Illegal Immigration
The reason illegal immigration has become such an overwhelming issue is that Mexico is an oligarchy. Mexico’s standard of living is lower than it was in 1993. The wage gap between the wealthy elite and desperately poor has steadily increased.
Mexican farmers have been displaced by having to compete with multinational agriculture corporations. They are no longer able to compete in local markets, because the rice and corn imported from America is cheaper.
The large majority of illegal immigrants from Mexico make genuine contributions to our economy and provide services that all of us benefit from. They are willing to work hard at underpaid jobs and endure substandard working conditions, because they are determined to support themselves and their families.
Federal tax dollars should make it possible to offer treatment to someone who is ill, to educate all children who are born here, and to give them the opportunity to be productive citizens who will make their own contribution in the future. We are a decent society and must formulate a rational policy to address the problems of the illegal workers who dwell among us.
American employers are eager to increase their profit margins at the expense of these desperately poor people. Illegal immigrants are encouraged to come across the border, because of lax workplace enforcement. The Bush regime has failed to go after the employers, who are hiring these illegal immigrants, because they remain firmly in the pockets of corporate interests.
Presently, the state and local taxpayers carry the expense for social and health services. The poorest Americans have to compete with guest workers, who push down wages. Employers exploited illegal immigrants for their labor, which depressed wages about $200 billion a year.
In 1999, there were nearly 200 work place enforcement actions across the country. The Clinton administration carried out Operation Gatekeeper, which had the impact of closing down both illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Clinton increased the number of border agents by 65 percent, and had 191 prosecutions of workplace enforcement. In 2003, under Bush there was a 95 % drop in work place enforcement actions.
Democrats believe there must be real workplace enforcement, so that employers don't have the incentive to hire illegal immigrants. The way to control this problem is to fine the American firms that hire people with fake documents or no documents at all. The penalty needs to be significantly raised to a fine of $10,000 for the first offense, which should be sufficient to hurt the employer's pocketbook.
Congressional Republicans claim they want tougher boarder security and strict enforcement of our employment laws. Nevertheless, in 2005 they voted twice against increased funding for border security.
We can't effectively deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants in an effective way unless we first have border security. The task of preventing illegal immigrants from crossing our borders is difficult, but not insurmountable. We were supposed to have tougher enforcement after the last reform act in 1986, but haven't had it. We must start by enforced existing laws and dedicating enough resources to the task.
Mexican farmers have been displaced by having to compete with multinational agriculture corporations. They are no longer able to compete in local markets, because the rice and corn imported from America is cheaper.
The large majority of illegal immigrants from Mexico make genuine contributions to our economy and provide services that all of us benefit from. They are willing to work hard at underpaid jobs and endure substandard working conditions, because they are determined to support themselves and their families.
Federal tax dollars should make it possible to offer treatment to someone who is ill, to educate all children who are born here, and to give them the opportunity to be productive citizens who will make their own contribution in the future. We are a decent society and must formulate a rational policy to address the problems of the illegal workers who dwell among us.
American employers are eager to increase their profit margins at the expense of these desperately poor people. Illegal immigrants are encouraged to come across the border, because of lax workplace enforcement. The Bush regime has failed to go after the employers, who are hiring these illegal immigrants, because they remain firmly in the pockets of corporate interests.
Presently, the state and local taxpayers carry the expense for social and health services. The poorest Americans have to compete with guest workers, who push down wages. Employers exploited illegal immigrants for their labor, which depressed wages about $200 billion a year.
In 1999, there were nearly 200 work place enforcement actions across the country. The Clinton administration carried out Operation Gatekeeper, which had the impact of closing down both illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Clinton increased the number of border agents by 65 percent, and had 191 prosecutions of workplace enforcement. In 2003, under Bush there was a 95 % drop in work place enforcement actions.
Democrats believe there must be real workplace enforcement, so that employers don't have the incentive to hire illegal immigrants. The way to control this problem is to fine the American firms that hire people with fake documents or no documents at all. The penalty needs to be significantly raised to a fine of $10,000 for the first offense, which should be sufficient to hurt the employer's pocketbook.
Congressional Republicans claim they want tougher boarder security and strict enforcement of our employment laws. Nevertheless, in 2005 they voted twice against increased funding for border security.
We can't effectively deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants in an effective way unless we first have border security. The task of preventing illegal immigrants from crossing our borders is difficult, but not insurmountable. We were supposed to have tougher enforcement after the last reform act in 1986, but haven't had it. We must start by enforced existing laws and dedicating enough resources to the task.
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