The resources below and their abstracts are from the March 2006 issue of 
WorkforceUSA which can be found online at
<http://www.workforceusa.net/news_prv.php?id=34>



Los Angeles Workers Join Fierce Debate Over Immigration
In this article, Teresa Watanabe, LA Times staff writer, explores the 
attitudes of workers, unions and businessesabout the proposed guest worker 
program. She characterizes the arguments supporting and opposing the 
program, and interviews individual workers who are concerned about a 
potential decrease in wages and the number of job opportunities.  Read More 
<http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-guestworker20feb20,1,6429750.story?ctrack=1&cset=true> 


AFL-CIO Rejects US Guest Worker Proposals In this article, Reuters reporter 
Peter Szekely discusses the AFL-CIO's announcement that it would reject 
current guest worker proposals in Congress. The AFL-CIO continues to 
support the "legalization of more than 11 million illegal foreign workers 
in the country," filling labor shortages with "workers with full rights," a 
position that it has maintained since 2000.  Read More 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/28/AR2006022800935.html> 


Undocumented Workers' Presence Growing A study released by the Pew Hispanic 
Center investigates the size and characteristics of the unauthorized 
migrant population. The report finds that unauthorized migrants currently 
comprise about 5% of the labor force, and analyzes which labor sectors 
account for the majority of these jobs.  Read More 
<http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=61>

Illegal Immigrants Worry States and Local Governments In this online audio 
broadcast, NPR's Jennifer Ludden investigates the actions of state and 
local governments in reaction to their assessment of the cost of 
undocumented workers. Some localities are reacting by supporting guest 
worker legislation to increase tax revenue, while others are attempting to 
bar undocumented workers from benefits such as workers compensation. Read 
More <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5280926>


Center for Immigration Studies Website The Center for Immigration Studies 
is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization founded in 
1985. It is the nation's only think tank devoted exclusively to research 
and policy analysis of the economic, social, demographic, fiscal, and other 
impacts of immigration on the United States.   Read 
More  <http://www.cis.org/aboutcis.html>

Immigrants and TANF: A Look at Immigrant Welfare Recipients in Three Cities 
The key findings from this report, based on case studies of New York, Los 
Angeles, and Houston, show that: immigrants and limited English speakers 
make up a significant share of those on welfare; many have significant 
barriers to work including less education and work history than natives; 
and immigrants on welfare are less likely to be working and more likely to 
be working in dead-end jobs. Job training programs often have English 
language requirements, limiting immigrants' access. The authors conclude 
that combining part-time work and language training can help immigrant 
welfare recipients move into jobs and off the welfare rolls.   Read More 
<http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310874_OP69.pdf >

The Role of Immigrants in the U.S. Labor Market This paper, commissioned by 
the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee and 
published by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) focuses on the role of 
immigrants in the labor market"the skills they bring to that market; the 
types of jobs they hold; their annual compensation; and their impact on the 
native-born workforce." The paper is the third in a CBO series that 
presents facts on immigration trends and potential implications for the 
federal budget and the economy. Since the CBO is a nonpartisan entity, 
there are no formal policy recommendations.  Read 
More   <http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/68xx/doc6853/11-10-Immigration.pdf>

Size and Characteristics of the Unauthorized Migrant Population This study 
released by the Pew Hispanic Center investigates the size and 
characteristics of the unauthorized migrant population. The report finds 
that unauthorized migrants currently comprise about 5% of the labor force, 
and analyzes which labor sectors account for the majority of these jobs. 
Read More  <http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=61>