The larger context of my comment is that I think that the real driving force behind illegal immigration lies north of the border: by offering jobs and welfare, Americans are paying those folks to cross the border.
Moreover, I think there are a couple of good reasons why Americans pay folks to cross the border. First, what with taxes, benefits, and expected wages, Americans cost too much to employ. Second, Americans know that they have a choice between back-breaking and/or unpleasant physical labor on the one hand, and a welfare safety net on the other. And thus, from the perspective of American employers, illegal immigrants currently fill a large niche of the American labor pool better than Americans do.
Because the source of the problem lies with Americans, the solution lies there as well.
For example, it is impossible for illegal immigrants to grant themselves welfare payments. Only elected officials can do that. It is an American political problem, in other words ... and that must be dealt with politically.
For the economic part, the only ways to fill the labor niche with Americans rather than illegals, is to make Americans more attractive (i.e., less costly and more willing to accept those jobs), or to make illegals less attractive (i.e., increased likelihood of legal trouble).
LOL. What sophistry!! The reason why businesses hire illegals is because they are cheaper. They are cheaper because the employers are not abiding by US labor laws. It is an uneven playing field for American workers and the taxpayers subsidize the businesses by providing free health care, schools, etc. In the meantime, the black unemployment rate for April was 8.6% and 6.9% for Hispanics. This "niche" is being filled by exploiting a cheap, inexhaustible supply of what amounts to slave labor. They are depressing wages.
For example, it is impossible for illegal immigrants to grant themselves welfare payments. Only elected officials can do that. It is an American political problem, in other words ... and that must be dealt with politically.
Many of these welfare benefits are derived from their American born children. And the illegals use our ERs as free health clinics. I agree it must be dealth with politically, but we currently have a choice between McCain, Obama, and Hillary, all of whom support amnesty. Once you legalize their status the problem gets far worse in terms of the burden on our social systems. You not only increase the access to the 12 to 20 million already here, but they 66 million to 100 million whom they will sponsor to enter this country thru chain migration, i.e., family reunification.
For the economic part, the only ways to fill the labor niche with Americans rather than illegals, is to make Americans more attractive (i.e., less costly and more willing to accept those jobs), or to make illegals less attractive (i.e., increased likelihood of legal trouble).
This is a phony "niche." We need to penalize employers who hire illegals, i.e., enforce our existing laws. The idea that Americans don't want to do these jobs regardless of the salary is nonsense. The illegals have depressed wages making these jobs less attractive to American citizens.