As a concerned AMERICAN how would you STOP the abuse of ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION from the MEXICAN BORDER!?

Question

Be specific as if you were running for political office!

Answer 1

The reality is that we don't have an "Illegal Immigration" problem in America. We have an "Illegal Employer" problem.

Yet it's almost never mentioned in the mainstream media, because to point it out could slightly reduce the profits and CEO salaries of many of America's largest multi-state and multinational corporations - who both own the media and contribute heavily to conservative politicians. Republicans would prefer that the "criminals" covered in the press are working people, and that corporate and CEO criminals not get discussed.

Encouraging a rapid increase in the workforce by encouraging companies to hire non-citizens is one of the three most potent tools conservatives since Ronald Reagan have used to convert the American middle class into the American working poor. (The other two are destroying the governmental protections that keep labor unions viable, and ending tariffs while promoting trade deals like NAFTA/WTO/GATT that export manufacturing jobs.)

For example, when Nike began manufacturing shoes in Third World countries with labor costs below US labor costs, it didn't lead to $15 Nikes - their price held, and even increased, because the market would bear it. Instead, that reduction in labor costs led to Nike CEO Phil Knight becoming a multi-billionaire.)

Republicans understand this very, very well, although they never talk about it.

The fact is that we had an open border with Mexico for several centuries, and "illegal immigration" was never a serious problem. Before Reagan's presidency, an estimated million or so people a year came into the US from Mexico - and the same number, more or less, left the US for Mexico at the end of the agricultural harvest season. Very few stayed, because there weren't jobs for them.

Non-citizens didn't have access to the non-agricultural US job market, in large part because of the power of US labor unions (before Reagan 25% of the workforce was unionized; today the private workforce is about 7% unionized), and because companies were unwilling to risk having non-tax-deductible labor expenses on their books by hiring undocumented workers without valid Social Security numbers.

But Reagan put an end to that. His 1986 amnesty program, combined with his aggressive war on organized labor (begun in 1981), in effect told both employers and non-citizens that there would be few penalties and many rewards to increasing the US labor pool (and thus driving down wages) with undocumented immigrants. A million people a year continued to come across our southern border, but they stopped returning to Latin America every fall because instead of seasonal work they were able to find permanent jobs.

The magnet drawing them? Illegal Employers.

Yet in the American media, Illegal Employers are almost never mentioned.

Lou Dobbs, the most visible media champion of this issue, always starts his discussion of the issue with a basic syllogism - 1. Our border is porous. 2. People are coming across our porous border and diluting our labor markets, driving down US wages. 3. Therefore we must make the border less porous.

Lou's syllogism, however, ignores the real problem, the magnet drawing people to risk life and limb to illegally enter this country - Illegal Employers. Our borders have always been porous (and even with a "fence" will still allow through "tourists" by the millions), but we've never had a problem like this before.

And it's not just because poverty has increased in Mexico - today, about half of Mexico lives on less than $2 a day, but 50 years ago half of Mexico also lived on the equivalent of $2 today. Our trade and agricultural policies are harmful to Mexican farmers (and must be changed!), but we were nearly as predatory fifty years ago (remember the rubber and fruit companies, particularly in Central America?).

Yet fifty years ago we didn't have an "illegal immigration" problem, because back then we didn't have a conservative "Illegal Employer" problem

The hiring crimes of Illegal Employers are being ignored by the law, and rewarded by the economic systems of the nation.

Proof that this simple reality is ignored in our media (much to the delight of Republicans) is everywhere you look. For example, check out a series of national polls on illegal immigration done over the past year at
http://www.pollingreport.com/immigration...

Only the CNN poll asked the question: "Would you favor increasing penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants?" Two-thirds of Americans, of all party affiliations, said, "Yes," but it went virtually unreported in mainstream media coverage.

"Illegal Immigration" is really about "Illegal Employers." As long as Democrats argue it on the basis of "illegal immigration" they'll lose, even when they're right. Instead, they need to be talking about "Illegal Employers."

Politically, it's not a civil rights issue, it's a jobs issue, as working Americans keep telling pollsters over and over again.

"Mass deportations" and "Fences" are hysterics and false choices. Start penalizing "Illegal Employers"
and non-citizens without a Social Security number will leave the country on their own.
And they won't have to confront death trying to cross the desert back into Mexico - Mexican citizens can simply walk back into Mexico across the border at any legal border crossing (as about a million did every year for over a century).

Easy, simple, cheap, painless. No fence required. No mass deportations necessary. No need for Homeland Security to get involved. When jobs are not available, most undocumented workers will simply leave the country (as they always did before), or begin the normal process to obtain citizenship that millions go through each year.

Now even Bush is talking like the Republicans in the House of Representatives - time to "get tough" and give Halliburton a few hundred billion to build a fence.

But still nobody is talking about the real problem here - the Illegal Employers.

Answer 2

First of all, we need to beef up our borders on BOTH ends..north AND south.

Second, we need to slap serious fines on employers that employ illegal ALIENS (they're NOT immigrants). It's a supply and demand issue, no jobs, no aliens. Well, I do believe it would slow the influx over time.

Third, make legal IMMIGRATION something affordable to those seeking opportunity to become positive and productive American citizens. Way too often we're taking in planeloads of criminals and mopes that other countries reject. You don't have to look far in this country to see what I'm talking about. Oh, and any of you bleeding hearts not from the US best not comment unless you've walked a mile in an American's shoes.

Fourth, stop the process of making the US the dumping grounds for people from countries with no government (aka Refugee Immigrant status) - make them go through the very same process as every other person wishing to become citizens.

I am ALL FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION. The fact of the matter is, the US cannot support all these illegals for long. Not only are they taking jobs away, but they're a drain on every other conceivable service that the American taxpayer supports.

