Dobbs: “We’ve Never Opposed Legal Immigration”; Commentary by Greg Siskind

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Dobbs: "We've Never Opposed Legal Immigration"; Commentary

By Greg Siskind (Gsiskind@visalaw.com)

Lou Dobbs, the CNN host who has used his nightly broadcast for nightly tirades against immigration, has said on a few occasions that he’s in favor of legal immigration and merely opposes illegal immigration on law and order grounds. But Dobbs has covered legal immigration in more than a 100 stories over the last five years and in almost every instance, the stories were alarmist and highly critical of legal immigration programs. The following is an inventory of those stories.

Stories suggesting legal immigration may be good for the country: 2 –

01/27/2006 – Dobbs’ reporter says legal immigrants make a contribution to American society (though the only person interviewed suggests that too many green cards are granted) – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/27/ldt.01.html

07/13/2007 - In story on O-1 visas, mention is made that some O-1s may be working on cancer research (though the story’s main focus is questioning whether O-1s are really just trying to get around H-1B caps). – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/13/ldt.01.html

Stories criticizing legal immigration: 96

12/25/2001 - H-1B workers pose a terrorist threat – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0112/25/mlld.00.html

04/03/2003 – Dobbs commenting on abuses in H-1B program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/03/ldt.01.html

09/23/2003 – American jobs are being lost to H-1B workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/23/ldt.00.html

09/24/2003 – American workers training L-1 replacements – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/24/ldt.00.html

09/29/2003 – All non-immigrant work category numbers need to be reduced due to high unemployment in the US – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/29/ldt.00.html

09/23/2003 – Separate story from above noting that the amount of legal immigration is "explosive" - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/29/ldt.00.html

10/1/2003 - H-1Bs can stay years longer than is necessary; H-1Bs keeping young people out of science and engineering fields – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/01/ldt.00.html

10/16/2003 – L-1s taking jobs away from US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/16/ldt.00.html

10/22/2003 - H-1B workers work at a third of the cost of US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/22/ldt.00.html

11/13/2003 - H-1B and L-1 abusers "have put hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work and changed their lives forever." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/13/ldt.00.html

11/27/2003 - Most H-1Bs hold technology jobs once held by higher paid Americans who are now unemployed – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0311/27/ldt.00.html

09/29/2003 – All non-immigrant work category numbers need to be reduced due to high unemployment in the US – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0309/29/ldt.00.html

04/06/2004 – American programmers groups commissioned a survey showing 81% of Americans want to cut H-1B visas (I’m just amazed that 81% of Americans have heard about the H-1B visa) – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/06/ldt.00.html

02/17/2004 – H-1Bs and L-1s source of cheap foreign labor - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/17/ldt.00.html

11/16/2004 - H-1Bs threaten the livelihood of US workers - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/16/ldt.01.html

11/16/2004 - "thousands of Americans who have lost their jobs to foreign workers with L1 and H-1B visas" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/16/ldt.01.html

12/07/2004 – terrorists exploiting easy asylum system – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0412/07/ldt.01.html

02/14/2005 – Story criticizing bringing teachers to the US on visas – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0501/14/ldt.01.html

03/10/2005 – terrorist exploiting easy asylum system – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/10/ldt.01.html

03/15/2005 – Terrorists using asylum, naturalization programs to gain entry to US – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/15/ldt.01.html

04/14/2005 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0504/14/ldt.01.html - criticizing H-2A program and the proposed reforms he seems to now praise calling it a return to the Bracero program of the 1950s.

