Anti-immigration ads seek to put pressure on Congress

WASHINGTON - At first blush, the Coalition for the Future American Worker might seem like a labor group or an academic association.

But the primary force behind the coalition, which has run newspaper and radio ads critical of members of Congress who support increasing the number of visas issued to skilled foreign workers, appears to be a close-knit group of anti-immigration activists.

One ad, printed in The Seattle Times, has targeted U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, and Adam Smith, D-Tacoma. "Help Stop Congressmen Inslee and Smith from Giving Thousands of High-Tech Jobs to Foreign Workers!" read the headline of an ad that appeared in The Times as recently as last week.

At issue is legislation that would double the number of H-1B visas issued to skilled workers from abroad during the next three years. Opponents say raising the visa cap amounts to giving away American jobs. But supporters, particularly representatives of the high-tech industry, say they need to look abroad to fill key research jobs and other specialized positions because there aren't enough U.S.-born workers with computer skills.

Roy Beck, head of an advocacy group called Americans for Better Immigration and spokesman for the Coalition for the Future American Worker, said the ads were designed to pressure lawmakers into taking "a really public stand" on the issue.

The question, Beck said, was "whether they're going to stand with the interests of the workers at their area corporations or whether they're going to stand solely with the owners."

The H-1B program allows employers who are unable to find skilled workers at home to hire professionals from abroad. The foreign professionals are granted permission to live and work in the U.S. for six years. There is broad bipartisan support for raising the H-1B cap from 115,000 visas yearly to about 200,000.

The Clinton administration has signaled that the president would sign a new H-1B bill if the visas were targeted at highly skilled workers and if Republicans agreed to increase the fees companies pay for the visas to generate more training funds for American workers.

Labor unions, which have criticized the H1-B program, are not fighting its expansion this year. Recognizing its likely passage, the unions have been pushing for more training money.

"The ads are factually inaccurate," Smith said through a spokeswoman. "The bill will help, not hurt, American workers by growing our economy and creating good jobs."

But the coalition ad argues that what corporations really want is cheaper labor. Its supporters note that government auditors have documented fraud in the H-1B program.

The ads come at a time when a fierce campaign by a group linked to the coalition is generating controversy in Michigan.

U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham, R-Mich., has urged the Internal Revenue Service to investigate whether the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) violated its tax-exempt status with a high-profile TV and radio campaign targeting him.

FAIR, whose leaders have advocated placing a 50-year moratorium on all immigration, are at odds with Abraham, who has struck a moderate tone on the issue in his role as chairman of a subcommittee with jurisdiction over immigration.

Groups and individuals related to FAIR appear to be the dominant players behind the tax-exempt organizations that are part of the Coalition for the Future American Worker.

FAIR Congressional Taskforce, a wing of the main organization, is listed as a coalition member. Beck is an editor with Social Contract Publications, a publishing house created by the founder of FAIR. And the FAIR Web site makes frequent reference to Beck's book, "The Case Against Immigration."

American Immigration Control also is a member of the Coalition for the Future American Worker. And congressional aides who track the groups say other members of the coalition are closely related to other anti-immigration groups.

"It's really a coterie of extremists," said Frank Sharry, director of National Immigration Reform, which advocates protecting the civil and legal rights of immigrants. "There's a legitimate debate about immigration. But these guys . . . want to shut the door on all immigration."

While the ads that ran in Seattle were crafted to avoid explicitly opposing the re-election of any individual official, critics of the coalition say the intent is clear. "They're trying to scare politicians in tight races," Sharry said.

Inslee and Smith both face serious challengers in suburban Seattle districts - Inslee in the 1st District and Smith in the 9th.

Inslee said he still supports the bill to help Microsoft and other local high-tech companies fill vacancies while fees from the visas go to improve training for American workers.

"The source of this (ad campaign) is somewhat unknown to us, but I know it is not the folks who represent working people," Inslee said.

The ads did not target another area lawmaker, Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Bellevue, although she supports expanding the H-1B program and, as a member of the Republican majority, wields more influence in Congress than does Inslee or Smith. Dunn's seat is considered safe this election.

Beck said the omission of Dunn was an oversight but added the coalition believed Democrats would be more responsive than Republicans to an appeal in behalf of workers.

© Copyright 2000 The Seattle Times