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San Antonio Mayor and rising Democratic star Julián Castro (D) tells Alan why he believes now is the time for immigration reform.
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Welcome San Antonio mayor -- Castro he.
Elected in May of 2009 and then was won reelection in two and eleven will almost 82%.
Of the vote became the youngest elected city councilman at that time in 2001 in San Antonio history when he won that election and gave the keynote speech at the DNC.
This past summer -- -- -- emotional program tonight.
-- -- -- -- -- spirit -- and I'm sure you're tired of hearing rising star in the Democratic Party right.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- That -- been outspoken on the issue of immigration and one of the things you've brought that I think needs to be underscored that we I don't hear enough present.
The people who come in this country in the people who may not be documented and I prefer undocumented to illegal when we describe human beings.
That they actually there's a net gain to what they give to society verses what they take out I think people need to understand that.
That's right you know fortunately over the last several years.
Several of media.
Surrounding.
Undocumented immigrants have been.
-- -- -- show just to be inaccurate one of them is that they -- away more than they did a few years ago.
-- in taxes they're comptroller didn't studies which show.
That this -- net revenue gain from undocumented immigrant.
I believe that kind of analysis.
In most states where it's been done on the -- -- not every state has done that kind of you know should but the wonder.
Generally shows positive.
So you know that's that's just sort of -- this itself there have been more that folks understand.
The real positive impact they have hopefully the more -- would be willing to support.
Comprehensive immigration reform that addresses into Lebanon is yeah well documented and it's.
When you spoke to the have Judiciary -- -- -- immigration just the other days and allegations more than a political issue it's who we are people seem to -- -- the perhaps there.
-- -- -- -- We're not did not come over in the mayflower to the -- Yeah I mean you know all of us.
Just all of us are different from you -- the United States Clinton.
No and -- my case.
You are talking about the convention my grandmother came in which used to secure -- -- for the came through eagle pass Texas -- -- the central you know I came from Mexico.
And you feel like you're in the story over and over and over -- and over the generations.
Immigrants and just made this country stronger and even today that replenishing what has made America great -- hard great work ethic.
They.
Aspirations.
Making America competitive in the 21 -- global economy.
So often we hear from conservatives and need her family values.
As you've also pointed at visa -- separate husbands wives mothers and children.
I would appeal to them on the family values issue that good immigration reform includes keeping families again.
It does -- and that's been the priority of our our immigration laws over the years the problem is that.
Today for folks who legally -- To immigrate here.
-- -- forever.
To actually get citizenship.
You know 101520.
Or more years.
And you have family members differently to get there are -- or they're minor child between the United States.
Could get citizenship formed so that needs to change and what the important point you know it's not just about addressing eleven million he's about -- in the back walk.
Yeah for the folks who legally applied in the Spanish music to -- family.
Of course the argument about eleven million is if you normalize them.
You're only encouraging -- -- to this country with a notion that they will one day be normalized to and if they are perceived as coming -- even illegally.
It'll eventually be okay.
-- that argument that out there the fact is that people want to can be -- -- states because the United States is still the land of opportunity.
People always gonna -- in fact we should be more worried about that point in time Aaron you know -- -- -- never occurred but what people don't wanna come to the United States.
That's withdraw its that we -- greatest country in the world so -- -- of what we do on this sushi -- people.
Wanting to come in the United States.
-- well would we incentivized to many people.
If we normalize the eleven million people here -- it's unclear whether they come here legally or not.
I don't think so because -- the other part of this is.
Other two parts of this -- you're gonna continue to enhance.
Security even though President Obama has done an excellent job that Premier League and we've had.
The low number of apprehensions.
In forty years.
That's killing -- other measure how many people are trying to cross.
We have more border agents sure on the border southwestern border that we've ever.
I was doubled since 2004.
And then secondly.
Part of the comprehensive approach also includes a better -- -- for employers to verify that would today -- from one.
They know that person here legally.
So you improve those two systems.
That you're lessening the chance you're gonna have to deal with this.
To the -- exterior in the years to come.
-- -- -- San Antonio mayor million castor oil the other arguments is that well okay but let's make sure we get skilled workers and and not just allow anybody and particularly if they're unskilled to come into this -- We -- and they had upended the Judiciary Committee hearing.
A couple folks we're talking about the need for -- skilled.
Immigration piece or pieces and so -- I don't disagree with you know that's part of the comprehensive approach but.
You can't just be you know it's -- fault but confident that we we don't just need be.
I've still tech workers.
My grandmother came here which -- security hole that you know not I -- there will be -- wasn't built at all at that age.
We had many people have come here.
And they have done great things.
Or their children or grandchildren have -- -- things.
So that we weren't -- -- reward except these.
These so called -- co workers.
All publicly America would be paid a great price.
In the future.
However -- -- other it was get calls from listeners some of who will say well I lost a job to an illegal immigrant I lost a job because of an undocumented worker.
-- I'm suffering because people who shouldn't he or taking my job and fair argument.
It's not a fair argument in fact that's one of the myth that's been -- this is this idea is that.
Undocumented immigrants dragged down wages and the -- jobs from Americans.
But the fact is that most of the policies across the political spectrum -- show.
In fact they can have a positive impact on the wages of American Americans -- -- picking.
Eight.
Our job it's not hard here on the -- Because those immigrants fill the lower in position.
Whether it's in agriculture.
War in other industry.
Here's a -- Americans up the chain to take better jobs -- they otherwise might get.
That's right and you know could encourage folks to look at some -- the Hamilton project.
There's also -- and analysis in California.
Yeah agriculture industry that I believe it was in the journal of applied in agricultural economics.
We -- in a minute left here.
What do we do with the eleven million with the eleven million what kind of -- should they have to jump through in order to be normalized.
Well it should be earned citizenship this is not something which is going to be given away.
First of all gonna take between 810 years.
But they -- after Herbert.
Come forward and identifies itself.
I don't mission have to pay back taxes and also pay a fine that recognizes that that they did not come into the country the proper way.
They should have to learn English.
And also.
Get to the back of the only source of corporal pat spoke to a legally -- He thinks he's all gonna happen if things will be a comprehensive reform happening any -- and.
Problem but optimists so I believe that this is the best chance there's been quite awhile.
At least -- seven -- eight years to make that happen.
And so I believe that it can get done and encourage third.
Bit there's there's bipartisan framework if you put together and so you know we're gonna keep pushing did everything we can do encourage folks who supported.
I -- the day that America is watching you and I believe that's true.
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