Earlier this year, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, known as FAIR, blitzed Michigan with print, radio and TV ads, claiming Abraham proposed legislation that would take jobs from American-born workers. Another group, Michigan Immigration Political Action Committee, called MichImpac, is also attacking Abraham. Abraham has often bucked his party by working to maintain or increase levels of immigration. Abraham fought against the anti-immigration mood in Congress then, and, as a result, drew the ire of certain groups. Most recently, they are criticizing him for cosponsoring a bill that would raise the annual limit of highly skilled workers allowed into the United States from 115,000 to 200,000.
Supporters say the bill is needed to fill a shortage of skilled workers in the high-tech industry.
Public opinion may be on Abraham's side. A Gallup poll released last week showed that a majority of Americans support present or increased levels of immigration. That's a change from polls taken in 1993 and 1995, which found two-thirds wanted lower levels of immigration. Andres Abreu, editor of El Vocero Hispano, a Latino newspaper in Grand Rapids, said the public is generally in favor of immigrants. Abreu plans to hold protests in front of Project USA's signs and factmobile.