The Reality of Illegal Immigration

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It's basically a necessary evil in some industries, farming most particularly:

WASHINGTON - With a nationwide farmworker shortage threatening to leave unharvested fruits and vegetables rotting in fields, the Bush administration has begun quietly rewriting federal regulations to eliminate barriers that restrict how foreign laborers legally can be brought into the country.

The urgent effort, underway at the US departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor, is meant to rescue farm owners caught in a vise between a complex process to hire legal guest-workers and stepped-up enforcement that has reduced the number of undocumented planters, pickers, and even middle managers crossing the border.

"It is important for the farm sector to have access to labor to stay competitive," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel. "As the southern border has tightened, some producers have a more difficult time finding a workforce and that is a factor of what is going on today."

The push to rewrite the regulations quickly is also the Bush administration's attempt to step into the breach left when Congress failed to pass an immigration measure in June. The legislation could have addressed the reality of American farms, where almost three-quarters of the workers are thought to be illegal immigrants.
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So farmers have fruits and vegetables literally rotting in fields because they can't find labor to pick the stuff. Immigration is a necessity and the reality is that illegal immmigration is somewhat a necessity given current law.

I know. I know. You don't hate immigrants or immigration, you hate illegal immigrants and illegal immigration. Well, the reality is that most people that are vehement about illegal immigration also don't want to do much to make it easier to immigrate here. They mostly want to make it more difficult.

The bottom line is that immigrants and yes, illegal immigrants are a crucial part of the agricultural economy.
 
Warren said:
Make it easier to immigrate, but don't reward and encourage illegal immigration.
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I agree, but what do you do with the people that are already here, particularly where it is clear that illegal immigration is pretty much a necessity for farmers?
 
I don't pretend to know and I am aware that it is not feasible to deport 15-20 million people. It is a complex issue, but border security is a must. I am in favor stiff fines for employers hiring undocumented workers. Once the promise of undocumented untaxed jobs dries up, we will see an increase in legal immigration and tax revenue.
 
Yes but . . .

Warren said:
I don't pretend to know and I am aware that it is not feasible to deport 15-20 million people. It is a complex issue, but border security is a must. I am in favor stiff fines for employers hiring undocumented workers. Once the promise of undocumented untaxed jobs dries up, we will see an increase in legal immigration and tax revenue.
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Most illegal immigrants, at least those working in the fields, DO pay taxes. They get false social security numbers and have both federal and state (in California) taxes withheld. Naturally, they never file returns and, since most of them would owe very little if any income tax, they overpay by a considerable amount. Their net impact on federal revenue is positive, not negative, at least according to most of the studies I've seen.

I'm curious as to why you think that tighter border security is so important. Personally, I'm far more concerned about tighter security for goods shipped into the country, especially through our ports. The fact that I live in a port city is entirely coincidental, of course. :)
 
I don't understand why we even have the "skilled worker" requirement. Let people in - legally and expediciously. Whether you're a cook or programmer. If you pose no threat, welcome aboard.

That said, I still think people that came here illegally should be kicked out and sent to the back of the line.
 
LadyT said:
I don't understand why we even have the "skilled worker" requirement. Let people in - legally and expediciously. Whether you're a cook or programmer. If you pose no threat, welcome aboard.

That said, I still think people that came here illegally should be kicked out and sent to the back of the line.
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She and I agree. Well, not kicked out, but definitely sent to the back of the line.
 
Dungheap said:
It's basically a necessary evil in some industries, farming most particularly:




So farmers have fruits and vegetables literally rotting in fields because they can't find labor to pick the stuff. Immigration is a necessity and the reality is that illegal immmigration is somewhat a necessity given current law.

I know. I know. You don't hate immigrants or immigration, you hate illegal immigrants and illegal immigration. Well, the reality is that most people that are vehement about illegal immigration also don't want to do much to make it easier to immigrate here. They mostly want to make it more difficult.

The bottom line is that immigrants and yes, illegal immigrants are a crucial part of the agricultural economy.
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yeah or is it that the workers will not work cheap enough ?
I heard several farmers the other raising hell over having to pay Mexicans $9/hr to work....
You consumers will have to suck it up and pay more for your food if you want it .

so yes if you have to pay more than it is worth to sell for labor it will rot in the field.
 
wonder if anyone is left of ornot
? ornot, do you think we are getting Mexico's best and brightest
 
Topspin said:
wonder if anyone is left of ornot
? ornot, do you think we are getting Mexico's best and brightest
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Nope, but the illegal immigrants still raise the average IQ of Texas.

Not Ornot, but putting in my .02 before I spend it at the bowling alley.
 
uscitizen said:
Nope, but the illegal immigrants still raise the average IQ of Texas.

Not Ornot, but putting in my .02 before I spend it at the bowling alley.
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I have to challenge that statement. I know we in Oklahoma always have a southerly breeze because Texas blows but they ain't all dummies down there.;)
 
uscitizen said:
yeah or is it that the workers will not work cheap enough ?
I heard several farmers the other raising hell over having to pay Mexicans $9/hr to work....
You consumers will have to suck it up and pay more for your food if you want it .

so yes if you have to pay more than it is worth to sell for labor it will rot in the field.
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If Mexicans wanna be illegal they should at least have the common decency to only ask for 50 cents an hour :P
 
An empty greyhound was the best thing to ever come out of Texas.

Just kidding, I know there are at least a couple of hundred good people in TX.
 
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