced it would remove the incentives for undocumented immigrants to come to the United States, and that would greatly decrease the numbers trying to sneak across the border.
Well, the federal government is calling both sides’ bluff.
And although everyone has an opinion on how best to deal with illegal immigration, facts are in short supply, and anything that separates fact from fiction will, in the long run, help clarify the debate.
However, even though most everyone says they want the current law enforced, doing so will inevitably make some people - and not just the immigrants caught in the sweep - unhappy.
Certainly, those who believe that welcoming newcomers, with or without papers, is the moral thing to do for a nation composed almost entirely of immigrants will not like the laws being actually enforced.
And, if there is indeed a serious crackdown and the economy does not fall apart, then those who said the rules should be changed because the current ones are unenforceable will have to find a new rationale. Of course, if a shortage of workers does tank the economy then it will make a powerful statement about the need for reform.
And, if the strict enforcement results in a decline in the number of folks crossing the border in the dead of night, then that too will inform the debate on the issue.
Illegal immigration is a tough issue for most Americans. There is strong resentment across the country with illegal immigrants who many believe are stealing jobs from American citizens and lowering prevailing wages for all. Yet, in a nation of immigrants, there is latent sympathy for those not fortunate enough to be born in the Unites States, but who come here in search of a better life for themselves and their families.
The result of the crackdown may not be pretty, but hopefully it will generate as much light as heat.
This is true. No matter what, we will find out some answers after this crackdown. And demonstrable facts will be good for all sides of the debate.
After my recent post on Redstate.com, I spent time going through the comments. One of the many points taken from reading those comments was that the American people no longer trust the government to do what it says it will do. Especially when it comes to the issue of immigration, many feel that any legislation, regardless of the language, is not worth the paper it is written on because the federal government does not follow through. With that in mind, I recently sent a letter to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff in an effort to get the ball rolling on re-establishing trust.
As I said in the letter, on the issue of immigration, the border fence is an issue that is foremost on the minds of most Americans. However, there is no way, currently, for the taxpayer to see what has been built, what is scheduled to be built, and what is yet to be planned. In the letter I said,
Giving the American people mechanisms to monitor the progress of the fence will go a long way toward restoring confidence, and helping us move forward with needed reforms. Securing our borders is a fundamental responsibility, and it is worth devoting some modest resources to let people see what is being done. When millions map their trips online or view their own neighborhoods on GoogleEarth®, making it possible for concerned citizens to see for themselves where the fence has been completed, where it is being built, and where it is scheduled to be built, updated in real time, is not a Herculean task. In addition, webcams at construction sites would allow Americans to see the progress with their own eyes.
When you and I traveled to the Yuma sector last February to see the progress of the border fence, what we saw and heard show that the fence is beginning to work. With information so readily available, and technology so inexpensive, there is no reason the American people should not be able to view the progress being made toward securing the border. The men and women who patrol everyday deserve their efforts to be known and the American people deserve to see what they are paying for.
Some will say “why show coyotes and smugglers where the fence has been built?” However, I can assure you that the areas that have yet to be constructed, or areas that are not scheduled for construction, are already well known to smugglers, criminals, and drug traffickers. What I believe this will do is light a fire under DHS and the government in general, to complete the fence mandated by Congress. In addition, it will allow the American people to see that words on paper here in Congress, get translated into action. Only after the American people have faith in their government to do what it says it will do, can we hope to enjoy the support of the people in reforming our immigration system.
My friend Rob Bishop and I, took to the floor of the House this afternoon to offer an amendment to increase funding for PILT. After both of us addressed the House, the amendment was agreed to unanimously. You can read the press release here.
Also, I thought we should YouTube the floor statements so anyone could watch. The charts are the most interesting, especially for those members and viewers outside of the West.
We are currently debating a bill in the Resources committee that would have disasterous consequences for Utah’s ability to control its own resources, specifically the Oil Shale industry blossoming in Utah. We have yet to vote the bill out of committee, but I thought I would show you the portion of the debate I participated in and the portion of the debate Congressman Rob Bishop participated in as well.
