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State of the Union: Obama Concedes to No Comprehensive Immigration Reform This Year

Chris Gafner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:23:14 +0000

Immigration garnered a mere paragraph or two in President Obama’s State of the Union on Tuesday night. Given the scope of the topics discussed during the speech, it wasn’t expected that immigration (or any other subject) would garner much more than a few moments of focus.

However, what was surprising about President Obama’s immigration comments was its stark negativity. President Obama mentioned the need for the United States to keep educated immigrants in the United States. However, President Obama immediately followed up by saying [I am paraphrasing] that …if comprehensive immigration reform cannot be reached this year, then send me a version of the Dream Act and I will sign it immediately.

Although the President’s comments may be viewed as realistic or pragmatic, it is difficult to understand why the President wants to start the immigration debate without even attempting to get Comprehensive Immigration Reform, or even just highly-skilled immigrant legislation, passed. Even if they are not going to pass, at least put them on the table for discussion, right? Why just go for the Dream Act? If the President believes that highly-educated immigrants are important to the United States, why not put out a better immigration plan and attempt to get it passed?

Is the Alabama Immigration Law A Good Thing?

Chris Gafner — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:39:30 +0000

That is probably not a question that you would expect an immigration lawyer to ask. But it is a valid question – especially now that it is being [partially] enforced. Hear me out…

During the last month, the new Alabama law has been much maligned:

Alabama farmers complain that their harvests are rotting in the field and face business failure because no American workers are willing to work in the fields,
Consumers have begun to see increased costs for tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables in the Supermarket,
Civil Rights advocates who believe the laws will result in racial profiling,
Individuals with any sense of compassion have also complained about the laws requiring schools to check the immigration status of students (and causing many to stop going to school).

With all of the maligning – how could the Alabama immigration laws be a good thing? It shows its stupidity. It also shows the ill consequences of what overreaching, unintelligent immigration laws could have if they were enacted on a national level. Individuals throughout the country will surely see the unintended and unwanted consequences of the Alabama immigration laws. They will also see how Alabama will suffer economically and socially. Americans will realize that America deserves and requires a better course of action on immigration reform.

If a destructive immigration law has to exist in the United States, let it be on the state level. And let it last for as short as possible.

Congress Pushed On American Need For High Skilled Immigrants

Chris Gafner — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:30:11 +0000

Last week the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security held a hearing concerning the state of high skilled immigration into the United States. Although the panel included the normal academic scholars who believe immigration needs to be sharply curtailed, most of the speakers (and all of the business leaders) told the committee that the current high skills immigration system is inadequate and that it is dampening the United States’s ability to grow.

NASDAQ’s CEO stated:

“Whether in Silicon Valley, Austin, Chicago, or anywhere else in the United States, I hear from CEOs that the H-1B visa system is inadequate for today’s human capital marketplace and the backlog for green cards and what they mean to the quality and the uncertainty of the lives of these foreign-born employees is a legitimate threat to their business.”

David Skorton, President of Cornell University, stated:

The U.S. is not always the top choice of students from Asia who are applying to graduate school in science and engineering. ..If our immigration policy causes the number and quality of international students who matriculate in STEM disciplines at U.S. universities to decline significantly, it will reduce our capacity for research, innovation, and ultimately economic growth.

To Watch A Webcast of the Hearing, click below:

Dairy Farmers Fined 2.7 Million For I-9 Violations

Chris Gafner — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:29:40 +0000

The Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has announced that a Michigan diary farm and its owners have been fined $2.7 million for violating immigration laws by employing unauthorized workers. Over a period of about ten years, the farm employed about 70 unauthorized workers who provided false names and social security numbers. The owners apparently knew the workers were unauthorized and now face jail time in addition to the large fine.

Although farmers should not violate the law, it is difficult to understand how they can attract authorized workers to do the low paying and difficult work that Americans often refuse to do. Without changes in the immigration law, including the introduction of agriculture-oriented immigration bill, the United States and farmers will continue to have difficulty producing food without violating immigration laws.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act Introduced (Again)

Chris Gafner — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:19:10 +0000

Another comprehensive immigration reform bill was introduced into Congress. The bill includes many different facets, including components of the DREAM Act, the AgJobs, and many enforcement provisions. Unlikely to go forward, it provides insight into the current thinking of Congressional leaders. If any immigration reform occurs this Congress, expect small, specific reforms.

