Pgh in Discussion on How to Attract Immigrants

Representatives from Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland will convene in Detroit today to discuss methods of attracting and retaining immigrant workers to Midwestern cities.

Audrey Russo, Chair of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, says where the immigrants hail from doesn’t matter as much as the skills and entrepreneurship they bring to the region.

“This monumental shift, from manufacturing into more advanced manufacturing and technology and healthcare and education, requires us to take it to the next level and to further commercialize innovation to smart people,” says Russo. “We’re talking about people who are highly educated and who are also highly creative.”

Russo says while Pittsburgh had one of the most diverse metro populations in the early 20th century, the city now has trouble attracting and retaining global talent. She says the city’s universities seem to be an exception to this.

Russo says in addition to an atmosphere of cultural acceptance, Pittsburgh would better attract immigrant workers with an “amazing school system.” Russo says demographics show that immigrant families often settle in areas with high-performing schools.

Measures Seek to Curb Hiring of Illegal Immigrants in PA

Democratic Representative John Galloway of Bucks County says he has been working on this legislation for years and believes it has the support to pass. The two house bills (1502, 1503) seek to keep employers from hiring illegal immigrants by adopting the optional federal E-Verify program where new employees would have their residency status checked and existing employees would be confirmed through the Social Security Number Verification Service. Contractors who do no follow the rules could be barred from state projects or in the case of private construction work, they could be forced to forfeit their state licenses or certifications. Galloway says the combination of the illegal workers and the economic downturn have decimated the construction industry in Pennsylvania. He says these bills are necessary because of what he deems a lack of federal action when it comes to dealing with the employment of illegal immigrants. Galloway is quick to point out that these bills are specifically crafted for Pennsylvania and don't have anything to do with Arizona's recent illegal immigrant legislation. He says his bills "would protect jobs and level the playing field for honest companies that do the right thing by hiring American workers and those legally authorized to work here."