I don’t feel sorry for these businesses. If they would pay more and not try to hire people that will work for little or no pay then they may get American citizens to actually want to work for them. They will pay more one way or the other so why not be fair now to their workers and keep their companies afloat.

I think we should ask the indians

Let this be a lesson to all state legislatures…to think through carefully all the angles of the laws they’re trying to pass before actually passing them. Being told “I told you so” is a painful way to learn this lesson.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

The opposite seems to be happening in Oklahoma, where the unemployment rate has fallen since the adoption of tough illegal immigration sanctions. No problem filling jobs there, apparently.

“Caravans of families can be seen driving with all their household belongings, heading to the border, and businesses have put out “Help Wanted” signs.”

Good. I have no sympathy for them, or the companies that hire them.

Illegal immigrant labor is like a drug. Withdrawal often lies on the path to recovery. I would gladly pay more for produce and meat if the work was done by adequately compensated legal immigrants and citizens.

Unfortunately, this is a nation-wide problem, with intentional non-enforcement of immigration laws. The ultimate solution will have to be a national one, as well.

I’d be interested in just who was behind this “change of mind” in the AZ legislature.

Here’s a novel concept. Stop giving able-bodied Americans handouts from the government thanks to bleeding heart liberals and instead make them work for a paycheck and their food and their housing and their kids and their healthcare. Big businesses start paying people what they are worth instead of what you can get away with while you make the mega bucks far over and beyond your operating costs. And illegal aliens, go home until you can become an American legally like every other person has in this country. I have no sympathy for people who try to screw one over on our own citizens or a state that allows it to happen. Arizona, you deserve the mess you’re in. Now get out of it the right way for once.

I feel sory for these immigrants. Behind my neighorhood is a hispanic family who is illiegal. The parents don’t speak english but they have seven children. One of the children (who speaks english) comes over to my house to play and pet my animals. She is precious.
I give her things to take home because she is an underpriviledged child.
I don’t know what kind future this child has. I don’t even know if she will be deported or shifted around to hide. So sad.
This child is bright, loving and angelic. She deserves a chance in our country. she is just a little girl like any other little child. Why should the innocent children have to suffer?
Thanks for this report Randi. The answers are not easy.
Betty Ann
Nacogdoches,TX

Those who come into our country illegally and take over jobs that our citizens were doing at a liveable wage are no better than a bank robber. And bank robbers are put in jail.
These people over-populated their family and country resources and now feel they have a right to come into this country and use our resources. I call that irresponsible and selfish.
Why don’t they stay at home and built up their own ecomony??
Our government should enforce our laws that protect American citizens and our way of life.

Randi, I know that it’s going to have a impact but it has to be done, because we (my race:Hispanic) don’t multiple, we triple~ply there for in the long run we will end up paying more. I see it every day and I know illegals who have babies after babies in order to stay..there has to be a stop and it’s not just Mexicans(my race), it’s all of Latin America look past Mexico and you will see the wave coming at us.

I am confused. I thought that punishment was enforced by the law, not the law adjusted for the crime. A crime is a crime and the law should be enforced as it was designed to protect and to serve

Well, you know if people could be honest enough maybe something good can come out of it for all of us..who knows..but do the simple or get existed or established like regular U.S. American citizens basically has to in order to do something in the U.S. Its matter of doing the “Right Thing.”. But what be good is let existing immigrants that reside on U.S. soil, be allowed get green card of sorts,keep working like they be doing…or get a work card-green card something to that effect. After all you talking about 11 million immigrants right? and ones in country less than 30 or 15 days can hike back to where they came from. Ideas??????…….

What a one-sided blog this was. Did you interview the schools to find out if the overcrowding has disappeared and the hospitals as to whether or not emergency rooms are less crowded? I have friends who are Border Patrol Agents in AZ and they have a much different point of view then yours.

When will the media start printing the truth and not these sob stories to guilt us into feeling bad for these lawbreakers (the illegal immigrant and the businesses that employ them). We have immigration laws yet for some reason a segment of society feels they don’t have to abide by them and businesses are more than happy to take advantage of them.

360, maybe enough already? How long are you gonna be on illegal aliens’ side? Randi, how long are you gonna blame everybody, but Mexicans, for? 360 and you need to start thinking about the US, not illegal aliens!

