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

[handworn.livejournal.com]

As a moderate Democrat, I nevertheless find myself probably as cynical about this as many on your wing of the spectrum: business owners are saying they should be allowed to stay because it would be a pain in the butt to replace them all, they'd have to pay the replacements more, and charge more to the customer, who might walk away from the deal.

Businesses love predictability above all, which the whole uproar about undocumented workers threatens. I suppose the UNITE guy is being much the same way.