AZ guest worker program proposed

For quite some time I've written to my congress-critters suggesting that they decouple border security from a guest worker program. I want a truly secure border, but once that is done we also need a guest worker program that ensures we know who is coming into the country, where they are going, who they work for, and verifies that they don't overstay their visa. This bill tries to address these concerns at a state level rather than waiting for a federal solution. If it works, other border states could do the same thing. I believe a key component is that companies doing the hiring should bear the costs of the program.

Legal immigrants & guest workers can ask the police (& hospital, & school) for assistance without fear of deportation. They can contribute to our society while providing for their own family, and our governments can decide what level of support (health, education, etc.) based on a realistic picture of how many people are being served.

Bill would establish state guest worker program | EastValleyTribune.com:
"Unwilling to wait for a federal fix, some southern Arizona lawmakers want the state to run its own temporary foreign worker program.

The proposal crafted by Sen. Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, would let companies suffering a 'labor shortage' seek permission from the state Industrial Commission to bring in their own workers from Mexico. It even would have the state provide identification cards to foreigners given permission to work here.

'The federal government has not met the responsibility to come up with comprehensive immigration reform,' she said.

Arzberger said the economy is hurting, and many firms have found themselves without the workers they need.

SB1482 has drawn a number of co-sponsors, including many legislators representing the border area. And even Senate President Tim Bee, R-Tucson, who did not sign on as a sponsor, said he supports the concept of a legal guest worker program.

But if Arzberger gets her measure signed into law here, she needs one more thing: congressional approval.

Arzberger said she already has asked Democrats representing the state in Washington - where they hold the majority in both the House and Senate - to back her plan. But the two members of the delegation whose districts cover the border said they want some questions answered before they're willing to push her proposal.
. . .
Friend noted the legislation covers not just farm workers, but also industries where many workers are represented by unions, including restaurant employees, construction workers and those involved in landscaping.

"My concern is that certainly Arizona residents get first shot at the jobs," Friend said. "I've got concerns of how much of an effort an employer has to make to fill the jobs here, whether they're really reaching out and trying to fill the jobs here from all available sources," she said.

But Arzberger doubts that any of the labor shortage in Arizona is due to employers not wanting to pay higher wages."

Since WW-II, our society has placed an emphasis on acquiring a college education & professional jobs. It may be that we don't have enough young people willing to do some of this work, and that guest workers really are required.