Federation for American Immigration Reform

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The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization in the United States that advocates changes in U.S. immigration policy that would result in significant reductions in immigration, both legal and illegal. It was founded on January 2, 1979 by John Tanton who is known as the founder of many anti-immigration and environmentalist groups,[1] with seed money provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. FAIR has its headquarters in Washington, D.C., and has been called to testify in front of the United States Congress, on immigration bills, more than any other organization in the country. The president of FAIR since 1988 is Dan Stein. The organization estimates more than 250,000 members and supporters.[2] FAIR describes itself as non-partisan[2] and is widely described in press reports as conservative.[3][4][5] Georgie Anne Geyer, author of Americans No More: The Death of Citizenship, describes FAIR as a "highly respected group".[6]

Contents

[edit] Activities

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.[7]

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".[2] Its Board of Advisors has included individuals ranging from Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA) to anti-war Democrat icon Eugene McCarthy (D-MN).

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's President Dan Stein serves on the 61-member board of the Citizens' Debate Commission, a nonpartisan American organization, formed in 2004, that was established to sponsor future general election presidential debates.[8]

FAIR is a member of the Coalition for the Future 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."[9]

The FAIR website has tools to help supporters send pre-written faxes and emails to politicians, as well as to receive action alerts.

Under John Tanton's leadership FAIR was criticized for taking funding for many years from the Pioneer Fund, an organization dedicated to "improving the character of the American people" by promoting the practice of eugenics, or selective breeding.[10] Tanton’s activities are documented in 17 file boxes of archives he donated to the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.[11]

[edit] 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.[12]

[edit] Other groups created by FAIR

FAIR established the FAIR Congressional Task Force (FCTF) as a 501(c)(4) organization that describes itself as a "non-profit, public interest organization whose purpose is to serve the public welfare by developing and promoting immigration policies which are consistent with the economic, social and demographic interest of the United States; to restrict illegal immigration to the United States; and to limit legal admissions to reasonable levels."[13]

FAIR established the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) as an organization that describes itself as "America's only public interest law organization working exclusively to protect the legal rights, privileges, and property of U.S. citizens and their communities from injuries and damages caused by unlawful immigration."[14]

Choose Black America is an African American group created by FAIR.[15] According to the The Oroville Mercury Register, the group's founders could not name any of its members.[16] One founder of Choose Black America, James Clingman, said "Choose Black America was just the banner under which we had a press conference".[17] 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.

Another group established by FAIR is 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."[18] The media contact for this group is Ira Mehlman, who is also FAIR's media director.

[edit] Criticism

 This article's Criticism or Controversy section(s) may mean the article does not present a neutral point of view of the subject. It may be better to integrate the material in those sections into the article as a whole.

In December 2007, FAIR was identified as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).[19] FAIR has responded to this charge by claiming that there is no factual basis for the accusation[20]; that FAIR has compiled a long record of mainstream credibility and respect on immigration issues and has always opposed discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or religion; and that the accusation is an "act of desperation, resulting from the SPLC’s failure to convince the American people of their viewpoint."[21]

FAIR has also been criticized for accepting contributions from the Pioneer Fund. Between 1982 and 1994, FAIR received $1.2 million from the foundation.[22] The Pioneer Fund focuses on projects it perceives will not be easily funded due to controversial, racial, or pro-eugenics subject matter.[23] It was described by the Sunday Telegraph as a "neo-Nazi organization closely integrated with the far right in American politics" in 1989.[24] FAIR has responded to this criticism by asserting that the Fund clearly states that it supports equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of race, religion, national origin, or ethnicity; that other major institutions, including universities and medical facilities in the United States and other countries, have also accepted grants from the Fund;[25] and that the Fund's contributions to FAIR were used only for the general operation of the organization.[21]

FAIR has been criticized by the International Relations Center as producing "policy rhetoric [that] is often inflammatory, clearly anti-immigrant, and partisan."[26] In 2005, an article in the liberal political magazine, The American Prospect, called FAIR "the anti-immigration movement’s most powerful institution".[22] It further asserted FAIR has cooperated with "white nationalists."[22]

