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Letter to the Editor
Published: 2/7/2009 12:03 AMSend To:

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(7) | read | post Buzz up! Why are people using illegal immigrants as a scapegoat for all their anger and frustration?

Whether it's because someone lost his job, can't get a job or some other issue, people use illegal immigrants as the cause of their problems. Most of these issues can be the result of some other factor. For example, someone can lose his job because he is no longer a valued employee, the company needs to make cuts, or the company is going bankrupt.

There is a shortage of jobs because of the failing economy. However, people still choose to target illegal immigrants as the cause. Yes, perhaps in a butterfly effect way of thinking, illegal immigrants are factors in causing the failing economy; however, focusing our frustration toward illegal immigrants instead of the economy will only change one factor.

When people complain about illegal immigrants they almost always make the argument, "They are taking American jobs away from Americans." Yes, this is true; however, what people should be asking is, "Why has this company been allowed to hire illegal immigrants?"

People are targeting illegal immigrants in their arguments instead of the companies hiring them or the government that is supposed to enforce the prevention of illegal exploitation in America.

Remember, the Bush Administration announced Aug. 10, 2007: "It would increase scrutiny and impose heftier fines on the United States businesses that employ illegal immigrants as it sought to step up enforcement despite Congress's failure to reform immigration laws." The government is attempting to prevent illegal immigrants from being allowed to work, but is not fulfilling this obligation because people still complain about illegal immigrants taking jobs or, perhaps the government is doing its job, but people are still complaining about illegal immigrants which is no longer the issue but rather a scapegoat.

Thomas Miller

Algonquin

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=269714&src=