Business sector joins immigration debate
Business sector joins immigration debate
By Devona Walker
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Published: June 27, 2008
Americans for Immigration Reform launched a 13-state campaign Wednesday in Oklahoma to offer "sensible solutions” to the nation's ongoing immigration problems and an alternate voice in the debate.
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Gene McKown
Why do industries rely on immigrant labor?
The group maintains the U.S. is no longer in an era of plentiful workers. As more baby boomers retire, businesses have found alternate ways of sustaining growth and prosperity. A critical element of that change in labor dynamic has been increased reliance on immigrants. The group claims that if all undocumented workers were removed from the country, it would result in a $551.569 billion loss in annual spending, a $244.971 billion loss in annual output and more than 2.8 million lost jobs.
Gene McKown of Ideal Homes, which is the state's largest home builder, said the issue could single-handedly cripple the economy.
"Housing is going to get so expensive. People won't be able to afford it if they send all the illegals back,” McKown said. "In framing, in drywall, in concrete work, there's nothing but illegal immigrants. I'm having my own home built and even there, there's hardly anyone but Hispanics doing the work. I just don't think there's other skilled labor available.”
Solution for businesses is ‘simple'
In response, state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said AIR's campaign is a transparent attempt by big business to maintain its pool of "cheap, illegal slave labor.”
"They are trying to figure out a way to preserve their access to that pool of cheap, illegal alien slave labor. They are trying to figure out a way of doing that through a massive PR campaign,” Terrill said. "This clearly is not in the best interest of American workers. The solution for these businesses is simple: Hire American citizens at market rate instead of trying to convince the American people to turn a blind eye to the illegal immigration problem so they can import more workers.”
There are an estimated 12 million to 20 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. About 8.1 million are undocumented workers. And between 30 and 40 percent have been estimated to be engaged in an underground economy. AIR said the upside to providing these workers with temporary legal status would be better enforcement of U.S. tax law.
Terrill said the solution is increased enforcement of laws that exist.
In addition to securing the nation's borders, AIR says it is imperative to provide temporary legal status for undocumented workers in the U.S. — at least until Congress can pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Related Topics:
Social Policy, Social Issues, Business, Immigration Policy, Real Estate, Immigration
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