This at least helps show how much illegal immigrants contribute to our society. It appears they aren’t all just lining up to see how much they can sponge off of us.
Trailer parks lie abandoned. The poultry plant is scrambling to replace more than half its workforce. Business has dried up at stores where Mexican laborers once lined up to buy food, beer and cigarettes just weeks ago.
This Georgia community of about 1,000 people has become little more than a ghost town since Sept. 1, when federal agents began rounding up illegal immigrants.
The sweep has had the unintended effect of underscoring just how vital the illegal immigrants were to the local economy.
More than 120 illegal immigrants have been loaded onto buses bound for immigration courts in Atlanta, 189 miles away. Hundreds more fled Emanuel County. Residents say many scattered into the woods, camping out for days. They worry some are still hiding without food.
At least one child, born a U.S. citizen, was left behind by his Mexican parents: 2-year-old Victor Perez-Lopez. The toddler’s mother, Rosa Lopez, left her son with Julie Rodas when the raids began and fled the state. The boy’s father was deported to Mexico.
This is admittedly a hot topic, but the individuals involved are just people trying to get ahead.
This ought to make all of the republicans happy.
well they kinda should’nt have been there anyway we’re seeting up our economy for a big fall with this overdepence on cheap labor but still… what do i know im the son of illegal immigrants and i have come agaisnt illigeal immigration at school and i get labeled as “wannabe whire” or “white washed” does that make me a hypocrite?
This proves that the Republican are only nice to the hispanics during election year.
It’s comforting to know that Australia isn’t the only country treating illegal immigrants poorly.
The raids came during a fall election season in which immigration is a top issue.
No, immigration is not a top issue, ILLEGAL immigration is.
“This reminds me of what I read about Nazi Germany, the Gestapo coming in and yanking people up,” Slater said.
Give me a break. No way is this anything like Nazi Germany.
The question that comes to mind is… Why did it take all these years for the authorities to do something about it? Illegal immigrants have been slaving away in the agriculture and cleaning businesses for many decades, and it’s not until now they’re seen as a problem? Let’s say that all these illegals are thrown out… what would happen to the U.S. economy? Inflation… since the workers who would fill the ranks once occupied by these illegal, would demand higher salaries…
To me, it’s politics… there’s an election coming up, and damn you if you look weak on the issue of illegal immigrants.
“This is admittedly a hot topic, but the individuals involved are just people trying to get ahead.”
So are drug dealers, pimps, and illegal arms salesmen. I don’t see a public outcry to help these individuals continue to break the law. What a lame excuse to dismiss this problem…
… but the individuals involved are just people trying to get ahead.
Not quite. They committed a crime by illegally crossing the border. Most likely they are also committing fraud by using forged Social Security numbers. That makes them felons.
I have a ton of sympathy for hard working legal immigrants just trying to get ahead.
I do think that people trying to find a better life for their family rank slightly higher than drug dealers.
So, liberals want all the illegals to be allowed to stay but they also want big businesses (let’s take – oh, I don’t know – how about WalMart for example) to offer comprehensive benefits for their employees. But why would businesses offer benefits when they can fill their employment needs with people who don’t demand them? Why don’t these people demand better benefits and wages or leave to find better jobs? Because they’re illegal, and they have to take whatever job they can get. Well, then how do we fix this problem? Let’s see… how, indeed? Oh, I know! We could enforce our already existing immigration laws and remove the illegals from the country. Would that leave job vacancies? Yep, and last time I checked the unemployment rate was a little on the high side… at least in this neighborhood. Would the new (legal) employees demand higher wages and better benefits? Probably. Wouldn’t that drive up prices? Of course – but to call that “inflation” is to ignore the fact that our prices are kept artificially low by the fact that our country has millions of illegal immigrants who work for peanuts and allow prices to be that low.
I love it how it’s constantly repeated that “these people aren’t criminals” like it’s some sort of mantra. If they’re not in the country illegally, then they’ve broken the law and that makes them… wait for it…. CRIMINALS!
