Rapid Response

Letter to the editor published in Pittsburgh-Tribune Review on March 21, 2006, on immigration reform

An immigration fix
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Dimitri Vassilaros spends a great deal of time critiquing the National Restaurant Association's position on immigration reform, but no time offering any kind of solution to the problem ("Food for illegals thought", March 13 and TribLIVE.com).

He suggests that simply paying employees higher wages will attract more workers. It's not that simple because the immigration issue is not about wages; it's about labor shortages.

Restaurateurs cite finding workers as one of their biggest challenges, and it is no wonder since they and other employers are caught by demographic forces beyond their control.

As a whole, U.S. workers are getting older and becoming more educated, leaving a yawning gap in the work force that hits hardest the employers of younger, lesser-skilled workers. For example, while the restaurant industry is expected to grow 15 percent in the next 10 years, the population of 16- to 24-year-olds, which makes up half of its employees, is not expected to increase at all.

It is no secret our immigration system is broken. To repair it, we need a comprehensive approach that includes these fundamental changes:

A verification system that is efficient, inexpensive and reliable, and does not unfairly penalize employers.

A reasonable solution for undocumented workers that does not require 7 million workers and their families to go home, but allows them to earn a green card.

A new program that allows workers to come to our country legally when U.S. workers are not available.

Now, we have laid out our plan — along with many partners in the business community, organized labor, religious groups and immigration advocates — on how to help fix the broken immigration system.

Does Mr. Vassilaros have a plan?

Craig S. Miller
Washington, D.C.

The writer is chairman of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of Ruth's Chris Steak House.