Ike aftermath lays bare U.S. immigration paradox

Reuters ^ | Thu Sep 18, 2008 | Carey Gillam

[stevie_d_64]

Damned if we do, and damned if we don’t...

[raybbr]

Armed with shovels and rakes, undocumented workers have played a role in clearing away the rubble of many of America's natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the wildfires that ravaged southern California in 2007.

I'm gonna puke. Yes. Without these invaders we would simply be helpless.

They speak mostly Spanish, while looking warily at strangers. And these undocumented, also called illegal, immigrants worry that instead of a job and a day's wages, they might instead find themselves arrested and deported.

[mtairycitizen]

I dont think is a US problem. It is a problem for illegals
who broke the law getting here. Send them home. No paradox here.

[cowboyway]

are seen by some as a needed labor source

...are seen by some as a needed cheap labor source...

There. Fixed it.

[Roccus]

Stealing from the tag line of another FReeper, calling illegal aliens ‘undocumented workers’ is like calling a drug dealer an unlicensed pharmacist.

[Sybeck1]

“an estimated 12 million”

That stat is years old.

[JudgemAll]

Undocumented?

I “like it” when these “guys” conceal background and documentation, they call it undocumented. Do that when you apply for a job or an ID card, and you’re called an identity thief.

[mbynack]

In the meantime, taxpayers will be supporting the thousands of people who worked low-wage jobs in the service industry in that area because “there are no jobs”. I had friends who lived in Mississippi and Florida who were deparate for work after hurricanes destroyed there place of employment. The companies doing the cleanup would rather hire illegals and pay them minimum wage (or less), and not pay taxes on them than hire legal employees.

[mbynack]

deparate = Desperate.

[cripplecreek]

On the one hand, the undocumented in the United States -- an estimated 12 million mostly Hispanic individuals

How many years have we been hearing that number? Funny how they keep coming (by the tens of thousands every month) but the number never rises.

[Will88]

“On the one hand, the undocumented in the United States — an estimated 12 million mostly Hispanic individuals.”

And for how many years have they been using that 12 million estimate? At least six or eight years? Maybe they need to bump to at least 15 million.

[kabar]

Concepts like the rule of law seem to be missing from the conversation.

[weegee]

Houston PING

[texgal]

With drivers' licenses and Social Security numbers as the keys to unlocking government aid, assistance such as emergency food stamps and help with temporary housing are largely unavailable for this population.

I don't believe that for one moment. They do get licenses at the DPS and are even allowed someone to READ the test to them in the event they can't read the printed spanish version. The illegals I've seen in my neck of the woods drive brand new trucks and dress nicely too.

[weegee]

Someday our politicians and law enforcement officers will decide to put these back alley laborers out of business. “If it saves ONE life...”

Meanwhile legal citizens in Houston are being fined $2000 if they violate curfew in their own driveway.

[Kirkwood]

Puke all you want, but the Mexicans do work that no one else wants. What can you do to change that? Nothing.

[cripplecreek]

Puke all you want but breaking the law is still illegal.

[raybbr]

Puke all you want, but the Mexicans do work that no one else wants. What can you do to change that? Nothing.

Yeah, right. Before illegal mexicans we wallowed in filth.

Looks like another quisling in our midst.

[AuntB]

“Puke all you want, but the Mexicans do work that no one else wants. “

What? Like agriculture....where 3% of the workforce is illegal??? Funny, US citizens do all the work in my area, and the work gets done!