Back on topic of illegal immigration...
I see lots of criticism of Arizona for not treating illegals the way that they supposedly deserve to be treated. Many of you don't understand the problems that can result from illegal immigration.
I live in Tucson, Arizona, and I have for my whole life, so I feel like I can give insight on the other side of the story. There are several significant problems that result from illegal immigration.
> They are most likely not properly immunized, and as a result, can unwittingly spread serious diseases like tuberculosis.
> They receive support from government programs: government programs that are funded by taxpayer dollars.
> To be smuggled across the border, immigrants can either pay large fees to the smuggler, or smuggle drugs across the border instead. Leniency on illegal immigration means letting illegal substances come into the country. This increases the presence of drug smugglers near the border. Drug smugglers have an awful tendency of shooting people who get in their way.
> To work in the U.S., one must provide proof of citizenship. Illegal immigrants who are hired for work are not subject to the same taxes and regulations that American citizens are, including minimum wage. This puts citizens at a competitive disadvantage.
You're going to have drug problems at your boarders untill you stop the ridiculous "war on drugs." Immigrants or not. You may aswell crack down on vehicles, since drug dealers use them too.
Anyone coming into your country could be not properly immunized. Illegal or not, again this isn't really a problem with illegal immigrants per se, tourists or visitors could have the exact same problem.
DEY TUK UR JURBS is is arguable, but there are many jobs that legal citizens just wouldn't do even if they were offered more money than illegal immigrants do. I have seen some articles that suggest an increase in illegal immigrants increases unemployment in the native population, but that has more to do with buisness owners exploiting the law for profit.
Check this out. A paper detailing how illegal immigrants in the USA pay more in taxes than they use/cost in social services. So no, they whole "they're using our schools/police/etc for free" thing doesn't really hold water. Also, even though they pay taxes, they don't get to vote. "No taxation without representation" indeed. They also don't get medicaid, unenployment insurance, social security, medicare, or a whole host of other social services.
For the record I was criticizing Arizona for attempting to pass laws that specifically targeted a particular ethnic background for harassment. It's not the "cracking down on immigrants" it's the way they go about it. Passing ambiguous laws that say it's ok to card anyone who might be an illegal immigrant is basically saying it's ok to harass Mexicans and other South Americans.
Everyone understands the problems illegal immigration can bring, it's not something specific to Arizona.