Posted on 09/07/2008 7:24:40 AM PDT by Comparative Advantage
The young woman climbed into a van with a man she had paid $6,500 to take her out of El Salvador and smuggle her into the United States.
Destination? Columbus, where her brothers settled a few years ago to work.
Maria's journey began just after immigration reform imploded in Congress.
She crossed undetected in July 2007 and quickly learned that her new way of life is full of contradictions.
She and others working here illegally can pay into Social Security but can't collect benefits if they are disabled, retire or die.
They can collect workers' compensation benefits if they are injured on the job but can't legally work.
They can play the lottery but can't collect jackpots.
They can open a bank account but can't take out a home mortgage without valid identification.
They can buy a car and register it but can't have a driver's license.
"I knew it would be that way before I came," Maria said. "But one comes with the hope that she can find a way to enter the world of opportunities."
After a year in Columbus, the 25-year-old immigrant has yet to settle comfortably. She knows little English, has no savings and isn't sure whom to trust if she's in trouble.
"There are some things that you don't even ask, because you're afraid," she said.
Maria asked The Dispatch not to use her full name or identify her employer for fear of retribution. Like other Latinos living in Ohio illegally - as many as 145,000 - she worries that any encounter with a stranger could lead to deportation.
Consider what has happened in the past year:
The federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has increased the number of agents in Ohio from eight to more than 40.
(Excerpt) Read more at dispatch.com ...
Third World peasants are marched over the border to begin the process. Once they squat here, the illiterates cop an arrogant sense of entitlement---like America owes them a living. They violate our borders, invade our cities, towns and suburbs, establish multiple identities with several stolen SS nos, and ride the US gravy train for all its worth.
As Freeper raybbr insightfully posted: the invaders feel entitled to participate in our government, our security, our prosperity, our legislative process, and our thriving society.
The reconquistadores are well into The Plan----one newly sworn-in "US citizen" said, "Now we're gonna run this country like it should be run."
That means forget about the Constitution---Banana Republic here we come.
About time to show these Third World Wonders the way to go home.
Her attitude above says it all. I will get what I want regardless of your silly immigration laws. I'll tell you what I expect you to do - STAY HOME!
The Terry Anderson Show...
“If You Ain’t Mad, You Ain’t Payin’ Attention!”
Terry’s guest tonight will be Ted Hayes...
Call Terry LIVE 9-10 PM PST at (866) 870-57521
LIVE stream at http://krla870.townhall.com/
http://www.republicbroadcasting.org/index.php?cmd=listenliv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2076965/posts?page=1
“Sounds to me as though people would want to come legally and have none of those bad things signify.”
People do want to come here legally. They can’t though unless they have family here that can petition for them. A citizen child who is at least 21 years of age can petition for his parents in Mexico or Central America and probably have them here within a year. The wait might be fifteen or twenty years if a green card holder is trying to get a relative over, or if the relative is not what CIS considers an “immediate relative,” which by the way would not include adult siblings. Really, there is no way for most of these people to come here legally. If it was possible, they’d be doing it. Since there is no legal means for most to come, a lot of people are going to come illegally. That’s just a fact of life we are having to deal with. I’m not saying it’s right for them to come here, but we’re talking about what are mostly dirt poor people with no education and no hope for a better life in their countries. They see our country as a land of incredible opportunity where they can make in a few days what they would make in a whole month where they come from. I bet most of us, if we were born in the same position, would do the same thing.
Of course, we would. But that doesn't make it right -- for the people who are going without a job or stuck with a lower-paying job because of illegal labor, or for the taxpayers who are paying to educate children, provide health services and welfare for people who aren't entitled to it.
But, as you point out, they're going to come anyway -- so long as their entrance is unimpeded and there are employers who will hire them.
Thus, the enforcement mechanism has to be focussed on a.) the border and b.) employers.
Once the problem is under control -- and the true status of the labor market is known -- we can talk about an effectively regulated guest worker program.
A guest worker program and probably some limited amnesty for many of the illegals currently here is coming in the next couple of years regardless of who gets elected. I’d be willing to bet money on it.
most of us....would do the same thing.
Probably so - but to me that’s not the point - most of us would rob banks if they didn’t keep the money locked up.
The point is not to direct rage at the illegals - as you say most of us would do the same - the point is to hold our “leaders” responsible for not enforcing the law - they are the first to say we are a nation of laws.
I won't take that bet. The question is: how many illegals can be forced out of the country by employer (and municipal) enforcement before that step becomes politically convenient?
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