By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR
Editor, HR Daily Advisor
Just My E-pinion
Our recent column featuring a question about amnesty for illegal immigrants generated responses from many readers, most of whom voted (or railed) against amnesty. [Go here to read the original column.]
The original questioner/writer had low-level positions to fill. No one with a legal right to work wanted the jobs, but many who couldn’t prove their right to work did want the jobs. “We can’t violate the law, but we do want to fill the positions. … It seems a shame not to employ otherwise employable people in jobs that remain open. What do you think about amnesty for illegal aliens currently in the United States?”
Here’s a sampling of the responses we received; we’re sorry we couldn’t print them all.
“I have to wonder what our government is thinking. We have laws to cover this issue. Let’s abide by them and enforce them.”
“If I illegally entered Bush Stadium to attend a St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game I’d be removed, arrested, and perhaps charged with a crime. So why should the law be ignored in the case of illegal aliens?”
“I do not believe in amnesty for illegal aliens. An illegal act has been committed and must be addressed, but I don’t think we have to throw people out of our country (that has become theirs) or confine them to jails unless they have committed illegal acts not related to the immigration issue. Perhaps some type of probation and fine would be more appropriate.”
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“I know there are terrorists, criminals, and others who should not be allowed to immigrate, but I believe there are more good, hardworking people just looking for a chance and should be given one. After all, THIS IS AMERICA!”
“Yes, it would be wonderful to give amnesty to all the illegal immigrants. That way we send the message to the rest of the world to continue to come to America illegally and eventually we will reward you for committing a crime.”
“No one outside of those areas where there is a large illegal population should have a say in this situation because they don’t understand the real issues involved. Stop the access to jobs, and the situation is 90 percent resolved. Thank you very much for the opportunity to vent my frustration with the whole situation that the national government has not provided border security.”
“We have a seriously broken system if we are willing to hand over jobs to those who would be otherwise ineligible, while millions of Americans choose unemployment over a job they think is beneath them. We are both rewarding illegal immigration and encouraging Americans to be lazy, all at taxpayers’ expense! Thanks for letting us vent!”
“This is the perfect example of a paradox. We don’t want people to be here illegally, a valid and perfectly honorable desire, but we are not ready to lose the benefits we’ve had by allowing this to happen, nor are we ready to make the sacrifices that would be required from all of us if we implemented laws to stop illegal workers from being in this country.”
“I feel that giving them amnesty is a waste of time as they are working here already and not paying taxes, why would they take advantage of an amnesty?”
“First, let’s all remember, illegal aliens can, usually, become U.S. citizens if they want to. The process is deliberate and time-consuming, but very possible.”
“How about this for a solution? An illegal must apply for a ‘guest worker’ permit and pass a background check. The permit entitles them to work here and live here, but because they were first here illegally, they cannot apply for citizenship for 10 years. The 10-year waiting period is their ‘punishment’ for initially breaking the law. Seems simple to me.”
“I am not sure amnesty needs to be part of immigration reform, but I think the actions taken by the Arizona governor are deplorable! She has created a system where police are instructed to stop people by racial profiling. Arizona has taken a very dangerous step in the wrong direction.”
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“Most are terrific workers, diligent, hard working, honest, and do not want to stay in the country for any purpose other than [to] work. In spite of the absurd rhetoric on this issue about them ‘burdening hospital ERs,’ there is absolutely no data to support that. They contribute far more than their Anglo counterparts to the workforce with their work ethic and family-oriented culture.”
“I believe that part of the problem is that the immigrants are not blending into society. Instead they recreate the third-world environments they came from and force the local residents out. They don’t need to learn English because we spoon-feed everything to them in their own language—advertising billboards, newspapers, television channels, even grocery-store items—you have to look hard for the ingredients in English anymore.”
“I think that filling these positions takes more creativity than the question asks for. A couple years ago I recruited for a low-tech production line where we paid just above minimum. I went to continuing education high schools and recruited those who weren’t going on to college and who needed a job and a way to get some experience before they went on to trade school. These have been some of our best employees, some of whom have come back to us as skilled engineers or have stayed on to be our managers.
Our thanks to all who commented on the amnesty article.