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Its 2022 and just when you thought the United States vice president, daughter of immigrants and immigration czar Kamala Harris, might have spent the holidays thinking about how to up the ante in the new year, she does something completely politically unsound.

Last week, Harris office announced she has hired Detroit-native Jamal Simmons as her new communications director. He is set to replace Ashley Etienne, who left the office late last year, along with Symone Sanders, who was Harris chief spokesperson and senior adviser. Harris is also losing Peter Velz, her director of press operations, and Vincent Evans, her deputy director of public engagement, who is headed to direct the Congressional Black Caucus, as her first year continues to be dogged by reports about dysfunction within.

But now the dysfunction has made another public appearance as somehow, Harris office hired Simmons without doing a thorough vetting of all his communication, including his tweets.

And Simmons has been a bad boy when it comes to immigrants. So much so that even Donald Trumps dragon, Stephen Miller, agreed with him at one time.

Note: If Stephen Miller agrees with anything you say as a so-called left-leaning liberal analyst, then you should sign off and run for the hills.

Simmons, who has contributed to political analysis on CNN, CBS News, NPR, ABC and MSNBC and worked in politics for two decades, according to his bio, seems to have a problem with undocumented immigrants that has now caused him to apologizelikely insincerely.

Memo to Mr. Simmonsif you have to apologize for something you wrote, then you should not have written it in the first place.

So heres the lowdown. In one resurfaced tweet from November 2010, Simmons wrote: Just saw 2 undocumented folks talking on MSNBC. One Law student the other a protester. Can someone explain why ICE is not picking them up?

That wasnt enough or maybe it wasnt loved or retweeted enough. The same day Simmons posted again: Ill try this again. Just saw 2 undocumented folks talking on MSNBC and have a serious legal question. Why wouldnt ICE pick them up?

And then came the third tweet as Simmons obviously was extremely moved to anger by these poor undocumented immigrants.

We shld harden borders & ease visas/find ways to bring undocumented into legal status/punish employers. My was common sense one, Simmons insisted in a third tweet.

The messages drew attention from Miller who agreed with Simmons.

I agree with @JamalSimmons, he tweeted. If you break into our nation there must be deportation.

Fast track to 2022. Simmons for his part is now busy apologizing as he tries to do damage control to ensure he keeps this job. In a statement to CNN, Simmons wrote, As a pundit for much of my career I have tweeted a lot and spoken out on public issues.Sometimes I have been sarcastic, unclear, or just plainly missed the mark. I sincerely apologize for offending those who care as much as I do about making America the best, multi-ethnic, diverse democracy it can be. I know the role I am taking on is to represent the Biden-Harris administration, and I will do so with humility, sincerity and respect.

And on Friday, he wasnt done apologizing as he tweeted: For the record, Ive never advocated for, nor believed that Dreamers should be targeted by ICE agents. Ive been for DACA + comprehensive immigration reform for years. Frankly, its depressing ppl can forget about every other thing Ive said in public on this bc of bad tweets.

That is hardly an apology. Sounds more like arrogance as his own words have come back to bite him in the backside. Perhaps he should be apologizing to the undocumented immigrants he smeared and to all immigrants for being a xenophobe like Miller and Trump.

I agree with Washington State Democratic congressional candidate Stephanie Gallardo. Simmons tweets disqualify him from being communications director to the nations VP and immigration czar and from any post in the Biden administration. If he had to go through any confirmation process he would be disqualified, so why should he be kept around to take up the post?

If VP Harris has any political savvy, she will revoke this appointment. There are numerous qualified persons available; no need to settle for an anti-immigrant tweeter and so-called pundit.

Simmons is entitled to his opinion as a private individual and pundit but not as an employer to be paid by taxpayer dollars.

Harris, as a daughter of immigrants, should not entertain anyone with even a hint of loathing or xenophobia. If Simmons had said something against the LGBTQ or Jewish community he would be instantly disqualified. Why is it okay for him to get away with this because its undocumented immigrants?

It is not okay, and Kamala Harris should know that and revoke this appointment now!

The writer is publisher of NewsAmericasNow.

See the original post here:
Why would the US' VP, immigration czar, and daughter of immigrants hire an anti-immigration Tweeter? - Amsterdam News

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), issued the following statement in response to New York City Mayor Eric Adams allowing a bill to become law that would permit citizens of other nations including some illegal aliens to vote in citywide elections:

"America was founded on the principle that sovereign people should determine their own destinies. Yesterday, the new mayor of our nation's largest city unequivocally rejected that founding principle by empowering citizens of other nations to determine the outcome of local elections.

