Tough Love - is this what it will take?

Question

This is one of the best articles I have read lately about illegal immigration in the USA. Can the USA practice "tough love" with Mexico and would this be the best way to handle our illegal immigration problem?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/16575974.htm

"By closing the borders, the United States would stop subsidizing Mexican failure. At present, workers come here not just to get higher wages, but also because they believe their cash income will often be untaxed and will be augmented by subsidized state health care, housing and education.

Tax evasion and American entitlement help to free up workers' dollars to be sent back to Mexico. In economic terms, that translates to the U.S. economy's subsidizing millions of the unemployed people in Mexico through $20 billion annually in cash remittances. This money weakens the incentive of millions in Mexico to seek employment or to demand government reform."

Answer 1

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the answer, but I don't think this article is exactly on target either. It makes it seem like it has Mexico's welfare at heart, but it really doesn't.

"Granting Mexico favorable trade incentives is cheaper in the long run than dealing with the social problems caused by illegal immigration and the economic consequences of billions of U.S. dollars being sent southward from Mexican workers. The North American Free Trade Agreement, however controversial, has probably helped decrease Mexico's general poverty rate and increase its gross domestic product." the article said.

That may be true, but along with that comes "human rights abuses at the workplace and a predominantly gender-based workforce, ie. overwhelmingly young women at work, has also spurred widespread sexual violence against women in the border region. Many of these abuses occur at the workplace itself, eg. forced sterilization, routine menstruation checks, body searches, deployed to police the reproductive capacities of Mexican women to maximize the productivity of the labor force." (Wikipedia on NAFTA)

How about the US workers who are losing their jobs because corporations choose to hire workers in Mexico over them? That undoubtedly causes some social problems. The thing that I think is disgusting is that a job that pays nine or ten dollars an hour to an American will pay twenty-five cents an hour in Mexico. That's just plain greed. No wonder Mexicans want to come here. If we really want to help Mexico's economy, let's require that American-owned companies pay American minimum wage, reguardless what nationality the employee is.

I think if we really see illegal immigration as such a problem, the best thing to do is to crack down on the ones who are hiring illegals. Force them to hire Americans and follow our labor laws. Yes, prices will go up. There's no way around it.

Answer 2

There is a lot of truth in the article. In theory. But it relies too much on the Mexican government fixing their own problems.

The simple fact is, there is no easy way for the US to fix the problem of illegal immigration. Talk of closing the borders is great until you look at it practically. Even if we were able to build a 20 foot high fence stretching from the Pacific ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, people are still going to find a way through if there is a better opportunity on the other side. Perhaps we could make a significant dent if we build a high wall coast to coast and hire enough boarder patrol agents to stand every 5-10 feet 24/7. Then again, maybe we could build a wall around San Francisco to keep all the gays in or a wall around South Central LA to keep all the gangs in.

Furthermore, the American economy has a dependence on foreign workers. Unemployment in the US is running very low yet we still have jobs for millions of illegals. If those illegals went away, who would fill the void? Who would want to fill the void. The simple fact is many of the illegals are filling positions that Americans would be unwilling to do. And the salaries required to entice more Americans would lead to considerably higher prices on many products like produce.

Talk about cutting off entitlements and medical benefits is also great theory. But think about this for a minute. How many illegals are actually receiving government medical benefits and welfare. I'm sure there are some, but to the best of my knowledge you have to provide proof of citizenship or residency to collect those benefits.

That brings up another issue. American hospitals - especially in areas with heavy populations of illegals are having financial problems because people go there for health care because you don't have to have insurance or money to be seen. Sure we could start ordering hospitals to turn away people without proper documentation or who don't have the ability to pay, but that would also wind up extending to Americans who simply don't have health insurance. And do you really want to live in an America where a sick person is turned away from a hospital just because they can't provide the correct documents?

The issue of illegal immigration is complex and anyone who says they have the answers is a fool. But I think it's common sense to realize that closing the borders and deporting illegals is not the right way to go about it.

To be honest, I think a great starting point would be to have the Catholic church recognize the use of birth control so these people already living in poverty don't keep having kids. I remember hearing a statistic somewhere that something like 55-60% of all Mexicans living in Mexico were under the age of 18. Not exactly the right demographics to give you a strong work force.

Answer 3

This reminds me of the boy and the truck stuck under the bridge story. You are looking at the problem the wrong way.

You build a fence they will go under it around it or over it.
You will spend a bucket full of money shoveling the ocean back with a spoon.

Lock up the American's who are hiring the illegals. When there is nothing to come her for illegally they will send the word back and they will go elsewhere. It will not happen over night. But who is really to blame?? some poor slob who needs a job and is willing to work at anything or the one is is illegally hiring and paying under the table the worker??

Answer 4

First get things STRAIGHT Philadelphia is NOT "brotherly" love since the real Philadelphia is FEMININE! Americans screwed up badly since they FEAR POWERFUL WOMEN! The Mexican government EVEN with their new president is CORRUPT and sadly the United States of America are their disciples. Education in Mexico is NOT FREE! Republicans WANT TO DO THE SAME! This is going to create uneducated Americans and the People's Republic of China will BE the beneficial of the unexpected charity and the USA will end a weak nation as England and A JOKE! You do NOT like it? Too bad I only write the thruth!!!

Answer 5

I think this would be a great idea. I really hate the thought of closing our borders, but something has to be done and this maybe it.

Answer 6

Apathy anyone? Oh wait a minute, It's because it was in a newspaper that you'll believe it now. Jesus.

Answer 7

That is an interesting article. I am glad you posted on it. Thanks.