Immigration ban
Regarding “Mistaken belief: Executive order on immigration isn't about COVID-19 — it's about finding a scapegoat” (A12, April 27): Why is it “wrong” for the American people to determine how many foreign-born should be given the privilege of living among us? Is the Chronicle aware of recent polls showing that Americans want less immigration, especially now? This paper is out of touch with public sentiment. According to Pew Research, there are an estimated 8 million illegal aliens in our workforce, mostly in construction, manufacturing and services, while more than 26 million Americans are jobless. There’s nothing “wrong” with that? Yancey Summerour, Houston
Let me begin by saying that I am not a fan of Donald Trump. However, this executive order was badly needed. Americans who worked in the service industries were already living paycheck to paycheck partly due to the fact that many are competing with immigrants here both legally and illegally.
If anything, I do not think this executive order went far enough. There is no reason for there to be work visas like OPT and H1B that tend to take good jobs in technology and other fields from
Americans. Once this pandemic is over, Americans will need to be able to go to work at a fair rate of pay. Susan Lehan Bowers, Houston
By pausing immigration, not only will we minimize further infection, we’ll help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. So important. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. The president exempts a lot of the types of workers who get the permanent work permits that are set aside for employers each year. Why should the U.S. jobs be reopened to mass immigration while there are still Americans waiting in line? The United States faces increased security concerns, pandemic concerns, and a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment if labor supply outpaces labor demand. The decision to temporarily ban immigration is right. Anthony Flaviani, Houston