When, if ever, have you seen a news poll or survey in a newspaper or on television describing how African-Americans feel about illegal immigration, amnesty or guest worker programs? I suspect the answer is never. Well, one group of African-American leaders is letting our lawmakers on both sides of the aisle know exactly how blacks feel about the current Senate immigration bill that passed on Thursday.

As US lawmakers, with the backing of President Bush, rush to pass a bill that grants amnesty to tens of millions of illegal aliens and opens the doors to millions more "guest workers," a new coalition of African-American leaders is calling the  proposal a "disaster for all Americans that will hit black citizens the hardest."

The newly formed coalition of business, academic and community leaders, known as Choose Black America, held their inaugural press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, May 23, to express the concerns of the vast majority of American blacks who believe that amnesty for illegal aliens would be devastating to their communities.
   
Choose Black America officials believe that black Americans have already been severely damaged by decades of uncontrolled illegal immigration and stand to lose even more if 12 million or more illegal aliens are granted amnesty. The coalition was also formed in response to the failure of black elected officials to represent the interests of African-Americans.
   
"Mass illegal immigration has been a major impediment to black advancement in this country over the past 25 years," declared Dr. Frank Morris Sr., chairman of Choose Black America

"All Americans are harmed by rampant illegal immigration, but it is blacks, in particular, who have lost economic opportunities, watched their kids' schools flood with non-English speaking students, and felt the direct impact in countless ways. Our government has failed us, our elected officials have failed us, and now they are prepared to compound the damage with an amnesty and guest worker program that will set black Americans back a hundred years."
   
Choose Black America is calling on the Senate to enact an immigration enforcement bill that does not include amnesty for those here illegally and which does not flood the American labor market with guest workers who in reality will become permanent residents of this country.

The group also seeks to make it clear that black members of Congress who are backing amnesty for illegal aliens do not represent the views and interests of their constituents back home.
   
"Black politicians in this country are quick to point out that African-Americans -- especially young black men -- are far more likely to be unemployed, to live in poverty, lack access to basic health care, and to attend dysfunctional schools than the rest of the population," Morris observed.

"The politicians use these realities to demand new government programs paid for with money the government is borrowing, when the most effective black empowerment program would be enforcement of our immigration laws.

The group contends that a comprehensive strategy to enforce our nation's immigration laws would do more to improve conditions for American blacks than all the anti-poverty programs Washington can dream up.
   
"An illegal alien amnesty would not only reward tens of millions of lawbreakers, but would result in tens of millions, perhaps even a hundred million, new mostly low-wage workers and their families entering this country over the next 20 years," said Morris. "The first to lose from such a program would be African Americans, but, ultimately, all Americans who work for a living would suffer a devastating blow."

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Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.