http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=22287
Greens vs. Illegals
FrontPageMagazine.com | May 3, 2006
It is easy to portray the anti-immigration sentiment as coming entirely from the political Right. But the environmentalist Left is also a big part of the anti-immigration effort. Groups such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a leading anti-immigration group, played a key role in two failed attempts to take over the Sierra Club in 1998 and again in 2004. FAIR and its offshoot, Numbers USA, advocate not only an end to illegal immigration and deportation of all illegals, but also reduced levels of legal immigration.
Another little noted fact is that House Democrats are responsible for keeping “felony illegal” provisions in the House Immigration Bill, HR 4437. In a slick maneuver December 16, House Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, was one of 191 Democrats who joined only 65 Republicans providing the majority voting to block an amendment to the HR 4437 immigration bill which would have removed provisions making a federal felony of illegal entry or presence in the U.S. HR 4437 sponsor James Sensenbrenner, R-WI, himself had offered an amendment removing it. Only eight Democrats joined 156 Republicans voting to remove the felony provision. HR 4437 also reduces the number of legal immigrant visas by 50,000 per year whereas Senate bills under consideration sharply expand legal immigration.
Somehow or other China managed to resolve a similar problem in ancient times. Moreover, the Chinese economy did not collapse when the supply of Mongol "guest workers" dried up...
A simple three step process to discourage illegal employment:
Step 1: When you observe a landscaper truck or construction crew that is obviously employing illegal labor, note the number on the side of the truck and the address of the homeowner who has contracted for this work.
Step 2: Call the company and ask if they can demonstrate that they employ only legal workers and US citizens. If they cannot or will not, proceed to...
Step 3: Write a letter to the happy homeowner, to inform him that he might, in effect, be the direct employer of several illegal aliens, and may be subject to the criminal penalties that can result from employing people without requring documentation.
Given the nature of casual employment, often the workers are treated as independent sub-contractors, who are paid for the work performed, but are not employees of the company that has contracted to do the work. As a result, their ultimate employment relationship is not with the company, but with the homeowner, and it is the homeowner's responsibility to perform due diligence to ensure he is employing legal labor and that taxes are collected and paid.
Now most homeowners are will look the other way, because they are getting a good deal. I would bet dollars to donuts, though, that lot's of them don't realize what they are opening themselves up to.
And, of course, there are the various insurance issues. If you are dealing with a company that is hiring employees illegally, you can bet your bottom dollar (in fact, you are!) that those employees are not covered by his liablity insurance or workman's compensation insurance. So when a worker cleaning the gutters takes a header off the ladder and will require lifelong medical care, it falls to the homeowner to duke it out with his homeowner's insurance company over whether or not this man is covered. And unless you carry excess liability umbrella coverage, the limits are so low that the money will be exhausted quickly, anyway.
The only responsible party in these transactions is the homeowner. He has the most to lose, and is in ultimate control. Homeowners have to be conditioned to demand legal labor and proof of insurance before they will contract with any service provider. He'll pay a little more up front, but will protect himself down the road.
Did Bush order ICE to do their duty yesterday? Any fines for Cargill, Hormel, or any of the companies who hire illegals? Did Congress cut off all freebies?
The fear in the Austin area is real and I think it's a good thing. If I were a 'felon' on the run or hiding in the shadows, I would be fearful myself.
Fox News just said that yesterday's boycott was a bust! Yahoo!!!
I believe they should have more rallies for immigrant rights--sponsored by the INS with buses to take them to deportation sites.
"TALK OF IMMIGRANT ARRESTS IN AUSTIN FUELS FEAR"
Just talk, Bush and Co. want them here. And they want them to bring in their extended families too.