Sunday, April 30, 2006

The Illegal Immigration Debate

Illegal immigration has been at the forefront of news lately. Tomorrow on May 1st, millions are expected to walk off their jobs in a sign of solidarity with immigrant workers.
This is a complex issue with more than 2 sides in opposition. First, there are businesses who claim that there are many jobs that Americans won’t do, and these must be filled by immigrants legal or otherwise. Then there are the immigrants themselves who come from severe poverty and are willing to risk their lives in a effort to better the lives of themselves and their families. Then there are the people caught in between the illegal immigrants and their employers. People who have to live with altered communities and less prospects for higher wages as illegal immigrants drive wages lower. Then there are those who benefit from the additional goods and services that are bought by having more people come to an area. It is indeed a complex issue with many sides.
I try (as I often do) to think what I would do if I were placed in each side’s position. What if I were a poor unemployed or underemployed person living in Mexico with a family to support. What would I do? I would try to immigrate legally, of course to America where opportunities are more plentiful. (In fact that is not so dissimilar than my moving to California from Ohio.) However, it is not so easy to get into America and that seems on the face of it absurd for a country that has always been a destination for people from other places. Every study I’ve seen shows that immigrants (legal and illegal) actually contribute more to the economy than they take. It seems to be that by allowing more people to enter legally, we’d reduce the amount of illegals coming in. We can’t fault people for wanting to better themselves – that would be… …un-American.
So what of the people caught in the middle? The people who’s communities are altered by strange faces and languages being spoken? Well, in my opinion, any time in America’s history was a time that people had to deal with this. There was opposition to immigrants from Ireland, Germany, Poland, etc. By allowing more people from various places in, one culture won’t dominate and thus, we will all have to work toward common goals. As far as taxes and services are concerned, having legal immigrants around helps. So it would be in the best interests of most communities to allow more legal immigration. It is not as if there is no room here in one of the largest pieces of real estate on the planet. I don’t mind people from other places living near me – I welcome it –I think that is one of America’s strengths. Certainly the statistics will back this up – look at the work of Richard Florida. Openness to immigrants is one factor that tends to predict an area that will be economically strong.
So now we turn to the employers. These are the people who provide the jobs that bring the illegal immigrants here. They say that there are jobs that Americans won’t do. I doubt that. The real statement should be that there are jobs that Americans won’t do for such low wages and lack of job security or protection of the law. These workers, while making more than they would in their native lands, put up with turn-of-the-last-century lack of protection. They have no heath care (like many of us native citizens) but also have no real recourse to protections that many of us take for granted. Some of these contractors may not be able to find workers, but there are many I’m sure that would be the first to show up at the slave market if it were open. It’s disgusting, but it is homeowners who are the largest employer of illegals. This dilemma is one that “average” Americans have created for themselves. I would never hire some for whom I couldn’t be responsible, simply requiring them to do my bidding then throwing them away. Thus I lay most of the blame on homeowners who’d rather save money by hiring an illegal worker to do menial work, just so they can save up more quickly for filling up that Hummer for a trip down to Disneyworld.
If we want a better America, we can’t keep hiring people that must live a separate life, cut-off from the dominant society for fear of discovery by the authorities. Such a situation breeds gang violence, drug trafficking, and a collapse of community.
I certainly hope that for all the attention that this issue is getting, that something is done to punish those who ignore our labor laws. I hope that something positive will result from his debate. But I’m sure nothing will happen. A few window dressings may change, but the cheap-labor shop will remain open for business. After all, the kids need a new toy for Christmas, why hire someone who wants to buy their own children a toy for Christmas, let’s just grab a throw-a-way person from Home Depot to fix up our house.

About Me

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Lima, Ohio, United States
I was born and raised in Ohio. I am a lifelong Catholic Christian who has always been interested in the big questions of life. I have a passion for learning especially Philosophy, Science, Religion, History and Culture. I graduated from the University of Toledo in 2001 with a B.A. in International Relations. I married my soul-mate, Jen in 2001 and we moved to rural Tanigumi-mura Japan where we taught English for 3 years. We moved to California and lived in San Francisco and the Bay Area for 4 years. Tired of sitting on the sidelines, I began volunteering for the Barack Obama campaign in March of 2007 and was eventually hired as a Field Organizer. Through the Obama campaign, I found my calling and moved back to Ohio to continue organizing. In 2009 I helped the field operations of the Keith Wilkowski for Mayor of Toledo race. After that, I was hired as a Regional Field Director for 15 northwestern and north central Ohio counties for the 2010 Democratic Coordinated Campaign. Jen and I are continuing to volunteer as we wait for the next organizing opportunity to present itself.