Immigrant Daily

My Reply

So I was browsing the Internet and came across  a comment that someone made in reference to an earlier comment of mine.  I just wanted to reply to this person’s comment on my blog .

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At what point are we, as legalized or natural-born citizens, going to get back to the point: the illegal aliens are breaking the law?

I am a 3rd generation American whose family had to endure Ellis Island and the process, so to should immigrants today. Just because they do jobs no one else may want, does not justify the ignoring or suspending the law.

Sent by Brian Simmons | 2:25 PM ET | 10-15-2007

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This comment is in response to Brian Simmons who claims that his family “endured” the process at Ellis island. What process is that? Back in those days, there were no limits on immigration to the United States. Your family simply showed up and here they are. The only thing they endured was a long journey from Europe. The people that come to the United States now from countries that are impoverished in part due to U.S. foreign policy do not have an option like your parents did. The visa program for low-skilled workers is broken and difficult to navigate. The breaking of laws could be viewed negatively, but lets face it – these laws are arbitrary and without any basis in logic or reason. Our country needs every immigrant it can get, whether legal or “illegal” to fulfill the empty positions.

Sent by Jan Krasny | 2:36 PM ET | 10-16-2007

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This response goes out to Jan Krasny. What laws do you refer to? Without laws there would be no society. We created the USA because we didn’t want to be like the UK. “arbitrary and without any basis in logic or reason”, I think not! Everyone US Citizen has a SSN and files taxes with the IRS, why should someone cross our border and NOT have to pay their taxes? I want the same benefit!! Why should those people not go through a screening process so that criminals don’t come here? Don’t the citizens of the US have that right?

Sent by Emery Parsons | 3:28 PM ET | 10-16-2007

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My reply:

I agree that we should screen immigrants that enter this country to exclude criminals.  I do believe that this is in our national interest for the purposes of security.  I also agree that laws are an important part of governance.  My comment however was aimed at the fact that the current immigration system is not functioning.  Thus it encourages people to enter the country illegally, because it is the only way that they can enter (except for the lucky few).  I call upon our legislators to fix the system, to allow people to come to this country legally and fill the positions that remain open.  You question my claim that our country’s immigration laws are not based in logic, but then how do you explain to me why the U.S. tech industry begs congress to expand the H-1B program, why the U.S. farmers are lobbying the congress to allow low-skilled labor into the country and why the country’s largest producers of meat are risking liability by hiring undocumented workers?  I will tell you why — because this country’s demand for labor is so high that our domestic labor pool is simply inadequate.  After all our country’s unemployment rate is at a mere 4%.  This is what I mean by saying that United States needs and can use every immigrant who wants to come in.  Lastly your assertion that “illegal” immigrants who come to this country do not pay taxes is absurd.  I invite you to read this wonderful article about how much taxes “illegal” immigrants really pay.  Perhaps you will be lucky enough to use some illegal immigrant’s social security contributions when you retire.  The idea that illegal immigrants pay no taxes is a myth.  I hope that one day our country will come to appreciate rather than fear the immigrants that come here.