These numbers are specific to Indiana and reflect how undocumented immigrants impact the state’s economy. FORT BRANCH — Steve Obert’s family-run dairy farm has assembled the best team of workers it’s had in years. The crew is made up of well-trained people managing feed supplies, running the milking parlor and treating sick animals to ensure the 1,200 cows there continue producing about 10,000 gallons of milk a day. But Obert worries the team that is essential to the farm’s success could soon be gone. They’re all immigrants who could be targeted under President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to undertake the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. “It’s absolutely concerning,” he said. “We just can’t deport these people.” While some business owners like Obert question the cost and logistics of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, Trump on Monday confirmed his commitment to the plan, which he promised to implement the first day he takes office, Jan. 20. On social media, he posted “TRUE!!!” in response to a conservative commentator who wrote that Trump would declare a national emergency and use military assets to lead “a mass deportation program.” Obert, who serves as the executive director of the Indiana Dairy Producers, said the organization is offering an online seminar reeducating farmers about how to maintain the required documents to ensure immigrant workers are audit-proof and can remain in the U.S. Steve Obert, an Indiana dairy farmer and executive director of the Indiana Dairy Producers That’s especially critical in an industry where migrants make up about 80% of the workforce. A mass deportation could lead dairy farms to close in droves and milk tanks to run dry, Obert explained. “You won’t just see a ripple effect,” he said. “It’ll be more like a tsunami when it comes to food production, agriculture and so many other industries.” Across the state, farmers, builders, manufacturers and other businesses that rely heavily on immigrant workers are closely watching how new policies could disrupt the workforce that keeps operations running. In Indiana, undocumented workers make up about 2.2% of the entire labor force and just under 25% of the state’s total immigrant population, according to the American Immigration Council. Foreign-born people in total make up nearly 8% of Indiana’s employees. But those numbers are much higher in the construction industry, in which immigrants make up around 25% of the workforce, equaling more than 43,400 employees in Indiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Rick Wajda, CEO of the Indiana Builders Association, right, poses with Indiana U.S. Sen. and Governor-elect Mike Braun. Rick Wajda, CEO of the Indiana Builders Association, said the construction trades are already in the middle of a workforce shortage. Without immigrants, it could become insurmountable. “The immigrant workforce is essential to meeting the demand and sustaining Indiana’s economic and housing market,” he said. Removing any portion of the construction labor force would only deepen the state’s severe housing shortage that’s led to skyrocketing home and rental prices, explained Michael Hicks, director of Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic Research. “It’ll be more expensive to fix your home or to see a new home built and delay the American Dream for some families of owning their own home,” he said. The same holds true for food prices, which have climbed sharply because of rising inflation following the COVID pandemic. A study conducted by the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that mass deportation could affect agricultural labor and lead to a 10% increase in food prices. Nationally, undocumented people composed roughly 41% of all hired crop farm workers in 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Obert said he trusts that Trump and federal legislators understand that deporting large swaths of the agricultural workforce would only hurt Hoosiers already struggling to afford food. “They all ran on the fact that they would tame inflation and improve housing,” he said. “You’re not going to tame inflation and you’re not going to fix housing if we have a mass deportation.” Gurinder Kaur, CEO of the Immigrant Welcome Center, was leaving her Indianapolis office earlier this month when she saw a man standing outside holding a suitcase. The client said he had just arrived from Haiti with the proper paperwork and was looking for a job. “ ‘I’m here to work.’ That’s what he said,” recalled Kaur, who immigrated to the U.S. from India. “I think that is the crux of the immigrant spirit. We want to work hard. We want jobs, and we want to make an impact.” That stands in stark contrast to Trump’s view that undocumented people drain public resources, drive up housing costs and bring crime and drugs into communities around the nation. In reality, immigrants, regardless of their legal status, have lower unemployment rates and fewer criminal arrests than natural-born citizens. About 77% of foreign-born men participated in the labor force in 2023 compared to 66% of their native-born counterparts, while foreign-born women worked at about the same rate as native-born women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Indiana, immigrants paid $4.3 billion in taxes in 2022 — $647 million of which came from undocumented workers, according to the American Immigration Council. Undocumented immigrants were arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes, and a quarter the rate of for property crimes, according to a study in Texas covering 2012-18 and released in September by the National Institute of Justice. Add it all