Do illegals know that when they take all those low wage jobs as migrant workes and don't try and become legal citizens that the employers who hired them have no reason to ever pay them a decent wage because the are "ILLEGALS" with no rights
136120
Hey, you get it. That is why the laws should make the people that do the hiring the ones that pay the penalty. Put them in jail. That is where they belong. That would also help the problem with illegals if there were no jobs for them they would not come here.
269582
I don't think they will be hiring less immigrants. Just less ILLEGAL immigrants. Hopefully this will force them to pay hirer wages also. They will have to start doing their homework and background checks (which should have been being done anyway) I don't feel sorry for them (the company's) they did this to themselves..
267919
Where I live, there is a HUGE Hispanic population.  All, if not 99% of the illegals here DO pay income taxes.  Most of them work under false SS#'s.  So...they DO pay in but cannot collect income tax refunds.  If people in America would educate themselves I wonder if anyone would be complaining.  In my personal experience the only people I have known of in my life that have worked under-the-table have been White and it was t either avoid income tax or to screw unemployment.  This immigration debate is fueled by ignorance.  The focus is on "those Mexicans" instead of on improving the LEGAL immigration process.  This isn't 70 years ago when my Grandparents got off their boat from Portugal, waited in line, told someone their name and YAY! We're Legal!!
271656
It is illegal to employ them, but the republicans that are in power wouldn't think of doing away with the cheap labor that their constituents use. They will protect the greedy corporations and rich individuals that pay slave wages. Some people say this isn't true, but I think if you do a little investigation you will find as I have that alot of them are paid below the minimum wage, which is illegal. They don't pay taxes on their earnings, which is illegal. They don't pay social security tax, which is illegal. They don't pay medicare tax, which is illegal. They crossed our border without permission from our government, which is illegal. They work without permission from our government, which is illegal. They use up all our financial resources,such as welfare, free health care, schools, which is illegal and immoral. Some people can't understand why they are called illegal immigrants. Can you?
564727
Don't know.  It's rather a gray area.  They are here illegally, so I really have no idea what legal rights someone would have when they invade the country.  You might be best off if you turn them in to the authorities if you're worried about getting in trouble for keeping them.  Otherwise, you aren't doing much more than many businesses are doing, except that you aren't paying them anything & are whipping them.  If you pay them a couple of bucks a day & don't whip them, then you are about as legally liable as McDonald's, Wal-Mart, & all the many other businesses who knowingly evade taxes by hiring illegal immigrants instead of U.S. citizens.
116355
It is time to deal legally with employer's who use them for cheap labor,shut the door until we can take care of the legal citizen first kick out the ones here illegally lots of work to be done once again your government has failed to perform its function by enforcing the laws on the books!
163235
This whole issue makes no sense to me.\n\nNow my info is based on my dealings with the construction world, which as you know employs alot of immigrants from south of the border. Now I'm not naive and I know a good many of these so called *legal* immigrants use fake socials and names to get jobs and are in actuality illegal immigrants. Our government is not stupid either but you don't see anybody going to major construction sites and doing immigration status checks now do you? Shutting down major construction projects is not going to win anybody in government very many votes now is it?\n\nIts all politics people. If its currently popular to harass immigrants the government will do so, if its not they turn a blind eye to the issue. Whatever it takes to get themselves re-elected.\n\nNow as to why this is viewed as a huge problem, I just don't see it. \n\nFirst of all the *undermining the economy* statements I see.\n\nEven the truly illegal immigrants pay taxes on the food they eat, they purchase items and pay sales tax, they pay rent, buy gasoline and cigs with high taxes on them, pay utilities, pay tolls, pay insurance, buy automobiles and in cases where they use fake IDs and socials, pay all the applicable payroll related taxes. (and in most cases overpay, you don't think they file returns at the end of the year do you?)\n\nSecondly *they work for extra low wages* The people I know in construction pay industry standard or better wages for their immigrant workers. If anything I hear complaints about how much they have to shell out, usually followed by statements praising the quality of work they get in return.