The bill is called Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2011, and was sponsored by Senator Menendez (D-NJ), along with Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) and John Kerry (D-MA).

Obama Calls Immigration Meeting – Much Talk, Any Action?

Chris Gafner — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:32:52 +0000

President Obama held a special, closed door immigration meeting yesterday at the White House. The immigration meeting included about sixty leaders from throughout the country, including Mayor Bloomberg, former Governor Schwarzenegger, top police chiefs, business executives, and religious leaders. The meeting did not include Congressional leaders.

The specifics of the meeting have yet to come out, but the general tone reemphasized two topics:

the need for immigration reform, and
the general difficulty that any immigration reform legislation will have with this Congress.

There seems to be debate about whether to push for comprehensive immigration reform, or to focus on specific, target legislation. Although target legislation would be easier to enact, it is feared that passage of such legislation would derail any chance of comprehensive immigration reform in the near future.

Much talk, little action (so far).

President Obama Talks Immigration

Chris Gafner — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:28:00 +0000

President Obama’s recent comments on immigration legislation (Starting at Minute 23):

DREAM Act Dies a Procedural Death

Chris Gafner — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:27:49 +0000

On Saturday, the DREAM Act died a procedural death in the Senate. It appears that a majority of the Senators supported the Dream Act. However, before a bill can be put to a proper vote, it is a procedural requirement that it pass a cloture vote. A cloture vote requires three/fifths of voting Senators to move a bill to a proper vote and to avoid a fillibuster. The final vote was 55-41. 55 were in favor of moving the bill forward.

What’s Next for Immigration Reform?

With this bill’s defeat, the bill dies for this Congress. However, the bill will surely be renewed during the next Congress (which begins in January). The DREAM Act has been submitted for consideration many times since 2000. Although it will be introduced, it is unlikely that it will go anywhere for the next two years.

List of Political and Business Leaders Seeking Immigration Reform Keeps Growing

Chris Gafner — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:19:12 +0000

Comprehensive Immigration Reform at the Federal Level seems to be stalled. Neither party has seriously pushed for comprehensive immigration reform in many years. What little debate about immigration that there is focuses on one tiny part of the immigration system.

Out of this void at the Federal level, many local politicians and business leaders have become more vocal about the economic need to fix the immigration system immediately. These leaders realize that a functioning immigration system is necessary to ensure the continued competitiveness of the United States on the economic world stage. These leaders have started the Partnership For a New American Economy. The partnership is bipartisan and has the sole purpose of “highlight[ing] the significant economic benefits associated with sensible immigration reform.”

The list of leaders is already rather extensive and includes:

Steven A. Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation

Robert Iger, President and CEO, Walt Disney Co.

J.W. Marriott, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Marriott International, Inc.

Jim McNerney, Chairman, President and CEO of Boeing

Rupert Murdoch, Chairman, CEO and Founder of News Corporation

Mayor Julián Castro of San Antonio

Mayor Phil Gordon of Phoenix

Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles.

Lee S. Ainslie, III, Managing Partner, Maverick Capital

Gerard J. Arpey, Chairman and CEO, American Airlines

David Barger, President & CEO, JetBlue Airways Corporation

Candace K. Beinecke, Chair, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Hearst Corporation

Jeffrey L. Bewkes, Chairman & CEO, Time Warner Inc.

Lloyd C. Blankfein, Chairman & CEO, Goldman Sachs & Co.

Kathy Bloomgarden, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Ruder Finn, Inc.

Glenn A. Britt, Chairman, President & CEO, Time Warner Cable Inc.

Kevin Burke, Chairman, President & CEO, Con Edison

Michael A. Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer, Ally Financial Inc.

Russell L. Carson, Co-Founder and General Partner, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Evan R. Chesler, Presiding Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

H. Rodgin Cohen, Senior Chairman, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Cristóbal I. Conde, President & CEO, SunGard

Roger W. Crandall, President & CEO, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

Stephen J. Dannhauser, Chairman, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

Philippe P. Dauman, President and CEO, Viacom Inc.

