Will Beback (talk | contribs) restore sourced, neutral material on FAIR projects |
Will Beback (talk | contribs) →Other groups created by FAIR: make Mehlman reference more germane, refs |
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One founder of Choose Black America, James Clingman, said "Choose Black America was just the banner under which we had a press conference."<ref>[http://www.epluribusmedia.org/features/2007/20070205_immigration_p1.html "Anti - Immigration Groups and the Masks of False Diversity"] Duke Falconer, [[05 February]] [[2007]], ePluribus Media</ref>. He also said that he hadn't spoken to or contacted the other members before FAIR organized the press conference, and would not have attended if he'd known who else was involved. |
One founder of Choose Black America, James Clingman, said "Choose Black America was just the banner under which we had a press conference."<ref>[http://www.epluribusmedia.org/features/2007/20070205_immigration_p1.html "Anti - Immigration Groups and the Masks of False Diversity"] Duke Falconer, [[05 February]] [[2007]], ePluribus Media</ref>. He also said that he hadn't spoken to or contacted the other members before FAIR organized the press conference, and would not have attended if he'd known who else was involved. |
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Other groups established by FAIR include the "Coalition for the Future of the American Worker", which describes itself as "an umbrella organization of professional trade groups, population/environment organizations, and immigration reform groups. CFAW was formed to represent the interests of American workers and students in the formulation of immigration policy" |
Other groups established by FAIR include the "Coalition for the Future of the American Worker", which describes itself as "an umbrella organization of professional trade groups, population/environment organizations, and immigration reform groups. CFAW was formed to represent the interests of American workers and students in the formulation of immigration policy"<ref>http://www.americanworker.org/whatis2.html</ref>, and "[[You Don't Speak For Me]]", which describes itself as "a group of concerned Americans of Hispanic/Latino heritage, some first or second generation, others recent legal immigrants, who believe illegal immigration harms America and a guest worker amnesty will do the same". |
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The media contact for Coalition for the Future of the American Worker,<ref>http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=14215</ref> You Don't Speak For Me,<ref>http://www.dontspeakforme.org/ourstory.html</ref> and Choose Black America is Ira Mehlman, FAIR's media director. Mehlman was previously special assistant to Gov. Richard Lamm (Colorado), and press secretary of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. <ref>http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_media8da3</ref> |
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==Criticism== |
==Criticism== |
Revision as of 21:27, 21 May 2007
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization in the United States that advocates for reforms of U.S. immigration policies that would result in significant immigration reduction. It was founded on January 2, 1979 by John Tanton and has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The President of FAIR since 1988, Dan Stein, is one of America's foremost speakers on immigration as evidenced by over 50 appearances before Congress and many news programs. The organization estimates more than 250,000 members and supporters.[1] FAIR seeks a moratorium on immigration by anyone other than refugees and the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens, until it can be shown that higher immigration levels are needed.[2]
FAIR describes itself as a "group whose membership runs the gamut from liberal to conservative. [Its] grassroots networks help concerned citizens use their voices to speak up for effective, sensible immigration policies that work for America’s best interests".[1]
FAIR promotes policies to improve border security and stop illegal immigration, and to reduce legal immigration into the United States to around 300,000 people a year. FAIR's policy studies emphasize the environmental, economic, and social consequences of mass immigration.
FAIR serves on the Advisory Board of the Citizens' Debate Commission, a nonpartisan American organization, formed in 2004, that was established to sponsor future general election presidential debates.[3]
The FAIR website has tools to help supporters send pre-written faxes and emails to politicians, as well as to receive action alerts.
Principles
FAIR advocates "7 Principles of True Comprehensive Immigration Reform:"
- 1. Cut the Numbers
- 2. No Amnesty or Mass Guest-Worker Program
- 3. Protect Wages and Standards of Living
- 4. Major Upgrade in Interior Enforcement, Led by Strong Employers Penalties
- 5. Stop Special Interest Asylum Abuse
- 6. Immigration Time Out
- 7. Equal Under the Law
The FAIR website contains a detailed explanation of each principle and why FAIR considers each one important.[4]
Other groups created by FAIR
Choose Black America is an African American group created and supported by FAIR which lists its founders on its website (all of whom are prominent African American leaders).[5] When asked, the group's founders could not name any of its members. [6] One founder of Choose Black America, James Clingman, said "Choose Black America was just the banner under which we had a press conference."[7]. He also said that he hadn't spoken to or contacted the other members before FAIR organized the press conference, and would not have attended if he'd known who else was involved.
Other groups established by FAIR include the "Coalition for the Future of the American Worker", which describes itself as "an umbrella organization of professional trade groups, population/environment organizations, and immigration reform groups. CFAW was formed to represent the interests of American workers and students in the formulation of immigration policy"[8], and "You Don't Speak For Me", which describes itself as "a group of concerned Americans of Hispanic/Latino heritage, some first or second generation, others recent legal immigrants, who believe illegal immigration harms America and a guest worker amnesty will do the same".
The media contact for Coalition for the Future of the American Worker,[9] You Don't Speak For Me,[10] and Choose Black America is Ira Mehlman, FAIR's media director. Mehlman was previously special assistant to Gov. Richard Lamm (Colorado), and press secretary of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. [11]
Criticism
FAIR has been criticized as an ineffective "reform lite" group by Carrying Capacity Network, another organization favoring immigration reduction.[12]
In 2005, an article in the liberal political magazine, The American Prospect, called FAIR "the anti-immigration movement’s most powerful institution".[13] It further asserted FAIR has cooperated with "white nationalists."[13]
FAIR has also been criticized for accepting contributions from the Pioneer Fund. Between 1982 and 1994, FAIR received $1.2 million from the foundation,[13]. The fund focuses on projects it perceives will not be easily funded due to controversial subject matter. It has been described by a Wall Street Journal editorial as a "white-supremacist outfit devoted to racial purity through eugenics."[14]
FAIR has been criticized by the International Relations Center as producing "policy rhetoric [that] is often inflammatory, clearly anti-immigrant, and partisan."[15]
References
- ^ a b Federation for American Immigration Reform: About FAIR Cite error: The named reference "about" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Federation for American Immigration Reform: Why America Needs an Immigration Time-Out
- ^ Citizens' Debate Commission: Advisory Board
- ^ Federation for American Immigration Reform: 7 Principles of True Comprehensive Immigration Reform
- ^ http://chooseblackamerica.com/about.html
- ^ "Political group puts on a facade: BERKELEY: Anti-immigration organizations pretend to be founded by nonwhites"] Michele R. Marcucci, December 7 2006, Contra Costa Times (Courtesy link [1]
- ^ "Anti - Immigration Groups and the Masks of False Diversity" Duke Falconer, 05 February 2007, ePluribus Media
- ^ http://www.americanworker.org/whatis2.html
- ^ http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=14215
- ^ http://www.dontspeakforme.org/ourstory.html
- ^ http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_media8da3
- ^ Carrying Capacity Network Action Alert (December 2004): Neo-Con Immigration Reform Lite Groups Revealed!
- ^ a b c "The New Nativism" Leonard Zeskind, November 10, 2005, The American Prospect
- ^ "Repudiating Reagan" Jason A. Riley, March 21, 2004, The Wall Street Journal
- ^ International Relations Center - Right Web - Profile: Federation for American Immigration Reform