Ten Facts of Immigration in the US.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
January 27, 2007 2:04pm CST
I came across this article by Tom Brokaw who is a very reputable newscaster. Does the change your opinion on illegals?
"Tom Brokaw Reports: In the Shadow of the American Dream," several points are indisputable:
In many parts of the country immigrants are doing the work Americans no longer want to do, especially the hard work of manual labor at construction sites.
In our reporting we discovered that most of them are paid a fair wage — $14.00 an hour for an entry level construction job, and that they are paying state and federal taxes through withholding. (Sure, some employers pay cash off the books but most we encountered are trying to play by the rules).
While local residents are conflicted about the spreading Hispanic culture - language and music - they agree the immigrants are very hard workers and in general have good family values.
But it is also clear the immigrants are straining the public and health systems without paying their fair share.
They live in overcrowded, often sub-standard housing in clear violation of local laws.
They're brazen about acquiring forged documents — from Social Security cards to driver's licenses — to get work.
And, most important, this complicated problem won't be solved until Mexico becomes a reliable partner in improving its own economy and enforcing the rules at its border.
We can build a high fence, send illegals back, crack down on employers and it won't end because it is about survival and a piece of the American dream, a powerful lure for immigrants from all over the world for 200 years.
3 people like this
14 responses
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
27 Jan 07
If the jobs pay $14.00 an hour, there should be no problem finding Americans to work them. I've felt all along that the employers are the ones who should be punished and if they are I believe it will stop. The truth is that not all those jobs pay a decent wage (Just check the kitchens in Upper Darby, PA) Many employers are paying slave wages to illegals while other employers struggle to pay Americans decently and give benefits.
2 people like this
@Miornir (22)
• United States
28 Jan 07
The problem is that most americans do not want to take certain jobs no matter how much they pay... I have seen really poor americans refuse to do certain jobs (like cleaning the streets or jobs that require messing with disgusting stuff) even when being verry well paid and being in need of the money.
The job still has to be done and if americans don't want to do it, well...
3 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
28 Jan 07
Miornir -
That simply is not true, not most, maybe a few, but far from most! MOST Americans will do what ever it takes to feed their family or themselves, including working more than one job. Many of these illegals are doing construction and restaurant work, far from disgusting jobs or jobs lacking Americans to fill the positions in. I use to work as a C.N.A., making minimum wage cleaning other peoples rear ends and clean up their vomit, that was nasty! The people that worked right beside me were Americans. The truth is they (illegals) take jobs that need no real training, jobs that only needs basic skills or skills they already possesses like roofing or picking crops. Not the crappy jobs, that Americans don’t want, but jobs Americans can't get because it doesn't even pay minimum wage and THEY pay taxes out of their pay checks. Contrary to the story above, most ilegals don't pay that there for would make money for the job.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jan 07
You are so right sunshine. I want to say I was in a rehab nursing home and I know just how hard the CNAs work and it was shift work. So there time they could not be with their children when they wanted. They definitely did not get paid enough and they had to have had training.
1 person likes this
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
28 Jan 07
The situation that illegal immigrants find themselves in is very similar to the situation that gay couples find themselves in when people accuse them of not having "real" relationships because they can't marry.
They could be productive members of society but there are so many barriers in place that prevent them from doing things like paying income tax, declaring their income, etc.
Obviously a solution needs to be found, but just deporting them or throwing them into the (already overstrained) jails isn't it. Think about what it would do to the US economy if you just took a million labourers out of it overnight? that would be incredibly destabilizing.
2 people like this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I don't find the illegals situation has anything similar with gay problems. Barriers in place are there because they are ILLEGALS. A million illegal laborers in jail only cost us the taxpayers money they are getting free bed and board. Actually I have never hear of a million illegals even being considered for jail. So deporting them would be very stabilizing not to mention being an excellent way of alleviating the unrest their presence is causing in the USA.
@monkeygirl17 (167)
• United States
28 Jan 07
There is SO much crime and hate crimes against Americans at the hands of illegal immigrants. Also, how many terrorists come through unchecked this way? Americans need to get smart and get rid of these immigrants fast. They are hurting the African-American communitities by taking away job opportunities there also.
