Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/127433
Voices Hot Buttons Where do you stand on immigration reform efforts? Undocumented workers in the U.S. should have a clear path to citizenship 12% More permissive laws needed to encourage legal immigration 7% I don't know or care 3% More restrictive immigration law needed 35% Current law and deportation policy acceptable, but tougher enforcement needed 43% 78% A large majority of Overdrive readers remain opposed to the kind of immigration reform being pursued in the executive and legislative branches of government. Almost half favor the legal status quo, coupled with tougher enforcement along the border and within the country. Views of the general public are more liberal. An April Washington Post/ABC News poll found as much as 63 percent of Americans favor granting legal status to those here illegally, coupled with a fine or other punitive measure. 8Hoffco_OVD0312_PG036.indd 12013 | Overdrive | May Voices_0513.indd 8 ION IGRAT S IMM LICIE PO Readers want enforcement, not reform "There already is a legal path to citizenship," said David S. McQueen, summing up the near-majority stance among Overdrive readers on the U.S. government's feints toward immigration reform. A near-majority favored the current law status coupled with tougher enforcement, whether along the border or among immigrants here illegally already. Add in the more than a third of respondents who believe the United States needs more restrictive immigration laws, and the focus is clear. At least some of the opposition to a more permissive policy stems from con- cern that encouraging more immigration would put downward pressure on trucker compensation. "We as drivers have one of the last bastions of employment that pays a living wage" in the United States, noted Herb Williams, commenting at OverdriveOnline.com. "Flooding the labor market with low-paid CDL drivers is a dream of the rich. It's all part of the race to the bottom for the working class." The Obama administration at press time had unveiled its own immigration plan and was awaiting a bipartisan effort for a draft bill in Congress. The adminis- Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com 2/27/13 9:30 AM 4/30/13 10:34 PM