NumbersUSA on the Dangers of an Irresponsible Immigration Policy
NumbersUSA Education & Research Fund provides a forum for Americans of all national, ethnic and political backgrounds to focus on the singular issue of the numerical level of American immigration. It works to educate policymakers, opinion leaders and members of the public on immigration policies and legislation and their consequences. NumbersUSA advocates for a reduction to the levels of immigration for the sake future generations of Americans to be able to enjoy a high degree of mobility, environmental quality, worker fairness, fiscal responsibility and individual liberty.
Laws.com conducted an interview with NumbersUSA on its stance on the current immigration reform bill.
How do you feel about the immigration-reform bill being debated in Congress?
We oppose S. 744 because it would substantially increase the number of foreign job seekers at the expense of citizens and Legal Permanent residents. The bill would add 33 million foreign job seekers just over the next decade. This would increase job competition across the spectrum, although less-educated, lower skilled Americans would be hurt the worst.
What are some of the changes you would like to see happen to U.S. immigration policy?
We support mandatory use of E-Verify by all employers; enforcement of existing immigration laws; a reduction in legal immigration below the current historically-high level; an end to the practice of bestowing citizenship on children born in the U.S. to foreign nationals; adjustments to currently fraud-riddled guest worker programs, and real border security.
Do you think perhaps allowing more highly skilled workers to enter the U.S. and a cap on unskilled immigration would be a better policy to follow?
No, while 53% of recent college graduates under/unemployed, S. 744 proposes that every foreign student who earns a U.S. Master's or PhD degree in a STEM field be automatically given a permanent work permit. Data refute the sponsor's labor-shortage claims. For instance, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks STEM salaries of those newly graduated, reports that overall engineering starting salaries have been flat for nearly three years since 2010, with a tiny 0.3% increase. Similar trends exist for more experienced workers. In fact, according to Prof. Norman Matloff (EPI Briefing Paper #356, Feb 28), no study other than those sponsored by industry has ever confirmed a shortage!
Increasing unskilled labor outside of Agriculture just worsens job prospects for poor and less educated citizens and drives down wages. That dashes the hopes of so many who want to climb the economic ladder into the middle class.
What are some of the accomplishments of Numbers USA?
NumbersUSA is an educational and grassroots organization with about 1.7 million members. The NY Times credited our members with stopping the 2007 amnesty bill. We have worked to promote Attrition Through Enforcement policies which are reflected in numerous pieces of legislation introduced in Congress over the years.
If this legislation does pass, what would be the next step for Numbers USA?
We do not believe it will pass but if it does, we will work to ensure that the Obama Administration and future ones do not ignore the law's enforcement provisions or rubber-stamp applications for immigration benefits.
http://immigration.laws.com/immigration-news/numbersusa-on-the-dangers-of-an-irresponsible-immigration-policy-36752.html