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Economics of Immigration Reform

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    Former Governor Haley Barbour weighs in on illegal immigration in America.

  • Duration 5:20
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News alert for you now on President Obama.

Getting set to unveil his plan for immigration.

Reform -- have that later in the day from Las Vegas Haley Barbour joins us right now the former governor of Mississippi.

And mr.

-- in Washington.

DC the politics of this have been really talked about a lot in fact we touched on earlier this hour I'm asking a question about that.

In a moment but let me.

Start with the economics.

Of immigration reform a number of CEOs have told us some Fox Business that they'd like to see this -- the perspective hey let's get some.

Highly skilled immigrants in here that'll help the economy they'll hire American workers and that will help us to get turned around your views on it from that perspective -- -- There's no question that if we follow what is good economic policy for America we'll have immigration reform and it'll be immigration reform.

That allows more.

Skilled and unskilled like foreign workers could come -- -- -- studies we need the labor.

If you look at the labor participation -- them in the United States.

It's almost and it will record low for the percentage of adults who are actually working are trying to get a job only about 58%.

And we need you're gonna grow your economy an element -- that is you have to have enough workers and we don't brought.

Many are we went behind on this aren't we in.

You know that it just -- may be sounds a little off topic but I was doing a story.

Couple years ago on the European financial crisis when they're really at the worst of it.

And it was talking to some college students at the time and in Dublin Ireland and they were they wanted to -- the economy's horrible there.

This and I would love to come over to the United States but that because of the immigration laws were just -- -- it's easier for us and Canada -- -- -- -- -- -- Australia.

And they were going there and these -- engineering students and things like that and we have not had the incentives in place to attract those kind of workers -- for whatever reason.

Well it it.

If you go back to George Bush.

Who in 2005.

Tried very hard -- push through an immigration reform bill unchanged and had.

John McCain who was one of the senators and -- -- group yesterday along with Senator Kennedy sponsored that bill back in the Bush Administration.

So you're right we are light we needed to have been doing this previously.

If we did we would have a stronger economy a faster growing economy and it's been members of your party -- you know held this up for years and you have your own personal views evolved on the issue on immigration reform that you change your mind on any components -- that are.

Actually not -- -- thinking about running for president in 201011.

I said publicly that we're about global battle for capital and labor.

-- we have got to to avail ourselves of the labor we need to have a strong economy that names more immigrants in -- -- You know science technology engineering -- -- But also.

If you look at my state Mississippi -- number one agricultural product is poultry.

Chickens.

And if you -- chicken processing plant in Mississippi everybody -- speak Spanish nobody speaks English.

And if you look at California it's reportedly or fifty to 70%.

Of the farm workers in California which is the biggest agricultural -- in America.

Are not here legally.

Now so from many low skill jobs many have skilled jobs we -- have a great need here.

I do understand my friends who say we shouldn't reward people for break in the wall that -- -- came here illegally we should reward.

So I wanna ask you about the line in the sand with that in mind because that do republic kid is said this -- -- we've got to get conversation the last few minutes.

And we've heard from people like Marco Rubio you mentioned John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

The -- -- are willing to work on this issue but where should they draw a line in the sand.

And not be willing to go past that what is that was look like.

If you ask Alan Simpson who sponsor of the -- big immigration reform bill -- in 1986.

He will continue the failure -- they did not after passing the bill patrolled border.

Even though they had promised everybody that was their number one priority to control more.

And that made.

Illegal immigration of magnets because people fall after -- -- six maybe five muted in the US illegally.

They'll do this again right so if we all are going to have a form of legalization.

Then it's critical that in the process we get control the border which we can do it did they easy it won't be perfect.

We can do that one of the things I liked about this bipartisan bill they also talk about.

-- what to do about the people who come here legally -- of these.

But when the Visa expires they don't leave right you know a third of 40% of the people here illegally didn't sneaky and but can all of student visas or work -- just didn't go home and -- were supposed to we'll -- so.

This this bill O I think is a good -- But right that's just principles there's a lot of work to be done in both houses I was so depressed right -- hopefully it'll be something reasonable yes we can associate the president addresses some of those issues you brought up at the end governor Barbour thanks a lot for coming on.

Thank you column Haley Barbour.

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