04/20/2005 – asylum applicants clogging courts – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0504/20/ldt.01.html

5/3/2005 – H-1B and L-1 overstays not being enforced – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/03/ldt.01.html

05/05/2005 – Public opinion poll suggests public wants to reduce H-1B and H-2B visa quotas – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/05/ldt.01.html

03/15/2005 – Terrorists using asylum, naturalization programs to gain entry to US – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0503/15/ldt.01.html

08/26/2005 – Criticizes lack of requirement that H-1B employers offer positions first to US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/26/ldt.01.html

10/10/2005 – H-1B workers stealing jobs from displaced US workers in Katrina areas – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/10/ldt.01.html

10/20/2005 – USCIS "violated" law by issuing too many H-1Bs – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/20/ldt.01.html

11/02/2005 – Terrorists could use the green card lottery program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/02/ldt.01.html

11/3/2005 - H-1B program is "hurting hard working Americans" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/03/ldt.01.html

11/16/2005 – complains US grants asylum to cross-dressers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/16/ldt.01.html

02/07/2006 – the reason we have too few engineering and science graduates is because students know H-1B workers would take the jobs they might otherwise get. – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/07/ldt.01.html

03/03/2006 – H-1B workers and L-1 employees are paid less than their American counterparts - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/03/ldt.01.html

03/08/2006 - "shocking fraud and abuse" in the L-1 program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/08/ldt.01.html

03/15/2006 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/15/ldt.01.html - H-2A program used to take jobs from American workers

03/16/2006 – Chinese abusing asylum program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/16/ldt.01.html

04/07/2006 – H-1B numbers would increase unacceptably under comprehensive immigration bill – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/07/ldt.01.html

04/13/2005 – Report critical of use of J-1 and H-1B visa for teachers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0504/13/ldt.01.html

04/11/2006 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/11/ldt.01.html - report attempts to make it sound like H-2A is an amnesty program

04/25/2006 – asylum and refugee programs rife with loopholes – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/25/ldt.01.html

5/22/2006 - Small business owner losing on bids because competitors have cheap H-1B labor - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/22/ldt.01.html

05/24/2006 – Dobbs: In reference to the H-1B "this failed, mismanaged guest worker program is taking jobs away from hard-working middle class Americans. All the corporations seemed to care about is continued unlimited access to ever-cheaper foreign labor." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/24/ldt.01.html

8/10/2006 – Government not tracking H-1Bs – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/10/ldt.01.html

08/17/2006 – story criticizing abuses in H-2B program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/17/ldt.01.html

08/18/2006 – story noting abuses in H-2A and H-2B programs (Note – the story uses statements from the Southern Poverty Law Center to support contention; in 2007 and 2008, Dobbs will begin saying SPLC is an extremist organization after it criticizes Dobbs for hate speech – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/18/ldt.01.html

08/18/2006 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0608/18/ldt.01.html - story on exploitation of H-2A workers

11/10/2006 – Senate bill to increase H-1Bs would guarantee an "endless supply of lower-paid workers from overseas." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0611/10/ldt.01.html

01/16/2007 – Dobbs: The H-1B program is a "cheap imported labor program brought to you by the United States government." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0601/16/ldt.01.html

1/26/2007 – USCIS granted too many H-1B visas – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0701/26/ldt.01.html

3/7/2007 - H-1Bs are cheap labor, discouraging Americans from going in to science and engineering – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/07/cnr.05.html

03/07/2007 – Government has no idea how many H-1Bs are here – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/07/ldt.01.html

03/10/2007 - H-1Bs push down wages for American workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/10/ldtw.01.html

3/21/2007 - More H-1B visas part of "amnesty agenda" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/21/ldt.01.html

03/23/2007 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0703/23/ldt.01.html - H-2A workers are paid 20% less than US workers (not true by the way)

04/03/2007 – Employer abusing H-1B program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/03/ldt.01.html

04/05/2007 - H-1B workers driving down wages for US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/05/ldt.01.html

04/8/2007 - Fact that H-1B quota filled in a day is "proof" that "business is flagrantly abusing America ’s visa program" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/08/ldtw.01.html

4/23/2007 – H-1Bs are cheap labor, not attracting the "best and brightest" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/23/ldt.01.html

05/04/2007 – Story criticizing legal family immigration – "chain migration" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/04/ldt.01.html

05/07/2007 – Dobbs reporter Lisa Sylvester actually reports that the Bible commands us to look after our own citizens first and this translates to fewer H-1B visas – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/07/ldt.01.html

05/08/2007 – story criticizing "chain" family immigration – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/08/ldt.01.html