"The right to vote is at the very core of the principle of self-determination and what it means to be a citizen. By allowing this extreme voting bill to become law, Mayor Eric Adams has taken the most damaging step in the Democratic Party's ongoing efforts to erase any distinction between American citizens, green card holders, guestworkers, and those here illegally.

"About 1.1 million votes were cast in the recent mayoral election. With the addition of some 800,000 foreign nationals to the voter rolls, they will almost certainly have an impact on the outcome of future elections. This number is sure to grow due to an increase in all forms of immigration under President Biden, as well as the fact that you only have to live in the city for 30 days to be eligible to vote.

"The actions of the City Council and new Mayor Eric Adams will harm all Americans in New York City, as citizens of other countries will decide how they are governed which is the very antithesis of self-determination. We encourage New Yorkers to challenge this measure in court, as it violates the state's constitution and election law."

Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [emailprotected]

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 3 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

Excerpt from:
Citizens of Other Nations Being Used to Disenfranchise New Yorkers, Charges FAIR - PRNewswire

Kevin McCarthy is signaling he'll institutionalize key Trumpian priorities if he takes over as House speaker next year aggressive tactics targeting undocumented immigrants, liberals and corporate America.

Why it matters: He'd govern with an edge and agenda in stark contrast not just to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) but to Paul Ryan, the last Republican in the role. McCarthy's vision would empower populists and pugilists to complete the Republican makeover Donald Trump drove this far.

The big picture: Over the past year and intensifying in recent months the 56-year-old House minority leader from Bakersfield, California, has been auditioning for a contest he failed at before.

What we're seeing: Where Ryan was comparatively sympathetic toward undocumented immigrants, McCarthy is preemptively hard-line, as his recent Breitbart News interview showed.

"We're going to be more aggressive than in the past," McCarthy told Axios.

Between the lines: If Biden's low approval ratings and GOP strength in the generic ballot hold, the 2022 midterms may be the most favorable political environment for Republicans since the 2010 Tea Party wave election.

On immigration: McCarthy reiterated to Axios his recent pledge to Breitbart's Matt Boyle that he'll not consider any legislation offering legal status to undocumented immigrants, preemptively ruling out comprehensive immigration reform.

Relationship with corporate America: Many major corporations condemned former President Trump and after Jan. 6, cut their financial ties and disavowed Republicans who objected to certifying President Biden's victory. McCarthy hasn't forgotten, and he's signaled a hostile relationship with key emissaries of corporate America.

Economic orthodoxy: Until very recently, Republican leaders talked incessantly about tax cuts and deregulation. Trump's biggest legislative accomplishment was a huge corporate tax cut. But when McCarthy talks about Republicans' approach to some of the biggest corporations, he makes threats.

An enemies list: McCarthy has promised to escalate the inter-party warfare by stripping multiple Democrats of their seats on important committees.

Relationship with conservatives: McCarthy's willing to empower the most conservative members of his conference as no recent GOP leader has done.

Bottom line: McCarthy doesn't have a completely smooth road to speaker, even if Republicans dominate. This partly explains his aggressive efforts to align himself with the base.

Read more:
McCarthy's plot to build the House of Trump - Axios

Activists ambush Sen. Kyrsten Sinema at ASU over Build Back Better Act

People with the organization LUCHA confront Sen. Kyrsten Sinema at Arizona State University on Oct. 3, 2021, over the Build Back Better Act.

Courtesy LUCHA

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema fled to a bathroom when activists confronted her at Arizona State Universitys downtown Phoenix campus because she believed recording someone inside one was a crime, according to an ASU police report obtained and shared by the Arizona Mirror.

The report describes the Oct. 3 confrontation between Sinema and activists who criticized the senator over her lack of support for the Build Back Better Act.

Living United for Change in Arizona, or LUCHA, an immigration reform advocacy group, posted a video of the confrontation on its Twitter account which showed activists following Sinema out of her classroom and into a bathroom after Sinema declined to speak to them.

We knocked on doors for you to get you elected," a woman filming the encounter who identifies herself as Blanca is heard saying after the senator enters a stall. "And just how we got you elected, we can get you out of office if you dont support what you promised us.

The Arizona Republic is not identifyingthe four activists under investigation as they have not been charged with a crime.

Sinema told an officer that she entered the bathroom because she believed it was a crime to record someone while inside one, according to the report.

The report also said four other female students were in the bathroom during the confrontation, some of whom told police they were startled and felt uncomfortable during the encounter, with at least one staying inside her bathroom stall until the activists had left the building.

Arizona law prohibits recording another person inside a bathroom, bedroom, locker room or another type of room where one has a reasonable expectation of privacy and the person is urinating, defecating, dressing, undressing, nude or involved in sexual intercourse or sexual contact. Doing sois a felony.