Todd C. DeGarmo, Chief Executive Officer, Studios Architecture

Barry Diller, Chairman & Senior Executive, IAC

James Dimon, Chairman & CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Douglas A. Donahue, Managing Partner, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Brian Duperreault, President & CEO, Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

Richard W. Edelman, President & CEO, Edelman

Brad Feld, Managing Director, Foundry Group

Laurence D. Fink, Chairman & CEO, BlackRock, Inc.

Alan H. Fishman, Chairman, Ladder Capital Finance LLC

Paul Fribourg, Chairman & CEO, Continental Grain Company

Mark T. Gallogly, Managing Partner, Centerbridge Partners

William F. Glavin Jr., Chief Executive Officer, OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Thomas Glocer, Chief Executive Officer, Thomson Reuters

Barry M. Gosin, Chief Executive Officer, Newmark Knight Frank

Robert Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer, The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

Susan L. Hayes, President & CEO, Cauldwell Wingate Company

H. Dale Hemmerdinger, President, Atco Properties & Management, Inc.

C. Robert Henrikson, Chairman, President & CEO, MetLife, Inc.

Glenn H. Hutchins, Co-CEO, Silver Lake
Mel M. Immergut, Chairman, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Brad S. Karp, Chair, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Charles R. Kaye, Co-President, Warburg Pincus LLC
Robert P. Kelly, Chairman & CEO, BNY Mellon
David P. Kirchhoff, President & CEO, Weight Watchers International, Inc.
Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman & CEO, Alcoa Inc.
William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
Paul A. Laudicina, Managing Officer & Chairman of the Board, A.T. Kearney, Inc.
Rochelle B. Lazarus, Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide
Richard S. LeFrak, Chairman & CEO, The LeFrak Organization
Don G. Lents, Chair, Bryan Cave LLP
Martin Lipton, Senior Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Leonard Litwin, President, Glenwood Management Corp.
Terry J. Lundgren, Chairman, President & CEO, Macy’s, Inc.
Peter L. Malkin, Senior Partner & Chairman, Malkin Holdings, LLC
Donald B. Marron, Chairman & CEO, Lightyear Capital
Theodore Mathas, Chairman, President & CEO, New York Life Insurance Company
William L. McComb, Chief Executive Officer, Liz Claiborne Inc.
Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Moody’s Investors Service
Harold McGraw, III, Chairman, President & CEO, The McGraw-Hill Companies
John F. Megrue Jr., Chief Executive Officer, U.S., Apax Partners, L.P.
Edward J. Minskoff, President, Edward J. Minskoff Equities, Inc.
Mitchell Modell, Chief Executive Officer, Modell’s Sporting Goods
Kenneth D. Moelis, Chief Executive Officer, Moelis & Company
Surya N. Mohapatra, Chairman & CEO, Quest Diagnostics
Thomas J. Moran, Chairman, President & CEO, Mutual of America Life Insurance Company
Robert E. Moritz, Chairman & Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Duncan L. Niederauer, Chief Executive Officer, NYSE Euronext
Vikram S. Pandit, Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup Inc.
Richard D. Parsons, Chairman, Citigroup and Senior Advisor, Providence Equity Partners
Michael Patsalos-Fox, Chairman, The Americas, McKinsey & Company, Inc.
John Paulson, President, Paulson & Co., Inc.
James D. Robinson, III, Co-Founder & General Partner, RRE Ventures
Stephen M. Ross, Chairman & CEO, The Related Companies, L.P.
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Chairman & CEO, WL Ross & Co. LLC
Michael I. Roth, Chairman & CEO, Interpublic Group
Steven Roth, Chairman, Vornado Realty Trust
William C. Rudin, CEO and Vice Chairman, Rudin Management Company, Inc.
Kevin P. Ryan, Chairman & Founder, Gilt Groupe
Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder, The Blackstone Group
Dominick M. Servedio, Chairman & CEO, STV Inc.
Joseph C. Shenker, Chairman, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Peter Stringham, Chairman & CEO, Young & Rubicam
James S. Tisch, President & CEO, Loews Corporation
Edward D. Turen, Chairman and CEO, Control Equity Group
John B. Veihmeyer, Chairman & CEO, KPMG LLP
Rohan Weerasinghe, Senior Partner, Shearman & Sterling
Charles Weinstein, Chief Executive Officer, EisnerAmper LLP
Fred Wilson, Co-Founder, Union Square Ventures
Tim Zagat, CEO & Co-Chair, Zagat Survey LLC
Strauss Zelnick, Chief Executive Officer, ZelnickMedia Corporation

