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Originally Posted by abaya
Ah, but what about the employers who are blatantly hiring these people without regard to our immigration laws? What about the employers who do not go through the proper channels? You cannot have illegal immigrants without people who are willing to hire them. The labor system of the US is as much to blame for its "illegalism" as you might want to blame the immigrants for being "illegal," when in reality they are responding to a demand. They are the supply for the labor demand that is very clear in the US.
If I was going to say that there is a "problem" related to this topic in the US, I would say the problem is with the entire immigration system, not just with illegals. The whole damn thing is broken. So I could surely say that there is perhaps a system-wide crisis related to immigration policy and its enforcement in the US, as well as a nativist backlash that only makes things worse... but I cannot say that there is an "illegal" problem. That is only one piece of a very large and complicated puzzle.
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Absolutely the employers of illegal immigrants or illegal aliens should be fined and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and in some cases, they have. I am just as furious, actualy, no more furious with the emplyers and enablers of the illegal crisis. The problem is holistic, not just confined to one variable of illegals (though they are not off the hook).
The system being broken is another good point. We need wholesale reform and a new immigration policy that fits the needs of our nation in the 21st century.
Add to that, (and this is bordering a thread jack), we need to look at our foreign policy as well. Our current Grand Strategy is too narrow and overly focused on onle terrorism. We need to revist NAFTA, CAFTA etc and figure out how we want to interact with our immediate neighbors. Ideally, a free trade or open border movement should work in all directions. Obviously the first few years would be a bit hairy but I am willing to bet it would even out. Again, here, the key is partnership and cooperation. Canada and Mexico need to do their part as well.
The only place where I would disagree with your very fine post Abaya, is that I am inclined to agree with the many others that there is yes indeed, an illegal immigrant, illegal alien problem.
Also, people, please understand the difference between legal immigration and illegal immigration. In defense of Shani, she is not against legal immigrants, but the illegal ones as are many, many people.