Letters and Op-Eds
Welcome to the OFIR Letters and Op-Eds section. Here you can read Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds that have been published in various newspapers and news sources.
Oregon's state senators and representatives during the 2012 legislative session have an opportunity help unemployed Oregonians by supporting and passing House Bill 4052, which would require that all state agencies use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizen and Immigration Services E-Verify system.
Sponsored by Reps. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer; Jeff Barker, D-Aloha; Vicki Berger, R-Salem; Katie Eyre Brewer, R-Hillsboro; Sal Esquivel, R-Medford; Tim Freeman, R-Roseburg; Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio; Jim Thompson, R-Dallas; Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver; and Matt Wingard,R-Wilsonville; HB 4052 would put the state of Oregon more in line with the federal government, which requires all federal agencies use the E-Verify system.
Requiring all state agencies use the E-Verify system would not be a matter of starting from scratch for the state of Oregon because all or portions of six state agencies already use the system (Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Military Department, Oregon Parks and Recreation, Oregon Corrections Enterprises, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Oregon Health Science University and Portland State University).
The importance the Legislature passing E-Verify legislation really becomes apparent when looking at Oregon's unemployment rate for December 2011 being at 8.9 percent, the state ranking in the top 14 of 50 states for percentage of unemployed residents and 175,830 Oregonians being unemployed. Legislators should also be aware that Oregon's unemployed are in competition for scarce jobs with an estimated 97,000 foreign national workers illegally in the state, 4.9 percent of the state's domestic workforce.
If Oregon legislators need some convincing examples of E-Verify system success, they won't have to look to far because at least 17 states — 34 percent — have laws requiring that their state governments use the E-Verify system; nine of those states had December 2011 seasonally adjusted unemployment rates lower than Oregon: Alabama (8.1 percent), Arizona (8.7 percent), Idaho (8.4 percent), Missouri (8.0 percent), Nebraska (4.1 percent), Oklahoma (6.1 percent), Tennessee (8.7 percent), Utah (6.0 percent) and Virginia (6.2 percent).
State legislators need not look beyond Oregon for success stories because 15 of Oregon's 36 county governments — 42 percent — use the E-Verify system: Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington and Yamhill.
Statewide, 2,787 Oregon public- and private-sector employers are successfully using the system, which is 98.6 percent accurate, features a fast response time and is free to the user.
The Legislature's passage of HB 4052 requiring the state of Oregon — the largest public employer — to use the E-Verify system would be far more than a symbolic gesture, considering that over the past four years Oregonians have suffered and continue to suffer unemployment numbers not seen since the Great Depression.
Oregonians should call or e-mail their state senator and representative and ask them to support and pass HB 4052, requiring all state of Oregon government agencies use the E-Verify system, so if a job opening becomes available to work for the state, a qualified person with authorization to work in the country will be first in line for that job.
David Olen Cross of Salem (docfnc@yahoo.com) lobbies the Oregon Legislature on issues related to immigration and foreign national crime.
In his Jan. 21 editorial, "Memo to politicians: Latinos are not interchangeable," Ruben Navarrette insinuates that support for E-Verify alienates Hispanic voters. But Hispanics support E-Verify.
E-Verify is a web-based program that helps ensure jobs are reserved for citizens and legal workers. It doesn't ask race, creed or ethnicity. E-Verify merely checks a worker's name and Social Security number to verify that they are eligible to work in the United States. E-Verify does not discriminate based on race but it does distinguish between legal and illegal, as it should.
The American public has consistently supported E-Verify. A recent Rasmussen poll found that 82 percent of likely voters think businesses should be required to use E-Verify to determine if a potential employee is in the country legally. And the breakdown of the Rasmussen poll shows that individuals from all races support the use of E-Verify. In fact, 78 percent of black voters and 72 percent of other minorities, primarily Hispanics, agreed.
E-Verify could open up millions of jobs for unemployed Americans, especially for low-skilled workers who compete most with illegal immigrants for scarce jobs. Twenty-five percent of Hispanic Americans with only a high school education can't find a job. The facts show E-Verify actually benefits minorities by opening up jobs, increasing wages and reducing job competition from an illegal workforce.