1 person likes this
@Dolcerina (3376)
• Hungary
28 Jan 07
Sorry monkey, but what I see from Europe, that USA is the biggest terrorist in the world. And it should not be affraid of others nations if it let others live.
Anyway, I agree with the article.
@tlex107250 (667)
• United States
31 Jan 07
I do not have a problem with immigrants, who come to America legally. My parents came from Germany in the 1950's legally, learned the language, became citizens, and had a prosperous life. But I do not tolerate the illegal immigrant, who do what the can to pretend to be legal, and take money away from people who really need the money. These people are out for easy money and resources that could be better used elsware. Yes this country was founded on immigration, but there are laws in place to protect the freedom of the legal immigrant, and the illegal immigrants just want to take away from us. If they really want to be American citizens, then they should follow the law, and come here legally.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
31 Jan 07
Your response is saying exactly why I get so furious with the subject of illegals.
I came to the states the same way your parents did and earned the right be be a citizen.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
28 Jan 07
this is nothing new in this report and he is right it takes both sides of the border to make it work best. and alot of them will come and work fo r6$ an hour and run their butts off which most times wilol get some one hurt for they dont pay attention to safety rules!
Dont change my mind at all the american people need to get off hteir butts and get the jobs even if it is hard work build muscles and personality and hard work never hurt any one if they ( foriners) dont have a craft to work at they need to learn the trade before being put in the work force and I think the companies need to pay closer attention to the cards they look at they need to learn from NIS what to lookk for
2 people like this
@ninalinda (7)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I agree with Tom Brokaw that until Mexico and the U.S. come to some type of agreement about this immigration problem- it will continue. Amnesty is not the answer!!! I also agree, that even though the majority of immigrants are Hispanic, primarily Mexican, they are not the only group coming over illegally and we need figure out how to deal with the influx problem with other nations as well.
Now on a personal note, my grandmother came from the Dominican Republic in 1963 and she came over legally with a work VISA and she did not overstay her welcome either. She stayed with close friends of the family and worked cleaning homes and began the process to become a citizen. It took a very long time and she had left her children in the Dominican Republic while she did all of the paperwork legally. She cried and almost gave up- but as soon as she was ready to leave everything went through. Even though it was such a struggle- she did it legally and went through the process. It makes me sick that people think they can come over here and just take advantage of everything illegally and get all of these benefits without going through the process.
1 person likes this
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
28 Jan 07
Wow how i wish , i could work in the united states , they are so well paid ...i can't find any part time job that offers $14 an hour in my country yea ...
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
28 Jan 07
As someone who is presently unemployed, I'd take a construction job for $14/hr right now. Would love to have the experience.
Thank you for bringing this article to light, I have a discussion I started about the proposed wall between us and Mexico. Personally I believe it's a waste of money.
At any rate, yeah there are some good points here.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
28 Jan 07
Hi. I agree that there are pros and cons of immigration here in the United States. If the goverment would make sure that all people that are living here are treated equally, I don't see much of a problem or issue with it. It just seems to me that the government is letting too many people in here and they have no intention of making sure all of us are provided for.
1 person likes this
@kiran_raj (112)
• India
28 Jan 07
I totally agree to the this article by Tom Brakow but when they are ready to pay $14 an hr, why cant the Americans do the same??????
@cspopson (2)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I absolutely agree. Do you think that it is the United States responsibility to push Mexico to stop its corrupted government?
I believe that we (the US) are not moving in that direction because we think that it will be bad for our economy.
If the world was a perfect place, people would not worry about living in luxury. They would worry about those less fortunate than them, even though their life might not be filled with complete luxury.
@flagbabygirl (891)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I know 20 people in Flagstaff AZ that would kill to have $14.00 an hour construction job Here they pay $7.00 an hour, We have alot of illegal immagrants in our population because we are so close to the border..... I seetruck of them everyday! Our economy is in severe danger here ! The average home costs $280,000.00 and the average income is $7.50 an hour, Families working 2 jobs have to rent because the mortgages are too high! It is very sad..... Something must be done soon
