Posted on 12/20/2008 5:28:51 PM PST by HollyButler
For the first time since he arrived in the United States 27 years ago, Isidro Alvarado, a day laborer in Vista, says he's thinking about going home to Mexico.
Alvarado said he is finding it increasingly hard to get work here.
He's not alone.
A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center, a research organization, reported that Latino immigrants ---- legal and illegal ---- have been hit hard by the nation's struggling economy, and some are returning home.
That's playing out locally. Officials with two North County day labor centers run by nonprofit agencies said they have seen a steady decline in the number of employers looking for workers.
Work is one of the main reasons why illegal immigrants such as Alvarado come to this country.
Alvarado said he resorted to standing at the corner of South Santa Fe and Escondido avenues in Vista three months ago, when he lost his job at a construction company.
He gets odd jobs from homeowners and small contractors moving furniture, landscaping and painting, he said.
"This year, it got ugly," Alvarado, 32, said. "Many people are out of work and don't even have money for presents. It doesn't even feel like Christmas."
Over the last week, he said, he has worked only one day and is struggling to make ends meet.
At about 10 a.m. Tuesday, no employer had stopped to offer work to the more than 50 men standing on the sidewalk, many of whom were illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America.
Gordon Hanson, an economist at UC San Diego who specializes in immigration issues, said the jury is still out as to whether immigrants are leaving the U.S. because of the economy.
He said much of the data that is available was culled before the economic crisis deepened late
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
The border patrol should be there when they see 50 day laborers congregating. All those who run would be the obvious illegals. Get after them harder, along with lack of work, and they may deport themselves more quickly.
It will be easier when Obama gets his “full employment for illegal aliens” investment projects going. I somehow don’t see the inner cities divesting themselves of young men for those projects. The jobs will go to the people who are on the spot and willing to do the kinds of work required. In other words, many, if not mostly, illegal aliens.
Excellent idea, Isidro. And be sure to tell all your amigos that there'll be no amnesty, so there's no use staying around waiting for it. So you can go home and rest assured you won't be missing anything. Hasta ...nunca.
Reader comments: WHO CARES???!!!! We have American Citizens who can’t find a job, the LAST thing on our minds is the illegal’s not having jobs. They shouldn’t of had any in the first place! GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE FROM... MEXICO, CUBA, GUAM, CHINA, MARS, DOESN’T MATTER, JUST GO BACK!
My head is going o explode. He's been here 27 years as an illegal??? That's some 'guest worker' program they go going there.
He’s managed to stay here for 27 YEARS? Wow. IF he has kept his nose clean all these years (and I have no idea whether he has, etc.) he’s not the first guy I’d put on the bus out of here. YMMV.
27 years ago...and he is described as 32 years old in the article.
Hosta-la-bye-bye.
If we only had leaders that did not call the Minutemen (American citizens) - vigilantes........
I agree, but will Americans (especially our young adults) work for $10-18.00/hour? Part of the problem has been a sense of entitlement - that Americans are worth more than the wages paid to illegals.
That's a lot of days!
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Which "region," and which "north county" does the article refer to? Which state? It's not evident from what you posted.
I see that you are relatively new here, so please note that it's considered good FReeper form to make such facts clear when posting.
Aside from that, the article puts a smile on my face, so thanks! :)
sarcasm/off
Don't care. They depress wages and are a drain on social services as well as schools. If he has been here since age 5 and his only skills are construction and other day labor, he didn't make good use of the free education afforded him here. Ship them home and when the construction jobs return, let US citizens fill them.
I know plenty of Americans that would be more than happy with those type hourly wages of all ages and races. My husband and myself included.
He's been here 27 of his 32 years and still considers Mexico home
That is the best news I have heard since I heard about Santa Claus. If there is anyway I can help them to speed up their journey home someone let me know.
I know a lot of people who would like to work for those wages and plenty who work for less. We don't need the illegals to work the jobs in this country and the sooner they leave the better off we will be.
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