[edit] References

  1. ^ ”The Puppeteer.” Intelligence Report. Summer 2002.
  2. ^ a b c Federation for American Immigration Reform: About FAIR
  3. ^ "Partisan Heat Shows No Signs of Letting Up". CBS. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/16/politics/washingtonpost/main5316084.shtml. Retrieved September 17,2009. 
  4. ^ Jordan, Miriam. "The Bush Victory Arizona Limits Illegal Immigrants' Access to Benefits". Wall Street Journal: p. A.4. 
  5. ^ "Salvadoran Immigrants Feel Tense Uncertainty About Future Status". The Christian Science Monitor (Boston, Mass.). January 30, 1992.. 
  6. ^ Geyer, Georgie Anne (10/08/2009). "WE SHOULD BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION". http://www.uexpress.com/georgieannegeyer/?uc_full_date=20091008. Retrieved 10/19/009. 
  7. ^ Federation for American Immigration Reform: Why America Needs an Immigration Time-Out
  8. ^ Citizens' Debate Commission: Advisory Board
  9. ^ What is the Coalition for the Future American Worker
  10. ^ Potok, Mark, Intelligence Report, Spring 2004, pp. 59-63.
  11. ^ Beirich, Heidi. “The Tanton Files.” Intelligence Report. Winter 2008.
  12. ^ Federation for American Immigration Reform: 7 Principles of True Comprehensive Immigration Reform
  13. ^ FAIR Congressional Task Force
  14. ^ Immigration Reform Law Institute
  15. ^ Choose Black America
  16. ^ Marcucci, Michele R. (2006-12-19). "Immigration group may not be what they seem". The Oroville Mercury Register. http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2006/12/123766.shtml. Retrieved 2007-12-20. 
  17. ^ "Anti - Immigration Groups and the Masks of False Diversity" Duke Falconer, 5 February 2007, ePluribus Media
  18. ^ You Don't Speak for Me
  19. ^ FAIR: Crossing the Rubicon of Hate Hatewatch, Southern Poverty Law Center, December 11, 2007
  20. ^ Beware the Politicized "Hate Group" Designations by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
  21. ^ a b Federation for American Immigration Reform: Response to the Southern Poverty Law Center
  22. ^ a b c "The New Nativism" Leonard Zeskind, November 10, 2005, The American Prospect
  23. ^ Potok, Mark, Intelligence Report, Spring 2004, pp. 59-63.
  24. ^ "Fascism Resurgent"
  25. ^ http://www.ferris.edu/ISAR/Institut/pioneer/pfspread/pfp6.htm
  26. ^ International Relations Center - Right Web - Profile: Federation for American Immigration Reform

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Illegal immigration to the United States and related topics
Issues
Proposed legislation
DREAM Act (2001–2009) · H.R. 4437 (2005) · McCain-Kennedy (2005) · SKIL (2006) · S. 2611 (2006) · STRIVE Act (2007) · Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 S. 1348 (2007) · Uniting American Families Act (2000-2009)
Operations
Wetback (1954) · Gatekeeper (1994) · Endgame (2003-[2012]) · Front Line (2004-2005) · Return to Sender (2006-2007) · Scheduled Departure (2008)
Results
Government organizations
Non-government organizations
Relevant U.S. laws
Naturalization Act (1790) · Naturalization Act (1795) · 14th Amendment (1868) · Naturalization Act (1870) · Page Act (1875) · Chinese Exclusion (1882) · Naturalization Act (1906) · Gentlemen's Agreement (1907) · Emergency Quota Act (1921) · Immigration Act (1924) · Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934) · Filipino Repatriation Act (1935) · Bracero Program (1942–64) · Magnuson Act (1943) · INS Act (1952) · INS Act (1965) · IRCA (1986) · Immigration Act (1990) · IIRIRA (1996) · NACARA Act (1997) · REAL ID Act (2005) · Secure Fence (2006)
Relevant International laws
Visas and Policies
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