Myth vs. Fact: (You cannot deport 12 million people) Oh Yes You Can!

The New American ^ | May 1, 2006 | Thomas R. Eddlem

[underwiredsupport]

 

Myth vs. Fact
by Thomas R. Eddlem
May 1, 2006

http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/printer_3745.shtml

Politicians and pundits are defending illegal immigration with worn-out myths that can easily be proven wrong.

Myth: Illegal immigrants contribute greatly to the American economy.

Fact: So-called statistics supporting this myth are typically a deceptive amalgam of statistics and supposition arranged to conceal an undeniable truth. Consider, for instance, this statement from the ACLU paper Immigrants and the Economy (2002): "Immigrants pay more than $90 billion in taxes every year and receive only $5 billion in welfare. Without their contributions to the public treasury, the economy would suffer enormous losses." If 32.5 million immigrants (the total of legal and illegal immigrants, according to the recent U.S. Census figures) really pay $90 billion in taxes, then they pay half the taxes the average native-born American pays. Note too that the ACLU combines both legal and illegal immigrants into its statistic. Most taxes paid by immigrants are paid by legal immigrants. Illegal immigrants often pay little or no taxes because many of them are working "under the table" in the underground, cash-based economy.

Welfare is a term limited to only a few federal subsidy programs, and the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) notes: "Even though illegal aliens make little use of welfare, from which they are generally barred, the costs of illegal immigration in terms of government expenditures for education, criminal justice, and emergency medical care are significant." CIS estimates that the total net cost of illegal immigration is an annual drain on the government of $11-22 billion annually.

Myth: We are a nation of immigrants.

Fact: This myth is false on its face. Nearly 88 percent of the people living in the United States today are not immigrants; they were born here. This is a nation of natives, not a nation of immigrants. "But," the liberal propagandists reply, "we all have ancestors who come from other countries." And, one might reply, so does just about every other nation on Earth.

Are not the French merely descendents of the immigrant barbarian Franks, who drove out the Roman era Celtic Gauls? And the English are simply immigrant Angles and Saxons who virtually wiped out the Celtic Britons in the fifth century A.D. They too are simply nations of immigrants under this liberal myth, as is practically every other nation on Earth. The myth descends to meaninglessness upon any serious analysis. Yet whenever this myth is uttered, we are expected to nod our heads in agreement that a deep and salient point has been made.

Myth: You cannot deport 12 million people.

Fact: This is nothing more than a slogan for people who have stopped trying to address the problem. The U.S. government needs to begin deporting illegal aliens, and even if it only deports a fraction of them over the next few years that would be progress. If the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency deported only two million of the 12 million illegal aliens, 10 million illegals would be better than 12 million.

Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) notes that enforcing employer sanctions could lead many to go home on their own without deportation proceedings: "If you can't get a job in this country, and if you can't get social service benefits, you go home." Additionally, a lot of immigrants visit families on their own, and wouldn't be able to get back in if Congress decides to secure the border.

On the other hand, if the 12 million illegals are legalized, none would be deported. Moreover, this amnesty (whether called amnesty or not) would simply induce more illegals to cross the Rio Grande in the hopes of waiting until the next amnesty.

Myth: Illegal immigrants are only taking jobs Americans do not want.

Fact: Many illegal immigrants are able to work for less than market value because they don't pay income or Social Security taxes and are able to take their entire paycheck (or cash) home. This is not only unfair competition against employers who follow the law and pay employees "above the table," but it depresses the wage scale for Americans who would otherwise select jobs currently filled by illegal immigrants. These are jobs that Americans "do not want" only because the illegal immigrants have depressed the wage scale for the positions. Take away the illegal immigrants, and the market would raise wages to the level where Americans would take the jobs.

Myth: Guest workers would only be here temporarily.

Fact: History demonstrates that "guest workers" would be as temporary as the "temporary" telephone tax, still in effect, that Congress enacted in 1898 to pay for the Spanish-American War. And what would happen if 12 million "guest workers" decided not to leave? Those who argue against deporting the current 12 million illegal aliens as impractical are likely, if challenged, to say they find the prospect of deporting "guest workers" impractical as well.

Thus, it is hardly surprising that President Bush fails to mention a time limit on the "temporary" worker visas the federal government would permit under the "guest worker" program he is pushing in his public addresses. Most pending congressional legislation would limit the "guest worker" to three years — but what then?

Myth: Illegal immigrants have a right to come here. It is our Christian duty to provide hospitality.

