House Committee Investigates Economic Impact of Migrants -- October 31, 2003 -- California Capitol Hill Bulletin -- Volume 10, Bulletin 32

Witnesses testified on the economic and quality of life impacts of immigration at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims on October 30, 2003.

In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Hostetler (IN) referred to stagnant wages among low-skill workers and increased high school dropout rates as the result of wrongheaded immigration policies of the past, "I think it is indisputable that the economic history of the past three decades has been disconcerting," said Rep. Hostetler.

Steve Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies supported Mr. Hostetler's sentiments by detailing the adverse impact on wages and employment sparked by immigrants flooding the low-skilled labor market. Vernon Briggs of Cornell University appealed to the Committee for the creation of stronger sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants expressing dismay at what he feels is the control of immigration policy by special interests.

Los Angeles-based conservative talk-show host Terry Anderson charged that immigration is the cause for white and black displacement in California neighborhoods and workplaces and anger among Californians. He proposed that the recall election was partially a revolt against immigrants by California voters (though he did not comment on why Californians elected a first-generation Austrian immigrant as their next Governor).

In her opening statement, ranking member Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) questioned the rational behind what she viewed as anti-immigrant rhetoric. Responding to suggestions that immigrants cause job loss and mounting unemployment in America, Rep. Jackson-Lee retorted that job opportunities rise with population growth and that immigrants create new economic opportunities while raising productivity. Panelist Daniel T Griswold of the Cato Institute cited a study that showed income rising across all income groups between 1993 and 1999 a period of robust economic growth and robust immigration. Furthermore, the national poverty rate fell by 10 percentage points through the 1990s, according to Mr. Griswold. Mr. Griswold who prefers immigration policies that legalize and regulate migration also submitted that while the supply of low-skilled labor continues to shrink, immigrants provide many natives with the space to go back to school and train for high-skilled work.

"This nation was founded on immigrants" said Rep. Jackson-Lee, who favors a training and reinvestment approach to resolving immigrant labor workforce issues. She went on to remind committee members that immigrants pay taxes and that some had lost their lives serving in Iraq.

Before hearing testimony from panelists, the subcommittee approved a number of private bills providing relief to individuals and families with immigration regulation grievances. Before the bills were approved by voice vote, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (San Jose) submitted and withdrew an amendment that would have reformed immigration law so that adoption discrepancies would have been modified, an action that would have reduced the private bill load in Congress, according to Rep. Lofgren. Ms. Lofgren withdrew her amendment after appealing to Subcommittee Chair Hostetler to examine and modify the operative dates of international adoption finalizations.

For witness testimony and other information, visit the website of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims, at http://www.house.gov/judiciary/immigration.htm .

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