Last summer, the Obama administration began to employ "prosecutorial discretion" to suspend action against most of 300,000 illegal immigrants slated for deportation.
Today, that appears but the opening salvo in a series of moves, as per commentator W. James Antle III, to effectively "stop enforcing the law against whole categories" of illegal immigrants "and to use necessary administrative leeway to effect policy changes that lack support in Congress."
Early in the new year, the Los Angeles Times' Anna Gorman reported, "President Barack Obama proposed a new rule ... that would allow certain illegal immigrants with U.S. citizen spouses or parents to stay here while they apply for hardship waivers, the first step for many before they can submit applications for legal residency." The rule, The Oregonian said, "likely will affect tens of thousands -- perhaps more than 100,000 -- illegal residents. ... The administration hopes to change the rule later this year after taking public comments."
If enacted, the rule will be no mere administrative tweak. It will ease, profoundly, the consequences many foreigners pay for stealing into our nation.
Federal law dictates that an illegal immigrant must leave the country before seeking return as a legal resident. An illegal immigrant who has been in the United States between six months and a year cannot return for three years; one here a year or more cannot return for 10.
But the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may grant a waiver to an illegal immigrant who establishes that such long separation would impose "extreme hardship" on immediate family members who are U.S. citizens or legal residents -- so long as he or she applies for that waiver from abroad. The new rule would change this. It would allow an illegal immigrant "whose sole inadmissibility ground is unlawful presence," in DHS' words, to seek the waiver while still here. This would shorten the absence of many from months or years to weeks.
If enacted, what will the rule mean -- for government by the people, the rule of law and the very families it purports to help?
First: By easing burdens Congress has imposed on illegal immigrants, the rule will undermine Americans' clearly stated opposition to illegal entry -- and the broader principle of representative government.
Second: The rule will tell illegal immigrants, "If you evade detection long enough to set down roots here, you can seek exemption from portions of the law that inconvenience you." This will mock our laws' integrity.
Third: The rule will weaken the families it intends to benefit. For better or worse, families derive many of their values -- and behavioral examples -- from their government. What incentive will someone have to obey laws when his or her government exonerates, in effect, the lawbreaking of a parent, spouse or sibling?
"The purpose of immigration laws and policies," writes author Thomas Sowell, "is to serve the national interest of this country." That interest suffers when our leaders manipulate the administration of those laws and policies so as to lessen their impact on those who break them.
Oregonians should contact the White House and their congressional representatives and voice their opposition to the new immigration rule.
In the race for Congress in Oregon’s 1st District, voters need to know Suzanne Bonamici’s troubling legislative history on issues related to illegal immigration during her tenure in the Oregon Legislature.
During the 2008 legislative session, in spite of the role drivers licenses played in the 9/11 tragedy, she voted to continue giving Oregon driver licenses to illegal aliens when she voted against Senate Bill 1080, which required proof of legal status to obtain a driver license.
In the Oregon Senate’s 2011 session, she voted for Senate Bill 742, legislation granting in-state tuition to illegal aliens in perpetuity with little fact-checking.
A vote for Suzanne Bonamici for Congress, taking into account her tenure in the state legislature, and statements supportive of amnesty which she has made in recent debates, is a vote for lax-to-no enforcement of our country’s immigration laws and for enticing more illegal immigration.
In contrast, Ron Cornilles opposes amnesty. His website has a section on border security, in which he points out the dangers of uncontrolled immigration and shows strong support for better border security. He discusses how Oregon businesses which have the technology to secure the borders could help both locally to boost our economy and nationally to stop illegal immigration. These businesses, he said in a recent debate, now feel they are not being heard in Congress, and he would be a voice for them.
For an immigration policy in the best interests of citizens, not illegal aliens, Rob Cornilles is our best choice for Congress.
Columbia County Commissioners Tony Hyde, Earl Fisher and Henry Heimuller should require Columbia County government to use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizen and Immigration Services E-Verify system.
