Op-ed: Guest-worker issue threatens immigration reform

The AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce made a big show of solidarity last month, claiming they had “found common ground” on immigration and had come up with “principles [that] should guide legislation.” Many news outlets reported this as a “breakthrough” on the path to comprehensive reform. We were skeptical at the time, noting that the “principles” were merely a series of vague platitudes that didn’t spell out particulars of a bill. Conspicuously absent was a clear agreement on the main issue separating Big Labor and Big Business: a guest-worker program.