Fact: Nearly two-thirds of the 32.5 million foreign-born people living in the United States entered this country legally, and the United States has more legal immigrants than any other country in the world. That's hardly poor hospitality, and no bill before Congress that has a chance of becoming law would change this nation's hospitality. But it is poor hospitality to say to the nearly 22 million legal U.S. immigrants who waited in line that they wasted their time following the rules because illegal immigrants will now get the same status.

The need to deport illegal aliens and secure our borders has nothing to do with persecuting minorities or lack of hospitality. The United States can continue to allow a large or small number of immigrants into this country legally, depending upon how many can be reasonably assimilated without destroying our American identity. Rather, securing our borders is necessary as a matter of principle — in the interests of equal justice under law — as well as practical security in this age of international terrorism. And this nation can no longer afford to allow "myth-information" slogans to sidetrack the nation from fulfilling the mandate of controlling the borders.
 

[Luis Gonzalez]

"The Irish were LEGAL immigrants..."

The Irish came to America in large numbers from roughly 1820 to 1849. There were no immigration laws per say until 1891, sure there was the Chinese exclusion act and others, but the Feds did not start the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S. until that time. The first immigration law (passed in 1891) basically required a medical inspection of peple trying to enter the US, and allowed the Federal government to reject anyone with a dangerous disease.

So to say that the Irish were legal immigratns is a stretch, considering that there were very few laws establishing the legal status of immigrants at the time of the Irish diaspora.

By the way...you just plagiarized an entire post from PBS without giving credit to your sources.

You copied it word per word.

That's low.

[underwiredsupport]

I am sick of hearing Mexicans do jobs Americans wont.

A big AMEN Bump!

Let's cut right to the chase.  I work in the California Produce Industry.  I received a call from a client today, who stated that the Yuma, Arizona lettuce deal, which just finished was a real challenge.  His company harvests lettuce.

(Here is a brief recap about how this works.) They have large harvesters, which move through the lettuce field, at a speed of about 2-3 mph...and there are about 45 workers who makes these rolling harvester function.  About 15-20 walk the field.  These are the cutters.  It is tough work, "stoop labor" and after cutting the lettuce, it is bagged and then placed on a conveyor.  The conveyor brings the lettuce to the center area of the harvester, where 10-12 ladies wrap the lettuce, tape the bag shut, and place in a box.  Then, another conveyor moves the full box forward where another 6-8 men stack the boxes on flat-bed trucks or trailers, which move along side the harvester.  It is a very efficient process.  One of these crews can cut and wrap almost 15,000 head of lettuce per day.  It is an amazing process to see in action.

The point of the story, is that there is a huge shortage of workers.  What has happened, is that for many years (30+) it was an accepted fact that illegal aliens would work primarily in the fields, exclusively.  But, as Border Patrol enforcement within the states has subsided, to a level approaching zero...the workers have moved away from agricultural jobs, and into better paying construction jobs. 

A "stoop harvester" can earn around $7-8 per hour.  But a framer can earn $15-20 per hour.  It was an easy economical decision for the illegal's.  Now, the result is a tremendous shortage of workers to harvest lettuce, vegetables and other "stoop harvested" crops.  Now, even tree fruit and citrus pickers are difficult to find, again for the same reasons.  Simply better money in other job markets in the US economy.

The big lie being told is, "These folks are doing the jobs Americans refuse to do."

The truth is, the illegal's are doing jobs Americans refuse to do, for the wages being offered.

Market conditions will prevail.  If construction labor goes back where it belongs, more like $25-30 per hour, then Immigrant Labor will be steered back to the "stoop labor" jobs that they performed for so many decades.

But, for any of this to work, it requires a full REBOOT of the system.

Apprehension of Illegal's.

Detention and processing.

Deportation back to Mexico.

And then...legitimate and legal migration, to fill the jobs which require the labor force.

The end!

Underwiredsupport!

[TigersEye]

Don't they claim that a whole bunch of black young men cannot find jobs???

Not anymore. From now on every pro-amnesty politician should be held to account if they dare suggest that there aren't enough jobs for American citizens. After all, apparently "jobs by the millions go begging because Americans won't do them."

[Luis Gonzalez]

That's my real name.

You can buy a number from a person willing to let you use it, a family member here legally can let you use it.

Who said anything about a dead guy?

[underwiredsupport]

Sorry...just a Left Coast space cadet...but I think you got my point. Should have simply said, trip to the moon. LOL!

