According to Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, and Ashley Monique Webster, a demographer, both at the Center for Immigration Studies, it’s immigrants—both legal and illegal.  Read a synopsis of their research below and view the whole report at “Who Benefited from Job Growth In Texas?”.

Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas) has pointed to job growth in Texas during the current economic downturn as one of his main accomplishments.  But analysis of Current Population Survey (CPS) data collected by the Census Bureau show that immigrants (legal and illegal) have been the primary beneficiaries of this growth since 2007, not native-born workers. This is true even though the native-born accounted for the vast majority of growth in the working-age population (age 16 to 65) in Texas. Thus, they should have received the lion’s share of the increase in employment.  As a result, the share of working-age natives in Texas holding a job has declined in a manner very similar to the nation a whole.

Among the findings: 

-    Of jobs created in Texas since 2007, 81 percent were taken by newly arrived immigrant workers (legal and illegal).  In terms of numbers, between the second quarter of 2007, right before the recession began, and the second quarter  of 2011, total employment in Texas increased by 279,000.  Of this, 225,000 jobs went to immigrants (legal and illegal) who arrived in the United States in 2007 or later.

-    Of newly arrived immigrants who took a job in Texas, 93 percent were not U.S. citizens.  Thus, government data show that more than three-fourths of net job growth in Texas was taken by newly arrived non-citizens (legal and illegal). 

-    The large share of job growth that went to immigrants is surprising because the native-born accounted for 69 percent of the growth in Texas’ working-age population (16 to 65).  Thus, even though natives made up most of the growth in potential workers, most of the job growth went to immigrants. 

-    The share of working-age natives holding a job in Texas declined significantly, from 71 percent in 2007 to 67 percent in 2011.  This decline is very similar to the decline for natives in the United States as a whole and is an indication that the situation for native-born workers in Texas is very similar to the overall situation in the country despite the state’s job growth.

-    Of newly arrived immigrants who took jobs in Texas since 2007, we estimate that 50 percent (113,000) were illegal immigrants.  Thus, about 40 percent of all the job growth in Texas since 2007 went to newly arrived illegal immigrants and 40 percent went to newly arrived legal immigrants. 

-    Immigrants took jobs across the educational distribution.  More than one out of three (97,000) of newly arrived immigrants who took a job had at least some college. 

These numbers raise the question of whether it makes sense to continue the current high level of legal immigration and also whether to continue to tolerate illegal immigration.

On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, Tea Party supporters from San Antonio, New Braunfels, Seguin, and McAllen met with four representatives of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) at the Lion & Rose Pub in San Antonio.  Allen Tharp, Lion & Rose owner and Tea Party supporter, hosted the group in a private room with a sumptuous buffet.

Harold Hurtt, assistant director of the Office of State, Local and Tribal Coordination for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Washington D.C., introduced himself and described his background as a police chief who had been in law enforcement for 41 years. He opened with a statement of ICE’s priorities: ICE prioritizes enforcement, focusing first on removing criminal aliens convicted of the most serious crimes, such as murder, rape, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security.

ICE is responsible for interdiction of violent criminals, human/weapon/drug traffickers, and money launderers; interdiction of those intent on doing harm to the United States of America, i.e., terrorists; and enforcement of laws against employer hiring of illegals.  ICE holds frequent meetings with other governmental organizations, such as state, local, and Mexican law enforcement.  According to Mr. Hurtt, ICE has good cooperation and coordination with these agencies. He also said that he likes to meet with local groups, such as the Tea Party, to have a two-way dialogue to gain feedback from the grassroots level and keep the lines of communication open.

We also heard from ICE Special Agent in Charge Jerry Robinette, another former police chief, who operates out of the San Antonio office and covers the entire south Texas border with Mexico. He described his role as enforcement of the objectives previously defined by Mr. Hurtt.  Referring to ICE’s limited resources, he said the agency was doing a good job nonetheless. For example, he described ICE’s Secure Communities Program.

Fingerprint records taken by local law enforcement during booking are automatically checked against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration records, providing the ability to accurately identify aliens in custody. When fingerprint submissions match immigration records, local ICE officers are notified and promptly determine if immigration enforcement action is required. This information sharing capability is currently activated in 1,315 jurisdictions in 42 states. By 2013, ICE plans to use this capability nationwide. California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Florida all have 100% of their jurisdictions participating in the Secure Communities program.

Since this Secure Communities capability was first activated in 2008, information sharing has helped ICE identify and remove more than 72,000 convicted criminal aliens from the United States. For Texas the number of convicted criminal aliens arrested or booked into ICE custody through the Secure Communities program was over 27,000. Of these, the convicted criminal aliens removed from the U.S. were over 20,000. Bexar County has been a part of the Secure Communities program since June, 2009.

He described the process of interviewing suspected illegals in local holding cells, building a case, and turning them over for removal.

