Obama Revives Bush Plan To Seek Out Illegal Workers

The Washington Post:

President Obama will abandon a controversial immigration crackdown, sought by his predecessor, to pressure U.S. companies to fire 9 million workers with suspect Social Security numbers, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced yesterday.

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

Comments

[fairplaystacy]

go to hotels owned by indians in america near corporate parks and near fortune 500 companies that use a lot of indian IT workers.

They vacation here and work illegally bypassing the H1B program that was designed to protect American Jobs in designated industries.

They are stealing american jobs 3-6 months at a time using simple vacation visas. No enforcement is looking into vacationing IT workers who are brought here by Indian consulting companies and paid off-shore. American companies maintain plausible denial by engaging the "legal" indian consulting company that packs vacationing IT workers into sweat-shop like hotels. No arrests of this type of fraud have taken place yet. The fraud is cleverly being hidden in plain sight.

illegalindianlabor.host56.com/

[Sundialsvc4]

An "illegal immigrant" is ... let us face it ... a Slave.

That's why they're brought hundreds of miles across the Arizona desert in open trucks ... and if the truck breaks down, left to die.

That's why they don't get any sort of documentation. They are desperate, and they have fallen into the hands of predators.

Anyone who is here and paid to be here should be recognized as being here so that he or she will not be exploited as less-than-cattle. And, to be here, they must comply with the immigration law. But it is not so much they who must be punished, but those who knowingly and willingly "employ" (exploit) them. These are human beings just like ourselves. We must treat them as such.

Otherwise, Slavery has not left our shores.

[YewNeekId]

GOOD!

[clearthinker2008]

I believe in legal immigration only. Right now jobs are hard to find and illegals are breaking at least two laws. One is identity fraud. But it seems when they break laws it's OK, because they are just trying to make a better life for their families. Where is if someone legal steals some diapers for his kid because he can't get that construction job, he is going to jail.

I'm sick of the double standard, one for Americans and a different one for those who sneak in. My brother can't find a job, he's big and strong, and every construction crew we past by here in Atlanta has nothing but folks who doesn't seem to speak much English, only Spanish working. It's kind of odd to see every construction crew with only Spanish speakers in a city with unemployment for black men so high.

I'm not saying they are mostly illegal, but I'm not saying they are not either. I believe the companies should be forced to hire legal workers or go to jail. It isn't fair to Americans who waited in line and came over the right way, and it's not fair to the workers because they are marginalized and exploited, and it's not fair to the legal citizens that can't find jobs or fair pay.

[Whinger]

Look out auntie, you may still have to go home for the greater good.

[clearthinker2008]

How clever of you.

[blues101]

All immigrants should be legal. My mother and her family came via Ellis Island, legally. Fake s.s. numbers should not be allowed. I'm immigrant-friendly, but not thrilled about those who are here illegally that dont intend to become legal - but do reap the rewards of our freedoms and benefits. If i'm not mistaken, there was a law pushed through in south carolina that required all contractors to verify that all of their employees and laborers are in this country legally or pay a large fine - at least that's the last i heard of it. I have lived there and have had contracting work done and a large number of Mexican immigrants were the actual labor, and before that law, i was pretty convinced by the contractor's behavior towards the workers - that they might not be legal and were getting paid pennies to the dollar. It's for their protection - the racism and bitterness toward immigrant workers during this time of high unemployment in our country, especially in the south (because the maroons in office don't want stim, it's very high), is unacceptable and scary. There are a lot of hate crimes and open hostility. We do need to assure that our immigrants are here legally. As progressive as i am, it makes good sense for the good of all.

[euripedes923]

You either support the laws of this country or you don't. Calling someone an 'undocumented worker' instead of 'illegal alien' doesn't change the fact they're breaking numerous American laws. If you're here illegally, you need to get legal (if at all possible) or get out. It is that simple.

[easarsfield]

Immigration is really a catch 22.

On one hand, every single citizen of this country that is not native american is a descendent of an immigrant. Is it fair to deny others the same opportunities that our forefathers had?

At the same time, it is wrong that illegals are using fake and or stolen ss #s. It is wrong that companies are allowed to exploit cheap labor from illegals, especially given that fact the an estimated 4 million americans will loose their jobs this year. Illegals can be dangerous. Many are driving and do not have insurance. They use medical services and often do not pay for them.

Make all employers verify employee identification through their databases. Tax the employers that refuse to comply or that decide they want to keep illegals on their payroll. It will provide an incentive for companies to hire AMERICANS.

[PartyPartyParty]

Uh, Americans in general can be dangerous.

[RachelMc]

"On one hand, every single citizen of this country that is not native american is a descendent of an immigrant. Is it fair to deny others the same opportunities that our forefathers had? "

im so sick of this lame argument. every place on earth was taken from its "original inhabitants" now everywhere has developed boundaries with laws. we can not go around breaking another countries rules just because we hate how it was founded. believe me america is not the only nation with blood on its hands. its 2009 for goodness sake.

[blues101]

I agree with all except the last paragraph, actually the last sentence - unless you mean that once the illegal immigrants become legal Americans, they can be hired as Americans, given the same opportunity. There would be no issue about the immigrants being paid squat and used because of the fear of being found out causing legal citizens of America to lose or not attain employment - so it's a deterrant to companies, as well, who should choose who's best for the job from a pool of Americans and treat all employees equally. Become American and become an American worker on an equal playing field. There should be no objection to that.

[PartyPartyParty]

As long as NAFTA exists and U.S. corporations use contractors to fill positions at the lowest possible cost, there is absolutely no way to stop "illegal immigratio­n."