up, and Hoosier immigrants work at greater rates, commit fewer crimes, make less money and take fewer state and federal benefits despite having higher rates of poverty, according to a 2019 study by the Center for Business and Economic Research. “This is not the dominant narrative in the current immigration debate, but is one that is born out by the data,” the study says. Jenifer Brown, an Indianapolis-based business immigration attorney, said the question isn’t whether immigrants want to work; it’s whether the nation’s immigration laws will allow them to work. Jenifer Brown, a business immigration attorney in Indianapolis Current policies don’t make it easy for migrants to obtain and keep work visas, she noted, and many worry that it will become even harder under Trump, who put more restrictions on some visa programs during his first term as president. That’s a major concern for businesses and industries who need foreign-born labor but are in a holding pattern as Trump pitches varying ways he might change immigration policy, Brown noted. Companies that use the most highly regulated visas to hire skilled employees, such as software developers and mechanical engineers, could be especially impacted by new visa policies, she explained. “The business community may be in for a rough stretch,” Brown said. “Businesses like stability and consistency, and I think we’re entering a phase where we’ll probably have more uncertainty and unpredictability.” Trump has aimed his immigration policy at deporting illegal immigrants, but the state’s business community almost unanimously agrees that more migrant workers, not fewer, are needed. That’s why nearly every industry is calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s immigration system that would allow current undocumented workers to gain legal status while legally streamlining new immigrants into unfilled jobs. Michael Hicks “Many business groups are pro-immigration,” said Hicks, the Ball State economist. “They want folks to come in.” The Indiana Chamber of Commerce, as part of its 2024 legislative agenda, pushed lawmakers to increase quotas for highly skilled and seasonal migrant workers, while decreasing processing times that can constrict the pipeline of undocumented workers. At the same time, the chamber requested the creation of a new program that would require undocumented workers to earn legal status rather than deport them, as Trump proposes. Industry groups for decades have advocated for an updated work visa program that encourages immigrants to come to the U.S. legally, and at times those changes appeared close to becoming reality. A 2013 proposal from a bipartisan coalition in Congress created a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the U.S. while also improving work visa options for low-skilled workers. The bill passed the Senate but died in the House. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 proposes similar policies to the 2013 bill and has been approved by the Senate, but the House again has yet to approve the legislation. Despite Trump’s promise of mass deportation, many groups advocating for a business-friendly immigration policy are hopeful such a policy could happen now that Republicans control the House, Senate and White House. Obert, with the state dairy association, is one of those who sees a real opportunity for major reforms from GOP lawmakers whose policy goals include boosting the economy and helping businesses. But if Trump’s mass deportation scheme becomes a reality without a comprehensive immigration reform bill to offset the loss of labor, businesses and consumers in Indiana will suffer, he argued. “The cost of getting rid of millions of immigrants will be astronomical, but I think that’s crumbs compared to the economic impact of not having an adequate workforce,” Obert said. “Inflation won’t be your issue. It’s whether store shelves will be stocked or if they’re going to be empty.”Instant analysis from Patriots’ 34-15 loss to DolphinsAfter institutions for people with disabilities close, graves are at risk of being forgotten
Los Angeles Kings (11-7-3, in the Pacific Division) vs. San Jose Sharks (6-12-5, in the Pacific Division) San Jose, California; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The San Jose Sharks take on the Los Angeles Kings as losers of three games in a row. San Jose has a 6-12-5 record overall and a 1-5-0 record in Pacific Division games. The Sharks have a 2-6-1 record when they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent. Los Angeles is 4-4-0 against the Pacific Division and 11-7-3 overall. The Kings serve 9.9 penalty minutes per game to rank eighth in league play. The matchup Monday is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Sharks won 4-2 in the last matchup. TOP PERFORMERS: Mikael Granlund has nine goals and 15 assists for the Sharks. Macklin Celebrini has over the last 10 games. Alex Laferriere has scored nine goals with six assists for the Kings. Kyle Burroughs has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sharks: 3-4-3, averaging 2.4 goals, 4.6 assists, three penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Kings: 5-4-1, averaging 2.7 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.6 penalties and nine penalty minutes while giving up 1.7 goals per game. INJURIES: Sharks: None listed. Kings: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press
Fluid-as-a-service? No, it's not what you think - F1 stalwart is quietly innovating to bring its expertise in cooling to data centers and beyondSan Tan Valley man accused of kidnapping, assaulting gas station clerk in 1988
