Battle of the Experts in the Hazleton Trial

On Monday, two expert witnesses testified in the Hazleton trial.  First to testify was defense witness George Borjas, a professor of economics and social policy at Harvard University, who said enforcement of Hazleton’s ordinance could lead to an initial rise in local wages if a significant portion of an immigrant work force left town.

Plaintiff expert witness Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration attorney and law professor at Cornell University, testified there are two basic categories for foreigners in the United States – non-immigrants, who are here temporarily with visas, and immigrants, who are here permanently. However, he said many foreigners fall into neither category. “They might not have proper immigration status, but they’re not necessarily illegal. It depends on the definition (of illegal),” he said. Yale-Loehr said those individuals can fall into several subcategories, such as foreigners waiting for “an adjustment of status.”

Law Professor Kris Kobach (UMKC) is the attorney for Hazleton in the case.

Click here and here for news on the case.

KJ