THE LONG RANGE VIEW

UNO Federation supports the need for continuing immigration to support a growing and vigorous United States. Given the demographics of the US, our low birth rate and aging population, we very much need continued immigration. The US is expected to number 400 million persons by the year 2080. To provide for that number of people, especially for the aged, a considerable number of young, family oriented immigrants would have to enter the US. By the year 2050, it is reported that there will only be two workers for every retired person in the US. The substance of a healthy economy and adequate military requires that more young people enter the country.

UNO Federation Community Services, Inc. is located in Clearwater, Florida, in Pinellas County. It established itself as a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation in 1998. Its original activities included events to showcase Latin American culture. To that end, it featured several Latin Music Fairs, and the first two Latin Film Festivals. In the year 2000, it performed the first Hispanic Needs Assessment Study, under a Pinellas County Welfare Board grant for $100,000. UNO participated in and supported a $90,000 Housing Discrimination Study and found serious problems and barriers to housing. UNO Federation is now focused in housing and promoting first time home ownership for all minorities, and has an immigration program named UNO Immigration Ministry. UNO Federation partners with nationwide Hispanic organizations, such as La Raza and LULAC on advocacy issues. Living within Pinellas County there are approximately 60,000 Hispanics, but in adjacent Hillsborough County, there are some 400,000 Hispanic residents. There, the presence of Hispanics is a long standing tradition. Much of this population only speaks English now, is fully integrated, and boasts of many distinguished citizens, judges, congressmen and other leaders. Within Clearwater itself, the Hispanic population of 16,000 constitutes some 15% of the population.

THE 2006 IMMIGRATION DEBATE

A review and debate over our immigration policies is long over due and is welcomed. Our direct experience confirms the view that immigrants come with a good work ethic, are law abiding, religious, essentially drug free, and with strong family orientation. Employers have approached UNO seeking imported Hispanic labor due to their work ethic, but UNO is not in that business. Hispanics have a good reputation and appear to find employment with relative ease.

ILLEGALS AMONG IMMIGRANTS

UNO appreciates that any U.S. legislation may not resolve the economic and poverty issues of so many countries, and that desperate people will continue to seek solutions to their plight by heading for the US shores, legally or not. Our public and public officials may have to accept that some issues and problems do not have easy or clear solutions. UNO submits that immigration will be a long-term situation that creates incomplete solutions for the population at large. There are many widely accepted benefits to a growing immigration population.

UNO takes the following positions on immigration and related issues:

1. The US must not criminalize the status of the reported 12 million illegally in this country, nor should it make criminals of those faith based and others making humanitarian efforts to assist these persons to survive or legalize their status here. We wish to accept the realities and support practical solutions. These immigrants are here and are imbedded in their communities in Florida and the country and support our economy. They are not bonded serfs or criminals, or religious outcasts as many of our original settlers were. These “illegal” are here for many reasons: they are not terrorists, and are proven hard workers. They, in fact, do pay into our tax base to support schools and hospitals. Immigrants pay $90 billion to $140 billion in local, state, and federal taxes. They will contribute $500 billion toward our Social Security System over the next 20 years, with many not having expectations of receiving benefits. They do look to religious institutions for guidance, reduce criminal incidence rates and have cleaner drug use rates than our general population.

2. It is time to legalize the status of those who are already here, by speeding up the integration and citizenship process, insist on their having drivers licenses with proper insurance, pushing for them to become homeowners, and issuing proper social security identification. The children of these immigrants should have a chance to have their status clarified and become U.S. citizens.

3. We want the government to increase the number of legal immigrants allowed to enter the US annually. Thus reducing the pressure for illegal entry.

4. The government should sharply increase Homeland Security’s activity against terrorists, which means better airport and port containers inspection, and not border fences, workplace raids and vigilantes.

5. Our country should enter immediately into negotiations with Mexican and Canadian authorities to strengthen border security. With freer legitimate and logical access to US entry, you reduce the need for illegal, undisputed crossings. The US must get strong commitments from Mexico and Canada in terms of money and resources to control their sides of the border. Border patrol budgets will have to rise significantly.

UNO Federation supports the need for continuing immigration to support a growing and vigorous United States. Given the demographics of the US, our low birth rate and aging population, we very much need continued immigration. The US is expected to number 400 million persons by the year 2080. To provide for that number of people, especially for the aged, a considerable number of young, family oriented immigrants would have to enter the US. By the year 2050, it is reported that there will only be two workers for every retired person in the US. The substance of a healthy economy and adequate military requires that more young people enter the country.

UNO Federation Community Services, Inc. is located in Clearwater, Florida, in Pinellas County. It established itself as a non-profit 501(c) (3) corporation in 1998. Its original activities included events to showcase Latin American culture. To that end, it featured several Latin Music Fairs, and the first two Latin Film Festivals. In the year 2000, it performed the first Hispanic Needs Assessment Study, under a Pinellas County Welfare Board grant for $100,000. UNO participated in and supported a $90,000 Housing Discrimination Study and found serious problems and barriers to housing. UNO Federation is now focused in housing and promoting first time home ownership for all minorities, and has an immigration program named UNO Immigration Ministry. UNO Federation partners with nationwide Hispanic organizations such as La Raza and LULAC on advocacy issues. Living within Pinellas County there are approximately 60,000 Hispanics, but in adjacent Hillsborough County, there are some 400,000 Hispanic residents. There, the presence of Hispanics is a long standing tradition. Much of this population only speaks English now, is fully integrated, and boasts of many distinguished citizens, judges, congressmen and other leaders. Within Clearwater itself, the Hispanic population of 16,000 constitutes some 15% of the population