A Rational Discussion of Immigration
It is clear that certain elements of the right wing have decided to make illegal immigration a major issue in the next couple of elections. Tom "Nuke Mecca" Tancredo and "Tex" Sensenbrenner have fired the first major volly with the passage of their House bill which, among other foolishness, decrees the building of a wall at the Mexican border (scroll down to "Fencing Out and Pissing Off Our Neighbors").
Few would dispute that our country should have secure borders, but the immigration issue at this point has been couched only in terms of illegals from Mexico coming in to have babies, suck welfare benefits, and bankrupt hospitals. We need a more intelligent and balanced discussion of immigration. A recent editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune has called for just a public discussion.
When Minnesotans peer into the box labeled "immigration," they generally see what they are predisposed to see. Employers find a supply of cheap labor. School superintendents see children needing costly tutors. Urban neighborhoods see the entrepreneurial bustle known as immigrant vigor. Bigots find dark skins and foreign accents. Many Minnesotans see a mirror image of their own ancestors.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty opened this box recently, pulled out a piece of the puzzle called "cost to taxpayers," and triggered a nasty and divisive start to what really needs to be a civil and careful conversation. The sloppy and polarizing nature of his administration's Dec. 8 report on illegal immigration -- it completely omitted the economic contributions of immigrants, for example, and ignored the work of the state's own demographer -- is inexplicable. If it was an accident, it's embarrassing. If it was deliberate, it's inexcusable.
...if the debate is going to move past scapegoating and on to something constructive for Minnesota's economy and social cohesion, the state's leaders need to broaden the conversation. Specifically, they should:
• Bring employers to the table. Economist Bruce Corrie of Concordia University estimates that more than 1,000 Minnesota companies in 69 counties employ undocumented workers. Some actually use recruiters to attract immigrant workers from other states. The immigrant flow won't dry up unless the jobs do, and Minnesotans should discuss the pros and cons for industries such as food processing, construction and hospitality.
• Stamp out the ugly myth that immigrants come here for welfare, not work. The governor's own report shows that 80 to 90 percent of undocumented immigrant adults in Minnesota are working. It also shows that they are more likely to work and less likely to receive public assistance than native-born Minnesotans. These findings are consistent with U.S. Census data and research by nonpartisan groups such as the Urban Institute. Minnesotans shouldn't condone violations of immigration law, but they shouldn't confuse a lack of documents with a lack of work ethic.
•Ask local officials -- especially educators and law enforcement authorities -- what tools they need.
• Point out that Minnesota is almost certainly a net winner from immigration, legal and illegal. Every credible national study shows that immigrants, even undocumented immigrants, make a net contribution to the economy because they create new businesses, pay taxes and fill jobs that would not otherwise exist. Immigration can cost money in the short run -- typically to school districts and hospitals -- but research suggests that the only net losers are cities and states with big immigrant clusters, which does not include Minnesota. The challenge is to repair immigration policy without jeopardizing the gains from immigration. [Emphasis added]
Essentially, the STrib is calling for a discussion that appeals to the public's better nature. Reminding Americans that we all come from immigrant families is certainly a good start. Then, rolling out the hard numbers which show the role even undocumented workers play in our economy and which show that sizeable portions of our economy (not the least of which is agricultural at base) require these workers is important. The racist myths and lies need to be exposed for what they are.
It may be that it is going to be states which are going to have to take the lead in resolving this issue, much as they have on such other issues as living wage/minimum wage and global climate change. It is clear that the current regime and its minions in Congress are not interested in serious public discourse and rational public policy in these matters.
Few would dispute that our country should have secure borders, but the immigration issue at this point has been couched only in terms of illegals from Mexico coming in to have babies, suck welfare benefits, and bankrupt hospitals. We need a more intelligent and balanced discussion of immigration. A recent editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune has called for just a public discussion.
When Minnesotans peer into the box labeled "immigration," they generally see what they are predisposed to see. Employers find a supply of cheap labor. School superintendents see children needing costly tutors. Urban neighborhoods see the entrepreneurial bustle known as immigrant vigor. Bigots find dark skins and foreign accents. Many Minnesotans see a mirror image of their own ancestors.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty opened this box recently, pulled out a piece of the puzzle called "cost to taxpayers," and triggered a nasty and divisive start to what really needs to be a civil and careful conversation. The sloppy and polarizing nature of his administration's Dec. 8 report on illegal immigration -- it completely omitted the economic contributions of immigrants, for example, and ignored the work of the state's own demographer -- is inexplicable. If it was an accident, it's embarrassing. If it was deliberate, it's inexcusable.
...if the debate is going to move past scapegoating and on to something constructive for Minnesota's economy and social cohesion, the state's leaders need to broaden the conversation. Specifically, they should:
• Bring employers to the table. Economist Bruce Corrie of Concordia University estimates that more than 1,000 Minnesota companies in 69 counties employ undocumented workers. Some actually use recruiters to attract immigrant workers from other states. The immigrant flow won't dry up unless the jobs do, and Minnesotans should discuss the pros and cons for industries such as food processing, construction and hospitality.
• Stamp out the ugly myth that immigrants come here for welfare, not work. The governor's own report shows that 80 to 90 percent of undocumented immigrant adults in Minnesota are working. It also shows that they are more likely to work and less likely to receive public assistance than native-born Minnesotans. These findings are consistent with U.S. Census data and research by nonpartisan groups such as the Urban Institute. Minnesotans shouldn't condone violations of immigration law, but they shouldn't confuse a lack of documents with a lack of work ethic.
•Ask local officials -- especially educators and law enforcement authorities -- what tools they need.
• Point out that Minnesota is almost certainly a net winner from immigration, legal and illegal. Every credible national study shows that immigrants, even undocumented immigrants, make a net contribution to the economy because they create new businesses, pay taxes and fill jobs that would not otherwise exist. Immigration can cost money in the short run -- typically to school districts and hospitals -- but research suggests that the only net losers are cities and states with big immigrant clusters, which does not include Minnesota. The challenge is to repair immigration policy without jeopardizing the gains from immigration. [Emphasis added]
Essentially, the STrib is calling for a discussion that appeals to the public's better nature. Reminding Americans that we all come from immigrant families is certainly a good start. Then, rolling out the hard numbers which show the role even undocumented workers play in our economy and which show that sizeable portions of our economy (not the least of which is agricultural at base) require these workers is important. The racist myths and lies need to be exposed for what they are.
It may be that it is going to be states which are going to have to take the lead in resolving this issue, much as they have on such other issues as living wage/minimum wage and global climate change. It is clear that the current regime and its minions in Congress are not interested in serious public discourse and rational public policy in these matters.
posted by Diane at 9:19 AM
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