We also heard from Michael J. Pitts, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations.  Mr. Pitts is responsible for 11 Texas detention centers.  Mr. Pitts spoke of work being done in detention centers in Raymondville, Pearsall, Los Fresnos, and Laredo, Texas.

Both Robinette and Pittman said that enforcing immigration laws is a federal function that must be done according to the Constitution without profiling or improper legal procedure. They went on to say that half of the public support and agree with their efforts and half do not. They said that they do not get involved in the politics of immigration–only in the enforcement of existing laws with limited resources at their disposal. They did not speak specifically of the “287” program in which ICE trains local law enforcement to conduct interviews themselves before turning suspects over to ICE. However, they did say that, even in “sanctuary cities,” police chiefs cooperated well with ICE by inviting ICE personnel into holding cells. The flat statement was made that there are no sanctuary cities in central and south Texas.

Special Agent in Charge Jerry Robinette spoke about the Asset Forfeiture program, used by ICE to seize assets from criminal organizations or monies acquired through criminal activity. Under this program, federal, state and local law enforcement partners and foreign governments working with ICE in joint investigations can be eligible to receive a portion of the proceeds of a federal forfeiture, which fosters greater partnership and cooperation among agencies. He spoke of millions of dollars seized and given to state and local law enforcement jurisdictions.

At this point, the floor was opened to questions and comments. These included the following:

1.  Question: How do we better enforce closing the border to illegals?  Answer: Texans know how best to do this and “ask the Border Patrol.”

2.  Question: What resources does ICE need to enforce border security more effectively?  Answer: No clear answer was given.

3.  Question: Does anyone really believe certain politicians’ statements that enforcement had improved over the years?  Answer: It depends on how one defines improvement.

4.  Question: How can the Tea Party help to address ICE’s needs to accomplish its objectives? Answer: Hold meetings with your Congressmen and urge them to better support ICE.

Moderator, George Rodriguez, thanked the ICE guests, invited them to meet again on a quarterly basis, and concluded the meeting.

IMMIGRATION TIGER TEAM (SATP)

Most conservatives in general and Tea Party patriots in particular embrace the melting-pot heritage that has made this Nation great.  Thus, we begin every discussion on this highly charged topic by stating our position clearly: we are not opposed to legal immigration.  We are, however, committed to secure borders and enforcement of the immigration program which the Congress enacted and which the President of the US has sworn to uphold.

The San Antonio Tea Party has been fortunate to have a group of dedicated patriots who research, educate, and advocate on this issue.  Over time, this team, headed by Jeanne Melendez, has accumulated a small library of documents which paint a scary picture of the situation we face regarding our less-than-secure borders.  Additionally, though, are documents that show what we might do in this battle to educate those we elect on the issue and our expectations of them.  Check out these resources at Immigration TIGER TEAM (SATP), which will also be linked under the “Immigration” subsection under “Issues” at our homepage.

No Sanctuary for Sanctuary Cities

There’s an old cliché that you can’t fight City Hall.  Sad, since we elect those who work there and we pay their salaries.  Still, if the cliché is true, then some have found a better way to make their will known.

Our Patriot of the Week is State Representative Burt Solomons (R-Denton) for his House Bill 12 which would prevent cities and counties from adopting policies that prohibit law enforcement from asking a person legally detained or arrested his or her immigration status.  Such legislation essentially bans “sanctuary cities.”

While we prefer decisions concerning the local community be left at the local level, sometimes local politicians are unwilling or unable to act.  It’s on those occasions—until we can replace fearful pols with more courageous ones—that our constitution allows the state legislature to enact laws that protect citizens and the society itself.

To read more on this development, read the report from The Texas Tribune

Immigration is a pressing issue, particularly in south Texas because of it proximity to the international border.  Due to this and a large population for whom immigration is a real and personal matter, the subject has become an emotional one.  Respecting those feelings and convictions, we feel the immigration issue must be viewed first and foremost in logical terms.

Legal immigration has been the backbone of America’s growth, development, and success throughout its history; it has been indispensible in making America what it is today.  From the first colonists from England and Spain, through successive waves of immigration from Western and later Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific region, to countless Africans who were brought here involuntarily, they embraced their new American identity and uniquely contributed to the American mosaic.  They have strengthened the character and culture that is the United States.  From its earliest beginnings, legal immigration has had and still has a place in our life and culture.

Today, the majority of Americans is rightly concerned about immigration for reasons of national security and fiscal responsibility.  The United States is a sovereign nation responsible first and foremost to its citizens to ensure safety and security within its borders and preserve our democratic institutions for future generations.  We must do what is important and proper for America and its citizens.  Especially in an age in when terrorists and criminal cartels are at our doorstep, we believe the priority for any government is securing the nation’s borders.  From a fiscal standpoint, the cost of illegal immigration is staggering, with one recent report showing that illegal immigrants in Texas cost the taxpayers $250 million each year in medical care and for detention of prisoners.

