Hispanic Caucus: We Want Jobs, Not Scapegoats

WASHINGTON - In response to today’s Immigration Subcommittee Hearing “New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not” Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Charles A. Gonzalez issued the following statement:

“Another week, another misguided Immigration Subcommittee Hearing. Last week the Republican Congressmen in charge of immigration policy - Representatives Lamar Smith, Elton Gallegly and Steve King - attempted to pit minority communities against each other by trying to manufacture a false sense of job competition among them. This week, instead of assembling a panel of immigrant entrepreneurs to explore how they’ve managed to start businesses at twice the rate of native-born, like the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, they’re showing their true colors by going after foreign born citizens in a hearing that serves only to advance their anti-immigrant agenda. Americans want jobs, not scapegoats. In these times of economic hardship we would be better served by learning from the entrepreneurial spirit immigrants bring to this country rather than ignoring their contribution and vilifying them.”