“Building a fence is like putting a band-aid on a shark bite,” UCSC Republicans President Kelly Hayes said via email. “A more comprehensive solution is needed.”

Hayes says that greater accountability in the form of increased documentation for immigrants, with the possibility of attaining citizenship, would benefit both sides. She argued that it is unfair to U.S. citizens if they were to allow this large group of people to receive the benefits of our society while they do not financially contribute to the country as other citizens do. On the other hand, she acknowledged that it is unfair to undocumented immigrants that they must receive significantly lower wages due to their lack of citizenship.

Both Frank and Ruiz emphasized the notion that President Bush’s stalled proposal underscores the importance of undocumented immigrants to the U.S. economy.

“The U.S. economy would collapse without them,” Ruiz said. He also stated that the same effect would visit the local Santa Cruz economy if this undocumented labor force was suddenly removed.

Frank echoed those sentiments.

“This country runs on immigrant labor, and we should value their work and what they bring to our culture,” Frank said.

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