Richard Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup , died Thursday. He was 76. Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. The NBA , where Parsons was interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014, was among organizations offering condolences. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder's company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, was named chairman of Citigroup in 2009, one month after leaving Time Warner Inc., where he helped restore the company’s stature following its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online Inc. He steered Citigroup back to profit after financial turmoil from the subprime mortgage crisis, which upended the economy in 2007 and 2008. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. Time Warner is now owned by AT&T Inc. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, who loved jazz and co-owned a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family. ___ This obituary was primarily written by the late Associated Press reporter Anick Jesdanun, who died in 2020.The Latest: Matt Gaetz withdraws his name from consideration as Trump’s attorney generalIvana Bacik had separate meetings with Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris on Tuesday afternoon. Fianna Fail, which won 48 seats in last month’s general election, and Fine Gael, which secured 38 seats, headed up the last coalition in Dublin and are expected to continue that partnership into the next mandate. However, with a combined 86 seats, they are just short of the 88 required for a majority in the Dail parliament. If they wish to return to government together, they would need one smaller party as a junior partner, or a handful of independents. Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out doing business with Sinn Fein, which won 39 seats. The centre-left Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party, both of which won 11 seats in the election, are seen as the only two realistic options if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael seek to convince a smaller party to join the coalition. In a statement, the Labour Party said Ms Bacik outlined key policy priorities in her meetings with Taoiseach Mr Harris and Tanaiste Mr Martin. “There was discussion in both meetings on policies and manifesto commitments on housing, health, climate, workers’ rights and disability services among other issues,” said the statement. “The parliamentary party will meet at 1pm on Friday where the party leader will provide an assessment of engagement to date and consider the outcome of these meetings.” A spokesman for Mr Harris said there had been a “constructive engagement” with Ms Bacik. “The Taoiseach is grateful for the time and engagement on a range of substantial policy issues,” he said. The spokesman said Mr Harris had also met independent TDs who are aligned together in what is called the regional group. “These meetings have been productive,” he added. Mr Harris and party colleagues are due to meet the Social Democrats on Wednesday. Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers and Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee met on Tuesday evening for discussions on government formation, with the parties’ full negotiating teams set to meet on Wednesday. Fine Gael said the meeting between Ms McEntee and Mr Chambers was “positive” and focused on the “structure and format” of the substantive negotiations going forward. When the two parties entered coalition for the first time after the last general election in 2020, there was only a three-seat difference in their relative strength. That resulted in an equal partnership at the head of the coalition, with the Green Party as the junior partner. The two main parties swapped the role of taoiseach halfway through the term. With Fianna Fail’s lead over Fine Gael having grown to 10 seats following this election, focus has turned to the future of the rotating taoiseach arrangement and whether it will operate again in the next mandate and, if so, on what basis. There are similar questions around the distribution of ministries and other roles. While Mr Martin has so far refused to be drawn on the specifics, he has suggested that he expects Fianna Fail’s greater strength of numbers to be reflected in the new administration. However, Mr Harris has insisted that Fine Gael’s mandate cannot be taken for granted when it comes to government formation. Richard Boyd Barrett from People Before Profit-Solidarity, which won three seats, urged Labour not to “prop up” up a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael administration. “We think that’s a huge mistake,” he told reporters in Dublin. “They shouldn’t do it. They should learn the lessons of the past and actually work with other parties of the left to form a decent left opposition to Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and campaign on the issues that matter.” His party colleague Paul Murphy pointed to the experience of the Green Party, which lost all but one of its 12 seats in the election. “In reality, what is going to happen is a changing of the mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael,” he said. “And for those who are now auditioning to be a new mudguard for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, there is a very, very sharp and stark lesson in what happened to the Green Party – obviously almost entirely wiped out. “We think it is a very major mistake for anyone who has the perception of being left, with the votes of people who are looking left, to seek to go into coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.”
Year in review: slow, steady, some surprisesMap shows the world’s safest countries to be in if WW3 breaks out
