If Big Business stopped hiring illegals would there be an illegal problem in the US?

Question

It seems obvious what is happening here. Government doesn't govern for the people.

BTW don't blame libs or cons...both sides are catering to illegals for big business.

abundance of jobs at hotels, restaurants and construction sites, factories...small business is also to blame but the majority of the jobs are supplyed by big business.

Answer 1

Most people would love to think that, wouldn't they? Ever realize that it's possible for many illegals to simply "set up shop" here stateside since the US is the biggest market to tap into, especially for the illicit drug trade and pirated goods.

Of course, as others have pointed out, small businesses and independent contractors (who have little gov't oversight) hire the bulk of the undocumented workers.

Answer 2

If there is not work, the problem would disappear quickly. However I think you are blaming the wrong end of the spectrum. Big business is not the prime employer of illegals, small businesses are. They are not pulling down jobs in record numbers at the fortune 500, they are working for casual labor agencies, landscaping businesses and similar smaller companies.

I would love to see some sort of reference that shows that illegals are primarily employed by "Big Business". You don't hear about ICE raids at Microsoft or Boeing. You do at the local meat packing plant.

Answer 3

If you REALLY want to stop illegal immigration, here's how:

Fine ANY employer who has an illegal on the payroll $5000.00 for the first illegal and add another $10,000.00 for each additional one. This way the third illegal costs $25,000.00, the fourth, $35,000.00, etc.

This will cause an immediate cessation of hiring illegals and the people and companies who exploit illegals now will have to pay a living wage to American workers to replace the illegals.

We can forget Bush The Lesser's Border Fence because illegals won't want to come here.

And we won't have to pay for deportation because the illegals will just go home when they can't get work.

Don't hold your breath waiting for this to be enacted. Bush and the Republicans and their supporters have too much to lose to ever try this.

Answer 4

I watched ABC Good Morning America as Diane Sawyer did a remote in Mexico this morning. They spoke about communities even in Iowa who have become dependent on the migrant work force. Cities that removed them and brought them back as their economies failed. It's big business, bi-partisan alright. From farm workers, agriculture, food & beverage, hospitality industry, you name it. Many pay billions in taxes!

The idea of a blanket amnesty is in my opinion in some way a means to fix this problem. But the $5,000 was ridiculous. Government officials must take out the pork fat and additives they play politcally and look for solutions.

Yes. It starts at who is paying them and knows they are illegal. But after 20 + years they are an important part of the economy. Politicians no more want to offend big business on this agenda any more than they want to look at drug companies, Doctor fees & Insurance Companies regarding the Healthcare Crisis. Don't expect any changes until after Jan '09, if then. You are on point here. But nobody bucks the hand that feeds that campaign machine. Thank you.

Answer 5

The other side of this problem is that the governments in the countries these people are coming from aren't doing enough to make sure they provide jobs and social programs to help their own people.

And from their point of view, why should they? They have fewer people to take care of because the US is doing it for them, plus they get remittances (money sent back to family members that are still in the home country), thus fueling their own economy.

Simply eliminating the jobs in the US won't stop illegals from coming, they have to be stopped from wanting to leave the dire situations in their own countries, which of course is something the US has no control over.

Answer 6

I think the majority of those hiring illegals are small businesses. Take a look at the Walmart scandal a few years ago. Wal-mart too the brunt of illegals cleaning there stores, but they were hired by a small business cleaning service whihc just had a contract with Wal-mart among many other clients.

Answer 7

Big Business IS the U.S. Only the U.S. can stop illegal immigration, but it chooses not to take any action other than what is going on now. What the U.S. should be doing is making a comprehensive worker visa action specially a plan to effectively keep track of them or any other non-residential visa holders.

Answer 8

I am not sure that Big Business is the culprit here. Many illiegals are hired by small business or by wealthy Americans who want cheap labor for picking vegetables, cleaning their homes, gardening, washing dishes in restaurants, whatever.

Answer 9

I just don't believe that small farmers, and independent contractors qualify as Big Business.

But to be fair, I don't think the current levels of illegal immigration are nearly as big a problem as people say.

Answer 10

That would help tremendously, but there are also the illegal aliens that come here for all of the "freebies": welfare, medical, education, housing. Cut those off along with the employment and most would deport themselves.