Hearing reveals great divide on immigration

Analysis:

What does the headline from this GR Press story suggest? It seems to suggest that there was a heated debate at this public hearing with both pro and anti-immigration voices. The fact is that all the “invited” speakers who took up all but 15 minutes of the hearing time were anti-immigration, all pro-immigration voices were heard in the last 15 minutes of the time allowed, according to a local online independent media source, Media Mouse. The way the GR Press presents the varying points of view readers might think that this was a back-and-forth debate. The story begins by quoting an anti-immigrant voice and then right away a pro-immigrant perspective, even though no pro-immigration or immigration voices were heard until the end of the hearing. The format of the event was such that there was a list of 9 different speakers that were on the agenda, all of which were against undocumented immigrants coming into the country. The media release that was sent out by GOP task force member Rep. Agema does not make it clear that there would be selected speakers that represented just one side of the debate.

The Press article does cite a Pew Hispanic Center study and then puts that in the context of local migrant workers. However, the only voice represented in the article on migrant workers is that of the Ottawa County Farm Bureau.

The last section of the Press article addresses the format of the hearing with a sub heading “Deck stacked?” The article says that several of those present complained about the process, but the article doesn’t say how the legislators responded to these complaints. The article ends by quoting a local immigration lawyer.

There were several omissions in this story as well. There was no background given on the positions of the 4 State Representatives who held the hearing, particularly Rep. Agema who has co-sponsored legislation on English being the official language of Michigan. There was also no background information on Peter Gadiel, speaking on behalf of the organization 9/11 Families for a Secure America, who has a connection to the national anti-immigration group FAIR as a former board member. The Press story states that Gadiel is a “Connecticut resident” but never explores why he came all the way to Michigan to be part of this hearing in Ottawa County.

Story:

A Republican hearing Monday on border security and immigration reform revealed fault lines that mirror the anguished, emotional national debate on these issues.

On one side, a litany of law enforcement and border protection officials testified about the need for tight border enforcement and the cost to law enforcement of undocumented residents.

Connecticut resident Peter Gadiel — whose son was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack in New York City — warned that illegal residents have killed other motorists while intoxicated, raped and murdered.

“This is inexcusable,” Gadiel said.

On the other side, a local parish priest, the Rev. Stephen Dudek, warned that linking terrorism and concern over illegal immigration repeats the treatment of immigrant groups such as the Irish, Poles and Italians.

“Once again, we shamefully repeat them,” said Dudek, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Wyoming, a working-class parish that includes a sizable number of Hispanic worshippers.

Dudek called these immigrants “hard-working, family-oriented, generous human beings.”

Four Republican representatives presided over the hearing, including state Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville. He is sponsoring legislation that would make it tougher for undocumented residents to get a driver’s license.

Agema contends these residents constitute a security threat to Michigan, take jobs from legal residents and cost taxpayers by using the state’s school and health care systems.

Most of those summoned by the task force expressed support for tighter scrutiny of driver’s licenses and enforcement of immigration law.

“They’re illegal. Let’s not forget that,” said state police Lt. David Roesler.

Higher medical costs in jail

Ottawa County sheriff’s Lt. Steve Baar, the county jail administrator, noted an undocumented resident involved in a 2001 crash cost the county $100,000 in medical costs.

In addition, Baar said, the county is stuck with ongoing medical and mental health costs for undocumented residents who are behind bars.

But Merle Langeland, vice president of the Ottawa County Farm Bureau, testified a crackdown on illegal immigrants would cause hardships for many farmers who depend on this work force.

A study by the Pew Hispanic Center estimated illegal immigrants make up 24 percent of agricultural workers, 14 percent of construction workers and 12 percent of food preparation employees. The estimated 7.2 million workers are about 5 percent of the U.S. civilian work force.

“We would have crops destroyed, cows not milked,” Langeland said.

Langeland said it is hard to find legal residents willing to take on the rigors of agricultural work for the pay offered, often $10 an hour or less.

“It’s a sad commentary on the work ethic,” he said.

Deck stacked?

Several of those at the hearing complained that the task force stacked the deck against immigration reform by the witnesses it called, leaving little time for those opposed to comment.

Immigration attorney Richard Kessler said broad immigration reform is needed to allow more immigrants to cross the border legally.

“The bottom line is, the immigrant is not coming here to (commit acts of) terrorism,” Kessler said.