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ANALYSIS/OPINION:

This is a conversation on comprehensive immigration reform in which columnist Armstrong Williams asks questions of Mike Cutler, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and an adviser to the American Council for Immigration Reform on issues concerning immigration issues that relate to national security.

SEE ALSO: CHIP: Fibbing about immigration reform is part of the amnesty-for-everybody agenda

Q. Many people at the highest levels of government and industry have taken a cynical and duplicitous approach to illegal immigration. In a way, its symbolic of the approach most average Americans have taken. We rely on immigrant labor to fill jobs that Americans wont do as a result of the meager wages and perhaps undesirable working conditions, while complaining about the side effects over-exhausted social services, ever-multiplying crime rates, and a grave cultural dilution in the Border States. Do you believe that Comprehensive Immigration Reform would solve these problems or make them worse?

A. There are several components to your question, so lets get started by dispelling the notion that the U.S. has just four border states. Whenever the immigration issue is discussed, the focus of the conversation usually turns to the border that is supposed to separate the U.S. and Mexico. Make no mistake about it, that border is an important component to the immigration system, but it is only one component. Whenever I am asked about the need to build a fence on the border, I respond by saying that the fence on that border is comparable to a wing on an airplane. Without the wing, the airplane will not fly, however, a wing by itself goes nowhere. In my view, there are actually 50 border states. Any state that has an international airport or access to Americas coastline has to be considered as much a border state as are those states that lie along Americas northern and southern borders.

The southwest border has to be secured. That border is very unique and is the only place on our planet where the First World collides with the Third World. That border poses a threat to national security and all of the challenges that illegal immigration creates for America and Americans, but fixing the immigration system will require far more than a fence on the U.S.-Mexico border.

In point of fact, an estimated 40 percent of the illegal aliens in the U.S. did not run over our borders and enter the country without inspection. Rather, they were lawfully admitted into the U.S., and then in one way or another, violated the terms of their admission by remaining after their authorized period expired, accepting illegal employment, failing to attend schools for which they were admitted to attend, or otherwise failing to abide their terms of admission.

You are absolutely right that illegal aliens are hired because they work for substandard wages and under substandard conditions. As an agent, I was outraged and often sickened by the conditions I found illegal aliens living and working in. Exploitation is disgusting. But it is vital to understand that the often-cited phrase, Illegal aliens do the work Americans wont do is not about the lack of American workers to do the work and do it well. It is about slashing wages, and in many instances, ignoring health and safety regulations.

Q. Do you agree with the premise that its not a challenge identifying the illegal immigrants in any number of neighborhoods, as they essentially stick out like that of a sore thumb. These aliens are the only people who will gladly and cost-effectively tend to your lawn, babysit your children, and run some of your favorite quick-stop restaurants. Illegal immigration in many ways is the simplest form of outsourcing for certain nonexportable jobs.

Up until now, the focus has been on curbing the supply. The approaches have ranged from the purely illogical like trying to erect a Great Wall of America along the Mexican border to the downright diabolical like private citizens forming vigilante groups and terrorizing brown people who may or may not be illegal immigrants. The recent Arizona law that revokes the business licenses of employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants is the first real measure focused on the demand side.

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WILLIAMS: A conversation on comprehensive immigration reform

CHICAGO The San Jose Mercury News has ventured to say what everyone is taking as a foregone conclusion: "Immigration reform appears dead for 2014." I hate to admit it sure looks that way.

Over the past 10 years, the so-called immigration debate a more descriptive term would be fact-challenged shouting match has evolved little and now seems to be devolving.

Now the helplessness surrounding the issue is palpable and the tactics that immigration activists use to rally the troops have proved to have little effect.

It's hard to remember, but in the winter of 2004 the big stories centered around President George W. Bush's principles for the immigration overhaul he worked so hard, in vain, to pass and whether the Sierra Club should advocate tough immigration restrictions in order to control environmental damage along the borders. Many people were chattering about the upcoming Sergio Arau movie, "A Day Without a Mexican," released in May of that year.

Mobilization against the Bush proposal began in 2005 when Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner sponsored a bill that would have made assisting unlawful immigrants illegal. It threatened to make criminals of the medical establishment, religious communities and legal immigrants who gave succor to the unlawfully present.

Then came the big immigration reform marches of 2006 which upset many because crowds took to the streets waving the flags of foreign countries. Bush's reform effort failed the following summer.

Subsequent marches gave way to a three-pronged effort by immigrant advocates: to make voting the tool for change; recruit coalitions of law enforcement, business and religious leaders to push for reform; and, as a last-ditch effort, try for legislation that would at least give immigrants who came to this country as young children a path to citizenship.

You know how that turned out.

And here we are again, beginning another loop that starts with a lame-duck president, upcoming election naysayers and a less-than-fired-up electorate.

It's true: Immigration is not at the top of the agen- das of America's policymakers.

More here:

Deja vu on immigration reform

Why should I endorse immigration reform?
Jenny Yang, Director of Advocacy and Policy for World Relief #39;s Refugee and Immigration Program, answers a question about immigration reform http://askquestio...

By: Redux

More here:

Why should I endorse immigration reform? - Video

CHICAGO The San Jose Mercury News has ventured to say what everyone is taking as a foregone conclusion: Immigration reform appears dead for 2014. I hate to admit it sure looks that way.

Over the past 10 years, the so-called immigration debate a more descriptive term would be fact-challenged shouting match has evolved little and now seems to be devolving.

Now the helplessness surrounding the issue is palpable and the tactics that immigration activists use to rally the troops have proved to have little effect.

Its hard to remember, but in the winter of 2004 the big stories centered around President George W. Bushs principles for the immigration overhaul he worked so hard, in vain, to pass and whether the Sierra Club should advocate tough immigration restrictions in order to control environmental damage along the borders. Many people were chattering about the upcoming Sergio Arau movie, A Day Without a Mexican, released in May of that year.

Mobilization against the Bush proposal began in 2005 when Wisconsin Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner sponsored a bill that would have made assisting unlawful immigrants illegal. It threatened to make criminals of the medical establishment, religious communities and legal immigrants who gave succor to the unlawfully present.

Then came the big immigration reform marches of 2006, which upset many because crowds took to the streets waving the flags of foreign countries. Bushs reform effort failed the following summer. Subsequent marches gave way to a three-pronged effort by immigrant advocates: to make voting the tool for change; recruit coalitions of law enforcement, business and religious leaders to push for reform; and, as a last-ditch effort, try for legislation that would at least give immigrants who came to this country as young children a path to citizenship. You know how that turned out.

And here we are again, beginning another loop that starts with a lame-duck president, upcoming election naysayers and a less-than-fired-up electorate.

Its true: Immigration is not at the top of the agendas of Americas policymakers.

President Obama, flummoxed by intractable international troubles, a sluggish economy and problems with his health care program, was recently denounced as the deporter in chief by some of the same high-profile Latino advocates who practically promised Hispanic voters hed pass reform in his first term.

But now jobs, the economy and health care take precedence over immigration. And those who do think about immigration reform have mixed feelings. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that nearly three-quarters of Americans think that immigrants living here illegally should be allowed to stay if they meet certain requirements. At the same time, nearly half of respondents said the increased deportations under the Obama administration are a good thing.

View post:

Esther Cepeda: Not at the top of agendas, immigration reform shelved again

NEW YORK (PRWEB) March 21, 2014

The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP will co-host a breakfast program discussing comprehensive immigration reform and assistance with international recruitment efforts for colleges and universities. The program, presented in conjunction with Marymount Manhattan College, will take place Thursday, April 3, 2014.

Speakers from Greenberg Traurig and the U.S. Department of Commerce will provide an update regarding the status of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. The program is geared towards higher education professionals and general counsel dealing with issues relating to the recruitment of international students or who are interested in the impact of immigration reform and international outreach assistance.

Program topics will include:

Immigration Reform

The legislative challenge

The Senates Comprehensive Immigration Reform and what it would mean for colleges and universities House immigration bills and their potential impact on colleges and universities

Legislative outlook for immigration reform

Commerce Department Assistance with International Outreach

The use of the Commerce Department's one-on-one appointment services overseas to meet new international education partners

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Greenberg Traurig to Co-Host Breakfast On Comprehensive Immigration Reform for Colleges and Universities