More on ILLEGAL Immigration
From the White House (full .pdf file here)
The Third Element Is Creating A New Temporary Worker Program That Would Not Provide Amnesty. A temporary worker program would make the system more rational, orderly, and secure by providing a legal way to match willing foreign workers with willing American employers to fill jobs that no American is willing to do. Workers would be able to register for legal status on a temporary basis. If workers decided to apply for citizenship, they would have to get in line. This program would help meet the demands of our growing economy and allow honest workers to provide for their families while respecting the law.
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Living out here in SoCal, this issue is a hot one. After giving this issue a lot of thought and listening to the input of others across the media landscape, these questions come to mind:
For starters, Amnesty is defined as:
A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses.
Question 1: While the president may be correct in saying that an official pardon is not being granted to illegals, what happens to those that overextend the “temporary worker program”?
Question 2: While they are “waiting in line”, will they continue to receive social services?
Question 3: What EXACTLY are the jobs Americans will not do?
I will have a whole lot more to say on this subject in the days ahead. Stay tuned!
Comments please!
This issue is so complex that it almost defies any solution.
Certainly in SoCal and other major agricultural areas there is a big need for transient labor. Will Americans do the work? I think so, if the wages are right. The flip side is that the cost of produce would skyrocket, and that would cause major backlash and make the spending dollars of the poor shrink appreciably.
Any country has the absolute right to control its borders and who is allowed in. It has the right to know who has entered its country.
No country has the obligation to open its borders to those who will demand and receive free social services.
Given that, the current bill coming out of the Judiciary Committee is sorely lacking in enforcement. If anything, it makes it easier for illegal aliens, or - if you prefer - undocumented workers.
This is not a regional problem only. It has become a nationwide disgrace. It’s a knotty problem for Congress, especially in an election year.
Comment by Dolphin | March 28, 2006
I understand this is a thorny issue, especially since some of these illegals are married and have children.
On the other hand, our government has turned its head and let the illegals basically take over. I have seen the changes over the years, whereby the Spanish-speaking population has dwarfed the rest by its huge growth.
Comment by Albert Perales | March 28, 2006
I also find it hard to cope with since I am in Southern California. 10 years ago I didn’t care about the illegal immigrant situation. I was sympathetic to the migrant and day workers. However, in 2006, with overcrowded schools, rising healthcare costs, and less and less social services, I find it hard to ignore any longer. I don’t agree with amnesty, which is just what the congress and Bush is proposing. However, I don’t see how we can dig ourselves out of the hole that we have dug for ourselves with this lax, or should I say non enforcement of immigration laws.
Comment by Nicole | March 28, 2006
Nothing , short of ethnic cleansing, can stop the latinization of the USA. Rather than further criminalize the rapidly expanding undocumented immigrant class, a more constructive use of resources might be to develop ways to stop the formation of a peasant class - a class of people with no legal rights.
Comment by exe | March 28, 2006
Watch it, exe!
That kinda talk may associate you with Bill Bennett’s comments.
Comment by Duane | March 28, 2006
I think it is unfortunate for Americans. As long as there are those who are willing to perform cheap labor, it will continue to happen. From a business standpoint it makes sense. You don’t have to pay for any types of benefits. The companies are saving millions perhaps billions of dollars.
Comment by Cynthia | March 29, 2006
Homeowners are saving money too. Gardners, cleaning people, jobs like that. Here in the East, small building contractors can stop at specific locations and load up laborers at $50/day.
As far as benefits, those with families receive public schooling, free medical, and other services that we, the taxpaying public, have to fund.
Comment by Dolphin | March 29, 2006
These undocumented workers are taking jobs away from the poor, the poorly educated and the laid off workers. Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen the changes in my neighborhood…from young African American, mostly males, holding lower paying jobs, to Hispanics. From a business perspective, it makes sense. Why hire an American, when, for less money, no benefits and substandard working conditions, you can hire an undocumented worker. He/she won’t complain (or contact authorities). Until our unemployment rate is at 0%, there are Americans who are willing to work.
These people willingly broke the laws of the land. They should be returned to their country and their employers should be prosecuted.
By the way, has anyone seen a $ figure on the effect to social security/medicare if 11-12 million people are suddenly added to the roles? PS: Thief of social security numbers is on the rise…attributable to undocumented workers.
Comment by Timeout | April 2, 2006