\n\nThirdly *they are taking jobs from hardworking Americans* Honestly, no they aren't. The work they do in construction, while requiring some skill, is mostly back-breaking hard labor. This type of job is considered *beneath* the majority of Americans and lets face it, selling drugs is much easier and while you might be risking a stint of 3 hots and a cot atleast you won't be breaking a sweat! \n\nFourthly, they work, that's more then I can say for some Americans I know. They don't get food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, medicare, social security, or unemployment, they can't, in most cases, afford to have the government look that closely at their status so they get up every morning and go to work!\n\nFifthly, have any of you looked at what it takes to get a green card? Its not a matter of filling out a few forms. There are 3 ways to become a legal immigrant. Sponsorship by an employer, who must prove he/she can't hire anybody else for the job (and even if its true, most employers can't be bothered by all the paperwork) this method also requires the immigrant to hire a lawyer, takes about a year and reams of paperwork (hence the need for a lawyer). Secondly the lottery....yes our government holds a lottery for immigrants who have the equivalent of a HS education to *win* legal status. They give away 50,000 green cards a year to around 8 million lottery applicants. If you don't believe me look up Green Card Lottery. Funny position for a government who currently wants to crack down on illegal immigrants to take don't you think? Enter our lottery and win a chance to live in America! I'm sorry but that seems just alittle cheesy to me. And thirdly marriage to a US citizen. Its just not as simple as people seem to think.\n\nNow I know that there are probally sweat shops employing immigrants at below minimum wage but again which one of you would want that job anyway? Heck, most of the people that I know would rather starve then work at a McDonalds, much less a sweat shop. Besides, if companies want to produce items at  sweat shop wages all they have to do is relocate their factories outside the US...no wait, umm, they are already doing that so again what is the problem?\n\nI'd much rather keep the money here wouldn't you? And as far as the premise that they send money hom
516436
Guest worker problem is dodging issue yet again.  I also take exception to those two statements\n\n1) "They only take jobs Americans won't do" is not true.  They take jobs Americans won't do for THE LOW PAY!!  Companies are just saving money and paying minimum wage (if that).  Americans can't live on minimum wage.  Illegals can, cause they don't pay taxes, don't contribute to Social Security,or don't have to pay health benefits.\n\n2) "Deport all illegals and Americans will pay higher prices" is true but will never happen.  Unfortunately we have no way to track all the illegals in this country now and I highly doubt that if we do have a guest worker program that all illegals will come forward.  Employers will have to pay higher costs in wages and taxes thereby making us pay more for their product/service.\n\nI've said it once, I'll say it again -- I have no problems with people coming into this country to get a better life if they adapt to the American way of life, learn to speak English and become US Citizens like the millions of other immigrants who came to the US have!!\n2)
591194
Your question makes no sense to me. I remember years ago when living wages were not so high and you were actually given a wage to live within your means doing jobs like janitor work, landscaper, roofer, cooks, etc. Believe it or not, these all were considered good jobs in the 50's, 60's, 70's and even 80's. All the jobs that your people have taken over now claiming that these are jobs us snobbish, lazy, Americans no longer want. \n\nWhat has happened is that illegals starting coming in got paid under the table, and brought the wages down for these jobs and now it is out of control. These days you rarely see a non-hispanic, or US Citizen doing these jobs. \n\nWhat you are preaching is a lie told to you by your filthy presidente Vicente Fox and our moronous Bush. The smart American, patriotic working class people don't buy this bullsh*t for a second and don't think your pulling the wool over our eyes. Your nothing special, we don't owe you anything. You work 3 or 4 jobs like an animal not a human being and have hurt our proud hardworking American culture and everything we fought for. Go crawl back into your el holo.
126188
no ...the illegals have come in and taken a lot of unskilled and low paying jobs denying them to our kids and entry level workers...\nremember..its always easier to get a better job when you have a job...thats called moving up\nwhen you are denied that entry level job..where do you start..??
319784
It can't be illegal to fire them when it's illegal to hire them. I totally agree with you, wow, I don't think I've ever agreed with an old Leftist from the 60's LOL, but they're going to end up dragging everyone's wages down if a general amnesty is given.
