I agree , that is a good way to attack one part of the problem , but if it is not followed up by getting the illegals out of the country , then we have 20 million UNEMPLOYED ILLEGALS in the country , which would be a worse situation than we have now .
posted by Dirck
over 2 years ago
I've always been on the fence with attacking this problem this way - like Dirck said, it will just result in a bunch of unemployed illegals, no a good thing at all! But, just maybe it'll get the message back to Mexico and Guatemala and the other countries that the US is not the land of milk and honey for illegals, so maybe, just maybe, they'll stay home!
If they follow up and restrict entitlement programs such as welfare, health care and unemployment payments, then there should be a huge exodus to Mexico. But, it will also give plenty of fodder for the ACLU.
I'm not so sure, JSant. If living here without the entitlement programs is better than living in Mexico, they'll stay. I've had people tell me that they'd rather be in prison in the U.S. rather than go back to Mexico or Guatemala.
Gosh guys, I think you about covered it all. I think this is an approach that many people have wanted to have tried. It may be a good strategy as long as they don't back down. They need to really follow through and make the fines stiff enough that they hurt the employers in their pocketbook. I can se some hope in all of this, cautious hope, but hope.
I also agree that entitlement programs need to be restricted starting yesterday. And I don't really mean restricted, I mean not available to anyone but legal citizens. That would tighten the squeeze for these criminals and encourage them to leave the US ASAP.
This is where I differ the most with you people who are so up in arms about illegals, most of them are just wanting something better for themselves and their families. That is not criminal in my book. I have always felt we should target the employers who hire them.
No disagreement here, Test....as I think that should be the first step...but we also need to make sure that they go back to their own country by restricting benefits to only US citizens. That would open up more job opportunities (yes, I'm aware that most of them do jobs that Americans haven't wanted to do...but that could change with the declining economy), and reduce the impact on our entitlement programs. Mike....I hear ya about Mexico being worse, but at least they can legally get jobs there and if they have nothing but panhandling opportunities here, most would probably go back to where they have family and roots.
Test - you're feelings aren't the law, it is illegal to enter the US except according to our immigration laws, period. I agree that most of them come here for opportunity and a better life. Most of them are hard-working, honest people. That doesn't erase the fact that they are here illegally. In order to change their status, we'd have to change the laws. Since we have the laws, I say we should enforce them. I would welcome almost all of these hard-working, honest people as part of our country, so why can't they go back home and come back in legally? The problem is with us, not them. We allow them to come here illegally, and then allow them to stay here illegally, and even have sanctuary cities that condone their actions and protect them. Once again, so long as we have the laws that say that they are here illegally, let's enforce the laws. I can't get passed the fact that they are really an economic drain on our country - they make money, pay no taxes, send most of the money back to their home country, and get free services while they are here - healthcare and education, for two.
While I have sympathy for the hard working families that are just trying to improve the situation of their family, I have even more sympathy for the legal families here in Arizona who do not get the support they need because of the drain on our funds for entitlements that go to illegals. With the AZ budget in such serious shape we just simply cannot afford to continue in this manner.
As OldMike mentions, it is because they don't pay taxes that they are a tremendous burden on the education system. They are also a huge drain on the heath care system because they show up at the ER and are treated for anything there. Because they are working under the table they have no insurance.
If they want to be here they need to go home first and re-enter legally.
I am all for fining employers to the max. I'm also for limiting benefit programs to only those who can prove they are citizens of the USA, or in the case of unemployment are legal residents, and have a valid green card.
But I do want to mention that many illegal immigrants do pay taxes. If they are employed, and using a phony SS number, local, state, FICA, and other taxes are subtracted from their pay, and they can not file with the IRS for a return. So the witholdings remain with the government. They also pay sales, gasoline, and other value added taxes. Now I am not excusing anything, or claiming mitigation, just wanting to set straight the myth that ALL illegals are burdens on the system and pay no taxes.
Those who work "under the table", and for straight cash, are a different story, but I also know of many natural born citizens who have jobs under the table, or a cash only business on the side.
Having said that - Let a major crackdown take place!!
