Questions for Candidates 2012: Immigration

Question:

We need a rational immigration system in our country. Right now some employers can’t find the workers they want, and sometimes U.S. workers feel their jobs are threatened by immigration. What kind of comprehensive immigration reform would you support to address these problems?

FCNL’S Perspective:

The current immigration system is broken. Overly punitive laws, increased enforcement and an inefficient bureaucracy have led to systemic violations of rights. Comprehensive immigration reform is needed to fix this system.

The U.S. needs to invest more in creating jobs at home, either by assisting employers to hire more workers or directly assisting unemployed and underemployed workers to support a market for the goods and services we produce here. Yet immigrants are also an important part of the economy. Census-based studies show that, between 1994 and 2007, increased immigrant demand for goods and services improved employment rates and caused wages for non-immigrant workers to rise modestly.

The key is to keep a level and fair playing field for all workers. If an employer is able to hire undocumented immigrants, thereby undercutting wages and ignore hour and safety laws that would apply to native-born workers, all workers are affected. Consistent application of labor protection laws reduce the employer’s incentive to seek employees outside the legal system, and the wages and working conditions of immigrants set the baseline for the treatment of all workers.