Before there’s too much frothing at the mouth over the legal vs. illegal immigrants thing:
The US gives out a relatively small number of visas per year. Most formal applications for even temporary status such as an H1-B (sponsored by employer, job arranged prior to arrival, non-permanent residency) are for highly qualified applicants with serious academic credentials.
The ‘hard working legal immigrant just trying to get ahead’ isn’t picking your fruit; he’s running your banks’ server room.
The US doesn’t give out visas for blue-collar workers and certainly not South American ones.
These people don’t wake up one morning and say ‘I’d love to be a felon, living in the shadows, at risk of deportation even over a traffic stop just so I can mow fat ladies lawns’
Illegal and legal immigrants come to The United States of America for a better way of life. Nobody seriously comes to America to experience welfare and medicade. People come to America to work, all kinds of work, lots of it is dirty work we don’t like to do for ourselves.
In closing, spare me any arguements based on the horror stories about Rosita and her 15 kids or Terrorism and watching the borders, or they broke the law pain and simple. It’s all about the poor, as usual.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door”
3/4’s of my ancestors immigrated to the US within the past 100 years or so. They came from Italy, , England Eastern Europe. They came here legally to chase the “American Dream” .
Yes, the common perception is most of the people that are having such a fit over the cost of labor and why we NEED illegal immigrants to keep prices low are using them as slave laborers. There may be a large amount of truth to this. That said…
We have a right to secure boarders.
As a nation, we have the right to say who gets to come in and work and who doesn’t. and also, HOW MANY can come in to work.
No matter what you may spout – these people broke the law to be here. Period. They knew the law, and they willingly flauted it.
How can you trust a person like this to ever be anything but a criminal? When your first act in America is to break our laws, and then break more to get illegal social security numbers, etc, etc – it only proves that ILLEGAL immigrants are exactly what their title suggests – LAW BREAKERS!
Not to mention – most all other countries on Earth have much stronger borders than we do. Hell – the mexicans are smart enough to keep their southern borders quite secure. In fact, they are much more likely to kill or treat poorly their illegals than we’ll ever be.
Work for change in your own country – start a revolution if it’s so bad. If you want to come here, follow the laws to do so.
The part I like is that the local factories have had to raise wages to get workers – God what a shame!
Anyone else want more proof that illegals depress wages for the citizens of this country?
I think this is great
#10
Hey Patrick – not all “liberals” want illegals to stay.
This proves that the Republican are only nice to the Hispanics during election year.
The law is the law. Its about time the government started enforcing it.
This proves that the Republican are only nice to the Hispanics during election year.
The law is the law. Its about time the government started enforcing it.
Comment by gquaglia — 9/17/2006 @ 5:32 pm
Does that include those “who can do no wrong” Republicans?
If we had a better immigration policy then the illegal immigrants wouldnt have been able to get situated and comfortable, then the unintended consequences would not have existed. I am glad to see that we can finally put the emotions aside and start to deal with this crisis.
Any one of those illegal citizens could have been a terrorist. Undocumented and unknown, these people are not only a risk to our economy but our safety. I really wish the world was made of gumdrops and candy but it isnt, we cant just allow every third world country to drop their people on us. Before we allow these illegal immigrants a free ride, we should first try and help the country so that they need not have to come here for a better life.
We have a hard enough time helping our legal poor people get a better life. I am a democrat, I am a supporter of welfare, and helping people in need through the government, but by just letting any poor schmoe into the country illegally so they can get a better life is unrealistic, and futile in its end result, which allows Mexico to forfeit responsibility of its people and force them onto us.
8. “Not quite. They committed a crime by illegally crossing the border. Most likely they are also committing fraud by using forged Social Security numbers. That makes them felons.”
There ARE no borders except for the ones in your mind. No man has the right to refuse any other on any piece of land. We are only STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS of this territory that was given to us by God. Borders are an invention. They do not really exist except for the programming that was put into your head by indoctrination of schooling. There is NO fraud when a man is trying to survive and feed his family. You probably haven’t missed a meal since you were born. You don’t know what it is to starve. It is a crime that we let million die of hunger, the least you can do is shut your trap about innocent people who had no choice of coming into this world.
