Official Urges Turning Off Job Magnet To Stop Illegal Immigrants

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A national immigration expert says the key to reducing illegal immigration is to turn off what he calls the "job magnet."<br/><br/>Jack Martin with the Federation for American Immigration

Tuesday, October 24th 2006, 11:29 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A national immigration expert says the key to reducing illegal immigration is to turn off what he calls the "job magnet."

Jack Martin with the Federation for American Immigration Reform told an Oklahoma legislative committee Tuesday that eliminating jobs for illegal immigrants will drive out those that are in the US and others will have no reason to come.

Martin says cheap labor linked to illegal immigrants is contributing to an increase in the number of poor Americans and a shrinking of the middle class.

His organization says illegal immigrants cost Oklahoma $207-million last year in education, medical care and prison costs.

The group estimates there were 86,000 illegal immigrants in Oklahoma last year - up from 46,000 estimated by the US government in 2000.

Martin testified before the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.