Despite Disney Disgrace, Behind-the-Scenes Push for More Visas Continues

U.S. News reported that at a recent “immigration forum,” several in Congress discussed the possibility of more high-tech visas and – triple groan – “fixing the broken immigration system.” The system is broken because, by and large, immigration laws have not been enforced since the Immigration Act of 1965, a bill signed into law half a century ago!

Disney’s fat profits don’t save American workers’ jobs.

Plenty of other nonsense was tossed around without rebuttal. Check out this statement from U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.): “To think it’s good for our economy to deport 11 million people is the single most preposterous thing I’ve heard.” Maybe one of Delaney’s neighbors suggested to him that 11 million illegal aliens should be deported, but he didn’t hear it on Capitol Hill. No one on either side of the aisle is talking about mass deportations.

Delaney apparently didn’t read the news stories about the underqualified H-1B visa holders who displaced American workers at Disney. In order to secure their severance, the fired Americans were forced to train their foreign-born replacements. Delaney: “Embracing immigration for those who want to be entrepreneurs is enormously positive for job growth.” I’ll give Delaney credit for a half-truth. Immigration is a positive for immigrant employment. The Center for Immigration Studies found that since 2000, all employment growth has gone to immigrants.

The forum’s purpose was to somehow, someway come up with an acceptable plan to Republicans and Democrats alike to expand worker visas and, despite its destructive effect on Americans, arrive at an agreement on elusive immigration reform.

Congressional supporters of expanded visas should pay more attention to the reader comments posted on a follow up New York Times story on the Disney disgrace. Readers noted that despite Disney profits and record high earnings, the company didn’t hesitate to fire dedicated employees in order to further improve their already fat bottom line. The fired employees have families, mortgages, car payments and other financial obligations to meet – no concern of Disney’s.

As the presidential campaigns heat up, Americans will hear a lot about the need for more visas for skilled and unskilled workers. To better understand what the politicians are selling, substitute the word “jobs” for visas. By definition, more visas mean fewer American jobs.