The Universe of the Illegal Alien

Center for Immigration Studies ^ | June 2003 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Marine Inspector]

ping

[backhoe]

I thank you for posting this.

[tet68]

Bump.

[FITZ]

This is a very good article.

[sarcasm]

bttt

[FITZ]

ping ---I think you'll like this one

Good article that shows from their point of view why they come, but the tragedy is that nothing back home changes ---they can't go back, but they'll never quite reach the American dream with no education. They either lose their families in time or bring them here but then require food stamps and handout programs to support a family that their hard work can't support.

[expatpat]

They seem to be more entrepreneurial, and go into business, instead of laboring.

[OregonRancher]

Hanson is 100% correct. I've seen this happening for 30 years. We had one worker fron Guatamala, Carlos, who was in his late 50's. Best worker I've ever had. We did everything in our power to help this man and his remote family. After three years he went home to see his wife and kids and returned a broken man. Seems the local honcho bandito was using his wife and taking the money he was sending home. He never spoke of her again in my presence.

[OregonRancher]

They have no delusions. They can't go back. Just like our folks who came over on the boat 200 years ago. Here it's sink or swim.

[FITZ]

Wow ----I know an illegal very much like that ----he was gone for 2 years working in the US, sending money home to his wife, he went back for a visit and found his wife with a brand-new born baby. Nothing to go back for anymore. You kind of feel for these people.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Oh wow. Excellent post and the author absolutely nails it. This is an all-time great post on the illegal alien situation developing...which WILL lead to eventual revolution and then totalitarianism. Brilliantly put.

Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin

[OregonRancher]

While illegal immigration is wrong, and I do see what it is doing to this country, I do sympathize with them in trying to improve their lot in life. I've spent a lot of time in Mexico and places further south, and the plight of the poor is beyond belief. A lot of the ranchers in Mexico do try to help their workers, however, they can only do so much or they incur the wrath of the really wealthy who control them! It's a catch 22.

[jocon307]

For the second time today I say "california is really a sink hole, I feel sorry for those who live there"

[FITZ]

It's a catch 22.

That's why this is such a good post ---it pretty accurately shows the catch 22 ---for them and for us. What would be better is for the conditions at home to change ---but look what happens when someone suggests privatizing Pemex ---(Mexico has oil reserve second highest in this hemisphere), the wealthy who benefit from having it socialized go into a lather at the mere suggestion. All Mexico's vast resources are to benefit a very few ----they want no changes made on that.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

he went back for a visit and found his wife with a brand-new born baby.

And, the men come over here and start a NEW family. I know personally of one such situation. Will NOT support the wife and children in Mexico. This is widespread and will lead to disaster.

[vikingcelt]

"california is really a sink hole, I feel sorry for those who live there" Sad isn't it? I was born and grew up in California and lived there until just last October. Then I escaped. I could no longer bear to see the beautiful place that it once was turning into a "sink hole". It was once one of the greatest places on earth.

[SauronOfMordor]

Beware all you who would enter. Here are the rules: you are welcome to work hard between 20 and 40. But then please retire at 50 and return home. Stay young, healthy, single, sterile, and lawful - and we want you; get old or injured, marry, procreate, or break the law - and we don't

Does the author think it's much different for a white American in corporate America?

[OregonRancher]

One more comment. To immigrate legally into this country, it takes money. Lots of it. Out of a thousand legal immigrants from Mexico, ONE might be a meztiso, indian, or mexican, the rest are from the upper middle class or better with the money.
In India, I went to our embassy in New Dehli, to get some papers stamped. Upon entering embassy row, I was really impressed by the wide streets, beautiful trees, huge embassies, armed military on all the street corners....
I never saw a single Indian at any of the other embassies.
Got to ours, saw a line four wide and about 200 yards long with Indians waiting to apply for visas. All were clutching paper work and thousands of ruppees. Every single one upper class with the bucks.
The only way a poor person can get here is under the wire or through the river.