PRI: Public Radio International

Americans find ways to support undocumented immigrants

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:20:00 -0500

In Alabama and Mississippi, immigration reform is at the forefront of political debates. Controversial laws that limit opportunities for immigrant students in several Southern states have prompted immigrant allies to develop a 21st century "underground railroad" of assistance for their undocumented neighbors.

Ali

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:08:00 -0500

Mr. Hawkins no doubt thinks it's great. He doesn't have to live with the consequences. Instead, he benefits from cheap labor to make his product and cheap labor to tend his lawn and his kids. Meanwhile, the state of California is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Doris

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 12:49:27 -0500

actually, everyone benefits from cheap labor. what do you think will happen if all the cheap labor disappears and they have to start paying salaries American citizens demand? you don't think the higher costs will be absorbed by the business owners, do you????

Christian

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:41:25 -0500

Good article. We as a nation are beginning to realize how much these so-called illegals actually contribute to the economy. Study after study has shown that passing conprehensive immigration reform will boost the economy. If the Republicans wanna win in November they MUST change their tune on immigration!

Darren

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:44:34 -0500

All the ongoing attempts at CIR and immigration enforcement is complete BS. It's been like that for over a decade and people buy the crap thrown at them. Not condoning the illegals for breaking the law, but turn back the calender and look at the economy when we didn't choke peoples lives. The longer we take to fix our immigration system the longer it will take for us to get back to a normal economy. These people have ben here a long time, part their crime for crashing in and part our for not containing our borders effectively, and they are not going anywhere because the worst treatment here is as good as the best treatment in tier own native countries. They are a huge part of our GDP, consumer and labor force. To smply do nothing or displace, lets say, 11 million ain't gonna do us any good. We talk about farmers paying a higher wage for farm labor so we Americans will take those jobs, yet how many of us are willing to work in the hot sun or willing to pay more for our produce. If farmers raise wages, we'd have to pay more for our produce and if thats the case it might just be cheaper to import our produce that have to go through the whole farming process.

It's easier said than done all the time. Congress very well knows how things are but they choose to not act and somethings things just get too late to be fixed.