(The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker is pushing back against U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s comments about immigration terminology and work permits for people who are unlawfully present in the United States.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, the Republican spokesperson for the Illinois House Immigration and Human Rights Committee, said the terminology used to describe people who entered or remain in the country unlawfully should not obscure the underlying immigration policy debate.
Niemerg said he supports people immigrating to the United States through legal channels but opposes providing work authorization to people who are unlawfully present without first addressing their immigration status.
“I support illegal immigrants going back to their country of origin and then going through the processes that Senator Durbin laid out for legal immigration,” Niemerg said.
Durbin, D-Ill., was questioned by a reporter in a video circulating online about his support for work permits for people who are in the country unlawfully.
“Is that what you call them?” Durbin asked after the reporter referred to “illegal aliens.”
“Well yeah, I mean…” the reporter responded.
“Oh come on honey, get better. Please don't be such a hater,” Durbin said.
The reporter responded that the term was legally used.
Durbin said people in the United States who are working, raising families and have children who are U.S. citizens “deserve a chance to prove that they can stay.”
“That's not illegal, that's not safe, it is American,” Durbin said.
Niemerg said he believes the terminology debate can affect how the public views the underlying policy question.
“It softens the issue to normalize it for the American people,” Niemerg said. “That's why they use this terminology because they want them to think that, hey, they're not here illegally. They're just here.”
On the question of work permits, Niemerg said he believes people should first return to their countries of origin and then pursue legal immigration options.
“I am for people coming to this country legally in the pursuit of the American dream,” Niemerg said.
Durbin also defended the idea of allowing people who are working and raising families in the U.S. to have an opportunity to remain legally.
“Let's face it, if we're going to be honest about immigration, we should be honest about the people that are affected by these laws,” Durbin said.
The two also differed over the effect of unauthorized workers on the U.S. labor market.
Niemerg rejected the argument that some jobs would go unfilled without unauthorized immigrant labor.
He argued that allowing employers to pay workers less because of their immigration status can put downward pressure on wages and create what he described as a “permanent underclass.”
Durbin, meanwhile, challenged the premise that American workers are being displaced from certain jobs.
“These are jobs that go wanting,” Durbin said. “People don't want to work in the back room of a restaurant.”
Niemerg said immigration policy should focus on legal entry and employment.
“If he wants to agree with me and send these folks back to the country of origin, then go through those processes legally for them to immigrate and to want to work here,” Niemerg said.
The disagreement comes as immigration policy remains a major point of debate in Illinois and nationally, including questions over enforcement, legal status and employment authorization.
