PubliCola Video and Photos from Saturday’s Immigration Reform Rally

Bad idea to try for immigration reform in a down economy. The usual argument – that Americans are no longer willing to work in the fields or do the other unpleasant jobs that Mexican immigrants do – is probably not true anymore in the context of 10 percent unemployment. Witness the number of people who applied for the garbage hauler scab jobs. The percent who got an interview (about 6) was lower than the admissions rate at Harvard Law School! Sure, those jobs pay much better than installing drywall or picking asparagus, but even very low wage jobs are competitive these days, and those wages would go up if the government got serious about cracking down on employers who hire workers with false documents.

Great idea to pass immigration reform this year – in a recession. Hmm. Provide hard working people who stay out of trouble with the confidence of citizenship? More contributions to our economy, strong tax base, more consumer spending, they are buying houses and other commodities, and they are getting involved in their communities. No brainer. Let's get this done and move on. Our economy needs it!

Scott, I agree with you that immigration reform would improve the tax base, although the impact on government coffers would vary by level of government and some governments would see net losses because these new citizens would use more public services. My concern is not with the impact immigration reform would have on public finances but on the wages of poor Americans – a concern the Democratic party ought to share.

The immigration of low-skilled workers depresses the wages of the low-skilled workers who are already here. There is a consensus on this point in the economics literature, but I would refer you to the labor market studies done by George Borjas at Harvard for starters. (http://www.borjas.com/)

By the way, I care a great deal about the hard-working poor people in Latin America and other parts of the world who are desperate to get to the United States. But it's clear opening the U.S. to anyone who wants to come here would be disastrous to them while further depressing the wages of the working poor who are already here.

To the extent that the U.S. has a role in reducing poverty in Mexico and Central America, it should slash agricultural subsidies so that Dominican sugar producers can compete with U.S. beet farmers, remove exemptions from the DR-CAFTA that unfairly target the very products in which those countries have a comparative advantage, etc. Labor market flexibility will only make sense when the region's wage levels are in much closer parity.

At what point do these stop being political events and just become social outings for people who like to yell and sing?

A rally like this in Texas, or Arizona, or even in DC would be something, still not all that likely to really make that much of a difference, but something nonetheless.

This is just the usual characters (OMG McDermott supports reform!) in the usual place doing the usual thing.

and ICE was where, exactly?

The most progressive legislation for reform for immigration was pushed by President Bush in 2007 and it included an easy “path to citizenship” for those already living and working in the US for a certain amount of time.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN27426438200…

There are a number of economists that would disagree with you, ranging from the progressive Center for American Progress http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/… to the libertarian CATO Institute: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10438. What both of these reports, from very different sources find is that a path to legalization and more rational enforcement policies will lead to higher wages for all American workers.

People forget that immigrants are also consumers and make up a very significant part of our tax base (both legal and undocumented immigrants). Can you imagine taking 12 million consumers out of the U.S. economy right now? In WA State, immigrants actually pay a disproportionate amount in taxes. A path to legal status for a very important portion of the American workforce will lead to improved working conditions and higher wages, while providing companies with the workforce they need to be successful. Ask any major company in WA State, from Microsoft to the Grower's Association, and they will tell you our immigration system needs reform.

social outings with singing are political events.

then you get follow up like on this blog.

a recession is a great time for immigration reform.

teachable lessons are:
–the nation that attracts smart immigrants with labor and industry will have a growing economy!
–immigrants work hard and benefit us all with their strong family values, their love of the USA and the tax stream they create.
–immigrants and native workers are united to tackle issues like minimum wage and health care reform that improve the economy for everyone.
–here in the USA the top moral value is opportunity for all, we do this with immigration reform, sticking true to our values. We're not a bunch of snobby eurowhites (I hope). Even in a recession we don't retreat or raise walls, but have an open stance. This is what makes America America. It's an idea, not an ethnicity.

Personally I say bien fucking venidos and I have no problem in Mexicans coming here and I don't care if they end up being 75% of the population, their culture is a lot better than ours in many ways. I don't see them being all racist and shit and they welcome a shitload of us. And frankly for a nation that we took half of without invitation, um, who are we really to be erecting walls on borders. We didn't respect theirs.

also every immigration reform leads to a higher % of democrats. that's a good thing. let's be open about it.

Long term though many Mexican-Americans are natural Republicans.

Strong family ties, strongly religious, hard working, entrepreneurial, self-starters…

THANK YOU for covering this event in an excellent way with great pix and especially the great video clips that make the case for immigration reform, which is one of the major social justice issues of our time.

Oh, sure. The Republicans are ALL about “Strong family ties, strongly religious, hard working, entrepreneurial, self-starters…”

In your dreams, Bailo.

Republicans are about greed, hypocrisy, dodging personal responsibility, willful ignorance, and corporate welfare.

In your heart, you know I'm right.

As far as I'm concerned, the WASP puritan culture has destroyed this country. Time to give another group a shot.

Love the video and pics. Rock on Cola.

I would say it wasn't the usual characters at all. McDermott sure, but also video messages from Murray and Cantwell. Undocumented folks telling their story-sure, but also white farm owners, other business owners, Microsoft representative, Filipino war vets, the Bishop. . .the list goes on. People from all different backgrounds want immigration reform for different reasons.

Great shots and video, Publicola!

As a 3rd generation Mexican American whose grandparents LEGALLY emigrated here in the 1920s, I can assure you that a significant majority of Mexican Americans are actually fairly conservative in their political beliefs. You're actually the one in the wrong Barry. Sorry.

Great coverage, Publicola! videos, pics, and sparking a good discussion. immigration reform echos the civil rights movement in so many ways. what is “difficult” or “controversial” now will seem self evident years from now. let's get this reform passed now!

That bill wasn't progressive at all. Granted, Bush wasn't totally awful on immigration (that was just about the only issue he wasn't totally awful on) but the bill was made far too punitive by congressional Republican leaders in a desperate (and ultimately futile) bid for support from the racist fringe. It included high fines, a pointless, punitive “touchback” requirement and new restrictions on family unification, among other problematic provisions. I hope the current Congress can do somewhat better, because I believe there should be a way for people who have no resources other than their labor power to come here and work with dignity. But given the current state of the economy I don't expect it to happen this year.