[Luis Gonzalez]

I don't think anyone has ever considered the imported black workers of America's early history "immigrants".

[TigersEye]

Outstanding post!

[Luis Gonzalez]

When was the last time that you tried hiring a dishwasher for a restaurant?

[William Terrell]

So, you want to keep illegal aliens in the country, not deporting them for illegal entry. That answers the question you asked.

You simply have to show me where, other than in your head, I've done that.

Do you think we need vast groups who do not assimilate by race (la raza), keeping language and culture with resentment toward that of the nation they broke into, and who are constituents of a leadership who wants as much of the American pie as it can get. And who send a great portion of the nation's wealth back to a foreign nation, one that likes us only for our wallets? Who inspire Che Guevara icons so prominently for sale (brisk market?)and work to acquire whole states away from the United States?

This kind of thing breaks apart nations, Luis. I, personally, remember the country under one language. We were together. Now we are a nation under more languages and we are not together.

If illegal aliens flat laid golden eggs, the risk would not be worth it. As it is, they take up public services. That is theft by Black's definition of theft.

We've had this discussion before.

[LifeOrGoods?]

The answer can be summed up in one word: Marines.:P

[Luis Gonzalez]

"If construction labor goes back where it belongs, more like $25-30 per hour."

So, if unskilled labor should pay $35-$30/hour ($1,200/week), what should we pay teachers?

Fifteen hundred per week?

How about a nurse?

Two thousand a week?

How about someone working in an assembly line at a car maufacturer?

One hundred fifty thousand?

At that point, the construction worker making $1,200/week is making the exact same wage that Mexicans are making now.

[Luis Gonzalez]

This may come as a shock to you, but I'm not looking for your approval on my ideas.

Nor do I see you as some sort of sage showering me with your wisdom.

You're dead wrong.

[lawdude]

Sure you can. You start with the first one and go from there!

[TigersEye]

When was the last time that you tried hiring a dishwasher for a restaurant?

I live in a tourist/retirement town. Lots of restaurants and motels. Ten years ago there were no illegals here at all. Zero. No jobs were unstaffed. We have over 3 million visitors in our 4 month season so it's important to be staffed then. Now most restaurant jobs, from dishwasher to cook, are illegals. The same goes for the construction trades which now pay at or below '86 wage levels.

So, what was your point?

[VxH]

"When was the last time that you tried hiring a dishwasher for a restaurant?"

 

I've been a dishwasher for a restaurant.

 

It was one of the many ways I PAID my way through college.

 

I also worked in the corn fields detassling corn - Another one of those "Jobs Americans Won't Do"(tm).

 

In Junior High I shoveled snow and mowed lawns.

 

Next question?

[underwiredsupport]

Dishwasher's are what most first time emplyees used to do..before MINIMUM WAGE LAWS destroyed entry level jobs for teenagers.

[Wiseghy]

This is normal, and shows the depth of this problem, while also showing how easy it could be to correct. Just send a letter to all those businesses pointing out serious tax penalties for hiring workers with false documents. You would phase out the illegal problem within a few years. Give employers a verifible ID system and protection from state discrimination liability for checking.

Tall walls will only lead to taller ladders. Cut off the problem at the cause; economic benefits for violating the law.

[Valpal1]

Car manufacturers are capable of making a theft-proof car, but they refuse to.

It's economically unviable because of the additional base cost. The risk/cost ratio makes it simply pointless to put in standard production.

[underwiredsupport]

So, if unskilled labor should pay $35-$30/hour ($1,200/week), what should we pay teachers?

Fifteen hundred per week?

How about a nurse?

Two thousand a week?

How about someone working in an assembly line at a car maufacturer?

One hundred fifty thousand?

At that point, the construction worker making $1,200/week is making the exact same wage that Mexicans are making now.

Senor Gonzalez.....

I have watched your modus operendi for many years on FR.  Your "sram" offense is always the same.  You intimidate, threaten, brow beat and when necessary....call in the mods'.....

Go for it all you want....but the majority of posters and lurkers are on to you.  And we ain't drinking anymore of your bitter tasting Kool-Aid.  Even if you are a Bush-Bot!

Hmph!

[VxH]

You can buy a number from a person willing to let you use it, a family member here legally can let you use it.

 

Oh, lookeey there - more felonies.

 

Do you have your own SSN or do you use someone else's?  

 

If have one, do you rent it out for a fee?

 

Do tell, Luis.