If you would like to join these leaders in advocating sensible immigration reform, please join the Partnership For a New American Economy.

NYC Mayor and Media Tycoon Address Congress On Immigration Reform

Chris Gafner — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:36:21 +0000

Two of the smartest business men in America addressed Congress’ House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee last week about the need to fix the immigration system. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg began his testimony by stating, “Our broken system of immigration is undermining our economy, slowing our recovery, and hurting millions of Americans.” Rupert Murdoch stated, “As an immigrant, I chose to live in America because it is one of the freest and most vibrant nations in the world. And as an immigrant, I feel an obligation to speak up for immigration policies that will keep America the most economically robust, creative and freedom-loving nation in the world.”

These two self made men know that actions speak louder than words and that immigration reform is needed ASAP. Now if Congress would only act, and act wisely.

Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill Introduced – And Going No Where

Chris Gafner — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:48:51 +0000

Yesterday the Senate introduced a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill. The bill was introduced by Senators Menendez and Leahy. The purpose of the bill’s introduction is unclear. It is obvious to everyone involved that the bill is not going anywhere because elections are only a few weeks away and there will be a lame duck session after the election. The sole purpose behind the bill may be to demonstrate to voters that Democrats purport to want immigration reform. As one immigration maven stated, it isn’t even worth reviewing.

Colbert Testifies Before Congress on Immigration Reform

Chris Gafner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:15:06 +0000

Steven Colbert was recently invited to testify before Congress concerning immigration reform and the need for an AgJobs Bill that would allow for legal status for those immigrants who help harvest America’s food.

The selection of Colbert was due in part because he focused on the plight of workers and spent one day pretending to work as a migrant worker.

Is this really a good use of the Committee’s time? Did the committee think it was going to learn something from a Comedian? Obviously not, my only thought was that the Committee wanted to bring attention to the matter. Otherwise – whats the point?

President Obama Wants Congress to Act, Not Willing to Use Administrative Powers

Chris Gafner — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:28:13 +0000

When President Obama entered the White House it was thought by many immigration advocates that now might actually be the time when comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) might become a reality. Advocates were especially optimistic with President Obama’s party controlling both the House and the Senate. Yet, nearly two years into the Obama Administration, no major progress has been made in obtaining CIR. The Senate has not even introduced a CIR bill.

A few months back, when it was obvious that CIR was not going to be happening soon, it was thought by many that President Obama would use his executive powers to take administrative steps to correct certain inequities. A proposed memorandum was even circulated.

Nevertheless, the President has recently crushed the hopes of many advocates as he signaled that he would not use his administrative powers to change certain immigration inequities. Mr. President would have been perfectly within his rights to seek certain changes through administrative changes, yet he prefers to wait for Congress to act. When will Congress act? Not this year – and next year isn’t looking likely either…

Dilate and Repatriate

Chris Gafner — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:11:37 +0000

The Colbert Report never seems to have a lack of material to use in making fun of the U.S. Government’s immigration policy. Here is a piece about the recent “anchor baby” and 14^th amendment circus.

The Colbert Report

Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Citizenship Down – Akhil Amar

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

Overturn the 14th Amendment For What?

Chris Gafner — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:15:47 +0000

Judging from the rhetoric that is swirling around about the need to change the 14th Amendment, you would think that the number of children born in the United States to mothers living outside the United States would be huge. Why else would a politician even propose changing the U.S. Constitution?

The facts just do not support the notion that it is a huge problem. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, just 7,760 mothers report that they live outside the United States out of more than 4,000,000 U.S. births each year.