Question:
Very possibly not. Vested interests have long worked against severe
control, the presence of illegals had to go to extreme levels, such
as in California, before the population reacted. The ultimate problem
is jobs. Here in France we have a problem, but the job situation
is difficult. Identity papers exists and its takes a special situation
for one to obtain a job as a legal entry. I know, I did it. But is
was not easy. From here it looks rather easy to get into the USA,
once in, one is protected by the legal system. It takes a while to
deport (here is it can be done 24 hours.
I think that the following would aid controling the number of illegals
in the USA
1. National identity cards for both nationals and green card holders
2. Yearly renewal of green cards holders made more difficult.
3. Social security number varification available. One number per person
for life, severe penalties for multiple numbers of use of another
person's number.
4. Severe penalties for knowingly employing illegals.
5. Rapid deportation of illegals who are held until deportation.
Answer:
You arguments sound like you want de facto slavery to continue in
America. If people are making 80 cents to 2 dollars an hour as you
suggest, then they are modern day slaves.
One can pay higher wages, if they used the appropriate technology to
justify them in the world marketplace. I firmly believe we will see
a further rationalization of people in the farming industry accelerated by
the invention of robots to do the labor intensive jobs. One need on look at
the automobile industry where roots are now doing many dirty jobs once
the province of human beings. There is no doubt in my mind that you see
bigger and bigger farms using modern equipment.
My equipment modernization scenario is not new, considering both of my
grandfathers left rural Virginia farming at the turn of the Century
because machines replaced many field hands. They landed better jobs in
the coal minds of West Virginia - perhaps not the cleanest jobs.
As someone who lives along the border and a Latin American History
student, I believe the issue of immigration from Mexico is more complex
then they're here, we don't want them, kick em' out. Mexican immigration
to this country rose during the years 1910-1920, partly due to a series of
revolutions in Mexico, but also due to American encouragment. In the
Southwest, many jobs were filled by "illegal" immigrants while our
citizens were off fighting World War One. At the conclusion of the war,
owners of farms in Texas, New Mexico, California (and a few in other
states) placed ads in Mexican newspapers recruiting farm laborers. This
still goes on today. A newer tactic involves the sending of "agents" into
Mexico to find workers.
We welcome the laborers with open arms but when the harvest has come
to an end, often they are left out in the cold (literally). If people
don't want the government to pay for them, than talk to the employers who
exploit their labor and abandon them. This is not to say all companies do
this, just that among the Mexican migrant worker communities it is not
uncommon. Anyway, try to see what the border means on both sides. The
communities on the U.S. side depend on Mexico just as much as Mexico
depends on the U.S.
