Busting Myths

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Busting Myths

• Why Mobilizing for Equality Citizenship
• Benefits ALL Working Families

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The System is Broken

• Everyone can agree that we dont have a
  common-sense immigration process in place.
• Many have questions about what the solution is,
  or how itd benefit Americas workers.
• Lets explore some common myths about immigration
  and then talk about our campaign for reform.

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Myth 1

• Immigration reform means more competition for
  fewer jobs

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Fact

• Immigration reform would create LESS competition
  by raising working standards and protecting good
  jobs.
• The higher earning power of aspiring citizens in
  just the first 3 years after the passage
  immigration reform would generate enough consumer
  spending to support 750,000 to 900,000 jobs.
• Source Raising the Floor for American
  Workers.  

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Myth 2

• Immigration reform will be costly we just
  cant afford it.

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Fact

• The Congressional Budget Office estimates that
  immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship
  would generate an additional 1.5 trillion to the
  economy over 10 years.    

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Myth 3

• Immigration reform only benefits immigrants it
  doesnt affect me.

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Fact

• Studies show that immigration reform with a
  roadmap to citizenship can raise wages for
  immigrant workers by 6. 
• Raising wages for low-wage workers protects good
  jobs and raises working standards for EVERYONE.
• Immigrant rights ARE workers rights.
• Source Immigration for Shared Prosperity. 

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Fact

• High Road employers who obey the law and treat
  workers with respect will no longer be at a
  competitive disadvantage.

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Myth 4

• Immigration reform isnt a workers rights
  issue.

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Fact

• Workers without a roadmap to citizenship
  frequently experience threats of deportation or
  physical violence, unsafe conditions and wage
  theft because they work in an underground economy
  without full rights and too often without a
  voice.
• Immigration reform would unite and strengthen
  worker power and help stop unscrupulous employers.

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Myth 5

• Immigrants strain public services that are
  already stretched too thin.

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Fact

• Added tax revenues from immigrants higher wages
  will help improve public services, including
  education.
• Even the libertarian CATO Institute argues that
  immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship
  would yield at least 1.5 trillion in added GDP
  over 10 years as a result of increased
  consumption, job creation and additional tax
  revenue.
• The labor of out-of-status workers already adds
  billions to our economy, but that money doesnt
  always trickle down to public services because of
  misclassification and wage theft. Immigration
  reform would fix that.
• Source Immigration Policy Center , Time.com

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Myth 6

• Immigrants come here to use our welfare and they
  dont pay taxes.

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Fact

• Immigrant families come here because they love
  this country and want to contribute to our
  economy.
• In most states, welfare options are closed to
  undocumented immigrants.
• In 2006, the IRS Commission told Congress that
  many undocumented immigrants file federal taxes
  paying almost 50 billion at tax time between
  1996 and 2003.
• Undocumented immigrants paid MORE in taxes than
  General Electric in 2010, paying 11.2 billion in
  state and local taxes.
• Source Immigration Policy Center , Time.com

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Myth 7

• Immigrants of today are different than ones from
  generations past.

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Fact

• Until 1918, the United States did not require
  passports the term undocumented immigrant had
  no meaning. New arrivals were required only to
  prove their identity and find a relative or
  friend who could vouch for them.
• Source Washington Post

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Fact

• Washington Post Most of the concerns voiced
  today -- that too many immigrants seek economic
  advantage and fail to understand democracy, that
  they refuse to learn English, overcrowd homes and
  overwhelm public services -- were heard a century
  ago.

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Fact

• Throughout Americas history, people around the
  world have moved here to work hard in order to
  make life better for the next generation.
• We need a process that reflects our roots and our
  values and rewards people who work hard and make
  a contribution to our communities.

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Myth 8

• Immigrants can just get in line to become
  citizens. They should wait in line like everyone
  else.

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Fact

• For many immigrants, there is no line to get into
  in order to become a fully-participating citizen.
• Its easy to become out of status its often
  unintentional.
• Natives of over 20 countries arent even eligible
  to apply for diversity visas.
• Deporting all 11.5 million undocumented aspiring
  citizens living here would take 30 years and cost
  millions of dollars.

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Myth 9

• Guestworker programs are a good solution to help
  us meet labor market needs and legalize
  undocumented immigrants.

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Fact

• Guestworker programs are more like indentured
  servitude. These temporary visas tie immigrant
  workers to their employer meaning that if a
  worker raises concerns about working conditions
  or tries to form a union, s/he risks being not
  just fired, but deported.
• The programs are not based on real data no
  commission exists to independently assess labor
  market needs.

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Comprehensive Immigration Reform
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1. Independent commission to assess labor market
   shortages
2. Effective work authorization mechanism
3. Rational, humane control of the border
4. Fair adjustment of status through a roadmap to
   citizenship
5. Improvement, not expansion, of temporary worker
   programs like the H1-B and H2-B programs

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Everyone Benefits

• Raises standards protects good jobs
• Enriched civic community
• Boosts economy creates jobs
• The right thing to do

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More than three in five union members are in
favor of a comprehensive immigration reform
proposal that includes a roadmap to citizenship
and emphasizes workers rights.
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AP Poll

• According to a new Associated Press poll, more
  than 60 of Americans favor allowing undocumented
  immigrants to eventually become U.S. citizens.

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Our Campaign for Citizenship

• Talking with union members across the country
• Launching a multi-city tour to build support for
  immigration reform
• Opportunity to broaden and build labor movement
• Take the next step
• Check out www.aflcio.org/immigration to learn
  more
• Visit www.workingfamiliestoolkit.com and present
  a workshop

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Questions? Thoughts?

• Contact Jenn Kauffman
• jkauffman_at_aflcio.org
• 202-637-5299