Some thoughts about the cost of "illegal immigrants" (undocumented workers is more accurate):
http://cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html <-- this study indicates both the extra $$$ the undocumented workers bring in as well as areas where they take more. I think what was interesting was this:
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Because both their income and tax compliance would rise, we estimate that under the most likely scenario the average illegal alien household would pay 77 percent ($3,200) more a year in federal taxes once legalized. While not enough to offset the 118 percent ($8,200) per household increase in costs that would come with legalization, amnesty would significantly increase both the average income and tax payments of illegal aliens.
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I can certainly see the benefit of not becoming documented. To say that they should return home and put efforts there, I do not think that's realistic. In my last work related visit to Mexico City (Santa Fe to be specific), I saw a billboard -- by one of the local cartels -- advertising work with full benefits (including education for kids). The reality is that the country -- from what I saw and read in the local english papers (not sure how accurate they were) -- or at least the gov't continues a fairly corrupt and the only solution would be civil war. This could mean a whole family being killed. Compare this to coming to the US where the worst is deportation and/or jail.
I dunno. I can see why it's more appealing to come here. Additionally, CIS does point out that when the first "settlers" (read: illegal immigrants) landed in the US there was no gov't and any gov't was rather small and localized. If the gov't was like what exists today back then, I can bet that many wouldn't be allowed to stay.
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Originally Posted by Kobi
Funny, how our economy is in the tank and I see more Americans doing landscaping and general labor work this year then ever. A job is a job, and our priority should be to citizens and those here legally.
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I don't know if removing the undocumented would resolve the work scenario. Many of the jobs that are maintained/held by undocumented workers are below minimum wage, have no benefits and are difficult. It's not to say that a US citizen wouldn't be able to do to the work, I can bet that the company wouldn't last long without someone suing them for their wages being too low, which in turn, would likely cause it to close.
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Companies can use H2 visas and get workers here legally to do "scut work". One does not have to resort to illegal people..
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Umm.. My company is applying for an H1-B for me. They got me an L1-B previously. That one cost the company $20K. I have no idea how much it will cost to get the H1-B (and eventual green card) but the reality is that it's not as cheap or easy to get those visas. Additionally, it will force companies to pay -- at minimum -- minimum wage. For some, this would defeat the benefit of having a worker from the South (which seems to be the most concern -- few seemed concerned "aboot" all them Canadians staying here).
I think it's myopic for any nation to say that the solution to everything is to "kick out the illegals!". That will not resolve issues and will actually make things worse.
You can read the full CIS study here:
http://www.cis.org/node/54