Bloomberg: Feds should force immigrants on cities and States

Mike’s immigrant plan to save cities

By DAVID SEIFMAN City Hall Bureau Chief

Ratcheting up his controversial proposal for revitalizing America’s cities, Mayor Bloomberg yesterday suggested that the federal government “deliberately force” large municipalities to take in immigrants as the only hope for salvaging their battered economies.

The mayor also criticized President Obama for deporting more immigrants “than the last four or five presidents put together.

Bloomberg spoke at a Midtown forum, timed to the release of a new study titled “Not Coming to America: Why the US is Falling Behind in the Global Race for Talent.

He was joined on the panel by Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas, whose company helped underwrite the research.

The report by the Partnership for New York City and the Partnership for a New American Economy spotlighted failings of US immigration policies that the mayor has been complaining about for years, portraying a nation that’s sitting by idly while competitors around the globe snatch up workers who are most in demand.

The examples were stark: In 1991, some 18 percent of both Canada’s and America’s immigrants were rated as highly skilled; by last year, Canada’s percentage had soared to 67, while the United States was falling further behind, at 13 percent.

The report noted that Canada allows its provinces to set different immigration standards to attract the type of employees each region needs.

The mayor quickly endorsed a similar proposal for US states — and then some.

“There’s no reason why you have to have a common immigration policy for all of America,” he argued. “You could let each state do it differently.

“I would argue the federal government should go one step further. They should deliberately force some places that don’t want immigrants to take them, because that’s the only solution for these big, hollowed-out cities where industry has left and is never going to come back unless you get some people to move there.”

Bloomberg caused a ruckus last year during an appearance on “Meet the Press,” where he proposed opening the door to immigrants on the condition that they agree to live in Detroit for five to 10 years, restoring that struggling city by starting new businesses.

As he often does, Bloomberg blamed Democrats and Republicans alike for the immigration mess. Only this time, he took a dig directly at Obama.

As he often does, Bloomberg blamed Democrats and Republicans alike for the immigration mess. Only this time, he took a dig directly at Obama.