A Day without Immigrants

[pax 0]

So I was listening to Morning Edition on my way to work, and in the little news brief at the top of the half hour, they mentioned this planned "Day without Immigrants" again. And I started to wonder what, indeed, this day without immigrants (and here I assume that activists are referring largely to undocumented immigrants) would look like.

I had to ask myself, as much as I'm not in favor of draconian immigration legislation, what the American economy might look like without large numbers of undocumented immigrants here. Might we really pay much more for produce, meat, and manufactured goods? Who did the jobs that illegal immigrants do now before they started coming here in large numbers? Or have these jobs always been done by illegal immigrants; that is, did industries like mass farms and slaughterhouses grow with and because of illegal labor?

Would a day without undocumented immigrants mean a huge loss of both labor and revenue? Or would it mean that employers would be forced to hire legal workers with pay, benefits, and protections consistent with current law?

I honestly don't know. I'm not wanting to argue either side. I'm interested to see what people think.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

12 million illegal immigrants. Assume 6 million of them have jobs. That's 6 million jobs that would go undone if they weren't around. Compound the problem by the fact that the 6 million jobs aren't spread across the job spectrum but are concentrated in certain industries and in certain geographical regions. The impact would be significant, IMHO.

[silvanski 1]

A day without immigrants? Does that mean I can stay in bed all day? Can I can I????

[Sinergy 3]

Thats why there are Temp agencies

[pax 0]

Well, maybe I should have phrased my question better...what if those jobs went vacant not just for a day, but for weeks or months? Would it be impossible to find Americans to do those jobs? Would it dramatically increase prices if Americans did the jobs?

Something tells me it's not out of fear of raising prices that keeps businesses employing illegals, but a desire to keep the pockets of CEOs comfortably lined. They're not passing the savings on to consumers as it is anyway. IMO.

[Sinergy 3]

but a desire to keep the pockets of CEOs comfortably lined.

[Fuzzness 2]

How many homeless people who can't find a job would suddenly find themselves with work, food, and a home?

[Sinergy 3]

ooooooooooooooo good point!!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Seeing that the vast majority (typically 80% or better) of workers in the indutries often infiltrated with illegals are legally employed and seeing that there are millions of unemployed and underemployed people out there signed up with temp agencies, I'd say bring it on. Let us show to the illegal crowd that we'd be doing just fine without them. And then send them packing.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

And then send them packing.

But that would cost wayyyy too much!

[mercuryroad 0]

Well, maybe I should have phrased my question better...what if those jobs went vacant not just for a day, but for weeks or months? Would it be impossible to find Americans to do those jobs? Would it dramatically increase prices if Americans did the jobs?

Something tells me it's not out of fear of raising prices that keeps businesses employing illegals, but a desire to keep the pockets of CEOs comfortably lined. They're not passing the savings on to consumers as it is anyway. IMO.

American farming families used to have many children. Part of that was the practical need to have additional labor.

If you can find an umemployed American that is willing to work in rural North Dakota......god bless ya....and the temp agency.

Hell.....we can't even get doctors to go out to those "underserved" areas. We import foreign physicians to take care of that.

Construction industry.....different story. You could probably get people to fill those jobs.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

And then send them packing.

But that would cost wayyyy too much!

I ain't buying Ahnuld's math. Greyhound tickets ain't that much. And I, for one, would not advocate chartering each illegal their own personal plane to be transported back.

[mercuryroad 0]

How many homeless people who can't find a job would suddenly find themselves with work, food, and a home?

Dude....you've got to be kidding me

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

A day without immigrants? Does that mean I can stay in bed all day? Can I can I????

Oh no you don't. We need YOU to pay the taxes and healthcare for the illegals.

[Traviesa 0]

How many homeless people who can't find a job would suddenly find themselves with work, food, and a home?

Dude....you've got to be kidding me

Second that...there's ALWAYS something available....if they're willing to take it. It might be McD's but it's available. People who don't want to work will continue to not work, regardless of whether they have to look for it or if it's dangled in front of them.