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Arianna Huffington on Immigration
2004 former Independent Challenger for CA Governor
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Illegal immigrants already paid price for American dream
The truth, as anyone who thinks about it for a minute realizes, is that undocumented immigrants already have paid a price for their pursuit of the American dream, often starting with an expensive and harrowing journey into this country and continuing
with years of low-paying toil at one of those famous "jobs Americans don't want to do"--usually for the benefit of a business that would prefer to keep its labor costs to a minimum by hiring the cheapest workers.
They do this work without the benefits and protections that citizens receive, even though they often pay their fair share in taxes. Contributions from undocumented immigrants using fake
Social Security numbers total 10 percent of the annual Social Security surplus, which is about $50 billion. Low-skilled immigrants contribute as much as $10 billion to the U.S. economy every year.
Source: Right Is Wrong, by Arianna Huffington, p.236
, Apr 29, 2008
Deporting 12 million illegals can't be the American way
We can't simply round up all twelve million undocumented immigrants and ship them home. Apart from the economic devastation caused by depriving
American business of millions of workers, the cost of rounding them up and shipping them home is estimated at around $200 billion.
And one can't calculate the moral and emotional cost of armed men arresting families in their homes or workplaces and marching them onto trains or buses. Whatever your idea is of what's "American," this can't be it.
And it simply isn't going to happen. But this un-American nightmare would be the logical consequence of the Right's "no exception" pandering.
Source: Right Is Wrong, by Arianna Huffington, p.244-245
, Apr 29, 2008
Respect illegal immigrant rights-they’re not terrorists
HUFFINGTON: The good news about Tom McClintock is you know where he stands. There’s no fudging. And that’s what I like about you. With Arnold, it’s all over the map. We are for taking care of kids but not for driving them safely to school or to the
emergency room or wherever the health care is to be provided. And ultimately, that’s the kind of pandering to the Pete Wilson team that you are surrounding yourself with, because ultimately they are not going to change.
They don’t really fundamentally care for those immigrants in this country.SCHWARZENEGGER: Arianna, there is no identification, there is no background check. It is dangerous for our security here. Let’s do it the right way. Let’s get them visas.
Let’s get them temporary working permits. HUFFINGTON: It is really offensive to think that they are terrorists just because they are here as illegal immigrations.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Let’s get them permanent working permits.
Source: Recall Debate, Cal. State Univ. at Sacramento
, Sep 24, 2003
Drivers license to illegal immigrants this bill & every bill
Q: Do you support the proposal allowing illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses? HUFFINGTON: I would have signed the bill the first time in when the governor vetoed it because his back was not against the wall.
Source: Recall debate in Walnut Creek
, Sep 3, 2003
Supports immigrant rights
On Immigration: Arianna supports immigrant rights.
As a Greek immigrant herself - one of the 9 million Californians who weren’t born in this country - she knows first-hand the difficulties that immigrants face. Arianna supports the push to provide immigrants with driver’s licenses.
Source: 2003 Gubernatorial campaign website, AriannaForGov.com
, Aug 15, 2003
Page last updated: Apr 30, 2021