By Bill O'Neil
What to do about immigration reform? How to tackle the issue in the months ahead? The co-founder of one Texas group tells 550 KTSA News it can be done--but the approach must be a sensible one--starting with securing the border.
"I believe local and State law enforcement agencies have a very good idea--and a very good role to play in helping to secure our border with Mexico and Texas" said Brad Bailey with the Texas Immigration Solution--which held a conference on the issue in Austin Wednesday. Bailey said any reform should include a guest worker program.
"A national guest worker program that values the American worker--and gives them the priority on jobs--all jobs. But if they're not available for those jobs--only then do we go the guest worker route" Bailey said. He also sees a path to citizenship as part of the solution.
"The key word I would like people to focus in on is earned path to citizenship. What does that mean? I don't know--I've heard people talk about it" Bailey said, adding the underground economy that uses illegal immigrants as a source of labor must also be snuffed out.
"If they're (business competitors) not paying their employees like they're supposed to, I'm having to pay higher wages--and it's putting me at an unfair business (dis)advantage" Bailey said.
"If they're (business competitors) not paying their employees like they're supposed to, I'm having to pay higher wages--and it's putting me at an unfair business (dis)advantage" Bailey said.
Photos: latinosreadytovote.com; texastribune.org; texasimmigrationsolution.com; texastribune.org
