04-07-2006, 07:48 PM
Ashock,Apr 7 2006, 11:09 AM Wrote:Carlos Portillo, who owns La Fuente Restaurant, one of the most popular restaurants in Tucson, Ariz., said the sudden loss of workers from mass deportations would be economically devastating for this country.
"Right now everything that's happening in the United States, the restaurant and hospitality industry, all the housing and building construction, all the farming, this is being done mainly by illegal immigrants," he said. "This country needs these illegal workers more than the illegal workers need this country."[right][snapback]106509[/snapback][/right]
Mostly devastating for the folks that hire these workers... If a less than minimum wage labor force is "so absolutely neccesary" then why don't they change the minimum wage? But the minimum wage argument is a whole other can of worms on internet forums.
"...being done mainly by illegal immigrants." This may be true - but only in certain markets. I take offense to this generalization.
What I'd like to see happen on the subject of illegal immigration:
Step One: Reinforce the borders to curtail illegal crossings. Why let the problem get any worse? There also is the security and integrity of our Nation to consider.
Step Two: Enforce the immigration laws we already have.
Step Three: Deal with the illegals currently within our borders.
This step is the current quagmire our politicians are in.
A few key points I would like to see addressed:
Documentation, we need to find out the who and where, the fraudulent SSN numbers...
The criminal element, we have many jails clogged with illegals. Illegals that have commited crimes and aren't in jail or deported also (I have personal experience with this one).
Some form of restitution program. This is where the current debate is focused. We can't send 12 million people out but taking this argument on first is putting the cart before the horse, IMHO.
Step Four: Adjust the current immigration system so legal immigration becomes easier/faster. Make people want to use the legal channels to enter this country. The system appears to be broken at the moment.
The Bill of No Rights
The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance. Robert A. Heinlein
The United States has become a place where entertainers and professional athletes are mistaken for people of importance. Robert A. Heinlein