Building fences to keep out illegal immigrants won't work unless we also go after the companies that employ them. As long as there are jobs and government benefits to be had, people will find a way to come get them. This ironic story about Golden State Fence company getting caught hiring illegal workers highlights the need for a multi-prong strategy.
After an immigration check in 1999 found undocumented workers on its payroll, Golden State promised to clean house. But when followup checks were made in 2004 and 2005, some of those same illegal workers were still on the job. In fact, U-S Attorney Carol Lam says as many as a third of the company's 750 workers may have been in the country illegally.Golden State Fence built millions of dollars' worth of fencing around homes, offices, and military bases. Its president and one of its Southern California managers will pay fines totaling $300,000. The government is also recommending jail time for Melvin Kay and Michael McLaughlin, probably about six months. ...
Golden State Fence's attorney, Richard Hirsch, admits his client broke the law. But he says the case proves that construction companies need a guest-worker program.
No, it proves that fences won't stop employers from breaking the law -- but maybe fines and jail time will. Illegal immigration will only stop when we do all of the following:
1. Build a fence.
2. Punish employers of illegal immigrants.
3. Eliminate the publically-paid-for benefits enjoyed by illegal immigrants.
Once those are complete, let's talk about increasing legal immigration in a way that gives us control over who comes here, how long they stay, and what they're allowed to do.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS NOT A VICTIMLESS CRIME
Apologists for illegal immigration like to paint it as a victimless crime. But in fact, illegal immigration causes substantial harm to American citizens and legal immigrants, particularly those in the most vulnerable sectors of our population--the poor, minorities, and children.
Illegal immigration causes an enormous drain on public funds. The seminal study of the costs of immigration by the National Academy of Sciences found that the taxes paid by immigrants do not cover the cost of services received by them. We cannot provide high quality education, health care, and retirement security for our own people if we continue to bring in endless numbers of poor, unskilled immigrants.
Additionally, job competition by waves of illegal immigrants willing to work at substandard wages and working conditions depresses the wages of American workers, hitting hardest at minority workers and those without high school degrees. Ý
Illegal immigration also contributes to the dramatic population growth overwhelming communities across America--crowding school classrooms, consuming already limited affordable housing, and straining precious natural resources like water, energy, and forestland.
Smells like a bot.