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AGC Immigration Policy Aims To Secure
American Business…and the Borders
By AGC CEO Steve Sandherr
Immigration reform has become one of
the most controversial public policy debates in Congress.
The emotionally charged issue swings between those who want
to build a wall and stop immigration in its tracks, and those
who think this is a country of immigrants that should recognize
the contributions of the immigrant work force. The construction
industry must look at the current immigration debate as a
critical link in meeting the industry's work force needs today
and in the future.
The hyperbole surrounding immigration
must be deflated and infused with the reality of the U.S.
labor demands and the economic realities of our hemisphere.
For example, construction put in place continues to set records
nearly every month; it hit $1.12 trillion in the last 12 months
and shows no signs of waning. The construction industry employs
more than seven million people today.
In the last two years, we have added
a half a million jobs, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
reports that we will add 1.8 million more jobs over the next
10 years. Studies estimate that we now have at least 11 million
illegal immigrants in this country, most of whom are law-abiding,
employed and productive members of society. Many of them are
estimated to be gainfully employed in service industries such
as hospitality and retail, agriculture, and even construction.
But there is an argument made by many
in Congress that our southern border is not secure, which
has led to an influx of trespassers who strain schools, hospitals
and other public facilities and agencies. Some also believe
that state and local law enforcement officials should be compelled
to join federal authorities to find illegal immigrants and
deport them to their home countries without regard to their
work status or length of habitation in this country.
AGC members work to employ legal immigrants
and U.S. citizens. AGC members also want to know that the
government will protect them from fraudulent documentation
provided by workers; however, the incentive for illegal immigrants
to stay in this country is too great. The American dream is
a powerful incentive.
For these reasons, AGC believes that
we can get illegal immigrants to join the legal, law abiding
and taxpaying ranks only if the U.S. offers an incentive.
Immigration reform needs to find a way to allow these workers
to "earn" legalized status in the U.S. by acknowledging
that they entered the country illegally and requiring that
they pay a fine and become citizens.
In addition, the U.S. government should
create an expanded guest worker program enabling foreign workers
to enter the country on a temporary basis, return to their
home countries and then re-apply for guest worker status to
re-enter the U.S. This program would presumably eliminate
the situation whereby illegal immigrants come across the border
seeking employment and then become members of an underground,
permanent enclave who dare not cross the border to return
home for fear that they will not be able to re-enter the U.S.
AGC, like the majority of the business community, supports
efforts to increase border security and policies that would
expand guest worker opportunities to ensure that needed labor
is found to match workers with opportunities. Also in line
with the general business community, AGC has endorsed efforts
to create a reasonable guest worker program and a process
whereby immigrants who have been productive, taxpaying members
of the American work force can earn a path to legal status
and, ultimately, citizenship.
With these principles in mind, AGC opposed
legislation that narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives
in December. The debate is now in the Senate, where there
are two different paths from which to choose-a comprehensive
bill or a bill limited only to border security/enforcement.
In seeking a solution, the Senate must examine what impact
reform will have on our country.
AGC is hard at work, ensuring that the
concerns of our members are being conveyed to and understood
by the Senate. Please join us in our efforts, by talking to
your senators about the realities of immigration in our growing
segment of the economy.
Visit www.agc.org/lac
for more information and to send a letter to your senator
in support of comprehensive immigration legislation.
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