Respecting the desire of many to come to the US to live and work, we believe those who wish to immigrate, either temporarily or permanently, should do so in an orderly and lawful manner.  For example, for those who wish to come to the US to work and send money home, we support a temporary or guest worker program. Under such a program, visitors would contract with employers, overseen by the Department of homeland Security, to remain in the US for a certain period of time and then return to their native country.  Regulating this process would secure our borders as well as protect workers from being victimized by human traffickers or by exploitative employers.

As for illegal immigration, it is just that: illegal.  Civilized society is built on the concept of the rule of law to which all in that society must ascribe.  Therefore, illegal immigration—breaking the established rules of entry—cannot be tolerated.  Criminal aliens should be deported as soon as possible.  Medical and law enforcement expenses incurred by the US or state governments should be paid by the illegal’s country of origin, or, if not paid, deducted from future foreign aid that country would have received.

Consideration of amnesty for those in this country illegally is unacceptable.  Amnesty was granted once before in 1986 for 3 million aliens, and thus set a dangerous precedent condoning illegal behavior.  That mixed message—that unauthorized entry into this country is illegal, but we will ultimately allow it if the entrant can manage to stay long enough—cannot be allowed.  Amnesty for breaking the law is out of the question.

Concerning children of illegal immigrants born in the US or brought here, we believe people cannot break the law without consequences.  Thus, children of illegal immigrants born here should no longer be granted citizenship automatically, but should wait until the parents legally become full citizens.  Children brought here without proper processing are also illegal and should return to their country of origin to go through a lawful process.

The issue of illegal immigration has been framed by some in racial and ethnic terms.  This does a severe injustice to this serious issue.  For those genuinely interested in working toward a solution, this is simply a detractor from the point at hand and evidence of no convincing arguments from the other side.  The arguments against illegal immigration are blind to racial, ethnic, religious, and national qualifiers.  Again, illegal immigration is, quite simply, illegal and must be eliminated.  It is imperative that our nation control the entry of all immigrants and keep track of the status and location of all legal “guests” and “visitors” to our country.

A related topic is that of racial profiling by law enforcement officials in dealing with illegal immigrants.  We support local law enforcement in checking for immigration status if there are compelling reasons.  It is standard policy—and we believe only common sense—that if a person of any racial, ethnic, religious, or nationality is stopped in a traffic situation or is investigated in relation to a crime, that person should provide proper identification.  If the person cannot, then his or her legal residency in the US should be reviewed.  All Americans routinely carry proper identification such as a driver’s license, and they produce it when asked.  If Federal law requires all visitors to this country carry identification (which it does), then for law enforcement officials not to be allowed to ask for such identification is absurd.

The US strives for peace with all nations, especially those with whom we share national borders and historic ties.  Respecting the sovereignty of nations, the US is reluctant to interfere with the internal workings of others, yet when those internal affairs directly impact the US it reserves the right to be concerned and comment.  Some countries become indignant when their internal policies (including economic conditions and drug-related violence from which citizens understandably wish to flee) are questioned by the US, but they feel free to publically criticize the US’s responses within our own borders to these problems.  While no country is perfect, US policies and practices are unmatched in rights and dignity afforded legal visitors and guests in this country.  Further, given the amount of US foreign aid lavished on many of these countries, their criticisms come off as feeble attempts to avoid responsibility for their own failed policies and actions.

The San Antonio Tea Party invites all interested citizens to join us in the grass roots revolution to stop those who wish to “give away” America.  We particularly call on the “silent Hispanic Americans majority” who are American first, to join us.  Many Hispanic Americans have been silenced by the shrill voices of others who see no end to projects and programs for non-citizens who are here illegally.  To provide such a forum for education and advocacy, the San Antonio Tea Party has established a special outreach project called the “Juan Seguin Society” to educate Hispanics about conservative issues and the Tea Party.  For more information, contact George Rodriguez, Juan Seguin Society Coordinator, at grodri3615@aol.com.

FELLOW TEXANS – PLEASE READ

This is from the Founder and Chairman of the Burleson Tea Party.

The Burleson Tea Party is supplying you with a letter to Governor Rick Perry, demanding that an immediate show of support be given, for the Arizona legislation against illegal immigration, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and fellow Americans in Arizona. It also demands that Governor Rick Perry initiate our own Texas law, against illegal immigration.

Letter to Gov. Perry: click on attachment to read the letter. Print it out. Sign it and add the city/town that you live in as well as, putting the great state of Texas on it, beneath your name. Mail the letter immediately to Governor Rick Perry. The address is supplied on the letter, for you. We must make a visual impression on our Governor in reference to this important issue, which concerns the security of our great state of Texas!

If you do not live in Texas, but you wish to transpose the information, pertinent to the state you live in and get it to your Governor as well, please feel free to do so! We are all Americans and this concerns not only security for border states, but the security of our beloved country as a whole!

Please get this letter into the hands of as many Texans and fellow Americans as possible!