[Olorin]

We see a lot of the effects of illegal immigration here in Southern California.

--Construction wages are the same as they were 15 years ago. A drywaller can't buy nearly as much on his $15/hour today as he could in 1992.

--LA County has seen the closure of several ERs (and entire hospitals) because they went bankrupt due to providing care to illegals. (And the Federal Gov't failed to compensate them as they are supposed to)

--A big part of the housing price increase in the area is due to illegal immigration. There are Americans investing in rental properties to take advantage of the illegals, and there are families of illegals getting creative financing from banks to buy houses that often house 15+ people.

Now, while I don't agree with the actions of illegal immigrants sneaking across the border, I don't really blame them. They are trying to find a better life, and the businesses here are opening their arms wide and inviting them. What I want to see is a major crackdown on businesses employing illegals. Owners and managers should face jail time for hiring illegals, PLUS I feel that all the workers involved should be deported BUT on the way, they should be given a check from their erstwhile employer to pay the difference between what they were paid, and what a fair wage for that industry is. That's the part that would scare businesses straight. It would mean that hiring illegals wouldn't save them money in the long run, because eventually, some of their workers would turn them in.

Unfortunately, too many businesses have become addicted to cheap labor, and have in turn bought too many of our politicians. I'll be seriously considering voting for Tom Tancredo in the primaries, if only to send a message that the immigration issue is important.

My pet peeve is all our politicians who keep using the phrase "jobs that Americans won't do". What they really mean is "jobs that Americans aren't willing to do for less than minimum wage". If we took away the illegal labor, I'm sure that the crops would still be picked, building would get cleaned, and all the rest; it just wouldn't be done as cheaply as companies have gotten used to. OMG they'll actually have to pay a janitor a living wage! The horror!