My last post on the immigration issue

[serryjw]

1986 Immigration Bill
quote.......
"UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS

"SEC. 274A. (a) "8 USC 1324a" MAKING EMPLOYMENT OF UNAUTHORIZED ALIENS UNLAWFUL. --

"(1) IN GENERAL. -- It is unlawful for a person or other entity to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States --

"(A) an alien knowing the alien is an unauthorized alien (as defined in subsection (h)(3)) with respect to such employment, or

"(B) an individual without complying with the requirements of subsection (b).

"(2) CONTINUING EMPLOYMENT. -- It is unlawful for a person or other entity, after hiring an alien for employment in accordance with paragraph (1), to continue to employ the alien in the United States knowing the alien is (or has become) an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment.

end quote......
If we don't enforse the bills we are wasting our time and money. Lets just open the borders and let anyone whom wants to come, come

http://www.oig.lsc.gov/legis/irca86.htm

[Erika]

1. Ronald Reagan excepted the law

for amnesty in 1986, a true encouragement to undocumented aliens. Now we need them.

We need to open the borders for better lives for all the working class.

[MercutioATC]

5. Wow, do we disagree!

Why do we "need them"? How would legalizing 12 million+ minimally-skilled laborers benefit the "working class" in this country?

I can't wait to hear this....

[mike_c]

2. I like your last idea best....

Don't you think it's time we stop targeting poor working people trying to make a better life for their families? Preventing employers from hiring them-- well, that just makes them more oblique targets, but the end result is that they're kept in deliberate poverty, starved, etc. Is this how America treats the poor?

Rather than target immigrants, or punish employers for hiring them, which only seeks to target them from a different direction, why not mandate that ALL employers pay ALL their employees no less than a locally determined living wage and provide affordable access to health benefits? No wage disparities, no race to the greatest desperation that excludes American workers who can't go as low, and EVERYONE who works is guaranteed a dignified wage and a shot at improving their lives.

We should support ALL working people, no matter where they come from.

[wiley]

3. We've abused every immigrant group

that has ever come to this country (See Irish, Italians, etc.) for at least a generation. It always seems to be about "real Americans" protecting the integrity of the country from dirty foreigners. Now often less than a generation later some of those same "worthless, inveterate, drunken swine" have some power and wealth and sense of belonging in this country and they are doing the same crap to others. Are these the same morans who think building a fence is going to make this country secure from terrorists? It's not even going to stop people from digging tunnels.

Anyway, I love your idea. At one point I thought all Americans would readily support it as the way we Americans do things. I do so wish the Republicans that created a mess out of what could have been an orderly, fair process were marginalized to the far corners of society where they belong. Or at least imprisoned for their crimes.

[tom_boy]

4. I think you are hurting working people

Illegal immigration hurts the poorest people the most, and benefits the richest. In the meantime, it helps perpetuate an unfair and corrupt government in Mexico.

It hurts the poorest, because has long as there are people are willing to work for less, in worse conditions, it creates a downward pressure on wages. For the most part, it is the people on the bottom of the economic ladder who pay for the illegal immigrants.

And it limits the effect of labor organizations when there is someone willing to undercut any agreement a union may make.

And as long as Mexico is able to push its poorest and most abused across the border, it can ignore its own problems

[mike_c]

6. you think a living wage HURTS working people?!

Huh? Did you actually read my response before your knee jerked? How on earth could a legally required minimum living wage result in "downward pressure on wages?" I do agree that it's the folks at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder who pay the most, but not for illegal immigrants-- they pay for corporate greed, and scapegoating immigrants is just one more way that working people are kept divided and weak. That's why I suggest raising the entire ladder for ALL workers.

Finally, the "us and them" rhetoric with respect to Mexico shows a remarkable lack of understanding about the political and economic realities of the Americas. The U.S. is a full partner in keeping Mexico's poor disenfranchised. Recall what happened to EVERY previous central or south american gov't that attempted to put the lot of it's people before the profits of U.S. corporations. It's pretty disingenuous to make this all Mexico's problem.

[tom_boy]

8. A living wage is a good idea.

However both the illegal employers (the real problem) and the illegal immigrants are already breaking the law. If you make a new law regarding wages, they are likely to be willing to break that law also.

I don't think NAFTA/globalization is ever going to help to Mexico. I think things like that are simply designed to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi tom_boy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: