Immigration Reform Press Conference - Remarks by Thomas J. Donohue

National Press Club
January 19, 2006

Thank you all for being here. I'm pleased to be joined by my friends in the business, organized labor, and religious communities to talk about an issue that is extremely important to the future of this nation.

In the simplest terms, our immigration policy is broken and will stay broken until we fix it. Everyone – regardless of party or ideology – agrees with this, though, as you know, there are many different ideas on how to fix it.

The Chamber strongly believes that immigration reform must be comprehensive and balanced to meet both our security and economic needs.

We are extremely disappointed with the proposal that passed the House last month. It is anything but comprehensive and balanced.

And, by the way, please don't call it immigration reform – it's an unworkable enforcement bill only that fails to recognize the contributions of immigrants and our growing need for them in the future.

But now our attention has shifted to the Senate, which we believe is amenable to a comprehensive, rational bill.

Several different proposals have been introduced, and we are working constructively with the sponsors of each one. We believe that workable, sensible immigration reform must include three components.

First, it must address—through some type of targeted earned adjustment—the status of undocumented workers who are already here working, paying taxes, and contributing to our economy.

Some like to use the word "amnesty." We don't support amnesty.

We support legislation that would provide a step-by-step process in which an undocumented worker could qualify for permanent legal status.

That process could include paying a reasonable civil penalty for entering the U.S. illegally; demonstrating a substantial length of time in the workforce; and completing a program that requires continuous work, a clean criminal record, and progress in English proficiency. No one in this country illegally is going to get a free ride.

The alternative approach—rounding up and deporting the 10 to 11 million illegal aliens already working here —is ridiculous on it face. There is no perfect solution, but providing a pathway to legal status under certain conditions, bringing these workers out of the shadows, is the best way to go.

Second, immigration reform should allow employers to hire foreign workers under a temporary worker system—after employers have failed to find U.S. workers.

A temporary worker program is absolutely essential for addressing the current and future worker shortage that is the result of our expanding economy and the impending retirement of 77 million baby boomers—with a lack of home-grown workers available to replace them.

The third and final component of comprehensive immigration reform is stronger enforcement of our immigration and border security laws.

Let me be very clear – we support a well-enforced and secure border, both south and north. And we believe that employers have a role to play in checking the legal status of workers – though not as the House envisions, with heavy criminal and civil fines and a mandated electronic worker verification system that would apply to all 140 million workers in this country.

Before I yield the microphone, let me address the often heard argument that business supports immigration reform because it would increase the supply of cheap labor. That simply isn't .

The immigration reform we support would encourage illegal aliens to come out from the shadows and would extend to them the legal rights other workers enjoy.

The status quo or a border security bill with draconian fines and penalties would only drive them deeper into the shadows and subject them to exploitation.

If business were interested in taking advantage of immigrant workers, then I don't think you would find the people up here today joined in support of the reforms I have outlined.

Thank you very much. I look forward to your questions.