COMMENTS: 7
The Numbers Are In: Most Americans Want an Immigration Overhaul
Sign up to stay up to date on the latest Civil Liberties headlines via email.
Despite anti-immigrant groups repeated attempts to sway public opinion by scapegoating immigrants for the recession, new polling data suggests that the majority of likely voters actually support an overhaul of our broken immigration system--an overhaul that includes a path to citizenship for the roughly 12 million undocumented immigrants living in America.
A recent survey by Benson Strategy Group--a group who conducts polling for President Obama and Fortune 100 Companies--found that 71% of likely voters think undocumented immigrants should take steps to become legal taxpayers. Similarly, Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners said recent polling data suggests that voters want undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and on the books:
If anything, the economic climate has actually improved the environment for immigration reform, at least as far as the public is concerned. A salient issue is that reform would make immigrants all taxpayers. [Voters] want a level playing field and they don't have one today. There's a huge pool of workers that are playing by a different set of rules than they are.
This new polling data, along with other polling data, echoes what leading economists and experts have been saying since the beginning of our current recession--America needs to create more jobs, not less workers. Deporting millions of immigrants at the taxpayers' expense is clearly not a viable, cost-efficient or effective solution. Creating a functional immigration system, however, would go a long way in maintaining a balanced, stable and legal workforce that would help sustain our recovering economy. David Kallick, a Senior Fellow at the Fiscal Policy Institute, reinforces what many American are beginning to understand:
We've heard some people asking whether this is the right time for immigration reform...reform that leads to a better regulated system can only be good in an economic downturn...People don't just vanish, and just imagine what would be involved in driving out an estimated 10-12 million undocumented immigrants. What is real is the idea of bringing undocumented immigrants into the above ground economy, making sure they pay taxes just like everyone else.
In addition to newly generated tax revenue and a leveled playing field for all workers, legalizing undocumented immigrants would increase the contributions immigrants already make to the U.S. economy. The White House Council of Economic Advisors concluded in a 2007 report that the whole of immigration increases the U.S. GDP by roughly 37% billion each year because immigrants increase the size of the total labor force, complement the native-born workforce in terms of skills and education, and stimulate capital investment by adding workers to the labor pool.
Hopefully President Obama and members of Congress will remember these facts--and the 75% of respondents who support congressional action on immigration reform this year--when they meet on June 17th to discuss plans to move forward with immigration legislation.
Stay up to date with the latest Civil Liberties headlines via email
COMMENTS ( 7 )
Comments are closed-
Posted by: DAD77 on Jun 9, 2009 3:09 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A Rasmussen Poll conducted in mid-March (2009) reveals that the majority of Americans do favor stricter enforcement of the nation's immigration laws.
79% of voters think the United States should beef up its military presence on the Mexican border.
73% of voters think police should automatically check a person's immigration status during traffic violations.
74% of voters said in early December that the federal government is not doing enough to secure the country’s borders
I also think E-verify should be mandated for all employers AND enforce by the US government.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: DAD77
Posted by: EvanOdder
Comments are closed-
Posted by: dissentisgood on Jun 9, 2009 7:44 PM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» Suggestion: Leave America, Land of the Free
Posted by: johnwinthrop
» RE: enough of annoying anti-immigrant comments
Posted by: mbfromhb
Comments are closed-
Posted by: esornew on Jun 12, 2009 7:09 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: MICROSIDE on Jun 16, 2009 2:09 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why, because, the illegal immigrant has broken the law, however, the US Government, also broke the law by not defending the law. The US Government has just as much, fault and blame for the existence of this problem.
By not defending our laws, the illegal resident, in an effort to survive created roots, a job, a home, children, dreams of a better life. Is it correct to only punish the illegal immigrant. The US government, our government has the obligation to assist these people, as a humane gesture, to acheive legal status. Not at the cost of the US tax payer, but, by allowing the illegal immigrant to pay to pave his way to legality.
1. How do you find illegal immigrants?
You create a program for the legalization. During the period one year, all illegal immigrants that can prove that they have created roots in the USA must register. Obviously with the promise of legalization, almost 95% will present themselves.
2. Who pays for the legalization process?
The illegal immigrants the same way that the legal immigrants did.
3. How would the illegal immigrants pay?
During a period of 48 months ...
US$ 500.00 - upon registration per person
35 monthly payments of
US 100.00.
4. Why is the monthly payment so low?
Because we don't want desperate people being driven to crime, in order to pay for their legalization.
5. What kind of verification process would be put into place?
Simple, the federal government would would issue a Temporary Residence Card, similiar in appearance to a typical state Driver's License, however with a 1 year validity. If payments are behind after each year, (Certain Proven Exceptions would be considered , the Temporary Residence would be canceled and the Temporary Resident would then be considered illegal and apt for deportation.
