Gov. Snyder's Belief That More Immigration Will Make Michigan Prosperous Again....

Michigan's Gov. Snyder made a speech in Grand Rapids, MI, on March 8, 2012, in which he stated, yet again, his belief that immigration is the key to turning Michigan around, essentially stating that Michigan residents do not possess the skills needed to get the job done.

If by immigration he means that process by which people become productive legal residents and citizens of this country via the processes that have been established by our laws, then by all means, Welcome!

If by immigration he means that process by which people sneak across our borders or deliberately stay in the country long after their visas expire, having children who automatically acquire American citizenship, thus providing a safeguard against being deported and making their children (and, by extension, the parents) eligible for all manner of public assistance, then, Governor, you need to seriously re-consider who you are in Lansing to represent. Our state spends nearly $1 BILLION ($928,800,000) annually providing assistance to the families of illegals. But instead of doing something about that, you placed the blame for Michigan's financial problems on teachers and other public employees, cutting the wages and benefits of TAXPAYERS - people who truly contribute to the income of this state - while making the case to increase access to Michigan jobs by "immigrants."

Mr. Governor, you are in office to represent the needs of the CITIZENS and LEGAL RESIDENTS of this state - not to make a case for yet another back door amnesty program. I am aware that our immigration system is in need of work, but that hardly serves as justification to simply throw open the door to people who are taking jobs that are needed by out-of-work citizens and legal residents of this state. Those jobs in the agricultural and hospitality industries used to be the staples of American high school and college students. And don't get me started on the jobs in the construction and other industries that are now being filled by illegals instead of citizens - high paying jobs, not the minimal wage jobs that the open border crowd always like to point to. These are all jobs that can, should and would be filled by CITIZENS if they didn't have to deal with an employment deck that is stacked in favor of illegals.

A number of bills have been submitted that would A) severely penalize employers who hire illegals, B) require verification of legal residency for employment and business transactions, and (C) make the practice of using ITINs or matricula consular as substitutes for social security numbers or passports a state felony. THOSE are the initiatives you need to be supporting - not paving the way for yet another round of amnesties.