Immigration Reform

Monitoring the propaganda from supporters of massive immigration.

Immigrants are "living in the shadows"



Claim: There are shadow people amongst us
Summary: They're actually illegal aliens

One of the more ludicrous euphemisms is to refer to "immigrants" living and/or working "in the shadows". In actual fact, the people so identified are almost always illegal aliens.

Citations

  • "This is a bill [Sensenbrenner's HR4437] that's going to drag them (illegals) deeper into the shadows," said the powerful business federation's vice president, Bruce Josten... Chamber president Tom Donohue stressed the United States was a nation built on immigration, and added: "The argument that US companies want cheap labor is crappy."
    1/4/2006: Bruce Josten, title:vice president, org:US Chamber of Commerce , quoted in AFP, US business attacks tough immigration law by unknown
  • To truly welcome all people, we need true immigration reform. We need our representatives to understand that enforcement-only immigration reform, like H.R. 4437, will only drive undocumented people further into the shadows and rob us of the gifts they bring to our communities.
    1/3/2006: Lisa Koop, title:immigration lawyer, org:Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic (IN) , quoted in South Bend Tribune, Cruel 'reform' hurts immigrants and robs our community by
  • "We owe a little more honesty to our constituents," said Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), whose efforts to pass nonbinding language endorsing a guest-worker program were rebuffed by GOP leaders. The bill "means those who are here illegally will stay in the shadows," he said. "That's unacceptable. That's not enforcement. That's a charade." [administrator note: given actual enforcement many illegal aliens will self deport and many fewer will come]
    12/16/2005: Jeff Flake, title:Representative, org:United States House of Representatives , quoted in Washington Post, House Votes to Toughen Laws on Immigration by Jonathan Weisman
  • [Worthington MN Mayor Alan Oberloh] invited [Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty] to Worthington to impress upon the governor the need to bring all immigrants out of the shadows so that they are free to cooperate with police to stop criminal activity, seek needed medical care and fully contribute to the positive melting-pot culture that has changed the makeup of Worthington.
    12/15/2005: John C. Keller, title:executive director, org:Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota , quoted in St. Paul Pioneer Press, Governor needs to widen knowledge on immigrants by
  • "Together with Congress we are going to create a temporary worker program that is going to take pressure off the borders, bring workers out of the shadows... People in this debate must recognize that we will not be able to effectively enforce our immigration laws until we create a temporary worker program..."
    11/28/2005: George W Bush , quoted in Bloomberg, Bush Says Alien Worker Program Would Stop Illegal Immigration by Nicholas Johnston,William McQuillen
  • "Well, Sean, you know, it's really an issue of practicality...I mean, as a practical matter, we've got to identify these people and pull them out of the shadows... Now, this is not an amnesty."
    11/14/2005: Michael Chertoff, title:Secretary, org:Department of Homeland Security , quoted in FoxNews, Michael Chertoff Discusses Border Security by Sean Hannity
  • Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid today urged Congress to press for immigration reform this year, citing Hurricane Katrina as the latest, high-profile illustration of the need to help Hispanic immigrants who are "living in the shadows." ...Reid said some immigrants whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Katrina aren't seeking government aid... "They're afraid to ask the government for help for fear of what the government will do," Reid said today. "The one entity that should be helping them, they are afraid to ask." ...Reid backs legislation introduced by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., that would allow undocumented workers to apply for a work visa... Reid says McCain-Kennedy is fair and reflects the reality of 10 million illegal immigrants, many of whom have become part of the U.S. workforce, but not the political process... "All over America, we have people who are living in the shadows, unable to contribute to society," Reid said.
    9/15/2005: Harry Reid, title:Senator, Minority Leader, org:United States Senate , quoted in Las Vegas Sun, Reid presses Congress for immigration reform by Benjamin Grove
  • The existing immigration system has resulted in a growing number of persons in this country in an unauthorized capacity, living in the shadows as they toil in jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.
    8/22/2005: unknown, title:unknown, org:Justice For Immigrants (U.S. Catholic Church official position) , quoted in justiceforimmigrants.org, About the Catholic Church's Positions on Immigration by
  • "It is up to the American public to be concerned about the rights of these people as human beings," Mr. de Icaza said during a meeting with editors and reporters at The Washington Times. "They contribute to the U.S. economy, work hard on a daily basis, but live in the shadows completely unprotected," he said. "We need to find a constructive way to regulate immigration control, a process that addresses the economic, security, political and social needs of both countries." Mr. de Icaza said his government was "encouraged" by a temporary guest-worker program proposed in January by President Bush and "welcomed" the national debate on immigration reform the president had begun...
    12/16/2004: Carlos de Icaza, title:Ambassador, org:Mexican government , quoted in Washington Times, Mexico envoy calls on U.S. to protect rights of illegals by Jerry Seper
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