Si me voy

[cyrano]

I am once again exposing my White Privelege. Because I need somebody to explain in small words something about the immigration issue. I understand why many in labor feel that the guest worker plan is a bad one--the idea that a corporation can basically blackmail employees by threatening to fire them and get them deported if they do anything inconvenient. But in an article I read today, UNITE HERE president Bruce Raynor says "There are 12 million undocumented people living here, who are important to the economy." So far, so good. I understand that. "They have a right to seek employement, and employers have a right to hire them." This is where I get confused. 'Undocumented' often means that they're in the country illegally, which I think would restrict some of their rights.
I don't understand the idea that somebody has gained entry to the country by breaking the law and therefore should be allowed to stay because they're already here. As a left wing socialist, I feel like I'm missing something.

Comments

[jholloway.livejournal.com]

Illegal immigration is vital to some sectors of the economy. It's "vital" in the sense that it allows employers to pay their employees less, deny them benefits, make them work in harsh or dangerous conditions, and so on, because they have no one to complain to.

"Guest worker" programs are pretty lame -- you just wind up with people living in the country for a long time who know they can't stay. They send as much money as they can out of the country, and they don't invest here, because they know they're not welcome. On the other hand, at least people here under that kind of visa have some kind of protection under the law.

But we're certainly not willing to tolerate a flood of legal immigration from Central America. Why is that, I wonder? Can you think of any possible reasons?

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

ut we're certainly not willing to tolerate a flood of legal immigration from Central America. Why is that, I wonder? Can you think of any possible reasons?
[SPARKY] You're... making one of your little 'points' again, aren't you? [/SPARKY]