It's also true that many illegal ALIENS come to the US not to become citizens, but to reap the fruit sewn by and for Americans, and send the cash back to the home land. I understand why its done, but it doesn't make it right. If you want to come to the US, you're either coming to visit, or you're coming to seek citizenship.

That doesn't go for just Mexicans, it goes for EVERYONE.

BTW, I'm half Mexican, so don't give me any crap about being racist. The Mexican side of my family came to this country the legal way, so should everyone else.

Answer 3

I am not an American i live in Europe but here we have the same problem with immigration. It's probably the quality of our illegals wich differs. You are invaded by mexicans and we are invaded by muselims (some of them belonging to a mix of caucasian races - iranians, syrians).

I think America should build a wall :). Deploy massive armed forces at the borders to stop them... Don't give them any social assistance or citizenship. Send them back when you catch them. Report if you see new faces in your neighboorhood. etc.

And pls...Mr. American vote for a decent president next time.

Answer 4

Make these illegals felonies. Stiffer penalty for illegals and the employers. Take down all work centers around Lowes, Home Depoe, etc.

Enforce the laws. Laws are pointless if not one enfources them. Give local, state and federal all power to enfource and arrest anyone with out proof of legal status. This will be checked. Procesustion for stole or fake IDs. Background checks. Stop the anchor baby. Parents or parent must live in US for certian period of time before child is born.

So much we could do.

Answer 5

I know I'm going to get hate mail on this one, oh well!

First: Secure the borders.

Second: All children wishing to enroll in school must show their right to receive a taxpayer funded education in the way of a REAL U.S. Birth Certificate or REAL Proper Immigration Papers.

Third: All persons wanting to buy a house or a car must show their right to own land in the U.S. and/or drive on taxpayer funded streets in the way of a REAL U.S. Birth Certificate or REAL Proper Immigration Papers.

Fourth: All hospitals will be allowed to determine if the incoming patient is in a life threatening situation, or if they just have a cough...all cough sufferers should be told to go home and drink some chicken soup. In Mexico, potential patients aren't treated until they can show that they will be able to pay for the services. Anyone unable to show proof should be deported immediately.

Fifth: All women who are found to be pregnant within our borders must show proof in the way of a REAL U.S. Birth Certificate or REAL Proper Immigration Papers that they are here legally, anyone unable to do so will be detained near the border until she goes into labor, then she will be dropped off on the other side of the border to give birth.

Sixth: All persons wishing to receive a college education at ANY institution that receives ANY taxpayer money must show proof in the way of a REAL U.S. Birth Certificate or REAL Proper Immigration Papers that they are here legally. Anyone unable to do so should be deported immediately.

Answer 6

I will be worried if the candidate for a political office (by that way for which position????) would be only concern by illegal inmigration knowing that the human based of usa is in fact inmigrant people from all over the world and not only Mexico.

I think the candidate should talk about what he can really do in his position and not do promises that he wont do.

And u say u are a healer.........? i think u are gay

AM a POWERFUL Energy Healer!I AM a creative manifester of love and light! HEALING all the world with my positive THOUGHTS and LOVING actions!

I believe GIVERS GAIN!

Answer 7

I would approve the plan presented by the Border Patrol. Their unions are hopping mad about how Bush and Congress force them not to deport.

And while we're on the subject, what do you say about King George the IV of America doing his duty supporting our troops all over the world on TV, but you will never see him once defend Americans and speak out against Mexico on TV when the Mexican army attacks any Americans.

BUSH HAS DECLARED OPEN SEASON ON AMERICANS.

Answer 8

It isnt just jobs that has them hopping the fence....I am part of a fortune 500 company that has plants in Mexico with employment signs hanging on the building.....they are paid an above average wage in comparison to the wage they would make in the USA.....and they arent knocking the door down to get a job there......hmmmm.....could it be that their friends and relatives that made it here call home and describe the freebies they get in the USA??....or the freedoms they get here from the bleeding hearts??....in Tecate I know after over 30 trips there, that they don't have nearly the same social freedoms and benifits that they would get if they make it across the mountains. It is NOT all about jobs......I hate the fact that we brought the jobs to them because it erodes our country....I would rather have my tax dollars spent to build a better barrier and if one figures out a way to get over and gets caught, the consequence would be so severe, that Juan would call home and tell his family and friends not to even try it.........

Answer 9

The most cost effective way to solve the problem is to cut off all aid to illegal immigrants. No free healthcare, no social services at all (food stamps, section 8, or even bus passes), no more pandering to them by posting bi-lingual signs. Finally, create very stiff fines for anyone who knowingly hires an illegal immigrant. Basically, pull the welcome mat out from under them. Once they realize that they can’t survive here, they’ll go back.

That way we don’t have to round them up and ship them back. We don’t have to build a fence, and we don’t have to waste taxpayer dollars by ramping up security along the border.

Answer 10

Complicated issue but a start would be controlling the magnet bringing people into the US from Mexico: employers. The US govt must enforce present laws regarding the employment of undocumented workers to at least stem border crossings.

Answer 11

Build a wall with an electrified fence along the top of it. Have the US military patrol along the wall with orders to shoot to kill anyone coming across the border illegally when they refuse to halt when told to do so (this would also stop some of the drug problems). Deport ALL illegal criminals and ENFORCE our currently existing laws. OUR country and OUR laws. If the illegal criminals don't like it then they can get out.

Proud member of the Minutemen!

ARTHUR HAGLUND for President '08
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhU8nSNdeCnAhYV4HemoOZ7sy6IX?qid=20060708113758AAY6CAB

DEPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS!

ENGLISH ONLY IN AMERICA!