Reply #33: So is our economy expanding so much ...

[SujiwanKenobee]

that all immigrants (illegal and legal) are supported by new job creation? I Have a hard time visualizing agricultural enterprises expanding on what limited lands are left by urban sprawl. Where are the initial workers who were hired going if there is suddenly a need for new workers to fill their slots? Obviously no one who comes here wants to be relegated to a lifetime position at menial tasks, which is said to be the main reason we "need" people willing to do this sort of work. If that is the case, then unless the immigrants return home to be replaced by those who just want to work for low wages, there will be a constant influx from over the borders with few returning.
What we are seeing is a massive redistribution of wealth occurring from a rich nation which won't engage in the practice willingly, to a poor country. While the two countries are in such disparity, those who can send the most $$ home, raise their standard of living tremendously in the home country. I know of some illegals who can't wait to go back after the make enough money to start a business in their village or just to get back to family left behind.

In the DC area, small scale construction tradesmen often hire illegals under the table, claiming that locals are too malcontent and want all kinds of special treatment or don't work as hard. On the down side, most are not educated and even after a couple years are not speaking English. They rely on one person who seems to be permanent translator. ALso, it is hard to explain complicated instructions to them without a well educated foreperson and jobs aren't always correctly done. (This is what I was told by a person in the biz).

While on some fronts I am sympathetic to the idea of a person seeking a better life, I do not want the US to become another version of Mexico or South America just by sheer numbers of immigrants who don't necessarily look beyond the economic opportunities here for their allegiance. I think the elites of those countries export their problems here so as not to deal with painful solutions at home.