#16
I’m all for enforcement of laws (that makes sense), but unfortunately this will be another “War on …” thing… It sounds great, but reality is reality. “War on drugs” have been going on fo decades, but young people still get their pot, poor people can still get crack, Hollywood stars can still sniff their coke etc. As long as there’s a demand for illegal immigrants, they’ll come.
So nothing about the poultry firms that break the law and hire illegal immigrants? The poor people trying to earn a living pay the price. The firm just hires a new batch later.
Nothing about how much these immigrants were getting paid? Were they making minimum wage?
Nothing about working conditions? Do they meet all health and safety standards?
Nothing about social security taxes and benefits. I’d bet all these people had SS taxes withheld? What happened to that money? They paid into a system but are not allowed access to it. That is theft of their money.
Nothing about health insurance. The company hires people, but offers no medical care, sticking tax payers with the bills because these people certainly can’t afford US medical care and what little they earn.
What is the point of having labor, health, safety, and immigration laws if we choose to ignore them? Might as well save us taxpayers money and shut down the border patrol.
I don’t have a problem with law enforcement. Why is the drain on resources (Fire, Police, Hospital etc) ignored in the whining about local economies and assertions that these are just people trying to get ahead? Round them up and get them to pay back taxes. If they can nationalize them. If they can’t deport them. This isn’t cruel it’s self preservation and simple commonn sense.
Ron Larson – there was a lot about the poultry factories etc in the news report I saw on CNBC.
Let me start by saying that America was built and defended with the blood, sweat, tears and labor of immigrants. My parents immigrated to this country legally to find a better life. I don’t believe it is possible or desirable to deport every single illegal immigrant (felons excluded) who may have lived in this country for years and has set up roots in their community.
That being said, lets not delude ourselves into thinking that “illegal” immigrants contribute more to America than they cost. People living near the border state may be bearing the brunt of the cost of illegal immigration today, but If steps are not taken to stem the tide of illegals streaming across the border we will all suffer the consequences.
“Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of almost $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household.”
“In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) target illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens.”
Do a Google search for “the cost of illegal immigration” for more information.
Steve
You know, I have to wonder if I would be here if my immigrant predecessors were to be judged by today’s laws. My mother’s side came from the great potato famine of Ireland, and I haven’t a clue as to when my dad’s side came over (Yes, my last name is Welsh, but nobody on that side was ever into genealogy). And that doesn’t include who else got married into the mix over the generations.
Law of Unintended Consequences:
Suppose we wave a magic wand, and all the illegal immigrants go back to wherever. What happens?
Much of the lettuce crop rots/dries in the field. Why? No American citizen will want to hand pick lettuce; it pays too little and is backbreaking work. Same with a lot of other crops that must be hand picked. More of these vegetables will be grown in Mexico and other countries instead.
Ditto for poultry (see the original article), and maybe other meats. Do you want fries with that tofu burger?
Prices of new houses will rise in some parts of the country, because many carpenters and roofers come from Mexico and other countries. This may be a good thing, as carpenters etc. wages have been depressed for awhile.
Immigrants, legal or not, tend to be harder working than US citizens. They are generally an asset to their community, not otherwise.
#19: Love the “Stewards, Not Owners” and “Borders Are an invention”. Apologies if you have no locks on your doors, and you let people squat in your house, and eat your food, but assuming you don’t, you are a hypocrite.
As to: “There is NO fraud when a man is trying to survive and feed his family. ” I agree with the single person tryin to survive, but I have some issues with the “family” concept. If you can’t take care of your future family, hey, new rule, DON’T HAVE ONE. Having a family is not a right. Passing you genes on to the next generation is NOT a right. In this country there are plenty of childless people who wait until the circumstances are right to have children, and don’t assume that the government (or any other 3rd party) will step in to take care of their children when they can’t or don’t want to.
Fine, follow your god and be fruitful and multiply, but then your god is responsible for you and yours, *not* me and mine. It’s your DECISION, your CHOICE, and if I decide not to support your decision, well, sorry.
I know bad things can happen to good, rational people, but I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about people in this world (and country) who have multiples of kids with no reasonable way of supporting all of them. I’m sure at one point it offered an evolutionary advantage (and maybe it still does) but that doesn’t mean I have to support it.
