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Turning now to.
Dobbs form.
We're focusing tonight on our ongoing discussion of illegal immigration some of the concrete solutions that our panelists and offer up.
We're joined tonight as we have been.
Weeks now.
All in -- -- Executive director of the national immigration forum -- good to have you -- this.
Overheard part -- junior attorney who serves as counsel to business interest affected by.
Immigration laws former General Counsel to senator Kay Bailey conscience and good to have you -- this Crisco bank of Kansas secretary of state co author of the controversial.
Anti illegal immigration law in Arizona good to have you with us.
Or starting with first and foremost senator Dick Durbin I'm -- -- -- start with the if I may.
Senator Dick Durbin.
Bringing church and state together in the minds of some seeking a DREAM Act Sabbah.
What do you think.
Well this is that -- the issue of immigration issue bearish reform has long been an issue that the faith community has has wrestled with advocated for.
And I think it's it's well with and the rights.
The church community in the faith community to take a position on this important issue that's affecting their congregations I remember.
You know it churches and faith communities take similar positions around education issues around Stanley issues around life issues.
So this is -- an important set of leadership in the country that is saying that we need to fix the immigration system in the DREAM Act is a good solid first that.
Your thoughts now.
It is a good first step to start looking at solutions.
We've got one here.
But I do think that.
The DREAM Act as has been introduced has failed in the past.
And it is not gonna necessarily go somewhere and get sixty votes in the United States senate.
I think we need to reach out and find that right solution there is a way to address the situation.
That is -- and whether it's student -- -- or whether it's worker visas.
We can look at visas for individuals and C the qualifications -- can get us there.
Okay.
And our wanted to to goes to that issue because your that in.
Dollar is offering a -- and a compelling case for visas and expanding.
Those movies are programs.
The -- your thoughts.
About well I -- out.
Well I think the DREAM Act in principle as -- as an -- more in -- in reality it's a nightmare.
And it's been a favorite hobby horse of senator Durbin for quite a few years and eight for those our viewers to me happy familiar that is its Armenia amnesty for about two million or more.
Illegal aliens and also gives in state tuition makes -- permissible to give in state tuition.
To illegal aliens so basically it's it's something that comes a great public expense taxpayer's -- bear the burden.
As well as at the state level taxpayers bearing the burden for in state tuition so.
-- I I find it curious that he would push this as a religious issues to be generous with other taxpayers money.
So at any -- I don't you know I don't think it's gonna go anywhere in in -- seems to be more a bit of a gimmick and I any real effort that policy making a serious way.
Only your rebuttal on them.
Well I think when when you look closely at the issue of immigration reform whether it's a DREAM Act or the broader package we actually see that it creates jobs and it creates revenue.
We see that if you -- passed comprehensive immigration reform require people to get right with a lot required them and their employers to pay attack there taxes.
We'd be bringing in over three or four trillion dollars.
In fact if you were to and I'm sorry two point six trillion dollars effort to fix this system that way -- the sort two point six trillion dollar and and in economic growth over ten you know off because -- -- immigration while you're talking I don't know if -- burial here everything contributed so much of the economy -- I would not of opposed at all with this exactly -- -- not likely that nothing very quiet and when you when you look at the status quo when you look at the status -- in terms of the billions of dollars -- spending -- enforcement.
And -- -- billions of dollars are losing in terms of tax revenue.
It's actually a huge loss so we are barely down a path.
Continued -- growth -- our debt and continued loss -- revenue.
As we have -- -- ration system.
Fared so well in that case let me ask you this let's go to veteran's point.
What about enlarging the -- -- program.
Rather than give move off on Andrew you know the issues that seem -- -- Sidetrack us each time derailed the discussion toward.
As you put -- getting people right with the law.
Why not move them into -- Visa programs.
A because they are here to work to improve their their lives in many cases -- billions of dollars back to their countries of origin.
Why not move them into a work Visa program is that a fair construction that are.
It sure is that's that's where we need to begin our first happened we can we can talk about who's qualified are not qualified for those.
And some cases you might find a college graduate from our institutions like my alma mater Texas -- and them.
That may want to plot for one of those visas and get a job.
If you wanna bring your alma mater into it -- Iraq -- -- -- clocked at.
Chris about the universe and I look at Kansas State your name.
Well I think you could bring either one of those and that they're not my particular -- -- but that look if if we say that a a work Visa program is eligible to illegal aliens the United States.
Then we have to be careful we're talking -- that's an amnesty that's just saying we'll take some of his illegally present and give them legal status what they have stolen.
So I would certainly oppose that.
And I -- -- 11 area where there might be room for compromise and I think reasonable people can can maybe find some room for agreement even if they disagree and other things is.
We'll do we need to change any of the numbers.
For -- -- in particular.
Categories of jobs.
And there I think the the debate -- is far from settled because in some areas it appears that we have too many.
Workers on legal visas and other areas in that case could be made it may be more are necessary but again in a time of high unemployment and fourteen million Americans are out of work.
It's going to be hard to find any sector of the economy.
Where we don't have Americans looking for jobs and that tells the key point that the US government has used in giving out work visas in the past has been you've got to show that you can't find any US citizens.
Who are willing to take that job and I think that's gonna be -- a tall order right now we have to.
Remember we calibrate our immigration policy so that it meets our nation's needs our nation's interest at any particular time.
And at this particular time our number one interest is getting Americans back to work.
I would agree with the one thing that Chris just that it that our immigration system -- -- by stunned right now.
That our immigration system needs to serve our nation's interest so when we look at the agricultural industry.
Over three quarters and egg -- and the farm workers are undocumented.
But for every farm -- it actually creates three other jobs upstream and downstream so that's the perfect example of where we need a a legalization program requiring farm workers to get right -- a law.
As well as a legal immigration system.
Very quickly things were way over as usual.
-- Battles put forward.
And interesting concept.
-- work visas.
And is is the focus of getting folks right with the law is that satisfactory to you.
Actually -- we need we need to make sure that people are making contributions.
-- we have a beginning point gentlemen thanks very much.
Chris we're gonna bring you further its fifth if the path to getting point.
Our our next discussion we we think -- all for being here pre.
