LULAC, MALDEF, ACLU, business groups fight Texas immigration bills

Posted Fri, Feb 16, 2007 at 8:48 am

A new, apparently unnamed coalition has been formed in Texas to fight state bills designed to reduce illegal immigration. The coalition is using the standard pretext that immigration is a federal responsibility. Of course, they realize that the feds have abrogated their responsibilities; were the feds to enforce the laws, they would push for more local control. Passing the buck to the federal government is the slimmest of dodges.

The apparent ringleader is State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and their members include:

* Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus
* Texas Association of Business (President Bill Hammond is a quote source)
* Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce
* Texas Employers for Immigration Reform
* League of United Latin American Citizens (strongly supports illegal immigration)
* Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (has at least an indirect link to the Mexican government; MALDEF)
* American Civil Liberties Union (ditto)

...The group specified a number of immigration bills they called for the Legislature to defeat. Two by Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, that would prohibit children of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits such as health care, welfare benefits and public education. Another bill the coalition opposes, authored by Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, would prohibit cities from operating day-labor facilities. Currently, Austin has one such facility and is in the midst of creating another... An immigration platform promoted and distributed by the caucus and the business association outlined a number of proposals for immigration reform. It calls for legal avenues for immigration to the United States, giving those already immigrated opportunity to become legal, the elimination of immigrant quotas, a guest worker program and national security policies to guard against threats of terrorism...

UPDATE: There's a similar, apparently unrelated group at txsip.com calling itself Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy. It consists of:

* Houston Chapter of the Associated General Contractors (AGC)
* Houston Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)
* Houston Chapter of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA)
* Houston Contractors Association (HCA)
* Texas Construction Association (TCA)
* Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA)
* Drywall & Interior Systems Contractors Association (DISCA)
* Women Contractors Association (WCA)

They've even got a sample letter you can send to your representatives:

I work in the construction business in Houston Texas. I am here to tell you that we cannot find enough American citizens willing to labor in the hot sun!

Lazy Americans!

Their FAQ shows an unexpected level of self-awareness. Here's one question:

Aren't you guys are just a bunch of criminals trying to legalize your own bad behavior?

Let's just say they don't answer that in the way that I would.

And, via this comes the August 28, 2006 opinion piece "Texas business: Pass immigration reform" from several Texas bigwigs:

...few young Americans want to do hard physical labor, particularly in our climate. And in the less-skilled construction trades – masonry, concrete, drywall, tile – more than 80 percent of Texas' workforce is Latino.

Isn't that attitude extremely racist not to mention extremely decadent? A century or two ago, what would these same people have written?

Those who signed on to the letter are in the extended entry.

Bo Pilgrim/Pilgrim's Pride, Pittsburg

Harold Simmons/Contran Corporation, Dallas

Bob Perry/Perry Homes, Houston

Vance Miller/Henry S. Miller, Dallas

J. Huffines/Huffines Auto Group, Dallas

Red McCombs/McCombs Enterprises, San Antonio

W.L. Hunt/Hunt Building Corporation, El Paso

James Leininger/M.D., San Antonio

Phil Adams/Phil Adams Company, Bryan

Bob Barnes/Schlotzsky's, Austin