Here in New York State I've personally met quite a few "illegal" immigrants that work in businesses other than field work. Many of these folks work in the restaurant business, retail stores, grocery markets, cleaning businesses, child care, automobile detailing, car washes, and other fields.
Though these jobs that they do may not be positions that the average college graduate would want or be interested in, there are plenty of Americans that would gladly fill these jobs, if only paid accordingly for their labor.
Many businesses, big and small, have simply become addicted to hiring folks that cost them less money overall and that "greatly" help their bottom lines.
It's a form of outsourcing, but in the most un-american way possible, IMO.
At least with a company that outsources to foreign countries, it does not cause direct support of people breaking U.S. laws.
One may get very upset at seeing so many jobs being given to people located in other countries, which causes many U.S. jobs to be lost forever, but at least they are not supporting an "illegal" worker. Hiring an undocumented worker is "directly" supporting the unacceptable behavior of people crossing our borders without permission. This is truly a very un-american thing to be involved in, IMO.
Though many will defend themselves for doing this "undocumented" hiring, it usually just comes down to a personal greed. Most of these people convince themselves that what they are doing is okay, even though it's obvious that they are hurting our country in order to feed that personal greed. "Americans" themselves are the cause we are having this immigration problem, and we must cut out the sugar source that is bringing us the ants.
I believe there should be "major" Government involvement at all levels (City, State, and Federal).
*Laws should be made easier to arrest and deport "illegals".
*Police agencies should be given the authority to arrest "illegals" (extra police manpower should be given to those areas that have the worst "illegal" immigrant problems).
*Major walls/fencing, National Guard troops, high quality electronic surveilance systems, higher concentration of Coast Guard near plagued areas, and much more should be placed on borders and water ways.
*Extreme penalties for hiring "illegals", including losing business licenses and such, if found guilty of the offense more than once.
*Law change (though I really don't know if it's needed, since it may apply now with the correct interpretation), where persons born here will automatically be U.S. citizens only when born to an American citizen, or to a legal U.S. resident.
*Social Services should be made legal only for U.S. citizens.
*Proof of citizenship should be shown at voting stations. I know this one may be a problem for some. For the record, I have no problem with it, and should go far in stopping all the illegal voting practices that many "Americans" are involved in as well.
*Schools should only teach U.S. citizens and legal U.S. residents.
*No legal licenses, (drivers license or otherwise), should be given to any non U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident.
*Medical care should only be given to an "illegal" immigrant if there is a true emergency situation, but then the hospital should also be required to call immigration services to deport the person once he/she has been treated and is well enough to be moved. Child birth is an emergency, but the child should remain a citizen of whatever country the mother illegally came from.
There are a ton of other steps that would need to be taken to truly make a difference. These steps are not sissy steps with no teeth to them, but they can be expensive, they may seem harsh to some (though they don't seem harsh to me), they may be politically incorrect, etc.
But, in the end, how serious of an effort are we willing to put forward in order to really make a difference in this immigration problem? I for one would not complain one bit if all the above and more are put into effect. Actually, I would greatly applaud such measures be taken
