Groups including the Mexican American Political Association, (MAPA), and Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, (ANSWER), are planning the “Great American Boycott of 2006†which will occur on May 1. It will include demonstrations demanding legalization of illegal immigrants and protesting H.R. 4437, a bill to increase border security and immigration enforcement. They refer to it as “a day without Latinos†and “a day without immigrants†while ignoring the fact that the bill applies only to illegal immigration.
The “Great American Boycott of 2006,†a boycott of school, work and shopping, may not be as extensive as originally planned. Some advocates of illegal immigrants, including Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony and Juan Carlos Ruiz of the Washington, D.C. based National Capital Immigration Coalition, are encouraging people to attend work and school and to attend evening rallies. Gabriel Gonzalez of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights encourages the boycott of school and work, but not of shopping.
A reason some organizations are encouraging work attendance on May 1 is that some who missed work to participate in earlier rallies were disciplined or fired by their employers. Others are backing off because earlier demonstrations, some of which included foreign flags and cries of “reconquista,†alienated voters. Gonzales of the Illinois Coalition fears a boycott of shopping could hurt the business community.
A possibility that has not been mentioned is that few seemed to miss the illegals’ supposedly massive contribution to our economy when they boycotted work for the April 10 demonstration. Some Americans wondered why illegal immigrants had so much time and energy to spend demonstrating if they are so hardworking. It is true that some were fired by their employers, but that may be an indication of how replaceable they are. The demonstrations received media attention and caused traffic congestion, but business went on as usual. Banner headlines about economic losses due to the absence of those workers that day have yet to appear.
Will we continue to need the labor legalized immigrants or “guest workers†provide? Last month, the jobless rate was 4.7%, a rate considered to be full employment. What happens if the economy takes a downturn? The April 6, 2006 Montgomery Gazette article, “Decision time nears for Gaithersburg,†by Sebastian Montes reports that the a task force appointed by the City of Gaithersburg, MD to research Montgomery county’s three taxpayer funded day labor centers as well as the one in Herndon, VA determined that “not much more than 10% of the day laborers found work on any given day.â€ÂÂ
One of the arguments for amnesty and/or “guest worker†programs is that illegal immigrants do jobs Americans “won’t do,†or more accurately, won’t do for below market wages. If Americans won’t do hard, dirty or dangerous jobs, why do Americans work as coal miners and fishermen? Many seasonal jobs illegals perform in agriculture and hospitality were once done by high school and college students on summer vacation. Students opt out of such work when they think the pay is too low. Illegal immigrants don’t have that negotiating power. If they are given amnesty or “guest worker†status, will they continue working for such low wages? It is likely that the legalized immigrants will demand higher wages or receive welfare that they will become eligible for.
Those who believe legalization of illegal immigrants will save social security and bring in tax money will be disappointed. While these immigrants may demand higher wages as legal residents, most lack the job skills required to earn middle class wages. Many will earn just enough to be able to receive the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Credit, (EIC). Such credits are not refunds of taxes paid, but are money given by the government. After retirement, many low-income workers will receive more in social security benefits than they paid into the program.
Some argue that the cheap labor provided by illegal immigrants provides savings to consumers. That argument leaves the costs to the taxpayers out of the equation. The Federation for American Immigration Reform, (FAIR), estimates that state and local costs associated with illegal immigration are $36 billion annually. In his April 17 Human Events column, Mac Johnson stated that “one study indicated that the average illegal alien household costs taxpayers over $2,700 per year.†Not only will legalized illegal immigrants and their dependents be eligible for more taxpayer-funded benefits than they currently receive, but amnesty and “guestworker†programs will also encourage more people to enter the U.S. illegally. In his April 14 Washington Times article, “Amnesty called an alien invasion,†Jerry Seper quotes a former INS official “noting that after each legalization in the nations’ history, the illegal alien population increased.â€ÂÂ
Jobs, benefits and the possibility of amnesty are incentives for people to enter and reside in the U.S. illegally. The new federal requirement of proof of legal residency for Medicaid eligibility is a step in the right direction. The arrests of IFCO employees for conspiracy to transport, harbor and employ illegal immigrants will also be a step in the right direction if those arrested receive real penalties. Another deterrent to illegal immigration is removal of the possibility of amnesty.
Whether or not the “Great American Boycott of 2006†occurs, those who oppose amnesty should let their Senators and Representatives know. Members of Congress need to be reminded that the voters rather than the demonstrators determine whether or not they are re-elected. It also wouldn’t hurt to demonstrate the economic power of legal U.S. residents by buying something on May 1. Mexico is also planning to boycott U.S. businesses in Mexico on that day. Backers of the Mexican boycott include U.S. based Immigrants Without Borders, Hermandad Mexico and Mexico’s largest labor union, the Federation of Revolutionary Workers and Farmers. The businesses to be boycotted in Mexico include Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Sears, Starbucks and Wal-Mart. Those who believe the U.S., not Mexico, should determine U.S. immigration policies may want to patronize those establishments during Mexico’s May 1 boycott.
Copyright Eva Ellsworth, 04/24/06, all rights reserved
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