Article

Restaurant organizations apprehensive about Obama's executive action on immigration

It has been estimated that about 20 percent of chefs, head cooks and cooks in the restaurant industry are undocumented immigrants.

November 21, 2014 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

President Obama announced Thursday he was issuing an executive order on immigration policy, a move that is expected to provide protection from deportation for approximately 5 million unauthorized immigrants.

The president's intentions include several key components, including:

• Building on "our progress at the border with additional resources for law enforcement to stem the flow of illegal crossings."
• Making it easier for high-skilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to "stay and contribute to our economy."
• Taking steps to "deal responsibly" with the millions of undocumented immigrants who are already in the US.

Obama fleshed out the third point extensively during his speech Thursday night because it "generates the most passion and controversy." He acknowledged that undocumented workers have broken immigration laws and "must be held accountable."

He added, however, that "rounding up and deporting millions of people isn't realistic," especially as many of them have been here for a while and work in low-wage jobs. In response to years of political gridlock on this specific issue, Obama offered the following "deal" as part of his action: 

Those who have been in the US for more than five years, who have children who are American citizens or legal immigrants, who register, pass a criminal background check and are willing to pay their taxes will be able to stay temporarily without deportation.

The deal doesn't apply to those who have come to the US recently or those who may come illegally in the future. He also said the move doesn't grant citizenship or the right to stay permanently.

"All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you," the President said.

The effect on the restaurant industry

Any immigration policy is going to have a deep impact on the restaurant industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that in 2010 about 1.4 million employees in the industry were foreign born – both legal and illegal immigrants. The New York Times also reported that about 20 percent of chefs, head cooks and cooks are undocumented immigrants, as well as about 28 percent of the industry's dishwashers. 

Still, restaurant organizations didn't exactly jump for joy after Thursday's speech by the president. The National Restaurant Association's CEO Dawn Sweeney said there is concern the executive action will "negatively impact Congress' ability to accomplish real and lasting reform."

“Immigration reform is a highly charged issue that requires deliberate and constructive bipartisan dialogue. We have worked vigorously with both parties to move legislation forward to the benefit of our membership and our workforce. We hope that the debate over process will not derail progress on common sense immigration reform measures in the next Congress," she said in a statement.

The National Council of Chain Restaurants' Executive Director Rob Green echoed Sweeney's comments, stating that President Obama's executive action is "contrary to achieving long-overdue legislative reforms to our nation's immigration and is seen by many as divisive and unhelpful."

“In spite of the executive action announced today, we hope that the president and Congress can work together to find a workable and lasting legislative solution to our nation’s immigration challenges," he said in a statement.

Congressional pushback

Obama's move has also caused plenty of controversy within the Washington DC ranks. House Speaker John Boehner has promised to fight the president's plan and said Obama has caused "damage to the presidency." 

Some Republicans have also claimed that the action is illegal.

However, Obama's team, along with several independent legal experts, insist everything in his plan falls within the realm of legal action. 

And, in a preemptive response to such criticism from Congress, restaurant organizations and others, Obama said Thursday:

"To those who question my authority to make our immigration system work better or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.

"I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary."

^{Photo provided by Wikipedia.}

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