Fix immigration law with employment compliance

By Bob Anderson

Iowans can be very proud of the contributions that immigrants and their families have made to our state. Iowa needs the vitality and determination that young immigrants bring.

I recently participated in the Immigrant Entrepreneurial Summit, held for its second year in Des Moines, and learned that more than 60 new businesses had been created by participating immigrants from the previous year.

Nevertheless, I am concerned with the growing number of illegal immigrants who continue to be enticed to come to the United States by unscrupulous employers or their agents in Latin America. Thousands of people dreaming of a better way of life have lost their lives and their savings while crossing Mexico and the U.S. border. Resulting low wages have also been detrimental to low-income and low-educated Americans.

There are both tragic human and economic costs to illegal immigration, and developing a comprehensive immigration law should be the goal of all Americans regardless of political perspective. Both Democrats and Republicans need to stop posturing about the U.S. immigration laws and move this year to develop a workable system.

Something similar to the 1986 law should be unacceptable. The 1986 restrictions against employers had no real enforcement powers. People or companies hiring fewer than four employees were exempt, and large companies could engage contractors who hired the illegal workers, protecting the large company's management from the law.

Jobs are the magnets that have drawn more than 12 million people to risk their lives and financial resources to cross the borders illegally. The law against having illegal immigrants should have no exceptions and should be enforceable. Border enforcement is an ingredient, but it is not a solution without strong employer enforcement.

I am pleased that a new top priority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is to “create a culture of employer compliance.” Businesses that are driven more by long-term stability and not short-term greed also support that change.

While most people recognize that it would be economically, legally and morally irresponsible to break up families and deport 12 million people, Congress has failed to agree to a plan that forces illegal immigrants out of the shadows, and provides penalties and a path for citizenship.

The new law must combine a strict enforcement for employers with a program that would require illegal immigrants to register, pass background checks, pay their full share of taxes and penalties, and earn the privilege of citizenship while creating legal channels for future immigration flows that unite families and benefit economic development in our nation.

Passing the Dream Act for talented young people, who have spent most of their lives in the United States, would be one action that could happen this year. We have already invested significant dollars in these young people, and moving them toward citizenship benefits everyone.

At the same time, we should be encouraging more immigration where it is in our long-term best interests. Global diversity is one of the strengths of the United States. Immigrants, for example, developed the majority of Silicon Valley success stories.

International students and scholars provide major economic benefits to the United States, adding about $17 billion dollars per year. The United States should develop a more effective strategy for recruiting international students. One approach would be to increase practical training opportunities to two years for international students and scholars.

Border control is important for national security reasons, but cracking down on employers of illegal immigrants and assisting economic development in Latin America would create a more effective fence for illegal immigrants from all around the world.

Bob Anderson of Ankeny served as lieutenant governor of Iowa from 1983-1987. He is founder of Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), a non-profit, non-religious organization whose mission is to promote international understanding, diversity and peace, and brings students, journalists, business people, educators and government leaders to Iowa from Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. Comments:

robert_t_anderson@mac.com