Foes say President's immigration plan costs jobs
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- More than three centuries after immigrants from Europe celebrated the first Thanksgiving, the United States continues to debate what to do about immigrants who are here illegally.
Immigration advocates held a Thanksgiving march on Wednesday in support of the President's plan, which will allow millions to avoid deportation.
On the other side is businessman Kirtis Baxter, who owns a home construction company in Phoenix.
When asked if illegal immigration has impacted his business, Baxter says yes. "We lose jobs," he said. "It costs us. I know people who have gone out of business because of it."
Baxter hires only legal immigrants and says it's hard to compete with others who employ cheaper illegal labor.
According to the Pew Research Center, of the 156 million workers in the nation's labor force, 8.2 million are undocumented immigrants. Baxter says President Obama's plans to secure the border don't go far enough.
"I think before you figure out what you can do with who's here, you definitely have to stop the flow of people who are still coming in," he says.
Baxter heads a group called "Riders USA," which is strongly anti-illegal immigration.
Rusty Childress said the President is exceeding his authority.
"There is no sense in not allowing Congress to pass laws which by the Constitution is their duty," said Childress. "Not the President of the United States. This is not supposed to be a one-man government."
More than 2 million undocumented immigrants have been deported by President Obama's administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security. That's more than any other president. But his new plan allows millions to stay.
Asked what he would do in a situation where there are a couple of kids who are citizens and mom is not, Baxter says, "That's the tough question. You obviously can't give everyone blanket amnesty because you end up waving a welcome flag saying, 'Hey, they aren't doing anything, let's go over.' But what do you do with a family and kids who are in high school here? It's a tough, heart-wrenching situation."
Baxter worries the President has now made the road to bipartisan immigration reform much longer.