05/14/2007 – Dobbs praising Durbin/Grassley bill to restrict H-1B usage – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/14/ldt.01.html

05/16/2007 – Dobbs: Senate needs to deal with "chain migration" in immigration legislation – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/16/ldt.01.html

05/22/2007 – Dobbs criticizing "explosive chain migration" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/22/ldt.01.html

05/23/2007 – 1965 Immigration Act brought us an explosion and "chain migration" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/23/ldt.01.html

05/24/2007 - H-1Bs used by low lever workers and are mostly going to Indian outsourced IT labor – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0705/24/ldt.01.html

05/27/2007 – Dobbs online editorial on cnn.com criticizing "chain migration" – http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/22/Dobbs.May23/index.html

06/07/2007 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/07/ldt.01.html - discussing exploitation by H-2A employers

06/08/2007 - http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/05/dobbs.illegal/index.html - citing 3600 H-2A program violation citations

06/10/2007 – after clip of Senator Bernie Sanders criticizing H-1Bs and introducing amendment to charge additional $8000 fee in H-1B cases, Dobbs says Sander is "dedicated to the national interest and the common good, and reason, rather than rhetoric." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/10/ldtw.01.html

6/16/2007 - Use of H-1B to hire California Republican party worker a "a slap in the face to hundreds of qualified Americans" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/16/ldtw.01.html

06/19/2007 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/19/ldt.01.html - "humanitarian concerns" with H-2A program

6/19/2007 - Labor certifications – loopholes ensuring American workers have no chance at jobs – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/19/ldt.01.html

06/21/2007 – 70% of H-1Bs go to Indian outsourcing companies (Note: this is impossible since only half of all H-1Bs go to the IT industry) – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/21/ldt.01.html

06/22/2007 – Story about Pittsburgh law firm’s Youtube seminar Dobbs claims showed the H-1B program is fraudulently used to deprive US workers of jobs (Note: the Youtube video actually is about green cards and has nothing to do with H-1Bs).- http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/22/ldt.01.html

06/24/2007 – Cites H-1B visa abuse and "humanitarian concerns" in the H-2A and H-2B programs – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/24/ldtw.01.html

06/24/2007 - Call for investigation of fraud and abuse in the labor certification green card program – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/24/ldtw.01.html

6/27/2007 - "H-1B visas that allow American companies to replace American workers with cheaper paid foreigners." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/27/ldt.01.html

7/8/2007 - "H-1B program has been corrupted both by outsourcing firms as well as by cheap labor"; Bill Gates "blackmailing" Congress with announcement of Vancouver research center – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/08/ldtw.01.html

7/15/2007 - Senator Clinton’s call for an increase in H-1B visas is an attempt to court rich Indian American voters – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/15/ldtw.01.html

07/18/2007 – Authorities break up a crime ring selling H-1B and F-1 visas in India - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/18/ldt.01.html

08/07/2007 -Proposals for new guest worker program for legal immigrants are based on a lie; Dobbs: "not a single fact to support anything they’re saying." – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/07/ldt.01.html

08/14/2007 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/14/ldt.01.html - criticizing H-2A and bringing in cheap foreign labor in to the agricultural field

08/30/2007 – H-1Bs are cheap labor, displacing US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/30/ldt.01.html

9/8/2007 - STRIVE would add "millions" of H-1Bs and the numbers were "pulled out of a hat" – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/08/ldtw.01.html

9/19/2007 - H-1Bs are cheap labor taking jobs from US workers – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/19/ldt.01.html

10/18/2007 – H-1B program rife with fraud and there is too much unemployment – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0510/18/ldt.01.html

11/13/2007 - H-1Bs take jobs away from Americans - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0711/13/ldt.01.html

11/21/2007 – Story on abuses in the H-1B program and need for legislative changes – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0511/21/ldt.01.html

12/15/2007 – H-1B program is for large companies seeking cheap labor – http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0312/15/ldt.00.html

12/17/2007 - http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0712/17/ldt.01.html- Report on how big farms are using the H-2A program to bring in cheap labor at the expense of American workers

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