Oh booo hoo to the business’s. Thats what you get for breaking the law. Now start to increase those wages and get the people on welfare in your fields!!

Maybe if our politicians would stop pandering to the few loud mouthed talk show hosts that can’t stop their endless yammering on this issue, we could get some common sense legislation through to make it possible for people to immigrate to our country with dignity.
Please note that I don’t hear any of the current major party candidates even willing to breach this subject.
Anyone know what it costs to go through the current process? How long does it take? What if your wife and children are in the U.S., and you”re across the border without a VISA?
Crack downs just don’t get down to the root causes for this stink pile of a mess. It’s akin to solving the drug problem by whooping out “Just say no.”

i dont understand this,you get guys like lou dubbs opposing immigration and yet jealous of the chinese,work force is what get a country to be more prosper espescilly when u get the tecnology to do it,this country greatest down fall is racism

Sorry, I have a big issue with immigrants. They come to OUR country, and complain about everything WE stand for. They want OUR holidays to be politcally correct, they don’t salute OUR flag, they want IN GOD WE TRUST off of OUR currency and every federal building. What more do they want. They won’t even speak OUR language. Please, if they don’t like what we do in the United States please, go back to your own country. Sorry, I just needed to vent. On CNN on the web today one of the headliners was about “immigrants not being able to send money home to their relatives in an other country because they needed that money to pay for gasoline for their automobile”. Give me a break. Ok does CNN think that the immigrants are the only ones paying 3.50 to 4.00 per gallon for gas for their cars to get back and forth to work, to buy food and heat their homes and keep a roof over them. Give me a break Ok. Done with this. I’m just venting and that is all. Sorry if I offend anyone, but its the way that I feel.

I just want the INS and IRS to process as many people as they can who want to stay here so that all the people who work in this country will pay income tax and contribute to the federal revenue system. I think part of the economy being bad can be traced to so many people taking OUT of our federal budget in social svcs . without contributing to the money that provides for these services.

I think the CNN Anchors or any of the other tv stations should not be biased about their opinions. I think that biased folks have a place on other tv shows such as Operah, the tonight show, ellen, etc… I also feel that not only Lou Dobbs but the owners of the network CNN are responsbile for establishing a culture in America that is racist. Mr. Dobbs is obsesed with putting up the Mexican border that he isn’t tackeling a border on Canada or the West or East Coast’s. Shame on you CNN. I am personally boycotting and recommending to all not to watch CNN as the culture that it’s now focusing on is the dehumanitariansm of all people in a nation of the free.

I for one do not feel sorry for the bussiness owners.America should take care of its own.These bussiness owers are suffering,because they expect the american citizen to work like we ourselves are from a different country.From day light till dark,with very little pay and no benifits.This is from experience.

@ Cindy: i totally agree. The reason American co’s can’t get american workers is they refuse to pay a LIVING wage. When co’s say they can’t get americans to work what they really mean is: we refuse to pay decent wages and the ILLEGAL immigrants will do it for peanuts.

All these companies are an abomination to the WORLD> you refuse to treat your own countryman decently and then you pay minute wages to the “lesser” people: the ILLEGAL immigrants. This country seems to forget the little word: ILLEGAL. ILLEGAL. ILLEGAL, BROKEN LAWS

Either we ALL stand together about ILLEGAL immigrants or we say to hell with it and OPEN DEM BORDERS. There should be NO COMPROMISE.

News concerning illegal immigration is so emotionally charged right now, it’s great to read an article that focuses on factual, verifiable information. Thanks!

Sounds like the best laid plans…. The guest program legislation sounds like a constructive solution; probably is what they needed to do to begin with. Thanks for bringing us up to date on this Randi. A lot of states with illegal immigrants could learn from the experience of Arizona.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

The business owners just don’t want to give up honest pay for honest work. Why pay $7.00 dollars an hour to Americans when you can pay some one illegal half that? Illegal immigrants come into OUR country, live 10-20 people to a house. The women apply for welfare and work jobs under the table for cash, while the men work for under-the-table cash. Then we have to pay millions a year to educate their kids because they don’t know english. (Goodness knows I don’t remember the last time I got an instruction manual that was ONLY in english) Our prisions are over flowing with immigrants that think our laws aren’t meant for them. And half of the money they earn any way is sent to Mexico. Where does all the money they send to Mexico go?

