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Health Care for Immigrants - A Growing Problem
Arizona: Getting Tough on Illegal Hiring

COMMENTARY: by NPG President Donald Mann


Throughout the recent Senate debate on comprehensive immigration reform, speaker after speaker in the halls of Congress, on talk radio and in letters to the editor in newspapers across the country, repeated a very important point: The American people are not against immigration, they are against illegal immigration. As our enemies work overtime to paint those of us who are working to rein-in today's immigration crisis as "racists" and "xenophobes" it is important to drive this point home. The polls show that the vast number of Americans still believe that ours is a nation of laws and expect everyone - especially the newcomers - to live by them.

One of the biggest consequences of Washington's failure to resolve the immigration issue is that the void of leadership created by Congressional inaction is starting to already be addressed by the states and local government. While the primary responsibility for immigration rests with the federal government, many governing bodies are moving forward with strong legislative measures aimed at a singular goal - stop accommodating the illegals and make it more and more uncomfortable for them to live here. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, at least 1,100 immigration-related bills had been submitted by lawmaker's (more than double last year's record total) by the time most state legislatures adjourned by May 1st.

In all, we are seeing many states pass more measures that restrict access to state services to only those who are citizens. We are seeing Governors flexing their muscle and telling the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) that, bowing to the demands of their populace, state and local law-enforcement agencies are going to start to enforce civil immigration laws. We are witnessing county leaders -- swamped by rapidly escalating costs created by massive numbers of illegal immigrants living in their jurisdictions -- stepping forward to find ways to limit access to education. And in some towns, laws restricting the number of people who can live in a residence or the renting or selling of property to illegals is already on the books. In some states we will soon see measures that will hold employers more accountable for knowingly hiring illegal workers or knowingly failing to confirm their immigration status prior to hiring them. The logic behind all of these measures is simple - illegals will go elsewhere if there are no government subsidies and no "welcome" mat put out for them.

In recent years, the actions of lawmakers to restrict drivers' licenses or grant in-state tuition to state colleges and universities for illegals created volatile arguments as politicians were forced to openly vote on where their allegiance lay - with the taxpayers or the lawbreakers. Those pushing such measures were accused of acting anti-American where, in reality, they were acting responsibly. They were serving the voters and enforcing the laws.

Certainly, immigration is a complex issue. But if our Senators and Congressmen would simply summon some political courage and get beyond all of the propaganda and pressures from the special interest lobbyists in Washington, D.C., they will find that dealing with the illegal immigration issue is not as complex as they want to make it. If they fail to do their job to secure our borders, increase interior enforcement, step up deportations and put restrictive limits on future immigration, then perhaps it's time for the voters to fill their seats with men and women from the state and local level who are already proving their ability to lead on the immigration issue as the wimps in Washington stand on the sidelines.

Here at NPG we applaud any action that will responsibly - responsibly being the key word - enforce laws that are already on the books or enact new measures designed to get illegal immigration, and thus population, under control. Our task now is to sustain our resolve. We must continue to stand and fight on the national, state and local level.


HEALTH CARE FOR IMMIGRANTS - A GROWING PROBLEM

The numbers are increasing daily - and so are the costs. But America is a compassionate nation and while many states and communities are taking action to restrict access to social services for immigrants, the line is drawn at keeping people healthy. It must be done.

A recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites the conflicts many communities face in making sure immigrants - especially Hispanics - understand the importance of getting children immunized, getting pre-natal care, and are overall healthy. The article focuses on a small town of Hanover, PA which is predominantly filled with descendants of German immigrants of more than a century ago.

Hospitals in the area are "being forced to re-examine how they deliver services." The Post-Gazette story notes that "Hispanics are projected to become the largest rural minority population by 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture analysis of census data. Their population nearly doubled from 1.4 million to 2.7 million in rural towns between 1980 and 2000, with Hispanic representation among rural residents rising from 3 per cent to 5.5 per cent during the same period." It also quoted Amy Elizondo, vice president of program services for the National Rural Health Association as noting that along the nation's southern border "You see a lot of overflow in emergency rooms...You're looking at Third-World type problems."

While the situation in Hanover has not reached those levels, changes are very much in evidence. The hospital had to hire two bilingual patient relations coordinators to assist emergency room patients last fall and looks to hire two more to provide round-the-clock service. One topic not covered by the Post-Gazette was how much these additional services cost the hospital and the taxpayers. Click on the link above for the full story.


ARIZONA: GETTING TOUGH ON ILLEGAL HIRING

In Arizona, where more illegal immigrants cross over from Mexico than any other state, the legislature is finally getting tough. They are cracking down on employers who hire illegals.

According to a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor, the Grand Canyon State has passed a new law with a two-strike penalty: A business knowingly employing an illegal immigrant gets its business license suspended temporarily and a second offense means permanent revocation of that license.

The strident measure comes in the wake of Congressional inaction and is a welcome sign that more and more states and localities are getting tough - especially on employers who are a key magnet for the growing flood of immigrants.

The Christian Science Monitor notes that employers are not happy with the new law but will do their best to conform to it. "The ink had barely dried on Gov. Napolitano's signature of the new law before employers began scrambling to figure out how to comply with the measure that many have dubbed the 'business death penalty'."

