Last week, former U.S. Rep. Travis Childers became the first Democratic congressional candidate to sign a pledge to protect American workers.
The move brought criticism from some Democratic-leaning not so much because of his stance against amnesty for undocumented people—a position he has held going back to his days in the U.S. House of Representatives—but because of the reputation of the organization behind the pledge, the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
Because of FAIR's advocacy of limiting immigration into the U.S., some civil-rights organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center have called FAIR extremist and racist.
In a release to news media this afternoon Childers defended position on amnesty, saying:
“As I travel the state of Mississippi, I try to listen to people more than I talk. I ask Mississippians about the issues that are important to them, and I believe it's equally important for me to provide them with answers on where I stand and how I would vote if elected to the U.S. Senate. In every town I visit, voters continue to voice their serious concerns over high unemployment and the lack of job opportunities in our state and want to know where I stand on closing the gap. I continue to believe that Mississippians would be well served by hearing both candidates debate these tough issues, but in the absence of agreement on a public debate from Thad Cochran, I'll continue to explain my positions on the issues."
"Today, Mississippi’s unemployment rate remains one of the highest in the nation. Until we get Mississippians back to work, I can neither support legislation that would grant work authorization or amnesty to people that came here illegally nor can I support increases in guest foreign workers — many of whom accept work at sub-standard wages. There are too many corporations in our state and across the nation who are hiring illegal immigrants and guest workers instead of providing unemployed Mississippians with opportunities to perform hard work at a decent wage. Washington insiders backing Senator Cochran argue that these corporations just can’t find Mississippians willing to do the hard work. However, I know that if the jobs are actually offered to Mississippians and provide livable wages, the people of our state would readily accept the work and do it proudly."
Comments
Steve_Schlicht 9 years, 6 months ago
Most of us are descendants of immigrants.
Human beings are coming here to find a better way of life, just as our families did long ago - so what is wrong with allowing them to attain that same legal standard and becoming tax paying naturalized citizens?
How about signing a petition against corporations and politicians creating the environment for and continuing to allow substandard wages and cheap labor absent any health care or other benefits to begin with?
The premise for this statement from Mr. Childers seems to be:
"American corporations and CEOs are brutally exploiting human beings by paying them substandard wages without health care or other benefits.
But, enough about them - let's punish the workers for killing jobs."
js1976 9 years, 6 months ago
"Human beings are coming here to find a better way of life, just as our families did long ago - so what is wrong with allowing them to attain that same legal standard and becoming tax paying naturalized citizens?"
Human beings that are already here should be given consideration over someone that crosses our borders illegally! What part of illegal do some people just not get?!?!
Do you think it's ok for someone to steal something until they are able to pay for it? That's essentially what illegal immigrants are doing!
Turtleread 9 years, 6 months ago
I would prefer to find a comprehensive way to include guest workers for certain industries, and a pathway to citizenship for others who want that option. By doing this, we could control the access to our job market, our social services, and other benefits. We must make the rules clear by using either amendment or statutory authority to change or interpret the 14th Amendment to mean what it originally meant, and to declare that to be a citizen you must be born either in the U.S. of at least one parent being a U.S. citizen. Then, we must provide extremely tough rules for those who came here earlier to remain and gain citizenship and make clear that this is the last time the country will do so. And the new penalty for overstaying your visa or sneaking into the country should be a felony.