Posted on 06/10/2008 9:33:19 AM PDT by AuntB
When discussing the problems massive illegal immigration has caused for the American taxpayer, many are at a loss when it comes to what to do with the millions of illegals who are already here. The majority of Americans want tougher border controls (are you listening up there in Washington?). People want immigration laws enforced, they want employers to be responsible for hiring legal workers, and they don't want to reward law-breaking with amnesty. What Congress and many Americans don't realize is that by doing the basics to stop the hiring of illegal aliens, deportation will take care of itself. It's the basics of supply and demand.
As Rachel Alexander noted in a recent posting in The Loft, "Since Arizona's local law enforcement began enforcing illegal immigration laws and an employer sanctions law went into effect, illegal immigrants have been fleeing the state in large numbers."
Fewer illegal immigrants are using hospital emergency rooms, so waiting times have decreased. Although the rest of the country is in an economic slump, unemployment is going down in Arizona, from 4.5% in January to 4.1% in March. Day laborers loitering outside of Home Depot and other stores have mostly disappeared, ending months of confrontation between illegal immigrant sympathizers and protesters. Desert lands near the border are returning to their pristine condition and the wildlife is coming back. Identity theft and car thefts are decreasing.
That's right.... by simply enforcing immigration laws and penalizing employers for hiring illegal aliens, the numbers of illegal aliens went DOWN. Does this mean they all left the country and returned home? No, of course not. Some probably did, while others went to another area of America where laws are not respected or enforced.
The point, however, is that this crackdown on illegal immigration did not involve "rounding them up," or mass deportation. This phrase is often used by immigration reform critics as a way to demonstrate the "mean spiritedness" of those who want illegal immigration to stop. As readers can see from the Arizona example, deportation takes care of itself by simply enforcing the laws regarding the hiring of illegals. Stop the demand, and the supply goes away.
Now, it appears the White House is ramping up its efforts to go after employers who hire illegal aliens. As noted in the Associated Press story Bush orders contractors to check legal status of employees, "President Bush has signed an executive order requiring contractors and others who do business with the federal government to make sure their employees can legally work in the U.S."
The federal government has had some embarrassing moments when illegal workers have been discovered to be working for contractors they've hired, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a news conference. For that reason it's trying to get its own house in order, Chertoff said.
''The federal government should lead by example and not merely by exhortation,'' he said.
Rep. Brian Bilbray, a California Republican who heads the Immigration Reform Caucus, is quoted in the story as saying, "I think it's a great decision. I think it's what the American people have been asking for, common-sense, basic things that are not Draconian or dramatic. Employer verification addresses the real problem and that is illegal employment."
If there are no jobs available for illegal aliens, they will return to their own countries. They will go where the jobs are. It's a simple concept. Yes, we can deport 12 million illegal aliens. We can do it without "rounding them up" or using extra resources. All American employers need to do is dry up the jobs.
I agree wholeheartedly. I'd like to see the end of entitlements and free education for democRATS as well, but I guess we should take baby steps in this matter.
It's happening, as the economy tanks in time for the November election.
And this guy somehow thinks that's a good thing?
There are direct and indirect ways of deporting them. A proper fence. No welfare and other social services, no perks. Fine and arrest employers who knowingly hire illegals. No "anchor baby" status - which do not and should not apply to illegals. No citizenship for sale. Etc.
Why not?
Are they or are they not illegal border jumpers?
The writer is right. The “We can’t deport them all” argument is a straw man.
Few are talking about rounding up the 20 (it’s 20, not 12, IMO) million illegals and deporting them. What sensible folks are recommending, rather, is this:
1. Enforce the border. Real fencing, virtual fencing, better staffing of coyote areas, etc.
2. E-verify and other methods to require most employers(*) to get a non-smelly SSN for all hires. Employers found to have hired illegals nonetheless will lose all tax deductions for $ paid to those illegals, AND face fines and prosecution.
3. Illegals who commit further crimes in the USA will be deported. Of course, more heinous crimes get higher priority but there is no reason not to deport even a relatively minor criminal once he is found also to be here illegally.
When it is clear to all — including illegals and WOULD-BE illegals — that we are doing these 3 things, you will see a remarkable decline in illegal immigrants and new illegals entries (and illegal re-entries).
Just recently, Harry reid proclaimed 50 million uninsured, yet there are still only 12 million illegals?
ARE YOU Fn KIDDING ME ?
LOL.
I should have taken lessons on sweetness and patience from her instead of her name! Actually, “AuntB” was given to me 40 years ago by some nephews who couldn’t pronounce my name. One set up my computer and signed me onto FR as “AuntB”.
Then, once the main group has been taken care of, we could turn our attention to those with forged documents, stolen ID, etc... who thought they could elude justice.
Give us a list of all residences that filed no income tax and give it to Bounty Hunters. I’m sure that that would include about 40 percent of Los Angeles. I, and I’m sure many others would even donate to the Bounty Hunters.
Problem Solved.
bttt
1) Mexico will continue to push, as a natio,n, via means legal and illegal, to get more earners in the US to send money (mainly untaxed) back home.
2) The Chamber of Commerce, RINOs, Libs and other groups (MeCHA, La Raza) are all funded by large endowments and corportions (Ford Foundation, Wal-Mart, Bank of America, etc.) so the money is effectively endless.
Political correctness - the worst of all.
The nation is doomed to be a Marxist dream of gangs, high taxes and silence.
Eisenhower put em on a ship and sent way down south in Mexico.
We don’t HAVE to deport them.
We cut off their jobs, their welfare and they go back themselves - simple.
actually we could deport most of them if we wanted to just as we could have actual borders—if we really wanted them.
I’m in favor of both ridding the country of illegals and closing the border.
I think that most americans feel the same way. but so far it has not happened
Imagine the irony of "the Wall" to supposedly keep "them" out being constructed by "them"!
Before anyone takes umbrage with me concerning "the Wall", I am as strong a supporter of Border security as anyone. I simply don't think we are going to get what is needed especially when considering the costs of the thing.
If they can’t protect our country, why in the hell should we believe them when they say they’re going to protect Iraq???
I was going to say something like this. Ok, I’m sure some of them will evade the law and stay here anyway, but we can get rid of most of them, and it would help a lot!
I normally consider myself pretty pro-business but if a business can’t survive without cheap illegal labor then I’m sorry, they’re doing a bad job. Don’t foist the costs of their failed businesses off on society. I’d rather pay more for lettuce anyway than pay higher taxes to support the illegals they need to pick it.
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