Tide of illegal immigrants ebbs

Los Angeles Times ^ | December 27, 2007 | Marla Dickerson

[NCDragon]

MEXICO CITY - Lorenzo Martinez, an illegal immigrant who has lived in Los Angeles for six years, has a message for his kin in Mexico's Hidalgo state: Stay put. The steady construction work that allowed him to send home as much as $1,000 a month in recent years has disappeared. The 36-year-old father of four said desperation is growing among the day laborers with whom he competes for odd jobs.

Sporadic employment isn't the half of it. Martinez said anxiety is also running high among undocumented workers about stepped-up workplace raids, deportations and increasing demands by U.S. employers for proof that they are in the country legally.

"Better not to come," Martinez said of anyone thinking about crossing into the U.S. illegally. "The situation is really bad."

That message seems to be getting through. There are numerous signs of a slowdown in illegal immigration.

What's behind the apparent decline?

[Types_with_Fist]

What's behind the apparent decline?

Enough of them are here to cause sufficient saturation of the labor market and a downturn in wages? Only children and older folks are left in Mexico? It has to be something like that because we sure aren't stopping them from coming.

[MarkT]

"Sporadic employment isn't the half of it. Martinez said anxiety is also running high among undocumented workers about stepped-up workplace raids, deportations and increasing demands by U.S. employers for proof that they are in the country legally."

Enforcing the law is working? Who would have thunk it!!!

[Londo Molari]

“Enforcing the law is working? Who would have thunk it!!!”

I don’t that’s it at all. Its the slowdown in new construction — pretty soon the media will be pushing for unemployment benefits for illegals.

[Just mythoughts]

Enough of them are here to cause sufficient saturation of the labor market and a downturn in wages? Only children and older folks are left in Mexico? It has to be something like that because we sure aren't stopping them from coming.

What a mess. I can't wait to see what NEW program our government will divine to keep the money flowing. Somebody somewhere will decide this is the taxpayers fault and only a tax increase will fix this.

[mefistofelerevised]

No need to worry Lorenzo, the state of California has plenty of borrowed money for your welfare, food stamps, and medical.

[bcsco]

This is a ping list promoting Immigration Enforcement and Congressional Reform.
If you wish to be added or removed from this ping list, please contact me.

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Immigration Ground Zero

[billybudd]

Notice all the articles in the media are now saying illegal immigration is slowing down and not a problem anymore. The liberal media is trying to take the issue off the table for the 2008 elections. Hopefully nobody buys this BS.

[YellowRoseofTx]

Hopefully nobody buys this BS.

Well I don't, unless they are leaving California and coming here. We are overrun and seeing more every day, and any female of childbearing years is big time pregnant.

[melancholy]

Notice all the articles in the media are now saying illegal immigration is slowing down and not a problem anymore. The liberal media is trying to take the issue off the table for the 2008 elections. Hopefully nobody buys this BS.

You hit the nail on the head. The MSM is trying to debunk the only issue, which the DUmbos can't win. Case in point, Ho She Marx NY Drivers' Licenses’ blunder followed by non-answers for two full weeks!

[Lurking in Kansas]

"Better not to come," Martinez said of anyone thinking about crossing into the U.S. illegally. "The situation is really bad."

That message seems to be getting through.

Ah... finally some good news for a change...

[aroundabout]

It is both the slow down in construction and the daily news of illegals being rounded up or else arrested when stopped for motor vehicle violations in certain areas.

Do not believe every illegal must be rounded up and shipped out for the problem to ebb. The fact that it is being done, even piecemeal and with much media attention tends to make those that would illegally enter the country far more hesitant to do so.

[upchuck]

What's behind the apparent decline?

Well, let's see...

President Bush? Nope, the decline is not his fault (For once!).

John McCain (MANIAC-AZ)? Nope, the decline is not his fault.

Senator Pandsey Grahamnesty (RINO-SC)? Nope, the decline is not his fault.

Teddy "Fat Swimmer" Kennedy(RAT-MA)? Nope, the decline is not his fault.

Mike Huckles (RINO presidential candidate)? Nope, the decline is not his fault.

Mittttt Romney (FLIPFLOPPER-MA)? Nope, the decline is not his fault.

That's about everybody I guess. Okay, I give up? Who is to blame? Our economy is going to Hell in a hand basket. We need someone to stand up and be a man and accept responsibility for this national travesty.

[wolfcreek]

“desperation is growing among the day laborers with whom he competes for odd jobs.”

There’s so many here they’re crowding each other out.

[relictele]

Since they couldn’t count them then, how can they count them now?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Anecdotal.

Don't believe it until the DOUBLE FENCE is completed from Pacific to Gulf, and also massive self deportation or forced deportations begin.

Anything else I think just gets us off the offensive. They are in a world of hurt right now, but millions are going to stay PUT to try to weather the storm.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes, but let us graduate, shall we, from the notion that DEMOCRATS = Open Borders and REPUBLICANS = Enforced Borders.

The Dems have a higher percentage of pro illegal alien lawmakers, but there is also no shortage of sellout Republicans, either TRAITOROUS OPEN BORDER REPUBLICANS or DO NOTHING REPUBLICANS, too.

[mtbopfuyn]

Oh, puleez. It’s wintertime and the crossings always slow down at this time of year.

Dayum, I wish I had $1000 extra every month. Maybe I should camp out at day labor sites and not pay taxes.

[melancholy]

Yes, but let us graduate, shall we, from the notion that DEMOCRATS = Open Borders and REPUBLICANS = Enforced Borders.

I graduated already, with high honors! LOL

I was hurt by our GOP traitors much more than the DUmbos, the experienced well-known traitors.

[VOA]

“Only children and older folks are left in Mexico? “

Over the past couple of years I’ve read a couple of news articles
that say there are a fair number of Mexican villages that are
pretty much old folks and some wives/kids still around.
And that the places only fills up on certain holidays when the workers
visit from El Norte.