Would Revised Immigration Law Help or Harm U.S. Workers?

by Edith T. Carper

The White House recently proposed major changes to immigration law that would allow “millions of undocumented workers” into the United States, if those workers can prove they have jobs. The policy changes are aimed, in part, at responding to employers’ demands for immigration law changes that will make it easier for them to hire foreign workers for generally low-wage, unskilled positions in the hospitality, agriculture and construction industries, among others. Traditionally, they say, these are positions that American workers have been reluctant to take. However, the truth is that the President's proposal would also apply to highly skilled immigrants working in the United States under the controversial H-1B and L-1 visa programs.

In a 7 January 2004 announcement, the White House said that the proposed changes would help control borders, improve the economy and provide incentives for temporary workers to return to their home countries. Current immigration law, the White House said, does not allow employers to fill positions in many key sectors of our economy. Reforming the laws “will create a system that is fairer, more consistent and more compassionate.”

The White House believes the program “should provide a labor supply for American employers” when no American workers are available, and President Bush called the proposal a continuation of the tradition of welcoming immigrants. He argued that reform “must begin by confronting a basic fact of life and economics: some of the jobs being generated in America’s growing economy are jobs American citizens are not filling…”

The proposal would not provide amnesty to the estimated eight million illegal immigrants already in this country. President Bush emphasized that the status for workers who entered the country without visas or work authorizations would be temporary. Further, the program would offer incentives for workers to return home after their period of work has expired. He proposed, for example, that workers be allowed to benefit from their payments to Social Security and individual retirement accounts after they return home.

What Do Business and Labor Groups Think?

Many business groups endorse the plan. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce offered its support but added that it is aware that details remain to be worked out. On the other hand, the AFL-CIO has criticized the plan, saying it deepens “the potential for abuse and exploitation of these workers while undermining wages and labor protections for all workers.”

Proposal Timed to Win Votes?

The New York Times described the White House immigration proposal as one meant to depict the president “as a compassionate conservative.” In addition to noting that the Hispanic vote is very important to Bush’s reelection — especially in states such as Florida — the newspaper said that the Bush plan is designed “to appeal to a much larger political prize: suburban swing voters who might see the plan as evidence of a gentler Republican party.”

The Times called immigration reform “one of the most turbulent and emotional issues of our day.” In recent years the policy has “become readily less rational, humane and secure, as the number of immigrants here illegally grows by 350,000 each year.” The paper said the President made it clear “that his top priority is not ensuring the welfare of illegal immigrants, but securing the nation’s borders and meeting the economic needs of the country.”

The White House proposals are similar to legislation introduced by three Arizona Republicans: Sen. John McCain and Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake.

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Edith T. Carper is a special correspondent to IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer.