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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: (Arizona) House panel suggests guest worker proposals House panel suggests guest worker proposals Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services Undocumented workers already in the state would be ineligible for employment under any guest worker program Arizona might set up. Sen. Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, said Monday the legislation she crafted with Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, had to be written that way to avoid opposition from “the anti-immigrant crowd.’’ The measure would die if they weren’t excluded, she said. And that, she said, doesn’t help anyone. “Our intent is to fill the need and get some temporary labor here,’’ said Arzberger of HB 2863. But Arzberger conceded the legislation still will leave some companies unable to get the employees with the training and skills they need -- the ones already in the country and working for U.S. firms. The issue arose Monday when the legislation was debated by the House Commerce Committee. The legislation approved by the Commerce Committee would allow Arizona to set up its own guest worker program. Companies with a labor shortage could bring in workers who have passed criminal background checks. Business lobbyists said companies already were having trouble finding workers before the state’s new employer sanctions law took effect Jan. 1. That measure subjects firms to possible suspension or revocation of business licenses for knowingly having employees on the payroll not legally entitled to work here. Sheridan Bailey, owner of Ironco Enterprises, a Phoenix steel fabrication firm, said he got rid of 12 of his 40 production workers because they could not prove they were in this country legally. Bailey said without the ability to hire foreign workers, his company and others will be unable to remain fully staffed. But Rep. Adam Driggs, R-Phoenix, pointed out the legislation specifically says employers who want foreign workers can recruit them only at U.S. consulate offices in Mexico. Driggs said that means the workers already here who want those jobs would have to leave the country to apply for work. He said, though, when people have been in this country illegally they are ineligible to come back legally for 10 years. He questioned whether anyone already here would go through that risk. Arzberger conceded the point. And she said that, in the case of Bailey’s trained workers, it’s unlikely they went back to Mexico -- where Bailey could legally hire them -- but probably now have jobs elsewhere in this country. She said, though, she had no choice: Lock out those already here or have the measure killed. “I just don’t see any way to include them because of all the objections of the anti-immigrant crowd,’’ she said. “They are good workers when they’ve been here that many years,’’ Arzberger continued. “We could use their expertise.’’ Arzberger said none of this would be necessary if Congress acted and adopted some sort of nationwide program to increase the number of foreign workers that can be brought to the United States as well as ease the process. But in the absence of federal action, she said, “we’re going to try to take care of Arizona.’’ Monday’s vote by the Commerce Committee was not unanimous. Rep. Ben Miranda, D-Phoenix, questioned what he said was a “piecemeal approach to immigration reform.’’ He also said the legislation lacked sufficient safeguard to ensure that foreign workers are treated properly. The proposal, even if it becomes law, would be legally meaningless without federal approval. A companion measure also approved Monday by the panel, HCM 2013, specifically urges Congress to give the go-ahead for an Arizona pilot program. Both measures now go to the full House.
Poster Comment: you should see the local controversy over Sheriff Arpaio. Arpaio is going around where at street corners people beg for jobs. that happens all over phoenix metro area. he's only done it in 5-6 places the last month, but it generates huge publicity. He arrests people, sends them home. Recently he shocked everyone by doing a raid in Guadalupe which is in the heart of the metro area, just SE of phoenix, but a very small town of less than 10,000 and all Mexican. in that town you feel like you're in mexico. they have goats, chickens, etc. they speak espanol. and it has been like that for 100 years. and arpaio raided them. our republican sheriff threatens the labor force with arrest, while the republican state legislature and democrat governor are going to institutionalize guest workers first among states, but with federal gov's special cooperation. and here's the kicker I heard from the radio - the local mexican consulate has a list of illegal people here who came in looking for identification. The deal is that the mexican consulate will recruit local people into this program, they will later get a green card. but for years their legal existence in this country will be based on the good will of the employer. they are semi-slaves. and they do this at a time when the economy is bad. and the reality is that the flood of mexican workers has been so enormous that in many blue collar jobs here mexican bosses or foremen will discriminate against americans. the new workers will eventually get green cards, but slavery first.
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