A little story. Some food for thought...

2006 through 2008 were landmark years in illegal immigration reform. Birthright citizenship for illegals was eliminated (pissing many a Mexican off,) border walls/fencing went up, and the Federal Government finally got off of its butt, conducting a massive program of worksite enforcement across the country.

This scenario takes place in North Carolina (a microcosm of the rest of the USA.) 2006 saw 512,000 illegals living in North Carolina, 2007 saw 484,000, 2008 saw 412,000, 2009 saw 337,000, 2010 saw 226,000, and 2011 saw only 80,234. Aggressive worksite enforcement and constant ALIPAC campaigning saw illegals being deported from or voluntarily leaving North Carolina at a rapid pace, returning to their home countries with lots of tears and frowns. A victory for us!

But, was it a victory? While English once again reigned more or less supreme, small businesses within NC began dwindling. It was difficult for owners to find the appropriate numbers of able-bodied citizens and legal aliens to take the jobs that the illegals left behind. You see, the addiction of illegal labor was a drug as alluring and choking as heroin. Businesses became so desperate to hire workers that they paid higher than normal wages and benefits to attract American workers. This worked in the short run. Until about 2008, when they could no longer afford it.

Do we use prison day laborers? Do we employee high school kids full time? Do we make it a law for those in their 70's to work at least 20 to 30 hours per week in the restaurant/hospitality field? All desperate questions. Because the addiction ran stronger and thicker than anyone could imagine.

By 2011, the economy of NC (and the USA) was beginning to veer south. Big time. Very little new housing, and small companies going out of business all of the time. "WE NEED GUEST WORKER PROGRAMS!" became the cry of 2012. By 2014, millions of "legal" workers began appearing in NC, and across the country. They were supposed to stay for 3 years, with an option to stay 3 more, but by 2025, 74% of them were still here. And, more were on their way. The addiction was being fed, once again. Boy, it felt good. And the economy soared.

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The Ostrich Speaking Again:

I don't know the answer. While I'd love to see every illegal deported (trust me, they shouldn't be in this country...it would be good if they all left), I'm not sure if that's the answer. You see, under my scenario, I've seen into the future. As realistic or silly as it may be, there comes a point where, even if we quickly got rid of a bunch of illegals, at what point would we demand them back, either as legal guest workers, or some other such thing? The illegal employment addiction affects all of us...every job, every sector of the economy. I'm not into guest worker programs (I don't see them working...to me, they're just amnesty) but I wonder if some sort of middle ground can be reached. I don't think it's enough to blindly say that if we deported all of the illegals over the next 10 years, we would necessarily be better off. How do we wean ourselves off of this drug? This craving, which yearns to be fulfilled?

I sometimes wish I could go back to the years of watching baseball and football after work, in ignorant bliss of this subject. Sadly, I can't.

My solution is to secure the borders, start aggressive workplace enforcement, and seek an answer to my dilemma: "At what point do we stop deporting illegals, because it begins to cripple our economy?" In some industries we can do without them, but in others, I'm not so sure. I'm not a pessimist...I just don't know. How would you find appropriate numbers of legal workers to replace the illegals? That, to me, is the $64 billion question.

Joe