In the post 9-11 environment, it was inevitable that illegal immigration could no longer be ignored. Not only does it create a security issue, but many States are going bankrupt funding the social programs that support it.
I've often thought it was unfair that businesses benefit from cheap labor and the taxpayer pays the tab.
This weekend, thousands are marching in protest of new laws intended to stem the flow of illegal immigration into the United States. Here is a current story by Reuters:
UPDATE 1-US immigration bill sparks protests, Bush plea
BUT there are security issues to consider. Illegal immigration is run by organized crime, no matter where the immigrants originate from. To work, most of these people need fake identification, which again are obtained from criminals.
In addition to this, many immigrants are forced to work in illegal activities to repay the criminals, who brought them over the border. The facts are that many illegal immigrants are horribly exploited.
AND illegal immigration isn't a problem just in the United States.
The State Department also published the 2005 Trafficking in Persons Report, which covers activity in 150 countries.
A lot of illegal immigrants are forced into slave labor, sexual exploitation and many other criminal acts. The people, who run this industry are not good people.
Sadly enough, it probably took 9-11 and the war on terrorism to bring this all to the forefront. Besides the obvious threat from fanatics, we need to stop people from being victimized by the trade in human flesh.
The bottom line is that we can no longer afford to let criminals control our borders. As we do this, we need also need to find kinder ways to allow immigration and protect the immigrants from being exploited.
There has to be a better way.