Essentially, Arizona is simply forcing companies to use the Basic Pilot Program, a federal ID-verification system that was put in place by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 but which has essentially been ignored and not fully utilized. Many employers have problems with the Basic Pilot Program potentially making mistakes and business owners gripe about new costs - especially potential legal costs - defending themselves against a system that may not have accurate up-to-date information.

Not all is perfect with the new law. As the Monitor notes: "Governor Napolitano has asked the state legislature to return in a special session this fall to address some of what she calls 'flaws' of the new measure, including the lack of protection for critical infrastructure. 'Hospitals, nursing homes and power plants could be shut down for days because of a single wrongful employment decision,' " she said in a statement. Also, the Governor considers the provision to be "overbroad" recognizing that businesses with multiple locations could face shutdown of the entire operation when an infraction occurs at just one jurisdiction.

NPG applauds the Arizona state legislature and Governor Napolitano for advancing such a far-reaching, get-tough measure. It not only serves to address Arizona's ever-growing immigration crisis but puts such powerhouse organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business Owners who were such ardent backers of the Senate's failed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, on notice that they should be working to stop illegal immigration, rather than feed it - or else their members are going to pay a very stiff price. Click on the link above for the full story.


POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION NEWS NOTES

TRAFFIC JAM

NPG loves any story that underscores our message that it is time to act now to get population under control before it creates a nightmarish future for us all. As it stands, the debate over future car and truck emissions presently going on in the nation's capital may be moot if traffic ends up at a standstill and going nowhere. According to T. Peter Ruane, President and CEO of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association in Washington, DC, we face a bleak transportation future if today's legislators continue to balk at making the decisions today that will accommodate the additional 70 to 80 million people - and their attendant problems - that we can expect in the next two decades. "Over the next 20 years, a tsunami of freight is expected to flood our ports and highways, along with a 60 percent increase in vehicle miles traveled. The average driver can also expect to spend about 160 hours annually - or four work weeks - stuck in traffic congestion by 2030, unless there is significant new highway and transit capacity. This means putting all revenue options on the table, including an increase in the federal gas tax, tolling and PPPs. Only when Congress and the White House confront this political reality can we begin to take meaningful steps to get America moving again."

PHOENIX MOVES UP

Phoenix, one of America's fastest growing cities, displaced Philadelphia as America's fifth most populous city according to population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau on June 28th. As of July 1, 2006, the desert metropolis had a population of 1.5 million. Philadelphia continues a decades-long decline.

In making the announcement, the Census Bureau noted that, "Nearly a century ago, in 1910, each of the 10 most populous cities was within roughly 500 miles of the Canadian border. The 2006 estimates show that seven of the top 10 - and three of the top five - are in states that border Mexico.


QUOTABLE

"Mr. Kennedy, who has served nine presidents, has always held the view that it is better to enact imperfect legislation, and fix it later, than to do nothing."

The New York Times
July 4, 2007

"Over the coming decades we expect that New York City will add nearly a million more people. While this growth should bring tremendous benefits to our economy, it could also overwhelm the infrastructure and transportation systems that support our city - unless we plan now.

The signs of trouble are already clear. Our streets and highways are too congested and our aging mass transit system is in need of significant upgrades. These problems will only get worse as our population swells."

Michael R. Bloomberg
New York City Mayor

"It's a matter of simple, frightening fact, that self-serving private interests can actually control the actions of the Congress of the United States and whether the laws of our land are carried out or ignored.

If we allow this tragic farce to go on, can we honestly continue to call our country a democracy?"

Letter to the Editor
Gerald Albert
Hicksville, NY
The New York Times 7/9/07

"Illegal immigration and the efforts to accommodate it have come about from either bureaucratic prerogative - under pressure from employers and ethnic lobbyists - or courts decisions. In contrast, polls, referenda, and legislative action all reflect a public desire to reduce illegal immigration and close the borders now."

Victor Davis Hanson
National Columnist

"America's illegal immigrant admission has accelerated over time. Congress and President Reagan granted amnesty to three million illegal aliens in 1986; and the current President Bush wants to legalize another 12 million now, which sends an arithmetic signal to other immigrants who want to slip into America that 20 years from now whoever is president will perhaps grant amnesty to 48 million illegal immigrants.

Pete du Pont
Former Governor of Delaware


WHY THE NPG JOURNAL?

The NPG Journal (offered free to all recipients) exists to give more widespread distribution to timely news stories and articles related to population, immigration, environmental and political issues that currently affect our daily life -- or have the potential to seriously impact our future. NPG President Donald Mann offers his personal insight and commentary on individual stories, especially those that challenge, confirm and/or complement our NPG Research and Forum Papers. The goal of the NPG Journal is to greatly expand NPG's educational mission. As NPG celebrates its 35th Anniversary we continue to emphasize the need for Americans to speak up on population issues and keep our nation -- especially our elected leaders on the national, state and local level - focused on taking action to help resolve today's immigration crisis and work to halt, and eventually reverse America's out-of-control population growth.

We welcome your feedback to articles posted on the NPG Journal and urge you to forward us the e-mail address of friends you think would like to receive a complimentary copy of the NPG Journal on a bi-weekly basis. Contact us at www.npg.org.


ABOUT NPG:

Negative Population Growth, Inc. (NPG) is a national nonprofit membership organization with over 30,000 members nationwide. It was founded in 1972 to educate the American public and political leaders about the devastating effects of overpopulation on our environment, resources, and standard of living. We believe that our nation is already vastly overpopulated in terms of the long-range carrying capacity of its resources and environment.