Undocumented Workers Have 'Negligible Impact' On Wages: Study

HP Reports: Hear that? That's the sound of holes being poked in one of the most common arguments for pushing undocumented workers out of America. Undocumented workers have a "negligible impact" on the wages of documented workers that work at the same firm, according to a paper released in March by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Documented workers at firms that also employ undocumented workers earn 0.15 percent less -- or $56 less per year on average -- than they would if they worked at a firm that does not employ undocumented workers, according to the study.

In fact, workers in retail and leisure and hospitality actually earn slightly more money when their firms hire undocumented workers, since having more employees allows them to specialize, according the paper. Some anti-immigration activists argue that ridding the country of undocumented workers would help to solve the nation's unemployment problem. There are currently 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.: a number that has stayed roughly stable over the past year, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

But the millions of undocumented immigrants aren't the reason the unemployment rate still remains elevated and many job-seekers can't find work, Julie Hotchkiss, an economist at the Atlanta Fed that co-authored the paper, said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"There have been claims by various proponents of state legislation and immigration reform that if we institute these laws that would just get rid of all of our undocumented workers, that our unemployment problem would go away, that the unemployment rate would just plummet," Hotchkiss told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a video interview on Wednesday. "What we're finding is there seems to be no direct displacement effect of documented workers when firms hire undocumented workers."

It's not just anti-immigration advocates that blame undocumented workers for the nation's woes, many job-seekers say they believe that it would be easier for them to find a job if there were fewer undocumented immigrants. More than 60 percent of Americans support a state law that would shut down businesses that repeatedly hire undocumented workers, according to a Rasmussen poll last year.

Conservative politicians have proposed severe measures to crack down on illegal immigration as unemployment remains high and real wages fall. Arizona has led the way by enacting a law in 2010 that authorizes police officers to ask for proof of citizenship from anyone and detain suspected illegal immigrants.
Illegal immigration has been a hot-button issue on the presidential campaign trail as well. Mitt Romney, the likely Republican presidential nominee, has called for the "self-deportation" of illegal immigrants, and Ron Paul and Rick Santorum have said they would drastically increase deportations.

Sexual Predator Cop Targeted Undocumented Males to Sexually Abuse

Miami Herald.com Reports:
Broward sheriff's deputy arrested on sex-abuse charges
In a series of events that Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti called ``an abuse of power'' and ``a tarnish to the badge,'' law enforcement agents arrested one of their own Monday and accused him of sexually assaulting victims -- while in his uniform, in marked vehicles and on the job.

Jonathan Bleiweiss, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, who in March was honored as employee of the year for the Broward Sheriff's Office's Oakland Park District, was booked at 11 a.m. on 14 charges, including sexual battery, false imprisonment and stalking in connection with abusing one of the victims, a 30-year-old male. Bleiweiss was held without bail Monday.Investigators said Monday they were preparing to file charges involving seven more male victims, and said there might be even more. The alleged victims range in age from 17 to 30, but all have something in common: They are undocumented immigrants, mostly from El Salvador and Mexico, who speak little English.

``I can't think of a worse betrayal of public trust,'' Lamberti told reporters Monday evening, adding: ``The fact is, he preyed on one of our most vulnerable communities.''
The investigation began in April, when an attorney contacted the Fort Lauderdale Police Department to say two of his clients claimed to have been assaulted by Bleiweiss. BSO's sex crimes unit took over the investigation.Lamberti said they gave Bleiweiss ``the benefit of the doubt'' until they fully substantiated the allegations in July, which is when he was placed on restricted administrative duty. He is now suspended without pay.

Detectives said Bleiweiss used his authority to manipulate recent immigrants who feared the police. About 6 a.m. April 23, investigators said, Bleiweiss approached a 30-year-old man who was waiting for a ride to work outside the man's apartment complex. The man told BSO that he was then frisked and fondled, with Bleiweiss sticking his hand inside his underwear. He said Bleiweiss demanded his cellphone number, then continuously called and sent him text messages.

According to the arrest warrant, Bleiweiss is accused of performing oral sex on the man on at least four occasions between that day and June 7. He ordered the man to comply or risk deportation, said BSO Detective Graciela Benito. She said that when BSO investigators interviewed residents at the apartment complex, they discovered a similar pattern: On multiple occasions, she said, Bleiweiss stopped a victim, demanded an ID, then sexually abused them when he determined they were undocumented.

Swiftboating Governor Spitzer´s Plan

The Vast ANTI Conspiracy is busy trying to swiftboat Governor Spitzer´s DL Plan.

The inaccurate NY1 article says:

"Governor Eliot Spitzer says one benefit to giving licenses to illegal immigrants will be safer streets, but an author of a report the governor often cites in defense of his plan, says there is no proof this plan will make streets safe. NY1’s Josh Robin filed the following exclusive report."

The ANTI sites are busy picking up this incorrect-inaccurate article. Some of these sites who have quickly picked up this bogus article are the ANTI sites: Immigration Group Daily, The Voice, Alipac, and the conservative FreeRepublic. Even though this article just came out, you can expect many more ANTI sites will pile on in the hours ahead.

Here is my letter to the NY1 Editorial page:

Article: Expert Says There Is No Data To Defend Spitzer's License Plan

Josh Robin´s article was inaccurate and misrepresented the Governor and misrepresented Scopath.

Robin reported Scopath saying, "When I look at the data, what I see is folks like you and I,” said Scoptz. “It's young to middle-aged males, clearly residents or citizens of this country. It's not a huge population of illegal immigrants in the data."

From Scopath´s book "License to Kill 2", he did reference Undocumented Workers as follows:

"California’s experts on DWS and DWR and unlicensed drivers believe that the system, as it exists now, has too many incentives for not obtaining a license or reinstating one after a suspension. Unlicensed drivers are often doing so because they are undocumented aliens and/or because they cannot afford to meet the insurance requirements. Insurance costs are the reason most often cited for a driver’s failure to reinstate his or her license after a suspension."

Robin also misrepresented what Gov Spitzer said. Robin wrote: "Governor Eliot Spitzer has cited a AAA report showing that those driving without a license are more dangerous to fellow motorist, as a defense for his driver’s license plan." I found no such statement, although this statement accurately describes the "License to Kill" report.

What the Governor´s press release did say was:

From the Governors 9/21/07 Press Release:

The benefits of this policy change include:
Safer Streets: In its report, “Unlicensed to Kill,” the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that unlicensed drivers are almost five times more likely to be in a fatal crash than are validly licensed drivers.

Lower Insurance Rates: The State Department of Insurance estimates that expanded license access will reduce the premium costs associated with uninsured motorist coverage by 34% which will save New York drivers $120 million each year. Other states with similar policies have seen their auto insurance rates drop as well.

Safer Homeland: This policy change helps bolster homeland security by bringing more individuals into the system and, when necessary, assisting law enforcement efforts to locate those who present a real security threat.

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All of the Governor´s statements are accurate.

All logical people agree that licensing the unlicensed undocumented would make our streets safer.