It isn't slavery. Immigrants have a choice to work for a wage or not. That isn't slavery. Pretty much the opposite, since they have choices. Now, you could say that their status gives them less leverage over employers, which is true, but there is an alternative solution to that: don't try to centrally plan the market with ridiculous immigration laws.
They are doing it to survive, not by 'choice'. A lot of them, going back to their country of origin is a death sentence. Being a slave making some money is better than 6 feet under. It's not right, the US leadership has brainwashed the population in believing that it's ok.
The state wouldn't own it, it would be banned. Big difference. We already do it with BYD because we are protecting the domestic auto industry.
It is a bad situation for the kids but the people who caused it are the parents by breaking the law. People do things all the time that make things hard for their kids but they don't get a free pass because they have kids. The kids are free to go back with them I am sure. You don't reward the parents by letting them stay because they got away with it for 20 years and had kids here. That will just give incentive for others to come here illegally.
They are perfectly free to work for below market wages or starve to death, just as the homeless are free to live in a tent or purchase housing ... the freedom of capitalism
Although I don't know if his proposal has actually been implemented Stephen Miller has demanded that the termination of ICE agents who fail meet their quotas.
The answer is to legalize the labor to ensure the immigrants are making at least minimum wage and give them legal protections against being taken advantage of. And we should not be slaves to our laws, and laws should serve the people, not the other way around. Who benefits from this couple being deported? Certainly they do not. Their kids do not. Their employees do not. And the community as a whole doesn't benefit either. So why should we carry out the law just because the law is written? Can anyone justify it? As MLK Jr. said, we have an obligation to follow just laws just as we have an obligation not to follow unjust ones. There is no justification for deporting this couple if everyone loses. And if allowing this couple to stay encourages more persons like them to come, start families and build businesses here, how is that a problem?
I know it was already hit on but calling it slavery is pretty absurd. You can tell me it's immoral, and I think there's something to be said there. But consenting Adults are free to sell their labor as they see fit.
I dont think its absurd even if its technically not slavery, there is an element of coercion and we are not talking about two equals making a free exchange of compensation for labor. An undocumented laborer is not in a position to bargain fairly, even by free-market capitalist standards. "Work for pennies on the dollar or I'll call the cops" is not a labor market.
I think some level of that bargaining power is willfully being given up by coming to this country to work. These people aren't stupid. They understand the situation.
If they couldnt command more compensation here they wouldnt be coming at all, so they are increasing their bargaining power at least in raw $, but they are not on equal terms as other laborers here, so can be exploited.
they had over 20 years to try and make this right and CHOSE not to do so- had 4 anchor babies- this is on them
Maybe somewhat off-topic when Trump was building the original Trump Tower he hired a team of undocumented Polish immigrants for demolition and tried to stiff them including the threat that if they complained about not being paid he would report them to the INS. In the end they successfully sued him and were also given legal status. What Donald Trump Knew About Undocumented Workers at His Signature Tower
I’d wonder how many work for “pennies on the dollar”? Obviously they must make a living or they wouldn’t be so desperate to come here. I assume most make pretty normal wages, but the illegals without a SSN obviously are likely unbanked/paid in cash and the employers don’t pay into payroll taxes. The illegals themselves probably don’t give a shit about that - as long as they get paid, but it’s still a problem for those business who abide by the law as any business that pays cash under the table is in effect skimming off the top and gaining an advantage over those who pay salaries/payroll taxes in full and above board. I have no problem with the workers as long as they didn’t do any crimes or identify theft, sign ‘em all up as guest workers and pay them above board.
I mean, you won't get any argument from me that they should be given legal status. I definitely don't think we should be sending anybody into a death sentence over immigration "crimes" that weren't even crimes until recently and are still misdemeanors even now.
