Vol. 3, No. 12
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April 15, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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Top News Story:
Debate Continues Over Immigration Issue In D.C. And Nevada
The Issue Is So Complex That Simplistic Answers Will Enlarge The Problem
In perspective, part 2
by Johnny Gunn
In our continuing series of in-depth reporting on the complex issues of immigration and immigration reform, it's time to take a look at one part of the problem that was probably created purposefully by the government and business working in collusion. For at least 40-years the border between Mexico and the United States has been porous at best and through the holes have come multitudes of destitute illegal immigrants. The government's efforts to slow or stop the tide have been lax at best and some believe this was done to help commercial interests in this country.
And now, what do we do? To attempt to send millions of people out of the country because we allowed them in, in the first place is going to wreak untold economic hardship on large numbers of commercial interests throughout the country. Looking at the problems of illegal immigration from a purely business point of view, the concept of sending millions of currently employed people out of the country would be devastating.
The current national unemployment rate is at or near the five-percent mark, which means basically that those earnestly seeking work are probably working. There is a tiny pool of available workers at the ready, and if millions of those on the payroll are fired and sent home, there aren't people available to fill the vacancies. It is true that thousands of companies, large and small across the country seek out illegal immigrants because they will take menial jobs, will work for less than prevailing wage, and won't cause trouble knowing they could be deported at the whim of the employer. These companies, these employers are as illegal as those they hire and have been for more than a quarter of a century.
Many believe that the numbers of immigration officers have been kept low, that border guard ranks have been kept thin on purpose. That the federal government was working in collusion with major corporations to allow illegal immigrants easy access to jobs in this country. Such a statement will probably never be provable, but when all the facts are assembled it certainly makes sense. A migration involving millions of desperate people seeking to better themselves isn't even slowed by government agencies that are undermanned, have little resources at their disposal, and yet work for the largest most powerful country in the world is one way of defining the word conspiracy.
Today, it's time to pay the bill and the question that is asked is how? The U.S. Senate has set aside the question until after the Easter recess. When they return they will be looking to create a single immigration policy that is actually two full-throated questions. Number one, make the border secure. There are many that believe the threadbare border allows much more than illegal immigrants passage, that drug runners move back and forth freely, and possible terrorists could and probably do move through will impunity. That part of the equation should not be difficult even for senators to appreciate. It's what to do with the millions of illegal immigrants that are already here, working that will create the most debate. That question is currently being debated on the streets and in the parks of communities across the country.
How to handle the question of what to do with millions of people will not be an easy one and it will take deep thinking, critical thinking to find equitable answers. Many of these people we simply refer to as illegals have been here for years, are raising families in the American tradition, feel as though they belong. They pay taxes, pay into Social Security, hold meaningful jobs in many instances, and are often neighborhood leaders. The tourist industry in Nevada hires thousands of immigrants, many believed to be here illegally, and the economic impact of those people not being available would be severe.
There were massive demonstrations designed to show that economic impact during the week of April 10. Thousands of people marched in Reno, more thousands marched in Las Vegas, and many businesses found themselves without employees for a day. The government and industry are responsible for the situation, but as is so often the case, it will be these little guys that will pay the most.
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