Latino Leaders Speak Out On Need For Immigration Reform

What does an illegal immigrant look like? It’s a question many Americans don’t know how to answer.

“They’re the most obedient drivers in the state of Wisconsin,” said Ricardo Diaz of the United Community Center.

Sitting on the other end of the table was Joe Rivas, an immigration attorney.

“If you’re in New York City, you’re going to think of the cab driver wearing a turban.”

Diaz and Rivas were two of four guests speakers at the Nov. 26 Milwaukee Press Club’s Newsmaker Luncheon of Milwaukee’s Latino Leaders. Joining Diaz and Rivas were Darryl Morin of the League of United Latin American Citizens and Griselda Aldrete of the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.

Rivas explained that the perception of undocumented immigrants is what’s currently hindering the United States actions to reform. Diaz and Rivas’ answers to the tough question paint only a corner of an immigrant’s self portrait. Diaz wants Americans to understand the undocumented are families with children, students, have jobs and own homes.

According to Diaz, in the last decade 72 percent of undocumented individuals became homeowners. Although purchasing a home without proper legal papers may be risky, due to the fact that deportation can happen at any moment, Diaz says they do it because they believe in the American dream.

“They believe that the impossible is possible in this country; that this country is about saying yes.”

In early December, President Obama began administrative actions for immigration by extending temporary legal status to more than 5 million undocumented immigrants in effort to create a shield on deportation.

Morin says with the new actions, 25,000 people in Wisconsin will benefit.

“We believe it will add between $19 to 20 million to the tax base.”

According to the 2010 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), undocumented immigrants paid roughly $98 million in local and state taxes. The $19 to 20 million  tax base is an addition to the $98 million.

Morin was quick to point out the common misconception among the undocumented and their advantage in government programs.

“[Undocumented immigrants] pay state and local taxes, unemployment, pay into Medicare and Social Security even though they’re not eligible for any of those things.”

The new administrative actions by President Obama will not grant undocumented immigrants eligibility to any of those programs, but will extend legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants, increase visas for workers and strengthen security along the Southwest border.

“What the president is trying to do is create avenues so that individuals that are already here have a pathway to citizenship,” said Aldrete. “If I could look at my crystal ball a year from now, 10 years from now, you would want these individuals who make positive contributions to the country to have the opportunity to live the life they came to this country looking for.”

At the end of the forum, the Latino leaders all seemed to agree on one conclusion.

Morin says it best, “As we’ve seen before, the president has been no angel on this. But from the community’s prospective, from our perspective, we finally find somebody doing something right for the people.”