Thread: A worthy check on illegal workers

from the August 14, 2007 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0814/p08s01-comv.html
A worthy check on illegal workers
Rules to check Social Security numbers of workers are a needed step for enforcement.

The backlash has been swift and powerful. No sooner did the Bush administration announce new measures to enforce the nation's immigration laws last week than opponents jumped to their feet to object . But Washington must resist and give enforcement a chance to work.

Standing up to the critics won't be easy. Businesses that depend on illegal immigrants for low-wage labor are warning of disaster under the new regulations, especially those that affect the workplace.

The most criticized rule requires employers to follow up on "no-match" letters from the Social Security Administration. These notices alert them when the nine-digit sequence provided by their workers fails to match the Social Security database.

Businesses routinely ignore the letters for lack of consequence. Now, if their identified workers are unable to clear up the mismatch and prove legal status, they must be fired – or employers will face significantly higher fines of up to $10,000 per employee (not to mention criminal charges).

Business are sounding dooms-day warnings: At least two-thirds of the workers in construction and agriculture are illegal migrants, so if the law is enforced, crops may very well rot in the fields and the rebuilding effort in New Orleans screech to a halt (employers could alleviate this by paying higher wages). Consumer prices would probably rise.

If only Congress had passed "comprehensive" immigration reform this year, employers lament. Then there would be enough legal workers. Then America would have faced up to economic reality.

In this case, however, political reality has the upper hand, and deservedly so. The reason behind the failure of the immigration "grand bargain" (guest workers and a path to legalization in exchange for tougher enforcement) is that neither lawmakers nor the American public believed the enforcement half would ever be fulfilled.

And why should they? The record is abysmal. "There is a credibility problem the government has built up over 30 years," admitted Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, when he announced the new regulations Aug. 10.

No doubt, greater enforcement will have "economic consequences," as Mr. Chertoff admitted. It could also drive illegals further underground, mistakenly entangle legal workers, and spur trade in fake documents.

But administration plans to ease up on temporary work visas should help, and besides, fulfilling the law can't be held hostage to potential problems. Those problems need to be addressed, not run from.

In the end, there's no other way to hoe this row – to reach an agreement that accommodates both economic and political reality – than to restore credibility by enforcing the law. Americans rightly question government tolerance of illegals, which can lead to the exploitation of foreign labor, stretches social services, and thumbs its nose at those waiting to enter the US legally.

More vigorous enforcement is already significantly reducing illegal crossings on the US-Mexican border and spurring more employers to police their own workforce (just as Americans police themselves at tax time).

These are healthy trends – not for a policy of enforcement only, as critics charge, but for one of enforcement first, then reform.

Whoever wrote this is an idiot. There will be jobs available for Americans collecting welfare and the homeless, legal Mexicans and other races who are able to pick crops. If you think there will be a need for the stupid guest worker program, we already have one under the current immigration books for Agriculture that has no cap.

Why in the heck would illegals go underground? When caught using fake documents (a felony) and are proven to be here illegaly, shouldn't they be arrested and deported???

People, they aren't going anywhere.

With the release of the tweaking of the temp worker programs, we got 'the rest of the story' as Paul Harvey says.

These people are going to be transformed into legal workers.

The 30 day waiting period is so the employers can get the paperwork done in WAshington and the employee will suddenly be legal.

While we are being lulled, thrilled, or duped by the talk of 'economic problems', 'poor illegals', etc., they are making legals out of illegals.

While we are being lulled, thrilled, or duped by the talk of 'economic problems', 'poor illegals', etc., they are making legals out of illegals.

What else can we do to make sure it doesn't happen? if we just sit around waiting for it when we know that's what's going on how can we bitch afterward?

Originally Posted by JoinTheFight

While we are being lulled, thrilled, or duped by the talk of 'economic problems', 'poor illegals', etc., they are making legals out of illegals.

What else can we do to make sure it doesn't happen? if we just sit around waiting for it when we know that's what's going on how can we bitch afterward?

The most immediate thing we can do is pay strict attention to the up-coming elections. South Carolina has re-scheduled their primary date for January - just four months away. If we can dump Lindsey at that point and continue to eliminate the supporters one by one it will be the strongest message that can be sent to Washington.

Start now to urge everyone you know to register to vote and talk up the importance of exercising that right on election date. Everything else we are doing is important, but using the ballot box will be the most effective way to stop this.

ACTUALLY PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED.

I HAVE SOME LATINO FRIENDS AND THEY TELL ME PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED RIGHT AND LEFT. THEY ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES. LEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS, BTW.

THIS IS IN CALIFORNIA IN THE BAY AREA. SO I CANT SAY WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. BUT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED OUT OF THIS AREA.

DONT GET ME WRONG. I AM NOT FALLING INTO THE PIT OF TRUSTING OUR GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING. AND THERE MAY VERY WELL BE SOME ULTERIOR MOTIVE.

BUT AS I SEE IT THEY ARE DEPORTING PEOPLE.

THIS IS IN CALIFORNIA IN THE BAY AREA. SO I CANT SAY WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. BUT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED OUT OF THIS AREA.

Yes that's what they are doing that we can see. But what are they doing that we can't see?

Quote:
THIS IS IN CALIFORNIA IN THE BAY AREA. SO I CANT SAY WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. BUT I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED OUT OF THIS AREA.

Yes that's what they are doing that we can see. But what are they doing that we can't see?

WELL AND OF COURSE THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THEY MAY HAVE SOME PLAN UP THEIR SLEEVE. AND YOU CANT TRUST ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL LIARS.

ALL I KNOW IS PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BEING DEPORTED. EMPLOYERS ARE SCREAMING ABOUT HAVING TO FOLLOW LAWS....AND I DONT THINK THEY WOULD BE UPSET IF THEY COULD JUST LEGALIZE THEIR WORKERS THAT FAST.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. THEY ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED. WE HAVE TO KEEP AN EAGLE EYE ON THEM EVERY MOMENT.