Speaker hails the contributions made by immigrants

This speaker encouraged immigrants who are working at low level jobs and showed them how important they are to keep this country running. We do need them. DP

Policy expert notes they fill need for workers in low-level jobs during forum at Holy Rosary School, South Beach

By LARISSA RANDALL, ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
SILive.com: Immigrants are taking American jobs!" That's the claim you often hear people make. Tamar Jacoby is trying to change their minds.

Ms. Jacoby, a leading national expert on immigration policy and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, was the featured speaker at yesterday's forum on immigration reform, held at Holy Rosary School, South Beach. It was co-sponsored by the Staten Island Immigrants Council and other groups.

Ms. Jacoby focused on the contributions immigrants make to our country, especially working at jobs that more educated Americans don't want to do.

To the Island immigrants, mostly Hispanic, who were among the majority of her audience of 50 people, Ms. Jacoby said reassuringly, "You're right that you're doing work that needs to be done, and you should keep doing it."

She pointed out that in 1960, half of all American men dropped out of high school to work at unskilled jobs. Today, less than 10 percent do so, but the need for these jobs has not disappeared. Immigrants have filled these positions that Americans no longer wish to take.
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