American Patrol Report Commentary

More Arizona Republic Nonsense

November 30, 2008

Daniel Gonzales, reporter for the Arizona Republic, makes the argument that enforcing immigration laws hurts the economy (see 'Illegal workers manage to skirt Ariz. employer-sanctions law').

Gonzales says: "There are no studies that estimate how many illegal immigrants have turned to cash-only work to survive in Arizona. But economists say one of the results is that much of the money immigrants earn is going unreported and untaxed."

Gonzales admits there are no studies to support the argument that illegal aliens move from regular jobs to work off the books and this hurts the economy, and then refers to unnamed "economists" who say, "much of the money immigrants earn is going unreported and untaxed," as if someone had actually done a study. This is a cheap journalistic trick to prove a point with no proof. If economists are saying things and it is in print, link to it; If they are telling you these things, quote them. You can't do either because you are making these economists up in your head.

Gonzales says illegal aliens are "borrowing" the identities of citizens or legal residents to land jobs with employers." Borrowing? Does a bank robber borrow the money from a bank?

"Several economists agree that a shift to the underground economy is probably taking place and is worsening Arizona's economic problems by further deflating income-tax revenues. The effect is adding to the state's $1.2 billion budget shortfall."

Did these same economists say that American citizens benefit when illegal aliens are removed from the labor force?

Gonzales grabs a premise and then blows it all out of proportion with no facts to back him up. This is another example of the bias of the Arizona Republic in favor of lawlessness and open borders.

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