I am told by a source I trust that a rumor spread like wildfire* through the Hispanic community yesterday to the effect that "the government" was going to do a sweep through Fort Wayne to round up Mexicans -- not an unreasonable rumor given the raids nationally over the last several days. People stayed home and called in sick -- one family apparently even hid in their basement. A couple of restaurants had to close over lunch, and several others spent most of the day trying to find people to cover their hours. Just in case you thought the illegal immigrant/undocumented worker issue didn't matter here.
*wildfire: 1.) a raging, rapidly spreading fire and, by metaphorical extension. anything that acts very quickly and intensely. 2) the name of the horse you ride when there comes a killing frost.
Comments
Steven Camarota is the Research Director for the Center of Immigration Studies. He spoke before a panel, which provides quantitative support against amnesty for illegal aliens as well as looking at increasing immigration.
C-span
Steven Camarota, Research Director for the Center for Immigration Studies, discusses the guest worker program.
3/29/2006: WASHINGTON, DC: 45 min.
80% of immigrants have a high school education.
18 to 64 year olds are make up the work force. The workforce includes those holding a job, unemployed and those who have left the job market.
There are four findings:
1. There are 65 million Americans with a high school education
2. 4 million are unemployed
3. 19 million have left the job market (no longer looking, the gave up)
4. The idea that there is no one there to fill a job is just plain wrong
Between 2000 and 2005 with a high school education; Saw unemployment increased by 1 million. Saw those not looking increased by 1.5 million. Those who did not complete high school saw their percentage holding a job decrease from 59% to 56%. Those with a high school education saw their percentage holding a job decrease from 78% to 75%.
The economic recovery has not helped these less educated workers, why? The idea that Americans will not perform jobs is just plain wrong. Occupations with highest immigrant participation have 22 million Americans in the same occupations. There are 14 million less educated Americans in heavily immigrant occupations. If there were jobs that Americans would not perform, then there would be few Americans in these occupations. In the highest concentration of immigrant occupations there are 1.7 million Americans unemployed. The Department of Labor and Commerce track 473 specific occupations to divide the economy. The number of immigrants counted represent 100% of legal and 90% of illegal workers. There was no majority occupation that immigrants do that Americans do not. If there were, it would show up as 80% to 90% of an occupation being immigrant. There are 35 occupations where immigrants make up nearly 1/3 of the workers but these occupations represent just 7% of the total U.S. Workforce. These 35 occupations have 5 million Americans employed.
Very interesting analysis, Bill. This is a very difficult issue....I keep wondering whether my great grandparents would have "passed the test" in the 1910's when they came here from Russia to escape the Cossacks' persecution and violence. My great grandfather was educated (a dental hygienist) but took a job digging ditches here while he worked his way through dental school. Since his prospects in Kiev were not bright (the "brightest" would have been to be engulfed in a big raging fire) I'm glad that the laws at the time allowed him and his family to come to America.
If having immigrants in my specific part of Fort Wayne (south side) means they WOULD work (as opposed to those that just plain DO NOT WANT TO WORK, but rather "hang out" all day and annoy everyone else)...I'm ALL for it!
There are those Americans that make the choice to NOT take ANY job (and society in general is all the more poorer because of it), but rather rely on "the system" to pay their way.
Immigrants came here then and now to make a LIFE for themselves and their families. And that meant W O R K I N G !
Sure there were unfair labor laws, children in sweat shops, and the like, but they only served to institute better laws, making the work experience safer and fairer for everyone.
ANY immigrant that wishes to come to America, work, and provide for themselves and their familiy has the RIGHT to do that, providing that the laws that govern immigration are followed. Rampant illegal entry into ANY country should never be tolerated.
If one were to "become" an illegal immigrant TO MEXICO....(if you're caught)...TWO years IN JAIL...no questions. THEN, deportation. And Mexico STRICTLY enforces that plan, using their military.
Personally, I would WELCOME some Burmese, Vietnamese, or whoever, that wanted to legally come here, and want to settle in MY neighborhood...it would sure beat the you-know-what out of the "playaz" we currently have bilking the WORKING people out of THEIR tax dollars.
Interesting study reported by Bill. I would be remiss to not include the fact that there are many who have never completed college and yet they have (on their own initiative) become "smarter" than many who are now graduating from these universities...and how do "they" become as viable a part of the workforce as their diploma-holding counterparts?
A curious debating point, be it philosophical and/or societal.
B.G.
Ah, if only that rumor were true. Instead, we Americans have a president who actively aids and abets the alien invasion.
They used to have a name for a fellow like Bush. I believe that name was traitor.
My grandfather came from Norway and my grandmother came from England. I am not against immigration. I am against illegal immigration. I posted what I did because after looking at the data presented by Camarota, it became obvious the media and politicians were not presenting the facts or were misinterpreting the facts.
This issue is difficult and complicated. However, to give amnesty I believe would be wrong. I would side with sending them back. We may not be able to send all back, but we should at least attempt that. When I attended the meet the Candidates forum in Lagrange, a sheriff stated they routinely called immigration to pick up illegals 25 years ago and they would send someone. Then they stopped picking them up so the sheriff