Dear Editor:
In your Curt
Review Timebomb editorial, you cry and whine about how the foundation of immigration
law is broken. However, you fail to propose how to fix the problems. I
think that new legislation, including the DREAM Act goes a long way to
recognizing that some of the children caught up in their parents illegal
activity, need the help of American generosity and open-armed spirit.
I don't see these illegal aliens going to South America, Africa, or Southeast Asia. They come to the US, by the millions. While
they are here, the fact remains that illegal immigration puts economic
strain on our infrastructure including, education and health care, as well
as, the court system. Yet Americans still welcome these people to the US and also reach out across the world to help those in need to achieve a better way of life and standard of living. For lack of a better word, it
is charity.
For each person you can name that illegally entered the US for economic
reasons and achieved acclaimed success, I could probably find a thousand
illegal aliens who were wanted by authorities in their home country and
have reached our shores and are taking up valuable time in our criminal and
Circuit Courts, not for immigration reasons, but because they have
committed crimes against the very society which opened its arms to greet
them. I agree with you that the majority of illegal aliens come here for
economic reasons. They are not here to commit crimes. However, the
economic contributions made by the majority of illegal aliens is that of
working below minimum wage so US companies can compete with each other by
offering services for lower than standard prices. The problem is that we
are going after the aliens, when we should be going after the employers.
Not companies like WalMart because they have deep pockets, but the
thousands of smaller subcontractor businesses who rely on the illegal
aliens in order to bid a lower than standard price to companies like
WalMart.
The USCIS and the Department of Justice can deport illegal alien workers, but these companies will replace those workers
tomorrow with other illegal aliens, and the deported ones will be back in a very short time. The USCIS and
DOJ should levy heavy fines at employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. If economics works
properly, hiring legal aliens, or even US citizens, at prevailing wages
will certainly force employer costs to rise. However, by driving out some
of the businesses who rely on illegal aliens, the income of the remaining
employers will also rise, negating any increase in wages. Therefore,
companies like WalMart wouldn't be put in the position of defending itself
because of the glamour and publicity of grounding a corporate giant. There
will be a few less companies making more money, providing better pay for
hard-working legal employees, who in turn will provide better service
because they are out from under the cloud of potential removal and have
only the sky to limit their own achievement.
Glenn Harris, Paralegal
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