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Thomas J. Donohue has been president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce since 1997. He previously served for 13 years as president and chief executive officer of the American Trucking Associations, the national organization of the trucking industry. Donohue is a member of the President's Council on the 21st Century Workforce as well as the President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.Immigration Overview
"Four months ago, a hard-fought, bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform plan collapsed in the United States Senate among much rancor and finger-pointing. The emotionally charged debate rifted the nation, dividing communities and citizens and bringing protestors of all viewpoints out into the streets. There were divisions between our political parties, but also within the parties.
"Now that the dust has settled over that fight, where do we stand today? In one way, exactly where we stood before -- with all sides agreeing that the system is broken and unacceptable. But now we are beginning to reap the consequences of inaction. All the problems comprehensive reform was designed to address are growing worse:
• "Twelve million undocumented immigrants -- who fill essential jobs and make contributions to our communities everyday -- remain in legal limbo, driven into the dark shadows of society.
• "America's need for workers at all skill levels remains unmet as millions of baby boomers begin retiring -- threatening our economic competitiveness and standard of living.
• "Outdated and overly restrictive visa policies are depriving America of the intellectual talent we need to succeed in a high-tech economy where expertise in science, technology, engineering and math is key. ..."
The Need for Workers
"...The United States is producing more jobs than workers, and we need immigrants to balance the equation if we are to remain an economic superpower.
"Consider these facts: 77 million baby boomers are on the verge of retirement. There will be a yawning gap between available jobs and available workers in the coming years. The need for science and engineering graduates will grow 26% to 1.25 million by 2012, but the number of U.S. graduates in these fields has remained the same for the last 20 years. Our population is aging -- by 2010, nearly one in three U.S. workers will be over 50.
"With nearly full employment, we're already experiencing worker shortages at every skills level. About one-third of California's crops rotted in the field last year for lack of workers. ... Many employers in construction, food service and tourism can't find the employees they need. Even some jobs in manufacturing are going unfilled, due to worker shortages.
"Some argue that if only businesses would pay workers more, we could hire Americans. But you can't pay more to workers who don't exist in the first place!
"In the technology industries -- industries our country invented -- the current and projected shortages of human talent are especially severe. China and India collectively graduate 12 times more engineers than does the United States, although they may not be quite as good as ours and the comparisons aren't exact. The entire annual allotment of 65,000 H1-B visas for highly skilled workers is snapped up immediately after they become available. …"
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The Role of Illegal Immigrants
"Many Americans would be surprised to learn what a significant role that legal and undocumented immigrants already play in our economy.
"On the less-skilled end, immigrants account for 44% of the labor in farming, fishing and forestry; 34% in building, cleaning and maintenance; 26% in construction; and 18% in health care support. Among higher-skilled occupations, immigrants account for 22% in computer and mathematical fields; 18% in life, physical and social sciences; 15% in architecture and engineering; and 12% of our medical practitioners.
"... Stop and think what would happen in key industries if we rounded up and sent home 12 million undocumented workers? The last one out could turn off the lights!"
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The Strain of Immigration
"We must, of course, recognize that the recent influx of large numbers of immigrants has placed a difficult burden on some border communities and states. No one can deny this, and there are legitimate concerns about the cost of social services, public safety and the quality of life.
"But these concerns are not cause for inaction -- they add to the compelling case for a comprehensive, lawful immigration system that shares both the benefits and costs across states and regions. ..."
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The Way Forward
"First, Congress and the president should act immediately to address the pressing visa shortage issues that are already resulting in economic damage. That applies to high-tech, seasonal and agricultural visas. Visas for high- and low-skill workers should be tied to market demands. That means the caps go up when the economy is strong and go down when it is weak. We must also ease business traveler restrictions, while maintaining security. ...
"Second, we need a national approach, not a piecemeal one. While I understand the political pressures, states and localities should resist the short-term fix of passing their own ordinances. More than 1,400 states and localities have enacted immigration laws -- there are 250 on employment verification alone.
"Such measures are inherently unconstitutional. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provides a comprehensive and uniform system for verifying employment authorization of all workers in the United States. ...
"Laws by state and local governments not only create numerous headaches for businesses, but in some cases, threaten their existence. ...
"Think about the absurdity of this: Illinois forbids businesses from using the Basic Pilot program (a voluntary federal employee verification program); Arizona mandates that all businesses -- including franchisees -- use it. ...
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"Third, we need the systems, technologies and infrastructure to secure our borders, ensure the safety of our citizens, and give businesses the tools they need to easily and accurately verify the eligibility of their employees.
"... We believe the smart use of technology, personnel and programs can secure the border while allowing the legitimate flow of commerce. We can better manage traffic flows by creating secure but expedited processes for low-risk cargo and passengers, using technology systems to 'pre-clear' vehicles and passengers before reaching the borders.
"Fourth, we must recognize that a large part of the solution to our longer term immigration and border challenges is the continued economic development of Mexico and Latin America. Fewer of their citizens will feel pressured to emigrate to the United States if there are good jobs in their own countries. ...
More Legal Immigration?
"Finally comes the part that many Americans simply don't want to hear, but need to hear and think through very carefully. A fundamental purpose in creating an effective, rational and national immigration system should not be to stop the flow of immigrants to our country, but rather to continue it and in many respects expand it … prudently, sensibly and lawfully, with the attributes of good citizenship rightfully expected of all who come here.
"We need the workers, we need the talent, we need the energy and drive immigrants bring. And since that is true, it makes far greater sense to normalize the undocumented immigrants already here than to send them back and start over.
"Sending all of them back would be impossible practically. Such an approach would break up families and be tied up legally for years.
"Let's use our common sense. Why not take workers who can already prove they are hardworking and are law abiding, who already have a resume, if you will, with United States Inc., and make them a part of the fabric of our society? Plus collect all their taxes!"
These excerpts were drawn from a speech by Chamber President Thomas Donohue. To read the entire address, click here.
POSTED BY: Fred (October 20, 2007 12:32 PM)
It is amazing how individuals try to categorize illegal immigration as an "anti-immigrant"; it is ONLY anti-illegal immigrant! As a legal immigrant into this country, I find it very offensive and unfair that an individual is able to enter the country, hide out for a couple of years, then become legal overnight. I had to wait for years, pay fees, and form long lines for the priveledge of entering this country, they can do the same. I also came to the US due to economic reasons, it is still possible to do things right: apply, pay, wait, enter, assimilate.
POSTED BY: Andy (October 24, 2007 04:45 PM)
Donohue has a good proposal...and finally, who do you think will keep Social Security going for the next generation of Americans...the working stiffs. Otherwise, corporations will continue to move offshore and America will be begging companies to come back, but it will be too late.
POSTED BY: Sean (February 03, 2008 05:31 PM)
Civil Society Helps helps perpetuate fraud against U.S. citizens. The courts in Minnesota are ill equipped and uninformed about the immigration fraud these kinds of groups promote.
With false accusations from an immigrant residency seeker and the help of VAWA laws, a stable American citizen can be reduced to living in poverty. All of your assets can be seized and given to the immigrant residency seeker even if you are not found guilty. You will immediately be forced to surrender a portion of your income to the immigrant residency seeker. The courts will order you to turn your motor vehicle over to the immigrant residency seeker even if the car is in your name and the residency seeker does not have a drivers license. Your illegal immigrant spouse becomes legal and you become illegal. The court system will abuse you and strip you of your rights while social programs that promote immigration fraud thrive.
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