The report lists multiple offenses that include surreptitious videotaping, disorderly conduct, second-degree criminal trespassing, interfering with an educational institution and harassment, though its unclear whether police initially planned to recommend those charges.

ASU police eventually recommended that the four activists be charged with disorderly conduct and disruption of an educational institution both of which are misdemeanors, though the police report lists a detective recommending charges against only three of the activists.

The reason behind the discrepancy was not immediately clear as of Wednesday evening.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Officeinstead returned the investigation back to the police and requested more information. Adam Wolfe, an ASU police spokesperson, told TheRepublic on Wednesday that the investigation remained ongoing.

Sinema told police she wanted the activists to be held accountable for their actions without destroying their lives, according to the report.

Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at 602-444-2474 or perry.vandell@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @PerryVandell.

Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Link:
Report offers new details on confrontation between Sinema and activists on ASU campus - The Arizona Republic

Texas companies pay construction workers so little, almost half of them end up relying on safety-net programs costing taxpayers $1.9 billion a year, according to a new study.

Low wages, weak state laws and rare federal law enforcement have turned a solidly blue-collar industry into a poverty trap. Voters should ask why nearly half of full-time, skilled laborers rely on food stamps and Medicaid to care for their children.

The data also bolsters the wisdom of granting visas to undocumented workers and only then strictly enforcing immigration laws to boost wages.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Immigration reform should focus on employers, end black market labor

The low wages and exploitative practices in the construction industry, both in Texas and nationally, cause profound hardship for workers and their families. It also costs the public, the University of California professors wrote. When employers misclassify their workers or pay them under the table, they are defunding and defrauding government programs, including workers compensation, Social Security, and Medicare.

Texas has one of the fastest-growing economies in the U.S. The construction boom in San Antonio, Houston and Austin is the envy of any Rust Belt state.

More from Chris Tomlinson

One in 12 Texans work in construction, or about 1.2 million people, the Census Bureau reports. The industry contributes $92.3 billion to Texass GDP or about 5 percent. Personal income from construction totaled $87.3 billion in 2019. But that income is unfairly distributed.

Compared to laborers in other Texas industries, twice as many construction workers rely on Medicaid, the health program for the poor, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, Temporary Aid for Needy Families, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, research by UC Berkeleys Labor Center found as part of a nationwide study.

The most obvious explanation is found in the construction contract bidding process. The lowest bidder typically wins, and managers feel the pressure to squeeze every penny possible out of the workforce. Many bend or skirt rarely-enforced laws to bring in underpaid, undocumented laborers.

Stan Marek, CEO of Houston-based Marek construction, has lost many a contract to unscrupulous competitors over the last 50 years, and hes fought for immigration reform for a decade. He expects construction to expand quickly in 2022, and hes worried the corruption will only get worse.

Were on the verge of the biggest boom construction-wise weve ever seen, he told me. My guys should be making 25 percent more, but I would not be able to get a job if I put 25 percent more in it because Im bidding against people who are not paying payroll taxes, who dont have workmans comp and who arent paying overtime.

Most states impose basic standards to protect workers, but not Texas. State lawmakers have consistently killed bills to guarantee decent wages and benefits. And when cities try to step in, GOP lawmakers make city and county prevailing wage and health insurance requirements illegal.

Gov. Greg Abbott may brag this is good for corporations, but kids still need to eat, and parents still get hurt on the job. Rather than make employers pick up the tab, Abbott and these companies shift the burden onto taxpayers.

Construction companies also misclassify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. A corporation has no obligation to guarantee labor laws are followed with independent contractors, and since onsite enforcement is rare, many developers cheat.

Those people work for you. You set their hours. You tell them what to do. Youre directing them. Marek, who directly employs most of his workers, said. The IRS wont touch it. Ive tried to get them involved in Washington, and they say it doesnt work.

Abbott talks a big game about immigration, but hes resisted state requirements that construction companies use E-Verify to check workers status. Lobbyists for residential construction companies have defeated every bill that would require them to respect labor laws.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Shortages in daycare, elder care and nursing slowing economic recovery

Youve got a lot of contractors like me that if we could access the undocumented worker, just get an ID and background check; we could literally take hundreds of thousands of workers just in Texas and put em on payrolls, Marek said.

For every million people you take out of the underground economy and put them on a W2 payroll adds $4.75 billion per year for Social Security, he added.

The immigration problem facing the Texas economy is not undocumented workers taking jobs from Americans but scumbag contractors using unprotected foreigners to drive wages down to the poverty level for American citizens.

State and federal officials must do more to stop crooked construction companies from cheating those who follow the rules. But we also need all hands on deck to meet the nations construction needs, both citizen and foreign workers.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com

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Tomlinson: Cheating Texas construction companies place $1.9 billion burden on taxpayers - Houston Chronicle