324463
What civil rights? They are breaking the law by being here. They aren't supposed to have our jobs to begin with.\n\nThe illegals make up about 5 % of the work force. The unemployment rate is about 4.5%. Keep in mind that the unemployment rate does NOT represent everyone who is unemployed. It only counts those who are collecting unemployment. Everyone else's plight is ignored. The unemployment rate if everyone was counted would be tremendous. We do NOT have a shortage of labor, we have a large surplus. The more illegals that come in and take our jobs at minimum wage or less (often less) puts more and more Americans out of a job. Most of these Americans are never counted in the unemployment rate if they do not manage to get unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are hard to receive.\n\nIllegals draw welfare by stealing people's social security numbers and identities. That means there are a lot of people being directly hurt by these people as well. Innocent people are having their credit ratings ruined, having IRS problems, and social security problems. If someone who has had their social security number stolen gets married, if either spouse dies or become disabled then they can be denied their benefits. \n\nMy family moved to the US before WWII. Those of my family that didn't make it over got killed by the death camps. Our family assimilated to the American culture. We didn't expect the Americans to change to suit us. The illegal immigrants from Mexico are not civilized like that.\n\nThey not only changed the National Anthem to Spanish, they changed the words. They already burn our flag and hang our flag upside down. They waved the Mexican flag during a lot of their protests. Some schools have stopped hanging the American flag and forbidden students from wearing clothes with any part of the American flag on their clothing all to keep from offending the Mexicans. It's nothing short of an attack of our country, not only by the illegal aliens, but those who seek to appease them. \n\nI am tired of the stereotype that Americans wouldn't do the work that illegals do. Illegals do all kinds of jobs for less than minimum wage which drives the wages down for U.S. citizens. Construction jobs are an example. There are lots of illegals doing construction jobs that Americans used to do because the companies can keep more of the profits if they pay less for the workers. All that does is make companies wealthier and Americans poorer. Illegals are stealing jobs that Americans have done for years. \n\n"Mexico is waging war on the U.S. through mass immigration illegal and legal, through the assertion of Mexican national claims over the U.S., and through the subversion of its laws and sovereignty, all having the common end of bringing the southwestern part of the U.S. under the control of the expanding Mexican nation, and of increasing Mexico’s political and cultural influence over the U.S. as a whole. \n\n \nCultural imperialism\n\n \n\nWe experience Mexico’s assault on our country incrementally—as a series of mini-crises, each of which calls forth ever-renewed debates and perhaps some tiny change of policy. Because it has been with us so long and has become part of the cultural and political air we breathe, it is hard for us to see the deep logic behind our “immigration problem.” Focused as we are on border incursions, border enforcement, illegal alien crime, guest worker proposals, changes of government in Mexico City, and other such transient problems and events—all of them framed by the media’s obfuscation of whether or not illegal immigration’s costs outweigh its benefits and by the maudlin script of “immigrant rights”—we don’t get the Big Picture: that the Mexican government is promoting and carrying out an attack on the United States. \n\nAnother reason we miss what’s happening is that our focus is on the immigrants as individuals. Thus our leaders talk about illegal immigrant
543285
It is against the law when people try to avoid reporting their income and not paying taxes as they should. And don't say as you supposedly do. It is a fact that there are undocumented workers who get paid under the table.
173928
I owned a construction business, we did all phases of construction, but too many illegals made it to hard to compete. We did better work, did it faster, had better cust service, yet everything we bid we got cutthroated because the businesses we were doing work for found out that hiring illegals that were " self employed" for 40-50% of our cost was better. They are illegal, therefore don't carry the labor burden and other fixed and variable overhead. If they were gone, those jobs no one wants, will be paying more overnight. For example, with a painting service, painting houses, you could make 1600 a week depending on the size, and thats just for labor, then 15% mark-up on materials. With illegals, materials go for cost, and labor is lower cause they don't pay income taxes, and need to pay for that 1 bedroom apartment with 10 of them in it. So, they do it really really cheap. Americans want these jobs. Not everyone wants to waste time and money becoming over educated. Actually, the most stupid people I know are college educated with no common sence. A piece of paper doesn't mean your smart or properly educated!!
476565
Your problem is you are focusing on the "immigrant" part rather than the "illegal" part. For a majority of us fighting illegal immigration, all we are saying is "follow the legal procedures for immigrating here and pay into our system as we do to support your benefits you gain while here!" \n\nIf they did that, they'd be LEGAL immigrants and be entitled to at least minimum wage rather than the "I can get away with paying you pennies" wage because they can't get protection from the law.
205845
Rock on. \n\nAnd even though they're "cheap labor", they're taking away jobs from those that have taken all of the appropriate steps to be here legally. Even a low-paying job is a  valuable job to someone who doesn't have one.
281938
For people who read this response  Do not confuse homelessness with illegal immmigrants.( if you look at it they are homeless to) Many without jobs will rather remain jobless than do some of the jobs illegals get hired for  I use to work with the homeless and many of them worked.  They worked at jobs that paid very little. Homelessness comes in different catagories some who work and can't afford a decent place to live, some who have been forced out of their homes due acts of god and manmade diasters and those who are cronically homeless such as; those who are addicts, mental disabilties and prefer to live on the streets.  Illigal immigrants come to work to provide for thier families because the conditions in their countries ( war, starvation, genocide, no work) Companies look for immigrants to work for them (immigrant or not) to pay them less, they are not going to complain, you can get away with ill treatment of them, to perform hazardous job that most people won't do. Some companies hire illegal immigrants to help them out.  As for your question I don't think much so of these jobs no one will do.  I do  think people are under the impresssion that the homless can't  work therfore illegals are taking their jobs.