This is probably one of many stories that we will receive on the issue of Obama’s plans to move ahead with so-called Comprehensive Immigration Reform (aka Amnesty for illegal aliens) this year. From the Immigration Policy Center (hat tip: Ellen).
In the face of many studies to the contrary (Rubenstein here and Rector here), his theme will be that low-wage workers bring economic benefit to the US (maybe to the meatpackers, some of which are foreign-owned!).
In the State of the Union Address this evening President Obama made clear his ongoing commitment to immigration reform noting “we should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system – to secure our borders, enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation.” Some may continue to argue that immigration reform is too politically risky to move on this year and that we should focus instead on rebuilding our economy. However, comprehensive immigration reform is compatible with economic reform as it would generate needed economic growth, create jobs and increase tax contributions by ensuring that everyone working in the United States is doing so legally. In fact, immigration reform would allow us to take full advantage of the opportunities for economic growth that immigrants bring.
Read the whole article.
You go for it Obama—throw more red meat to the Tea Partiers! I consider that devastating defeat for Progressives on the Kennedy/McCain Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill as the first organized action by the Tea Party forces. Of course, there was no Tea Party label in 2007, but it was the seminal event that showed Conservative grassroots that they could join forces and win with all odds stacked against them—even President Bush was on the side of amnesty.