6. Other considerations:
a. All Temporary Residents must pass an english competency exame, during the last 12 months of the total of 35 months.
b. All Temporary Residents must pass an American History Basic Knowledge test, similiar to the exame utilized for Permanent Residency.
c. All Temporary Residents must prove employment. ( Temporary Resident Status permit the receipt of a Temporary Social Security number and Card)
d. All children of Temporary Residents must be enrolled in a school within the area of their residence.
e. All temporary residents would be obligated to serve the armed forces in the event a "draft system" or similar situation were to be
created.
7. Non-registered Illegal Immigrants after the deadline period would be considered to be Fugitives subject to immediate deportation and/or subject to prison.
8. Candidates for Temporary Legal Status, must have a clean slate with all law enforcement agencies in order to be accepted to the program.
9. US companies that hire illegal immigrants after the 1 year registration period has expired, will pay, US$ 10,000 fine per illegal immigrant working within the premise of his/her business, and or 5 years of prison.
Obviously, this presentation is not complete and has not taken all possible options into account, however, it is a step in the right direction, for us not to be considered STUPID, and get something practical going in the direction of improving our immigration laws.
Thank you for the attention of all who eventually read this response.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: DAD77 on Jun 9, 2009 3:09 PM
Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
A Rasmussen Poll conducted in mid-March (2009) reveals that the majority of Americans do favor stricter enforcement of the nation's immigration laws.
79% of voters think the United States should beef up its military presence on the Mexican border.
73% of voters think police should automatically check a person's immigration status during traffic violations.
74% of voters said in early December that the federal government is not doing enough to secure the country’s borders
I also think E-verify should be mandated for all employers AND enforce by the US government.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» RE: DAD77
Posted by: EvanOdder
Comments are closed-
Posted by: dissentisgood on Jun 9, 2009 7:44 PM
Current rating: 2 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
» Suggestion: Leave America, Land of the Free
Posted by: johnwinthrop
» RE: enough of annoying anti-immigrant comments
Posted by: mbfromhb
Comments are closed-
Posted by: esornew on Jun 12, 2009 7:09 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Comments are closed-
Posted by: MICROSIDE on Jun 16, 2009 2:09 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why, because, the illegal immigrant has broken the law, however, the US Government, also broke the law by not defending the law. The US Government has just as much, fault and blame for the existence of this problem.
By not defending our laws, the illegal resident, in an effort to survive created roots, a job, a home, children, dreams of a better life. Is it correct to only punish the illegal immigrant. The US government, our government has the obligation to assist these people, as a humane gesture, to acheive legal status. Not at the cost of the US tax payer, but, by allowing the illegal immigrant to pay to pave his way to legality.
1. How do you find illegal immigrants?
You create a program for the legalization. During the period one year, all illegal immigrants that can prove that they have created roots in the USA must register. Obviously with the promise of legalization, almost 95% will present themselves.
2. Who pays for the legalization process?
The illegal immigrants the same way that the legal immigrants did.
3. How would the illegal immigrants pay?
During a period of 48 months ...
US$ 500.00 - upon registration per person
35 monthly payments of
US 100.00.
4. Why is the monthly payment so low?
Because we don't want desperate people being driven to crime, in order to pay for their legalization.
5. What kind of verification process would be put into place?
Simple, the federal government would would issue a Temporary Residence Card, similiar in appearance to a typical state Driver's License, however with a 1 year validity. If payments are behind after each year, (Certain Proven Exceptions would be considered , the Temporary Residence would be canceled and the Temporary Resident would then be considered illegal and apt for deportation.
6. Other considerations:
a. All Temporary Residents must pass an english competency exame, during the last 12 months of the total of 35 months.
b. All Temporary Residents must pass an American History Basic Knowledge test, similiar to the exame utilized for Permanent Residency.
c. All Temporary Residents must prove employment. ( Temporary Resident Status permit the receipt of a Temporary Social Security number and Card)
d. All children of Temporary Residents must be enrolled in a school within the area of their residence.
e. All temporary residents would be obligated to serve the armed forces in the event a "draft system" or similar situation were to be
created.
7. Non-registered Illegal Immigrants after the deadline period would be considered to be Fugitives subject to immediate deportation and/or subject to prison.
8. Candidates for Temporary Legal Status, must have a clean slate with all law enforcement agencies in order to be accepted to the program.
9. US companies that hire illegal immigrants after the 1 year registration period has expired, will pay, US$ 10,000 fine per illegal immigrant working within the premise of his/her business, and or 5 years of prison.
Obviously, this presentation is not complete and has not taken all possible options into account, however, it is a step in the right direction, for us not to be considered STUPID, and get something practical going in the direction of improving our immigration laws.
Thank you for the attention of all who eventually read this response.
[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]
Starbucks' Cop-Out to Gun Nuts: Customers Served Coffee While Strapped
ACORN Smear Collaborator Claims Persecution to Raise Money for Her Legal Troubles
Bad Policies Are Really What's Driving California's Huge Prison Costs
