By: Daniel Nardini
Well, hatred and intolerance knows no logic. While it may not happen, the State of Kansas has actually considered allowing migrant workers—whether they are legal or undocumented—to work in the state’s agricultural sector. The reason is not hard to fathom: not enough U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents want to do the back-breaking work in the fields for a pittance. And the state’s businesses and farmers who desperately need workers and workers NOW do not want to apply to the federal government for getting “legal” migrant workers because the process would be too costly and take too long. So what is the state to do? This seems to be the best answer given the circumstances.
Now enter the anti-immigrant bigot Kris Kobach—Kansas’ Secretary of State. One of the legal architects of state immigration laws in Arizona, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, he will not allow such a program to “bring in illegals.” In other words, let the agricultural sector go to hell, let worthwhile projects the state needs go unfulfilled, and let Kansas lose millions and millions of dollars all in the name of “respecting America’s laws.” Kobach’s legal advice on some states adopting state immigration laws that have discriminated against primarily Latino residents—whether they are legal or undocumented—has been a major disaster. One need only look at Alabama. Its agricultural produce is rotting in the fields because migrant workers do not want to deal with the state’s immigration law.
The costs for Alabama has been staggering. According to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, the state immigration law has chased out 40,000 to 70,000 people: most of whom were in the agricultural sector. This means a loss of $1.2 billion to $5.2 billion in lost taxes and revenue. Add to this the loss of $264.5 million in state income taxes and sales taxes and the results are staggering. This of course does not even deal with the court cases that this state’s immigration law is costing Alabama. Alabama, which used to seem like a stable and welcoming state, has now become a civil and human rights basket case. Are these losses worth trying to keep out the undocumented who have actually helped Alabama’s economy?
Apparently to Kris Kobach the sacrifice was worth “protecting America’s sovereignty.” Many Alabama residents are all the poorer for it. And now he wants to do the same for his own state. He wants to bankrupt Kansas, and make it safe from the invasion of the “illegals.” He wants to let the state’s produce rot in the fields, screw the farmers, and bring division among the state’s populace. Hate may not know logic, and it may not take reality into account, but it has a goal. It is not likely that the program to employ migrant workers will ever come into fruition—even though the farmers and small businesses need it—thanks to Kris Kobach.
Illogic Over Economics
By: Daniel Nardini
Now enter the anti-immigrant bigot Kris Kobach—Kansas’ Secretary of State. One of the legal architects of state immigration laws in Arizona, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, he will not allow such a program to “bring in illegals.” In other words, let the agricultural sector go to hell, let worthwhile projects the state needs go unfulfilled, and let Kansas lose millions and millions of dollars all in the name of “respecting America’s laws.” Kobach’s legal advice on some states adopting state immigration laws that have discriminated against primarily Latino residents—whether they are legal or undocumented—has been a major disaster. One need only look at Alabama. Its agricultural produce is rotting in the fields because migrant workers do not want to deal with the state’s immigration law.
The costs for Alabama has been staggering. According to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama, the state immigration law has chased out 40,000 to 70,000 people: most of whom were in the agricultural sector. This means a loss of $1.2 billion to $5.2 billion in lost taxes and revenue. Add to this the loss of $264.5 million in state income taxes and sales taxes and the results are staggering. This of course does not even deal with the court cases that this state’s immigration law is costing Alabama. Alabama, which used to seem like a stable and welcoming state, has now become a civil and human rights basket case. Are these losses worth trying to keep out the undocumented who have actually helped Alabama’s economy?
Apparently to Kris Kobach the sacrifice was worth “protecting America’s sovereignty.” Many Alabama residents are all the poorer for it. And now he wants to do the same for his own state. He wants to bankrupt Kansas, and make it safe from the invasion of the “illegals.” He wants to let the state’s produce rot in the fields, screw the farmers, and bring division among the state’s populace. Hate may not know logic, and it may not take reality into account, but it has a goal. It is not likely that the program to employ migrant workers will ever come into fruition—even though the farmers and small businesses need it—thanks to Kris Kobach.