The bar is set too high for immigrants to comply with the law of becoming legal, so they come here anyway. Some believe, although impossible, if we stopped illegal immigration, that the laws of supply and demand would increase wages to become more desirable for Americans. This might be true but the prices for the products from those jobs would not be so desirable.
If illegal immigrants are interrupting the laws of supply and demand as the article “The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration” would suggest why make them illegal. We should put them on the same playing field as Americans. Instead of tax free below minimum wage workers, why not manage the immigration problem by making it easier for foreign workers to obtain work visas? This would quickly increase taxes from workers who would now be complying with the law. It would also greatly decrease illegal immigration by those who want to comply with the law but have no other recourse if they want to work here (this still does not make it right but its reality).
4 comments:
If we were to deport the "illegals", the supply of labor would decrease in jobs which, quite frankly, many American's are "too good for." That probably would raise prices on many products that we regularly use as Americans. Perhaps with current economic conditions, however, more American's would be open to those jobs. I believe that prices would still rise, however, since documented American's would be more willing to demand higher wages for the work.
Also, you have to remember that the "illegals" do pay taxes into the system, i.e. sales tax, property tax (either through owning a home or included in their rent), vehicle registration, fuel tax, etc...
And to assume that the majority of "illegals" get paid under the table is simply inaccurate. I worked as an accountant for a construction company, and I'm sure that quite a few of our employees were not properly licensed in the United States. However, we still paid them a paycheck and withheld takes (federal, social security, etc...) every week they were paid.
I agree that worker's visas should be more readily available for those who want to be in this country legally, but to make everyone automatically "legal" would take away from the rule of law in our country.
-2 on MIA for multiple spelling and grammatical errors.
If there's one thing the last 2 years should make clear, it's that one way to slow down immigration is to have a good recession.
This is a problem that isn't fundamentally about the law and enforcement, which is why they are making such a hash of it.
People come here for 2 reasons: 1) the well-being differential is large enough to make them want to, and 2) their home countries are doing well enough to make emmigration more broadly feasible.
Any system that is going to confront this problem is going to need to recognize that people who recognize the above 2 points are doing the right thing, and aren't likely to stop.
I would agree with you that relaxing immigration laws could help to solve the illegal immigrant problem in America; however, I don’t believe we will be able to get a handle on illegal immigration until we can stop to practice of paying under the table. As long as companies are willing to engage in such activities, there will be always be those willing to do the work. I think reform is needed with respect to how work visas are issued and maintained. In many countries it is up to the hiring agent to provide sponsorship for their expatriate employees. The employer can negotiate with the employee as to shared-ownership of any costs associated with the visa issuance, but the company is ultimately responsible for adherence to the law.
Aicha435: 50/50
And ... this will never happen because farmers have political power and they've always payed illegals under the table. An update to the system like you suggest would reduce their surplus.
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