The importance of Columbia County using the E-Verify system really becomes apparent with Oregon's unemployment rate in November being 9.1 percent, and 167,563 people unemployed.
The county's November unemployment numbers were at 10.4 percent; 2,311 residents were unemployed.
Unemployed Oregonians who are U.S. citizens or foreign citizens legally present with authorization to work in the country should not have to compete for jobs with a purported 97,000 undocumented foreign national workers illegally in the state, a number that equates to 4.9 percent of the state's civilian labor force.
If all Oregon government and business entities not currently using U.S. DHS E-Verify system were required to use it, Oregon's unemployment rate would drop dramatically because all new jobs created in the state would go to U.S. citizens or those legally present to work in the country.
Currently, 2,227 Oregon employers use the 98.6 percent accurate E-Verify system; 15 of 36 Oregon county governments now use E-Verify (Clatsop, Coos, Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties).
In Columbia County, 14 businesses and government entities (City of Vernonia, Clatskanie School District, Columbia Drainage Vector Control District, Scappoose Bay Watershed Council and the Scappoose School District) presently use the E-Verify system.
Columbia County residents should contact the commissioners ask them to require Columbia County government use the U.S. DHS CIS E-Verify system so if a job opening becomes available to work for the county a qualified U.S. citizen or foreign citizen legally present with authorization to work in the country can be first in line for that job.
Umatilla County Commissioners Hansell, Givens, and Doherty should require Umatilla County government use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) E-Verify system. The importance of Umatilla County using the U.S. DHS CIS E-Verify system really becomes apparent with Oregon’s unemployment rate in October being 9.5 percent, 177,350 were unemployed. The county’s October unemployment numbers were at 9.6 percent; 3,026 residents were unemployed.
Unemployed Oregonians who are U.S. citizens or foreign citizens legally present with authorization to work in the country should not have to compete for jobs with a purported 97,000 un-documented foreign national workers illegally in the state.
If all Oregon employers not currently using the E-Verify system were required to use it, Oregon’s unemployment rate would drop dramatically because all new jobs created in the state would go to those authorized to work in the country.
Currently 2,227 Oregon employers use the 98.6 percent accurate E-Verify system. Twelve of thirty-six Oregon county governments are now using the E-Verify system (Clatsop, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Lake, Lane, Lincoln, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, and Washington counties). Thirty-two Umatilla County businesses and government entities (City of Milton-Free-water, Umatilla School District 6R, and Umatilla School District No. 7) presently use the E-Verify system.
Umatilla County residents should contact Commissioners Hansell, Givens, and Doherty and ask them to require Umatilla County government use the U.S. DHS CIS E-Verify system so if a job opening becomes available to work for the county a qualified U.S. citizen or foreign citizen legally present with authorization to work in the country can be first in line for that job.
So Ruben Navarrette Jr. thinks Newt Gingrich’s plan for “legality” for longtime illegal aliens is a great idea (“Gingrich deserves credit for a good, bold idea,” Nov. 30).
I think it’s a terrible idea.
It says in effect, if illegal aliens have cheated and committed fraud for 25 years, they get to stay here, but if illegal aliens have done the same for only two or three years they must go home. Huh?
How much would the citizen review boards cost that decide each case? Who will sit on these boards? What is acceptable proof of applicants’ statements?
Illegal aliens use stolen or counterfeit Social Security numbers, which is a federal felony. Is this to be overlooked?
Did the alien ever complete an I-9 form for employment? Did he/she provide false information on it? Another federal felony.
Did the illegals misuse Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) to collect “Earned Income Tax Credit,” a federal program that pays billions to low-income families?
I think we need to take a closer look at Newt’s “good, bold idea” — and at the man proposing it.
Letters recently have expressed alarm at the rapid growth of population, worldwide and in Oregon, and the toll it takes on the environment and natural resources. The statistics are frightening and raise questions about why this is happening and what we can do about it.
The spread of family planning knowledge around the world, led by philanthropic groups and governments, is helping people work toward sustainable numbers in many countries.
