Arizona’s immigration law was found generally constitutional this week by the U.S. Supreme Court, though we’re still waiting for a federal judge to rule whether South Carolina’s similar law racially profiles Hispanics.
But regardless of whether the Palmetto State’s draconian immigration policy is ruled legal, does that make it a good idea?
“In these economic times, we simply can’t afford to play around with hateful policies, and it’s better for all when we have welcoming communities rather than those that marginalize and exclude,” writes Maryanne Sinclair Slutsky for Newsday. “The Supreme Court determined the constitutionality of the “papers, please” provision of SB 1070, not its wisdom.”
A study released by the Center for American Progress last year showed that removing Arizona’s undocumented immigrant population by either deportation or fear of retribution by law enforcement would do a great deal of harm to the state’s economy, and we can use that as a baseline to show the effect a similar action would have on South Carolina’s economy as well.
About 445,000 undocumented immigrants were living in Arizona as of 2008, according to Pew Hispanic Center data. That year, Arizona’s undocumented workforce added more than $42 billion to the state’s economic output — the total value of all goods and services produced in the economy. Much of that economic benefit came as tax revenue, with undocumented workers contributing an estimated $2.8 billion in total taxes to Arizona’s economy, including nearly $1.8 billion in sales tax revenue alone.
In fact, the output and spending of just undocumented workers generated 581,000 Arizona jobs in 2008 — something legal residents can appreciate as well.
The Pew Hispanic Center estimated that only 55,000 undocumented immigrants were living in South Carolina as of 2010, or about 12 percent of the size of Arizona’s population. Still, adding 12 percent of $42 billion to South Carolina’s economy is no small amount (it’s $3.4 billion, to be exact) in a state that is still struggling more than others to recover from the ongoing recession.
By contrast, the Center for American Progress found that mass deportation of undocumented workers means mass income losses for the state. The Washington, DC-based think tank estimated that Arizona’s gross state product would be reduced by $48.8 billion if all undocumented workers driven from the state, nearly 20 percent of the state’s economy. Meanwhile, according to estimates, overall employment in Arizona would drop by nearly 17 percent.
“Operating for an extended time with a depleted workforce may mean the difference between keeping the doors to the business open or shutting them for good,” the study’s authors write.
Palmetto Public Record has previously examined how the immigration law is already starting to hurt South Carolin’s tourism and agricultural industries, which happen to be the two biggest economic drivers in the state.
“These people don’t cause any trouble, they just come here to work,” a Charleston County vegetable grower said after having to burn a quarter of his tomato crop because he had no labor to pick it.
The Center for American Progress study also found that legalizing Arizona’s undocumented workforce would add 261,000 jobs to the state’s economy and increase tax revenues by $1.7 billion. And while it’s understandable for many to be skeptical about blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants, one thing is clear. Kicking them all out of the state will do nothing to solve South Carolina’s economic difficulties, and may even make them much worse.
The Obama Justice Department led by the notorious U.S. Attorney General Eric holder has been harassing the legal residents of Arizona, as some plaything? The Obama’s administration is playing with the lives of innocent citizens, being slaughtered on the highways of America, the criminals who have spilled into this sovereign nation, transporting their drugs across the border. Daily headlines in the rural press tell of murders, home invasion and assaults on women and children by illegal aliens. How many more citizens are going to live in fear of their lives throughout the border region? Which cattleman is going to be murdered on his land, have their home ransacked, fences cut or their property covered with narco-terrorist trails leaving piles of human trash.
Who will be the next U.S. border Patrol agent to die, through slip shod programs such as ‘fast and furious’ an unraveling mystery as yet to be revealed? Just look at the statistics of crimes on ‘THE DARK SIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION’ website? But the mainstream Liberal press either denies this is happening or refuses to print the truth. Of course the Ultra Socialist editors in the mainstream media always corrupt the evidence, stating that Americans commit the same offenses. Obviously Americans do, but does that mean we should tolerate the heinous criminals from other nations and third world countries who shouldn’t be here in the first place. Both political parties in their own wretched way, have brought this epidemic on this land.
However, they refuse to recognize, that if the border was really secured or they could track the over stays, who use international flights as foreigners posing as tourists. All this mayhem brought about by years of what I think was intentional unconcern and ignorance by decades of previous governments. Seeing the Supreme Court’s ruling didn’t go exactly the Justice Department way, they are acting like a spoiled child by cutting of the 287(g) enforcement law for the Grand Canyon state. In light of yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling, the Obama Administration has suspended the 287(g) program in Arizona and enforcements. Holder using their ultimate power to intimidate the desert state that is trying to survive the onslaught of illegal aliens. A Justice Department should be there to help protect the people, but instead they are using any manner of issues to undermine the Arizona state sovereignty.
The 287(g) program is an official partnership between local law enforcement agencies and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aid in enforcing federal immigration laws at the local level. Federal officials said the program is no longer needed in Arizona now that the Court has upheld the section of the state’s immigration-enforcement law requiring all police to check immigration status. What is next for the Obama regime and his Czar goons, to rescind the ‘Secure Communities’ so local police cannot fingerprint suspicious people who may be illegal aliens.
A COVERT AMNESTY HAS BEEN PASSED BECAUSE PRESIDENT OBAMA, HAS NOT ONLY DISMISSED LAWS PASSED BY THE CONGRESS, BUT NOW IS STATED THAT IT WILL NOT ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS, SPECIFICALLY ON THE ONGOING INTIMIDATION OF ARIZONA. IN OTHER WORDS THIS PRESIDENT HAS METHODICALLY TORE UP THE EDICTS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND ALLOWING FOREIGN NATIONALS TO STAY BY EXECUTIVE FIAT. THIS MAN DOESN’T SEEM TO CARE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS BEING OVERWHELMED BY THE POVERTY FROM SOUTH OF THE BORDER, BUT ALSO A MAGNET TO MILLIONS OF PREGNANT WOMEN WHO ONCE ARRIVE HERE CAN STEAL THE WELFARE OF AMERICAN FAMILIES. ONCE SMUGGLED THROUGH THE BORDER 400.000 ILLEGAL ALIEN MOTHERS ANNUALLY CAN REAP THE REWARDS OF CRIMINALLY ENTERING THE UNITED STATES. WHAT SHOULD BE GOING TO OUR OWN CITIZENS, BEING BLED FROM STATE TREASURIES TO PAY FOR THE WELFARE THROUGH COURT UNFUNDED MANDATES.
We are looking at a President that has added trillions of dollars to the 16 trillion deficits. With Hillary Clinton going overseas and giving $2 billion of taxpayers’ money to some obscure organization in these administrations push for green energy. Not satisfied with this, the Democrats are selling Americas rights of the oceans; with ‘The Treaty of the Sea’.
We should not be looking from either the Obama Government or the Mitt Romney potential administration, but the TEA PARTY. IT is the Time of the PEOPLE’S PARTY. It is the time for the TEA PARTY, which is complimented by man/women; African, White, Hispanic, Asian and other Americans of different nationalities. The TEA PARTY is a wealth of different religions, faiths, gay and ordinary people of every walk of life. Remember a large Majority who votes for President Obama for a second term could be non citizens or American citizens who spend their days watching TV, selling drugs, collecting public assistance and living off the rest of us as parasites. The exception is the sick and true disabled human beings, so think of their dilemma who taxpayers should be assisting, instead of foreigners. If you are frustrated with feeding the rest of the world, unable to get a decent job then join the TEA PARTY. The controversial immigration debate and the problems it has brought; it is a theft of your taxes.
Obama’s new the rules and regulations have been forced on American with its so called ‘Political Correctness’ along with its growing taint of Socialism philosophies impregnating our young in the schools and universities. President Obama has placed obstacles to halt the extraction of valuable energy resources in our time of urgent need. This administration has squashed efforts to extract oil, natural gas and coal; that we could lower the costs from transportation, but sell residual amounts to friendly foreign countries. The progressive’s zealots in the environmentalist world have stopped the laying of oil pipelines from Canada to Texas, and in Utah the Prairie dog has more dominion over townsfolk people through the absolute fanatical ‘Endangered Species’ law. I wonder how long it will be before the Obama Administration taxes us even more, because we actually have a pulse.
Two of the most controversial issue, that we must be imposed at once, so no more foreign invaders are encouraged to break the immigration ‘Rule of Law’. ‘THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ (E-VERIFY) must be passed and advanced, so illegal aliens can no longer steal jobs from the millions of Americans unemployed. The ‘BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ACT (H.R.140) must be compulsory so un born babies smuggled into America, so that parents cannot take benefit from welfare, once the child become an immediate citizen. Half a million pregnant women enter the United States looking for handouts annually, for their children.
This is the time when every American who believes in the ‘Rule of Law’ and steps forward to let their Senator or Congress person knows how you will vote. Tell the politician’s aide (screener) and that you want them to sponsor E-Verify and the Birthright Citizenship bills. Citizen voters should phone Congress at the central Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Insist YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN TO fulfill their obligation to the oath of office and stop pandering to the businesses that use cheap labor or the pro-illegal alien lawmakers that you are only voting for those who favor the TEA PARTY ideology. Use the power of your VOTE to demand they sponsor these to policies or we are destined to become like Europe, overwhelmed by the poverty of other nations.