Over ten million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States, living and working outside the law. Hiding from the authorities, they operate in the shadows of the economy. The Senate recently passed legislation that would provide millions of illegal immigrants with legal guest-worker status in order to bring them into the mainstream of American life and make them accountable to the law. The Senate bill, however, requires that any business hiring guest workers pay them "prevailing wages" set well above market rates.
The Senate should remove from the Secure Borders, EconomicOpportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348) aprovision that would require employers to pay temporary guestworkers the "prevailing competitive wage."
Restricting casual travel with many countries that seek strongerties to America has hurt the U.S. economy, diminished America'simage abroad, and actually foreclosed one method of encouragingfriends and allies to adopt stronger security procedures.
In crafting immigration reform legislation, given the stakesinvolved, Congress should oppose and, if necessary, the President should veto any reforms or reform packages that do not comport withAmerica's core principles, are not in the best interests of theUnited States, and are inconsistent with the traditions andcompassionate practices of America's ongoing experiment in orderedliberty.