Use Enforcement to Ease the illegal immigrant Situation

[Fremont]

To deal with the illegal immigrant problem some advocate a mass amnesty coupled with increased legal immigration, while others want mass deportations. But there is a third way: attrition through enforcement.

Mass roundups of millions is neither politically likely or practical. Legalization mocks legal immigrants and will spur more illegal immigration. Besides, we’ve already tried it. In the 1980s, 2.7 million illegal aliens were legalized. Legal immigration has doubled since the 1980s, but we have three times as many illegals.

Legalization also does not solve most of the problems associated with illegal immigration. The poorest and least educated American workers would still face job competition from millions of legalized illegal aliens. Letting illegals stay only makes sense if you think the poor are overpaid. Research indicates that the net fiscal drain (taxes minus costs) would triple if we legalized illegals. Unskilled illegal aliens are costly, but unskilled legal immigrants cost even more because they can more easily access social programs.

A strategy of attrition through enforcement, on the other hand, is both realistic and avoids the problems of illegal immigration by making illegals go home or self-deport.

If America becomes less hospitable to illegals, many more will simply decide to go home. To do this, we should enforce the law barring illegals from holding jobs by using the national databases that already exist to ensure that each new hire is legally entitled to work here.

Attrition through enforcement is really the only option if we want to solve our illegal immigration problem. Implementing such a policy will save taxpayers money, help American workers at the bottom of the labor markets and restore the rule of law.

See more here:

cis.org/articles/2005/camerataoped1005.html

And here - Downsizing Illegal Immigration A Strategy of Attrition Through Enforcement

cis.org/articles/2005/back605.html

 

[Jeffrey]

I have absolutely no problem with it. Matter of fact its pretty much what I want it.

 

[Jeffrey]

Or… close the borders… sort this mess out… then reopen the borders.

I have absolutely no problem with it. Matter of fact its pretty much what I want it.

 

[manualman]

Or be thankful to God for the fact that we have an abundance of catholics ready to immigrate to this nation to make up for our greed and selfishness at accepting barely replacement rates of children. Be thankful the replacements don’t come with the baggage that the immigrants making up the shortfall in Europe do (Islamic terrorism)

Be thankful that these people are eager and willing to work hard to make a better place for their children, if not themselves, and accept back-breaking labor that Americans turn up their noses at for 2 times the pay.

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

 

[Jeffrey]

So long as its legally and not illegally.

The drain they put on our hospitals in and of itsself is terrible.

Or be thankful to God for the fact that we have an abundance of catholics ready to immigrate to this nation to make up for our greed and selfishness at accepting barely replacement rates of children. Be thankful the replacements don’t come with the baggage that the immigrants making up the shortfall in Europe do (Islamic terrorism)

Be thankful that these people are eager and willing to work hard to make a better place for their children, if not themselves, and accept back-breaking labor that Americans turn up their noses at for 2 times the pay.

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

 

[mary_bobo]

Or be thankful to God for the fact that we have an abundance of catholics ready to immigrate to this nation to make up for our greed and selfishness at accepting barely replacement rates of children. Be thankful the replacements don’t come with the baggage that the immigrants making up the shortfall in Europe do (Islamic terrorism)

Be thankful that these people are eager and willing to work hard to make a better place for their children, if not themselves, and accept back-breaking labor that Americans turn up their noses at for 2 times the pay.

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

Depends on where you look. In several states I have seen illegals working construction and some of them are considered skilled. I don’t consider them a scapegoat for our economic problems. They are a considerable drain on our health care system and our education system. Now, before you tell me I am against Mexicans and immigrants, let me flatly say, I am not. My own father came here at age two, with parents, legally. I am all for immigration, but not at the expense of the American worker and the American health care system. There is a better way, and I am sure we are intelligent enough to find it.

 

[geezerbob]

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

White collar and sophisticated manufacturing employers tend to make sure their employees are legal. Construction, at least here, is another story. Many immigrants here, legal or otherwise, are operating their own subcontracting businesses and are doing a good portion of the drywall, masonry, roofing and concrete work and some framing. They do not work cheap, usually charging just under the going rate for their respective trades. I’m not getting into this discussion but did want to clear up the misconception that all illegal immigrants are working at menial jobs for minimum wage or less.

 

[Fremont]

White collar and sophisticated manufacturing employers tend to make sure their employees are legal. Construction, at least here, is another story. Many immigrants here, legal or otherwise, are operating their own subcontracting businesses and are doing a good portion of the drywall, masonry, roofing and concrete work and some framing. They do not work cheap, usually charging just under the going rate for their respective trades. I’m not getting into this discussion but did want to clear up the misconception that all illegal immigrants are working at menial jobs for minimum wage or less.

Excellent post and right on point.

It is a myth that illegal immigrants just do jobs Americans are unwilling to do.

The vast majority of illegal immigrants take low level, unskilled jobs in construction, food processing, housekeeping, restaurants, manufacturing, landscaping, etc.

They take these jobs away from ready, willing and able working poor Americans.

This violates the rights of those Americans and the Church teaches there is no right to do this and that such actions are wrong.

 

[Lance]

Or be thankful to God for the fact that we have an abundance of catholics ready to immigrate to this nation to make up for our greed and selfishness at accepting barely replacement rates of children. Be thankful the replacements don’t come with the baggage that the immigrants making up the shortfall in Europe do (Islamic terrorism)

Be thankful that these people are eager and willing to work hard to make a better place for their children, if not themselves, and accept back-breaking labor that Americans turn up their noses at for 2 times the pay.

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

In the Chicago area it is hard to find someone in the masonry trades who is not Hispanic, they have taken over the roofing industry and are making big gains in the carpentry business. Just as a side note, cotton is no longer picked by hand in most places machines do it.

 

[Fremont]

Or be thankful to God for the fact that we have an abundance of catholics ready to immigrate to this nation to make up for our greed and selfishness at accepting barely replacement rates of children. Be thankful the replacements don’t come with the baggage that the immigrants making up the shortfall in Europe do (Islamic terrorism)

Be thankful that these people are eager and willing to work hard to make a better place for their children, if not themselves, and accept back-breaking labor that Americans turn up their noses at for 2 times the pay.

Sorry, but I just don’t see an invasion of illegals taking away American jobs in skilled construction trades, white collar work, sophisticated manfacturing. The poor guys are mowing lawns, cleaning toilets and picking fruit and cotton, just like every immigrant wave of American history. They make an awfully flimsy scapegoat for our economic problems.

I happen to think that housekeeping and janitorial services are honorable occupations. I suggest it is not charitable or kind to look down our nose at such jobs or the workers who perform them.

Maybe you live in a small town where it is not an issue but I live in a big city where thousands of hotel rooms and businesses need to be cleaned every day – and this includes cleaning the toilets. Housekeepers and janitors do these services – God bless them.

Low-level jobs such as these and others in construction, restaurants, gardening, etc. are the type of employment generally available to poorly educated workers with limited skills.

The big issue to me is that poorly educated American workers with limited skills do such jobs every day. Illegal immigrants compete for these jobs by agreeing to do them for much lower wages. This forces the American workers to either lose their job or to work for the reduced wage.

Our real citizens are harmed by the actions of illegal immigrants. This is wrong in my opinion.