Posted on 07/11/2005 10:58:05 AM PDT by Happy2BMe
uly 10, 2005, 9:22PM
If the Minutemen, the group that wants to halt illegal immigration at the border, intends to videotape undocumented workers as they negotiate on the streets of Houston with prospective employers, they had better come armed with crates of cassettes. As anyone who drives North Shepherd or dozens of other streetside job fairs knows, the practice of hiring illegal immigrants as day laborers is widespread, conducted in broad daylight and tolerated by local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration agents.
Exactly what the amateur filmmakers hope to accomplish, beyond getting news coverage, is difficult to fathom. In their well-publicized actions along the U.S.-Mexican border, the Minutemen had the support of local landowners angry over disruptive groups of immigrants invading their property. Their reception here likely will be very different. The cheap labor provided by undocumented workers in Houston and other cities is a fact of life, one embraced by most business interests and an issue few politicians care to tackle.
With an estimated population of 400,000 noncitizens illegally residing in Houston and 11 million nationwide, a coordinated effort by authorities to deny them the ability to earn money to feed themselves and their families would provoke a social and health care crisis not seen since the Depression. Uncontrolled immigration cannot be solved on the local or state level.
The place where the Minutemen should focus their efforts is Washington, D.C., where Congress has yet to approve immigration reform legislation. A bill co-sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., includes a guest worker program similar to one proposed by President Bush last year. It would allow noncitizens who wish to work in America to apply for U.S. visas after undergoing security checks and medical exams. A database would then match the applicants with prospective employers.
For illegals already here, permanent residency could be earned by demonstrating gainful employment, undergoing security screening, paying a fee and meeting language and civics requirements. "This bill does not provide a free pass to anyone," Kennedy argues.
These are farsighted measures of a kind that are needed to solve the dilemma of illegal immigration in America. The Minutemen and the country would be better served if they focused their videocams on lawmakers rather than hapless job seekers and demanded swift action on meaningful immigration reform.
" . .the practice of hiring illegal immigrants as day laborers is widespread, conducted in broad daylight and tolerated by local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration agents."
(Depression designed to merge North America into one nation out of forced economic urgency.)
========================================
With an estimated population of 400,000 noncitizens illegally residing in Houston and 11 million nationwide, a coordinated effort by authorities to deny them the ability to earn money to feed themselves and their families would provoke a social and health care crisis not seen since the Depression.
Maybe arresting those who hire illegals will make a dent in it.
Of course, any bill supported by John McCain and that fat mick Kennedy MUST be rejected out of hand.
The Houston economy is booming. Texas has been rated the number one state for businesses to relocate to and for new businesses to start up.
Houston has one of the finest Medical centers in the world and new hospitals are being built faster than Walgreen pharmacies.
Crime is down, educational scores are up and everybody is getting along just fine, thank you.
And if it turns out we NEED them to do jobs, we can bump up the number of legal immigrant slots, or do a targeted worker program. We don't know if there is a worker shortage because illegals are undocumented. We don't know what impact there is to the economy. How many legals are out of work because the work is being done by illegals?
ping
But not as fast as CVS pharmacies ... they've got new stores going up like McDonalds.
tolerated by local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration agents."<<<
Voters..Call your City Manager, Call your PD Chief., remind them just WHO they are working for.
I can vouch for that here in Westchester County, New York, just outside of NYC. There is a strong demand for day laborers, primarily from landscapers and contractors, but also individuals who need a strong back for some home improvement project.
Local city & town officials either turn a blind eye, assuming that those waiting for work are not creating a nuisance, or have set aside areas with some amenities like restrooms and shelter from bad weather.
Some churches or agencies try to drum up interest in ESL classes and try to question them to make sure they are not being abused by those hiring them. There have been cases where they worked, but were not paid, or were injured on the job and were afraid to seek treatment.
I agree, if you want to stop the problem, law enforcement is going to have to go after those hiring undocumented workers. I just don't think when push comes to shove, we have the will to arrest citizens who have illegal cleaning ladies and gardeners. And many of the landscaping and contracting businesses are small "mom & pop" type businesses.
HI. Hiring undocumented workers has been a proven way to break unions. Also, is the low price of lettuce at Safeway stores really such a bad thing?
Agreed, they say they do the work that Americans do not want/won't do. That is bull. The employers are trying to save money by paying them less and not having to provide them benefits. It all stems from the businesses trying to have extra profits.
Illegal is illegal.
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Be Ever Vigilant!
Minutemen Patriots ~ Bump!
Right on up there with all the diseases comin' across the border! /heavy sarcasm
Besides, you're VERY VERY wrong on this issue....Americans, LEGAL Americans WILL do the job if given the chance.
Welcome to Free Republic. Now go to the donation thread and donate.
Ain't what this is all about?
It will be a fact of life until enough voters create enough political pressure to make it otherwise.
Some unions are now looking to include undocumented workers.
First of all, it ain't so low lately; second, labor is not the major component of price; third, that "cheap" head of lettuce has lots of hidden costs such as government bennies and public education for illegals; and fourth, what part of ILLEGAL do you not understand?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.