They want to say that the businesses are mad??? The people who should be mad are the immigrants that came into our country legally and who pay taxes.

I am tired of working hard because MILLIONS of illegal immigrants depend on me.

I think we should be hiring americans but people should be ready to pay more. That is the truth no one seems to talk about

The Guest worker idea sounds reasonable. Immigration itself is a complex issue. There have always been immigrants in the US; they have been a big part of making the US a strong economy. Good luck to Arizona.

Let this be a lesson to all state legislatures…to think through carefully all the angles of the laws they’re trying to pass before actually passing them. Being told “I told you so” is a painful way to learn this lesson.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Interesting how the media panders to illegal aliens. If you spoke with our Border Patrol Agents - you’d get a much different story. Let’s have some honest reporting/blogging.

Good grief, Randi. I’m so glad many of the readers/bloggers “called you out” on your biased, sloppy journalism.

Sounds to many of us like you must be *sleeping with Ruben Navarrette*!! hahaha!! Please look up the word “objective” Randi and try to learn it’s meaning!

Dear God. Some you bloggers’ writing is simply ATROCIOUS!! Or, many of you must be drinking heavily or on drugs!! Education is free in this country–most of you obviously did not take advantage of getting an education. I’m surprised many of you bloggers can even operate your computers at a functional skill level. But, apparently you all can–well enough to input your sloppy English and grammar–crappy writing!! I feel sorry for many of you! Go to night/adult school and take some English classes, PLEASE!! Your writing is REALLY POOR!!

In my younger years I worked for a huge corporation (bigger now) that hired illegal workers. I was a manager.

In our training classes we were taught not to hire illegal workers at our stores. In the stores, during hands on training, we were taught what an illegal SSN was.

Because most companies believe they are not the INS, they do not require that you deny an applicant work if they have an illegal SSN. As long as the applicant shows an SSN card with a number, it is copied and filed for any future use.

I always felt this was an oxymoron because the card with the number was the qualifier for an individual to work. If I knew it was illegal based on number sequence and hired the applicant, I was breaking laws and company policy, but I noticed that everyone turned their heads.

I learned two things:

If I did not hire these applicants I would be working awful hard because no one else was going to work for the rate offered;

And note to self: train someone else to do the hiring in my store so that I had a fall guy.

While you may say this is a travesty, it is how things worked in the real corporate world. Do you really think that a white american guy wants to look at hundreds of ungrateful consumers all day serving whatever the company serves for minimum wage? This is how our system worked for years.

At least the reversal of the law keeps employers accountable. They actually have to search for American, legal workers. IF this does not work, they have to get other workers by legal means from other countries. I think that this should be required of all companies. Perhaps they will offer higher pay and demand more production.

On another note…this is not the fault of the Mexicans. Perhaps if we paid China back, pulled out of their country and gave the outsourced jobs to Mexico, things would be as they should be . The way it is now Mexicans have to come over the boarder because there are no jobs in Mexico. Perhaps this would help with illegal overflow.

Sure be nice to hear one presidential candidate address this issue. Or any issue.

The reported stated that MILLIONS are being lost, how much of that goes to the workers. These business need to start paying a fair wage to the U.S. citizen and stop trying to make ALL the money.

Question: If I robbed a bank to feed my kids–isn’t that breaking the law. I want it better for my kids and I dare not to break the laws. I can’t go to another country and try to change the laws.

May 1st was LAW DAY, but we had a march of law-breakers! (LOL)

My Law: If you have a child in the U.S. and you broke the law coming to American–you and the child will be deported back to your country; any nationality!

Overcrowded in the schools, hospital, social service. Hospitals are closing, less money to the schools. They contribute nothing but cities and goverment going to bankrupt!

I don’t feel sorry for them, pay the people…the American people.

I do not feel sorry for anyone who enters this country illegally it is a shame that the children must suffer but its their parents fault and the fault of corporations hiring them. These invaders are coming to our country illegally taking jobs from Americans and bringing down wages not to mention draining our social service programs. I for one resent it deeply. Its hard enough for Americans. And to the lady who has the family living behind her in TX while it is a shame her family violated our laws by sneaking into this country and they are to blame. I bet if we started jailing the CEO’s of corporations and owners of companies who hire illegals it would come to a screeching halt.