Illegal Immigrants

I have taken on a role as contrarian in the illegal immigration debate. Looking beyond the hoopla, the demonstrations and controversy ... I see illegal immigration as a symptom of bigger problems. You won't fix illegal immigration without fixing the problems that cause it.

So, when someone faults illegal immigrants for the problems they create for us here, I have to argue. Not that there aren't problems. I point out that it is nothing new. In the USA where most people are decendants of immigrants, if we kicked out everyone whose trouble maker ancestors came over the borders and didn't get permission from the people already here, the vast majority of Americans would be sent packing. It seems ironic that a nation predominantly formed by uncontrolled immigration might soon be putting up "trespassers are felons" signs. For most of us, our ancestors were also uninvited opportunists seeking a better life.

Likewise, when someone starts the arguments about how we benefit from illegal immigrant labor, I let them have it back. What? They take jobs that nobody else wants? Wait a second. Says who? My friends and I used to rely on those "unskilled" jobs growing up. Many High School and College kids do.

I know a number of contractors and entrepreneurs that hire illegal workers. They have to because their competition does. To get jobs they have to be among the lowest bidders. If they hire regular workers the compensation, taxes, and benefits cost considerably more than paying someone "under the table" or through an intermediary. They all have contacts who arrange for the cheap workers they need so they can plead ignorance. So when they bid on a job they know that they are not at a considerable disadvantage because they do what everyone else is doing. Hire cheap day workers and don't question their status. The problem isn't that they can't find people willing to do the work, the problem is they can't find people legally willing to do the work cheap enough.

Also, the "contribution" argument is countered by the "burden" argument. Illegal immigrants create a burden for social services like law enforcement, health services, public works, charitable services, etc just like everyone else. Whether they "contribute" or not. We end up paying for it because they can't or won't. They come here for the opportunities and quality of living, which puts a burden on that quality of living.

Also, it is hard to make a case for benefiting from sweat and sub-class labor without recognizing the social injustices...

So, what is the solution? May I suggest the following...

• Forget about rounding up the millions of illegal immigrants. Turn them over to the IRS (U.S. Department in charge of taxation). Make them endure tax hell like the rest of us. Give them tax forms to fill out. Can't understand the forms? That's OK, most PhDs can't either. Audit them. Make them want to flee the country again.
• Invade Mexico, make it the 51st State and get rid of the border altogether. Another personal favorite, although Draconian. Unfortunately we just can't invade other countries to fix their part of our problem. Ummm, well ...unless maybe they're non-allied countries in the Middle East... But then if that worked we'd probably have to do the same all the way down South America.
• Even better, declare war on Mexico, invade, and as soon as they acknowledge it surrender unconditionally. That's right, let them deal with uniting the countries. I'm sure our schmuck politicians and theirs would have something worked out in no time. Then we could do the same to Canada...
  

No easy answers unless you're able and willing to go after the causes ... or put up with the downside, which brings us back to today's status quo.