Immigration has been one of the dominant issues of the 109th Congress. As the 109th comes to a close, there is yet no clear resolve for the immigration reform matter.

Recognizing the growth in different immigrant groups becoming automotive repairers and technicians, the Automotive Service Association hosted the Hispanic Automotive Technician Summit in October of 2003 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Chairing the meeting were U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration; and U.S. Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez, D-Texas, who no longer is a member of Congress but who at that time was chairman of the House of Representatives' Hispanic Caucus.

At the time, with the predicted growth in the automotive service sector, ASA was most interested in issues surrounding the training and employment of Hispanic technicians. Rodriguez commented, "Mechanics are needed in many industries, including the military, but training has to begin with the private sector." Chambliss spoke on the issues of diversity and change and how important it is for the automotive industry to work collectively toward providing employment opportunities to the fastest growing minority group in the United States.

Attending the meeting was every sector of the automotive industry: educators, automobile manufacturers, parts manufacturers, trainers, parts distributors, repairers, etc.

Attendees posed questions for the panelists regarding language barriers, cultural issues, and what the industry can do to partner with the Hispanic community. One of the resounding themes was an industry effort to heighten educational opportunities for potential automotive technicians. Toyota Motor Co. announced at the meeting it was opening an additional automotive training center to train approximately 125 students per year for work in the automotive industry.

Congress' focus on immigration policy has now shifted to major immigration reform. Both the House and Senate Judiciary committees have held hearings, and both the House and Senate have passed immigration reform measures. The bills are drastically different. The House and Senate have not begun conference committee activity to resolve these differences as of yet.

Both the House and Senate bills have extensive border enforcement provisions including new border fencing, additional Border Patrol agents in the Senate bill and mandatory sentences for smugglers in the House bill. Of note to small businesspersons, the Senate bill:

• Will require employers to use an electronic verification system for new hires.
• Establishes English as the country's national language.

  The House bill:

• Provides felony status to those who assist, encourage, direct or induce a person to enter or attempt to enter or remain in the United States illegally.
• After six years, all employers will have to use a database to verify the Social Security numbers of all employees.
• Maximum fines for employers of illegal workers increase from $10,000 to $40,000 per violation and provides for prison sentences of up to 30 years for repeat offenders.

The guest worker provisions have been the most controversial in the House and Senate debates. The Senate bill provides for guest workers. The House bill does not. The House bill clearly makes illegal presence in the United States a felony. The Senate bill allows illegal immigrants who have been in the United States five years or more to remain, continue working and eventually become legal permanent residents. Those immigrants in the United States less than five years, but who have been in the United States at least two years, must go to a point of entry at the border and file an application to return. Those immigrants in the United States less than two years must leave. There are specific provisions for agricultural guest workers, an increase in the number of H1-B visas for skilled workers and additional language supporting new temporary guest worker visas in the Senate bill.

Any resolution to these differences in immigration policy is questionable. The House of Representatives conducted a series of immigration hearings across the country during the summer. This is unusual because both bodies have already passed related legislation. With the major differences in policy and the brevity in congressional workdays for the 109th Congress, a successful conclusion to immigration reform may not be in reach.

Repairers should continue to follow the immigration reform debate. If the Conference Committee completes its work and a bill is sent to the president, ASA will report the details on its legislative Web site, www.TakingtheHill.com.

As evident in the ASA Hispanic Technician Summit in 2003, the automotive repair industry has increased its numbers of immigrant technicians dramatically. This trend is not likely to change in the near future. Repairers should not forget the important pieces of the summit, which included the importance of proper training and improving communication. The summit placed a great deal of emphasis on communicating early in the educational lives of students to ensure a more successful career in automotive repair.

Second, if immigration reform provides dramatic changes in America's immigration laws, repairers need to be aware.

If immigration reform is not completed in this Congress, the November elections could determine the direction or fate of any reform in the 110th Congress. <

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