For years, our businesses and our government have winked at latin American migrant workers. Tyson didn't go to jail for his participation in thousands of undocumented workers crossing the border to work in his plants. Thousands of business owners in America that entice these people with jobs and opportunity didn't go to jail, but now we've actually put 270 workers -- NOT THE PEOPLE WHO EMPLOYED THEM -- in jail.

In temporary courtrooms at a fairgrounds here, 270 illegal immigrants were sentenced this week to five months in prison for working at a meatpacking plant with false documents.
-- NY Times

Americans are upset because these people flock here from their home countries to put food on their families' tables. They work hard, they struggle, sacrifice, and do the work that Americans would rather not do in most cases. They come here because we hold out the carrot of opportunity, and we've winked at them as a country for decades regarding the illegal nature of their migration. We never prosecuted undocumented workers, and we don't prosecute the employers who willfully break the law.

"My family is worried in Guatemala," one defendant, Erick Tajtaj, entreated the federal district judge who sentenced him, Mark W. Bennett. "I ask that you deport us as soon as possible, that you do us that kindness so we can be together again with our families."

They're not coming here to hurt us. They're coming here to help their families. If we cared about the immigration volume, we could easily stop American citizens from offering them money and opportunity. No new laws are required, because employers willfully employ them in violation of the law. Keep in mind that they aren't citizens, the folks paying them are. What message does it send to them that we're never willing to prosecute people that are citizens that openly break the law to employ them - it's a virtual invitation!

I ask Americans who are vehemently apposed to undocumented workers to consider these facts and think about the real condition of these workers. Would you stay in their home countries and watch your family struggle while opportunity screamed from across the border? You wouldn't if you were worth your salt (quoting President Bush).

These are people, mostly hard working and contributing members of our society who have come here to better themselves and improve their families' lives. We are a duplicitous inconsistent country with no single voice on the issue of undocumented workers. Seriously consider the reality of their situation and the incentives our market has placed to bring them here. Most everyone will buy homes built by undocumented workers, eat food picked by undocumented workers, drive roads worked on by undocumented workers, and appreciate the inexpensive and reliable work they perform in the form of products and services.

Putting people in jail for working low-wage jobs to send money to their families is not good policy.

Posted in culture | current events jasonn's blog