Share:

The Department of Homeland Security has dramatically stepped up raids against employers who hire illegal aliens. Recently, the Bush Administration opted to rewrite regulations to ease restrictions of how foreign laborers can legally be brought into the country to meet the demands of agriculture; effectively extending the time laborers from Mexico work in the country.It seems that by vetoing guest worker policies, the Bush Administration is missing the big picture and continue to fail to notice three things:

First, immigrants have become an integral part of the U.S. economy.

The number of illegal immigrants in the workforce has increased dramatically since the 80s despite the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act – currently, three-fourths are farm workers.

U.S. union workers say that, when it comes to ‘jobs no one else will do,’ if businesses were to pay union workers $30 an hour – immigrants are paid less than half of that – for those jobs, they would gladly take the jobs. That is simply unrealistic and ignorant.

It is in the best interest of businesses to pick the workers who will increase their profits and reduce productivity costs.

It all comes down to money.

High tech engineers in India are hired over U.S. engineers because it’s cheaper labor. Some business owners say they are better disciplined and less likely to make costly mistakes.

The trend is seemingly changing, though. Accenture – the world’s largest consulting firm – Dell, Northrop Grumman Corp., and Xpanxion are first to take part in a plan to set up 50 centers specializing in computer work in small towns in the U.S., and are recruiting American workers. These new small-town centers are expected to save Northrop $15 million annually in payroll costs alone; a perfect example of how businesses will stick to what is most cost-efficient – in effect, bringing work back home.

It is not likely that this is the answer to outsourcing, though. A survey of more than 500 large U.S. companies last year by a consulting firm found that 60 percent of them had shipped work to other countries. Another firm predicted that about 3 million high-tech jobs would go overseas by 2015.

Second, increasing border patrol is wasteful and ineffective.

About 660,000 illegal immigrants come into the country through Arizona annually alone.

Further fencing the border is an immense project that cannot assure a significant slowing of the flow of immigrants.

The influx of immigrants to California and other western states has slowed. Immigrants are heading further east and are even reaching Maine.

Third, immigrants do not wish to stay in the country forever. A huge amount of money is sent from workers in the States back to Mexico every year; not to mention the interest paid for sending it.

Ironically, the government’s immigration raids defer them from returning home. Authorities use rough tactics in these raids and split up families, leaving U.S.-born children behind.

Mexico’s unsteady economy almost forces natives to come to the U.S. Corruption and abuse of power do not allow for growth in their economy and steady competition among Mexican businesses, crucial to a growing economy.

The U.S. is the best country in which to start a new life, especially for those trying to escape poverty, a cruel government, or simply wish for a better standard of living. The U.S. should focus on understanding and introducing guest worker programs.

Follow: