Labor Unites to Fight E-Verify, the GOP’s Flawed Anti-Immigrant Bill That Would Cost 800,000 Jobs

[pampango]

http://americasvoiceonline.org/blog/entry/labor_unites_to_fight_e-verify_the_gops_deeply_flawed_anti_immigrant_bill/#When:13:25:10Z



Over the next couple weeks and months, we’re expecting an anti-immigrant piece of legislation -- better known as E-Verify -- to start moving in the U.S. House. Sponsored by Representatives Lamar Smith (TX), Elton Gallegly (CA) and Steve King (IA), a.k.a. "The Three Amigos" on immigration, E-Verify is a mandatory program that would affect every worker in the country, and not positively. The system is deeply flawed, with a failure to detect undocumented immigrants over fifty percent of the time (54% to be precise).

But the Three Amigos are obsessed with deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants – and if that ruins the economy or causes a dramatic loss of jobs, then so be it. It's seemingly not their problem.

Fortunately, a strong coalition is building to fight E-Verify, and it includes a united front from the labor movement. From the National Journal (subscription required):

The AFL-CIO and its offshoot Change to Win, labor groups that once disagreed over the inclusion of guest-worker programs in an immigration overhaul, can now stand as one in opposition to Republican proposals that push for more enforcement.

Labor will get the chance to flex its unified muscle, along with civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups, as they go into battle against legislation to require employers to electronically verify that their workers are in the country legally.

Other alliances crumble around them. Business groups that were once hand-in-hand with the advocacy community on a sweeping immigration overhaul have this time declined the invitation to the party. They are cutting a deal with Republicans on an employer-verification bill, even though the talks are making some of them squirm.

It really looks as if E-Verify is the closest thing to a "jobs program" that the House Republicans have concocted this year – one which will costs hundreds of thousands of jobs and will create problems for millions of Americans. But it’s all in the name of mass deportation, and for Reps. Smith, Gallegly and King, that’s all that matters.

[dkf]

1. It really Beats me how we reach full employment with rampant illegal immigration.

Say goodbye to the thought of a livable wage. We can't even get labor to support poor Americans.

[napi21]

2. Please explain why abor doesn't want e-verify.

I don't understand. I don't agree with mass deportation, but I also want jobs for the people who are here legally. I'm a firm believer that if there were no jobs available for those who are here illegally, they'd simply go back home and spread the word that it's not worth the effort to try crossing the border beuse there's no jobs available for you if you do. Why is that wrong for me to thik that way?