Illegal immigrants, taking our jobs?

Question

Please don't take offense to my question, I'm just puzzled and looking for feedback. Please no nasty comments eithier. . . .

A common complaint from Americans on illegal immigrants is that illegal immigrants are taking away our jobs. With the utmost sincerity, I ask this question. What jobs are they taking from you and I? Let's be honest. Are Americans going to go out each day and pick produce in fields at 104 F weather, wash cars for minimum wage, or go out and maintain someone else's landscape? Again, I ask what jobs are these immigrants stealing?

If one were to pick a group of people who are taking our jobs, it would be all of the people overseas and the companies who relocate for the sake of a dollar and leave thousands if not millions of Americans unemployed. Also, for those who have engineering degrees, etc. aren't those as well being given to folks overseas?

Feedback please, I'm just talking about the job aspect argument that I hear so much of.....

Remember, no right or wrong answers. I would just like your feedback.

Yes I agree, ironically it's our own American companies who are taking away our jobs-by outsourcing our jobs to countries overseas. . .

I'd like to make it clear, although I did post this question and my thoughts behind it, of course I would be for LEGAL immigration vs. ILLEGAL immigration. My Mother and her family migrated to America lawfully and now are American citizens, so I understand the importance of upholding the law and the integrity of the United States.

Answer 1

immigrants taking your job? mmm, if you don't prepare and remain competitive, anyone will come and take it. Its called competitive job market.

Corporations are outsourcing, you should blame not the foreign countries but rich american people running those corporations firing people in America to employ others overseas and exploiting them, paying them nothing and then bringing their final products to this american market and getting extremely rich.


Europeans came and did a violent immigration and took the land from the indians, today's immigration is different. Nobody is taking nothing from nobody. Its all media crap.

Just worry about huge rich corporations outsourcing. That will take ur job.

Answer 2

They aren't ONLY taking jobs picking cotton. Drive by any construction site. Construction was once a good job where a man could make a respectable living, and the people in the business were trained professionals of their respective trades. Now, in order to make higher profits off new homes and apartments, companies gather up a bunch of mexicans with no qualification other than the willingness to work for wages that don't provide an American standard of living. That is not market competition, it's breaking the law - therefore it's a black market practice. And just watch, you can already see some of the newer homes & apartments falling apart after 3 years because of poor workmanship.

Some of the other jobs they take are transitional jobs. True, no American wants to make a career out of washing cars or cooking at a restaurant. But what about high school and college kids? What about someone who was laid off from their job and wants to do something while looking for another job in their field?

Isn't it better to let Americans do these jobs? Look what the illegals have done to places like Los Angeles. Overcrowding, slums, filth and gang violence in the streets.... they just don't live the way you and I do.

The flood gates at the border didn't open until 1965. Jobs were filled, ditches were dug, cars were washed, homes were cleaned, etc, before 1965, without the influx of illegal aliens.

What you said about offshore jobs is true as well.

Answer 3

YOu are assuming the only jobs illegals are taking are field work. I am the first to admit there is a labor shortage at the low income range in the State of California. It might not be true all around though. The thing I see is that illegal imigrants are branching out to other areas as well. Housekeeping and construction. They are competing with legal citizens in this area. Construction is the most concerning. THe wages are higher and it is a hazardous job. THe crew is mixed so when someone tries to violate them, at least the company can show legal workers. Companies like that also need to buy Workers comp insurance and the employers must show legal employees to prevent suspicion. The fact the construction crews has legal workers show that the illegal immigrants does compette with legal workers. Also since the employers don't pay workers comp on illegals they prefer to higher them and they do not have to keep a very safe work environment. YOur argue ment of shipping these jobs over seas does not apply for construction.

Answer 4

I agree with you whole heartedly. I posted the exact same question about 48 hrs. ago and they slammed me too. But, here's my point. Yes, illegals may be earning less than Americans would doing the same job, but obviously an American did not want to do the job in the first place or the illegal wouldn't be there making less money!

I don't think everyone should have gone to college, either. There are different people with different skills, and that is fine. I have done my share of menial jobs before, dishwashing, working in a restaurant before, making $5.25. I did what I had to do for the time being, but I all the while I knew I was waiting until I could find a better paying job. Folks, think! Even if they had paid me double, $10.50 to wash the dishes, even on 40/wk, that's still only like $1400 net a month. You can't get ahead, save money, or work toward much of the American Dream like that. Nor is it realistic to think that business are going to start paying $20 for dishwashers either. What American will be content with $1400/mo? People can start advocating for higher wages as soon as they consent to paying more for products and services as consumers. We want to have our cake and eat it too. Yes, they can pay the restaruant employees $15/hr, but then don't complain when the hamburger is $9. While there are some Americans that will be willing to pick fruit in 104 F weather, there are not enough to make the argument that the illegal shouldn't have the job. Chances are, the illegals would put the mess out of their fruit trees and put the Americans to shame anyway. Sad but true. I like oranges and lettuce, but I know I'm not doing any picking...

Answer 5

Does it really matter if the jobs are being lost here in the United States or overseas by the immigrants of the world? With that said let's take a look at what I'm seeing, we buy alot of items that were made or producted here in the United States, but are now being imported from other countries now. We allow young people of other countries to come here,attend our colleges and universes for a better education, then go back to teach people and set-up operations in their countries to do what they have learned here. Where is the electronic manufacturing business and companies located now? We have lost alot to China, India,Japan, that's jobs that were here at one time, but for whatever reason have been lost. Our farmers who depended on certain able type workers are losing them because the American worker can't or isn't willing to do the work, so we see more imports of fruits and vegetables not because of only the seasons but the work force now taking away jobs. Illegals here in the United States are only a small per cent of the reasons jobs and the need for a work force that is being lost by the American worker. At all levels the American work force is losing out because we are allowing more countries to take the best, and our companies to are moving operations to other countries,still have a market here in the United States and making profits at the cost of the American workers

Answer 6

You have already received some good answers.

I don't think of illegal aliens as stealing jobs, I think of them being taken advantage of as cheap slave labor. Because there is a surplus of them now, their presence is affecting and burdening our society in many ways other than employment.

I am a rancher and I do not employ illegal aliens. We can save thousands of dollars per year in salaries and benefits and hire illegals, just so we can pocket the difference. We have never had any problems finding American workers to work in the blistering heat. The reason is because Americans can't find jobs anywhere else. Allot of ranchers are hiring illegals so that they can make more profit. They don't pass the savings to the consumers, they sell their livestock at the same rates I do.

We need American workers to pay taxes. The middle class of degreed professionals is not going to be able to pay for the illegals, and unemployed American workers. Homelessness is on the rise. More Americans are being laid off and watching their jobs go overseas or to contractors who staff illegal aliens.

Americans who can't see how the millions of illegals entering our country annually, is damaging our economy have their heads in the sand. The American economy will crack if the borders are not sealed, and the illegals are not deported.

Answer 7

The real issue is about jobs and wages.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0308-20.htm
Read the link as it powerfully describes how, permitting millions of illegals to work for employers who illegally hire them, the effect will be to drive down wages for all, including Americans. There has been a systematic, several decade assault on then wages of Americans by destroying unions, outsourcing jobs to countries where people will work for 1.00 per hour, forcing Americans to all become temp help with no benefits to compete. Unemployment is also up 20% in Mexico since NAFTA, so the effect has been on both sides of the border, and it is the corporations who are profitting from all this pain. Follow the money is always good advice.

It is time we all find out who the enemy really is and stop fighting amongst ourselves. That is exactly what the big boys want us to do.

Answer 8

What people fail to understand is that illegals are not taking away jobs for everyone directly, but in and indirect manner. What is happening is the influx of illegal immigrants that do not speak English, health care jobs, customer service jobs and more are affected because if you want these jobs, it is getting to where it is essential to know Spanish so that you can communicate just to do a routine job function. I have no problem with learning or making it a requirement for both languages to be taught, but I and other people that I know are turned down for jobs all the time because they are not bilingual. Yes, they are hard workers, my friends family came here legally and they still worked their butts off to make a life for themselves. It does not take into account that we are losing our job market because we are not bilingual.

Answer 9

Example -- When they did the raid on Swift Foods, who were the people applying for the jobs that had been held by the ILLEGAL aliens - AMERICANS!

It's not just the stolen jobs. They bring crime and drugs. They bring disease. They are destroying our schools and health care system. They are sponging off the taxpayer and they DON'T pay taxes. If some happen to pay some tax, it doesn't even come close to the amount of services they use (e.g., $10,000 for EACH child in school).

WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND? They are not suppose to be here!

Answer 10

They are taking jobs from us in more ways then one. Now if you arent spanish speeking you will find it really hard to get a hospital job, none the less any jobs that require less skiss and education. I think it's a shame that not only are they illegal, but they also refuse to learn the language. As far as Americans not picking crops, no they wouldnt for such low wadges. But if it's between employing illegals or paying higher prices for produce I'll gladly pay more to get my country back.