[FHTB]

Great point...an­y of you who spout the anti-immigration line forget that the whole reason we have an immigration issue is that companies make it lucrative and sensible for people to cross the border to seek work in the States, and Mexico takes the blame also for not providing jobs which offer a reasonable wage to give people the incentive to stay within their own country...­conservati­ves love to demonize the Mexican worker when the true criminals are the companies that make it so enticing for them to even bother wanting to cross into the States illegally.­..crack down on employers and the reasons to come here will end quickly, and yes, stop NAFTA...th­ose two actions alone will alleviate many of the illegal traffic into US, mark my words.

[clearthinker2008]

I believe in legal immigration only. Right now jobs are hard to find and illegals are breaking at least two laws. One is identity fraud. But it seems when they break laws it's OK, because they are just trying to make a better life for their families. Where is if someone legal steals some diapers for his kid because he can't get that construction job, he is going to jail.

I'm sick of the double standard, one for Americans and a different one for those who sneak in. My brother can't find a job, he's big and strong, and every construction crew we past by here in Atlanta has nothing but folks who doesn't seem to speak much English, only Spanish doing all the working. On, roads, on roofs, laying carpet, putting in hardwood floors, working at the big Asian grocery stores, etc. It's kind of odd to see every construction crew with only Spanish speakers in a city with unemployment for black men so high in Atlanta.

I'm not saying they are mostly illegal, but I'm not saying they are not either. I believe the companies should be forced to hire legal workers or go to jail. It isn't fair to Americans who waited in line and came over the right way, and it's not fair to the workers because they are marginalized and exploited, and it's not fair to the legal citizens that can't find jobs or fair pay.

[Ravenback47]

You shouldn't be here illegally and using fake SS numbers. What is the complaint against cracking down? Stop debating on no-brainer issues. Such a waste.

[PartyPartyParty]

How about you start insisting that places where you do business pay workers a decent wage and cover health care costs?

But that would be such a waste, wouldn't it?

[KnowzyRowzy]

I agree

[clearthinker2008]

If I use a fake drivers license or ss card I would be sent to jail for fraud.

[SangZe]

Bush and Obama.

[PartyPartyParty]

=Bushama

But I think it's more like:

Nixan H.W. Clibushama

[nee]

What is "controversal" about cracking down on people who use FAKE SS numbers? Those who hire ILLEGALS should be heavily fined and/or jailed. Without jobs ILLEGALS will self-deport and we will save BILLIONS of tax payer dollars!

[RowJimmy]

It is interesting that if you are Conservative or Liberal most people believe illegal aliens are a big problem since they see it in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, both parties want them here because big business and wall street want them here. Our elites ignore any problems the middle class or poor have and just try to keep us busy arguing about silly topics. Democrat politicians want them here because they are potential voters in the future and they could mean the end of the GOP. Republican politicians in collusion with big business want them here for the cheap slave labor. And at the same time both parties will not address the fact that we have exported our manufacturing capabilities to third world nations in Asia and South America with our "Free Trade" Agreements. So they import slave labor to displace Americans while exporting good manufacturing jobs that also displaces Americans. Obama campaigned on getting rid of the terrible Free Trade agreements and dealing with the outsourcing of jobs. Unfortunately, he ignores those problems because the powers that control him are addicted to the cheap labor and could care less about saving American Jobs.

[clearthinker2008]

Great comment.

I believe in legal immigration only. Right now jobs are hard to find and illegals are breaking at least two laws. One is identity fraud. But it seems when they break laws it's OK, because they are just trying to make a better life for their families. Where is if someone legal steals some diapers for his kid because he can't get that construction job, he is going to jail.

I'm sick of the double standard, one for Americans and a different one for those who sneak in. My brother can't find a job, he's big and strong, and every construction crew we past by here in Atlanta has nothing but folks who doesn't seem to speak much English, only Spanish doing all the working. On, roads, on roofs, laying carpet, putting in hardwood floors, working at the big Asian grocery stores, etc. It's kind of odd to see every construction crew with only Spanish speakers in a city with unemployment for black men so high in Atlanta.

I'm not saying they are mostly illegal, but I'm not saying they are not either. I believe the companies should be forced to hire legal workers or go to jail. It isn't fair to Americans who waited in line and came over the right way, and it's not fair to the workers because they are marginalized and exploited, and it's not fair to the legal citizens that can't find jobs or fair pay

[Blufftonian]

Hmmm . . . think I found one . . .
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090709/ids_photos_wl/r3356552547.jpg/

[RowJimmy]

LOL. Obama got caught staring at a nice booty. Sarkozy likes it too.

[ThermoChemist]

: )

The caption for the picture should read:

"U.S. President Barack Obama (C) and France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (R) caught looking at woman's booty...!

Much like McCain "checking out" Palin during her speeches (!!!)

[PKatherine]

hahah. so wrong!

[Obamalicious]

No matter how you stand politically you have to admit that, in this poor job market, we need to let an American citizen gain employment over an illegal immigrant.

[blues101]

And my point was and is - Politics should play no part in this, and that it's in the best interest of those who are here illegally to become American citizens, and thus be able to compete for jobs they might be gifted at performing. Being considered along with all the rest of us looking for employment. I don't begrudge anyone no matter where they come from, a job that they are qualified to perform better than I. How can they not appreciate the importance of becoming an equal and being entitled to the same freedoms and opportunities as citizens in the country they've emigrated to? No driver's license, improper i.d., no insurances, no health care, coolie wages. There are roadblocks all over and yet some refuse to become citizens or travel with a legal work visa until they can become citizens. "Jumping the Fence" will never sit well with me, as sympathetic as i am to their plight in their birth country.

[clearthinker2008]

Agreed, but it isn't going to happen.