Washington D.C.- In a new report released by the Center for Immigration Studies last night, the anti-immigrant group inadvertently makes an excellent case for comprehensive immigration reform that legalizes undocumented immigrants already living and working in the United
States. In its attempt to advocate for the failed "enforcement-only" policies of the past, CIS points out that wages and working conditions rose at Swift & Co. meatpacking plants after six of their plants underwent immigration raids in 2006.
In his Immigration Impact blog post IPC Senior Researcher Walter Ewing explains that CIS is right: all workers benefit from a documented workforce. However, CIS' preferred solution of raiding businesses around the nation and deporting 12 million people would not only destroy families and communities, it would also be monumentally expensive and economically disruptive.
In a seperate Immigration Impact guest post by Amber Sparks of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Sparks explains:
"A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies is a perfect illustration of the misinterpretation and manipulation of data to reach a totally biased and flawed conclusion-and clearly demonstrates a complete lack of understanding about the history of the meatpacking industry."
The best way to raise wages and working conditions is by creating a path to legal status for the millions of undocumented workers already living in the United States. This would not only eliminate an exploitable workforce, but bring billions of additional dollars into the U.S. economy through increased tax revenue and consumer purchasing power.
CIS Inadvertently Makes the Case for Legalizing Undocumented Workers
The Immigration Policy Center (IPC), established in 2003, is the policy arm of the American Immigration Law Foundation. IPC's mission is to shape a rational national conversation on immigration and immigrant integration. Through its research and analysis, IPC provides policymakers, the media, and the general public with accurate information about the role of immigrants and immigration policy on U.S. society. IPC reports and materials are widely disseminated and relied upon by press and policy makers. IPC staff regularly serves as experts to leaders on Capitol Hill, opinion-makers and the media. IPC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor opposes any political party or candidate for office.
