Well, no, that's completely false ... you've got cause and effect reversed.
There are no jobs to "steal."
The jobs belong to American employers, and some American employers quite often employ illegals rather than Americans.
The roots of the illegal immigration problem (and it is a problem) are to be found on the demand side; the border-crossers (the supply side) are simply taking advantage of the opportunities given to them by American employers.
If you really want to take care of illegal immigration, you might do better to address the demand/employer side of the equation; the illegal immigration problem will go away as soon as you take care of the demand side.
Au Contraire. It is illegal to hire illegal aliens. Legally, they don't have the choice to employ illegal aliens.
The roots of the illegal immigration problem (and it is a problem) are to be found on the demand side; the border-crossers (the supply side) are simply taking advantage of the opportunities given to them by American employers.
No doubt that jobs are the magnets that draw most of them here--approximately 7 million are working here. American employers can't offer such "opportunties" legally. The problem is that the USG is not enforcing its own laws.
If you really want to take care of illegal immigration, you might do better to address the demand/employer side of the equation; the illegal immigration problem will go away as soon as you take care of the demand side.
As a member of a grassroots organization that lobbies on the Hill and at the state level, we are trying. For example, we would like to have the E-Verify program be made mandatory for any of the stimulus package projects. It was in the House version, but the Senate took it out in the version that came out of conference. The E-Verify program will expire in September, i.e., the six months extension expires.
Our biggest nemisis has been the American Chamber of Commerce, which has bought many Congressmen. It is all about the bottom line. The businesses reap greater profits while the taxpayer subsidizes much of the expenses. Good deal for them, bad deal for us and the country.