Here in the United States, population growth is triggered mainly by immigration. The U.S. reached a replacement level fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman in the year 1972. Absent the enormous increases in immigration from 1970 to 2010, U.S. population would have peaked about 2050 at around 260 million people and then start to decline.
Instead, today we are fast approaching 313 million, and if present immigration levels are not reduced, we’re on track to reach 439 million by 2050. Even higher projections have been made by the Census Bureau. Their highest series projection for 2100 was over 1 billion.
Immigration is a public policy issue to be decided by the citizens. It is not a natural phenomenon over which we have no control. Unfortunately, Congress has opted too often to increase the numbers, and recent presidents have used their power to curb enforcement of immigration laws. Citizens must re-assert their right to set immigration policy and have it carried out according to the law.
At this time of economic hardship, it is especially senseless to continue importing a million immigrants a year who will be in competition with Americans for jobs, education and living space.
Earlier this spring, after almost a year in Iraq, 2,700 Oregon Army National Guardsmen came home. Now, many of them face another challenge: "Veterans advocates," noted The Oregonian several weeks ago, "believe that fully half the (returning) soldiers . . . are unemployed."
Across America, disproportionate joblessness afflicts not only demobilizing guardsmen and reservists, but veterans as a whole.
"The Labor Department announced in March that the unemployment rate for 18- to 24-year-old veterans was 21.1 percent in 2009," reports the May issue of VFW magazine, "significantly higher than the 16.6 percent rate for non-veterans in the same age group . . . the jobless rate for all veterans who have served since Sept. 11, 2001, is 12.5 percent."
What makes the job search tougher for unemployed veterans: the presence of illegal immigrants who, in violation of U.S. law, hold jobs those veterans might otherwise get.
Of the 12 million to 20 million illegal immigrants in America, two-thirds are estimated to hold jobs. Some 100,000 of them are believed employed in Oregon. Illegal immigrants have been especially prevalent in building maintenance and groundskeeping, where, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, they recently have comprised 19 percent of the U.S. workforce; in construction, where they have comprised 17 percent; and in food services, where they have comprised 12 percent. These are among the fields that provide the "first rung on the ladder" to millions of American youths - and that could do so as well for many young veterans returning from abroad.
This summer and beyond, how can Oregon employers help assure their new hires are citizens and legal residents - including, especially, returned guardsmen and other veterans - and not illegal immigrants? Simple - by registering to use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's "E-Verify" system, which some 1,600 Oregon employers, including Nike, Jeld-Wen and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, already have done. E-Verify enables employers to confirm, instantly and at no cost, the legitimacy of many new hires' Social Security numbers - and, thus, their eligibility to work legally in the United States.
E-Verify is effective. Historically, the system has flagged about 5 percent of submitted Social Security numbers, which corresponds to the estimated percentage of illegal immigrants in the U.S. workforce. Rather than seek to prove legal work status by other means, writes former Homeland Security official Stewart Baker, those with the flagged numbers usually "walk away when they are challenged." For most, this is a tacit admission of illegal presence in America, and it opens the jobs for which they had been considered to citizens and legal residents.
At great personal expense, Oregon's guardsmen stepped up to defend our nation. Now, by registering to use E-Verify, the state's employers can step up for them - and help assure their future hires are not illegal immigrants, but our returned heroes.
(Richard F. LaMountain, a former assistant editor of Conservative Digest magazine, serves on the board of directors of Oregonians for Immigration Reform. He lives in Cedar Mill.)
Friday's editorial declares "Alabama's message for Oregon." There certainly is a message for Oregon (and other states) in what Alabama has accomplished, but it is not the one The Oregonian cites (and is no doubt cheered by Oregon growers who flagrantly violate federal employment law).
The message from Alabama is that it is possible to take action against those that who invaded the United States, who fraudulently take jobs from law-abiding citizens, and who steal taxpayer-funded services and support from legal citizens in need.
Oregon's (and The Oregonian's) position on those who violate multiple laws to be here is a slap in the face of those hardworking Oregonians who do things the right way.
