WASHINGTON – Un análisis de los datos del censo revela que, de los 279 mil empleos creados en Texas desde 2007, el 81 por ciento fueron para inmigrantes recientes, de los que casi la mitad entraron al país ilegalmente. Steven Camarota, del Center for Immigration Studies (Centro para Estudios Migratorios), autor del reporte, dice que estos hallazgos no debieran ser demasiado alarmantes, ya que al mismo tiempo aumentó el desempleo entre los trabajadores nativos.

"Pero sucedió algo muy distinto. La población nativa fue la que más influyó en el crecimiento de gente en edad laboral, pero no consiguieron virtualmente ninguno de los empleos nuevos, acaso una pequeña proporción de ellos, y eso es muy extraño."

Afirma que a pesar del tan mencionado "Milagro Tejano de los Empleos", los trabajadores nativos del estado se enfrentan a un panorama laboral tristemente similar al resto del país, con una tasa de empleo que estaría en el lugar 29 nacional, si los inmigrantes fueran sacados de la ecuación.

Fernando García, quien encabeza la Border Network for Human Rights (Red Fronteriza por los Derechos Humanos), no está muy de acuerdo con el desglose que Camarota hace de las cifras, y afirma que en vez de querer que se vayan los inmigrantes, la gente debería reconocer las contribuciones que hacen a la economía, sea como empleados o como consumidores.

"Así que si quitas esos inmigrantes de la ecuación, la recesión hubiera sido más profunda y honda en Texas. Lo que necesitamos hacer es esto: reconocer lo que esos trabajadores son aquí, y sacar a todos esos trabajadores de la oscuridad."

García hace un llamado para una reforma migratoria integral a nivel federal.

Muchos de los empleos creados recientemente en Texas pagan el salario mínimo y menos. Camarota admite que hasta los trabajadores nativos sin educación podrían rechazar muchos de esos puestos que no requieren de habilidades; argumenta que, sin embargo, dificultar la migración forzaría a los patrones a mejorar la paga y las condiciones.

"Si hablas de hacer que el trabajador pobre mejora por haber menos inmigrantes que lleguen al campo y porque los patrones competirán por el grupo de trabajadores, creo que la mayoría opinaría que tal vez sea algo bueno."

Aunque García está de acuerdo en que los sueldos más bajos pudieran mejorar, dice que Camarota no está tomando en cuenta las realidades económica y cultural. Piensa que en una economía sana, ciertas industrias siempre aprovecharán el trabajo básico del inmigrante. Culpar a la migración por el desempleo en la clase media, nos hará equivocar las prioridades.

"Debemos enfocarnos en estabilizar la situación y conseguir que regresen esos empleos de la clase media."

Vea el reporte en .


get more stories like this via email

Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


get more stories like this via email

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


get more stories like this via email

Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


get more stories like this via email