I understand that some of the ‘1st world’ has negative “birth rates”, and are not having enough kids to replenish their ‘lines’. I could give a rats ass as to which gene pool dominates the world in the next century, but I in no way have to support any of them. I am not a hypocrite, and if my living standard goes down, so be it. And if I don’t have a low paid illegal immigrant taking care of me when I’m old and infirm, so be it.
illegal immigrants Not legal very big diffrents Illegal go back to your own country make it a good place…….
The “they are a burden on the infrastructure” is one of the greatest lies perpetrated on us by the “Senator Allen’s” patriots of convenience of our country.
Let’s see… these illegal people pay sales taxes on everything they buy, just like legal citizens. The keep product prices low by working for low wages, which means more money in the ‘legal’ person’s pocket due to lowered prices. They actively avoid using the support infrastructure (hospitals, schools), out of fear and ignorance.
In a sense, the economic impact of immigrants to a community is very similar to that of a military base. It is an economically positive event, except that a military base is politically desireable. Military members do not pay state taxes, make low wages, while using local resources such as schools. The base provides jobs that support local community members, just like low wage factories do. Illegals shop at the same chains of stores as we do, including Walmart.
Crime rates in immigrant areas are less than most ‘inner city’ areas. Illegal drug consumption is minimal within the latino community, except interestingly for second generation ‘legal by birth’ latino-americans.
The bias against immigrants is bases on racism and ignorance. Every reliable study shows that immigant work is a very positive factor for the economy, far outweiging it’s costs. Yes, there are stuidies that can show otherwise, but they are so biased and flawed that they can be ignored. Just like with global warming… 95% of studies say it’s true… you can pretty much ignore the 5% that say otherwise.
Immigration is such a positive thing that even our current ultra-right wing governemnet is happy to ignore it… they know that it would be disastrous for America to remove the illegal immigrant factor of the economy.
And for those that claim that Mexicans should just come here legally… you do know that there are 5 times as many worker visas issued for both Europeans and Asians as there are for Latin Americans. Given a chance, they would be here lagally, but the chance is just not available.
Hasn’t anyone been watching the news? Stories abound about veggies not being picked this year because of the illegal issue and the groups on the border. Illegals are falling all over themselves to hide and not hiring out to pick…..I say…good!!
There very few veggies that cannot be picked by speclized equipment, the farmers(mainly huge agi-business groups) refuse to invest in the equipment because they have a plentiful supply of willing slave labour.
If you don’t think these people depress wages wherever they go….read this story……the hiring of citizens has meant a raising of wages and benifits, back to where they were BEFORE the illegals showed up. I bet the former meat packers and butchers in Iowa and Nebraska wish the illegals would disappear there so they could get their old jobs back…..or even the 1 to 2 million housing construction workers who don’t work anymore thanks to our poor starving friends from the south.
As a friend of mine from Scotland once said…..if you can’t feed 5 kids, then don’t have 5 kids. If the men of Mexico and Central America would keep their weenies in their pants now and then they might be able to make a go of it in their own country. If not, start a damn revolution, it’s not like they don’t know how to do that.
I for one would love to wake up and find them all magically transported back to their own countries. It would mean my taxes could go down from not having to hire 100,000 new English as a second language teachers in Los Angelue County schools this year, or the poor and disabled citizens of this country could get honest to God good medical care because we weren’t suppling it to 8 million illegals. Food banks would have food for those citizens that really need it, not 175,000 illegals recieving it in San Jose, California alone.
If some of you want to feel sorry for these law breakers…go right ahead…..but be sure it’s your money that continues to support them, not mine.
Oh, and the reason we no longer give out non-skilled visa’s(green cards) to workers from Mexico and Central America…….it’s because we stopped when the illegal immigration got so heavy, that the goverment couldn’t justify the program anymore. Somewhere between 11 and 20 million illegals are in this country just since the last amnesty in 1986…..who needs legal green cards…….kick them out and restore the legal green cards, which would allow those people to come here and not be exploited by our kind hearted employers.