Doug Wright and Immigration

[Jacob]

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of what skills and education immigrants come with. If indeed a large segment of them are qualified to do much more than they're doing then that is all the more reason to declare an amnesty and overhaul the immigration system, making it easier to get in.

Here's a summary: Most can't communicate well or speak english and are qualified only for unskilled labor and have at best, high school education equivalent.

[Commando]

Here's a summary: Most can't communicate well or speak english and are qualified only for unskilled labor and have at best, high school education equivalent.

How did you come to that conclusion?

[Sullyute]

Here's a summary: Most can't communicate well or speak english and are qualified only for unskilled labor and have at best, high school education equivalent.

I assume that you are basing this theory off of the movie "The Proposal"? You shouldn't pigeon hole all Canadians like that.

[Jacob]

How did you come to that conclusion?

It's this special skill I have acquired. Two skills actually. Observation and common sense.

Sure, I may be basing this off of most of my interactions with such people. But considering the fact that the Mexican economy is not one that relies heavily on skilled labor, I think I'm being pretty generous. I did say most,after all. I have met and talked with many illegal immigrants both those in the US, those in Mexico who had been in the US, and those in Mexico preparing to go to the US. I never encountered one who was a skilled laborer. I rarely encountered one who spoke fluent english, and most of them didn't speak any form of passable english.

Who here has had a different experience?

I have met a few who wanted to come to the US who were more skilled--if running a successful carnitas stand or drug traffiking operation is a special skill, but they had no intention of coming to the country to work as laborers.

Note: It is not my intent to speak ill of any such immigrants, just trying to state the facts and I have encountered them. I'm a little squishy on immigration--meaning I haven't really made up my mind on the issue.

[pellegrino]

Here's a summary: Most can't communicate well or speak english and are qualified only for unskilled labor and have at best, high school education equivalent.

I can see you spent years researching that with the most up to date survey methods and techniques.

[Jacob]

I can see you spent years researching that with the most up to date survey methods and techniques.

Also, I'm almost halfway done with my 5 year research project regarding whether the sky looks blue.

[pellegrino]

Also, I'm almost halfway done with my 5 year research project regarding whether the sky looks blue.

keep it coming baby, you're getting better with every "study."

[BlueHair]

And how would the housing market collapse? I understand that builders may have to pay higher wages, but most of these illegals live in really cheap housing and put more people in a house than legal/non-imigrant workers would. That could be a boost to the housing market.

They rent a lot of homes that would be vacant otherwise. Vacancies make housing values go down (which brings tax revenues down) and many landlords couldn't afford the taxes if they didn't have a renter. Areas with high vacancy rates also have higher crime rates. Also, foreclosure rates would spike immediately. The labor they provide is just one aspect. The consumer aspect is more important. It would be hard to make a case that removing all illegal immigrants immediately would benefit the country. It cracks me up when people think illegals just sit around taking welfare and having babies.

[thesaint258]

Just got back from Immigration Court. FYI the immigration system right now is a cluster f*. We need an extensive overhaul or it's just going to overwhelm the crappy system in place.

I think this is something almost everyone on either side of the issue would agree with. There needs to be a serious retooling of our system. Unfortunately, none of our politicians seem to care.

[Viking]

It's this special skill I have acquired. Two skills actually. Observation and common sense.

Sure, I may be basing this off of most of my interactions with such people. But considering the fact that the Mexican economy is not one that relies heavily on skilled labor, I think I'm being pretty generous. I did say most,after all. I have met and talked with many illegal immigrants both those in the US, those in Mexico who had been in the US, and those in Mexico preparing to go to the US. I never encountered one who was a skilled laborer. I rarely encountered one who spoke fluent english, and most of them didn't speak any form of passable english.

Who here has had a different experience?

I have met a few who wanted to come to the US who were more skilled--if running a successful carnitas stand or drug traffiking operation is a special skill, but they had no intention of coming to the country to work as laborers.

Note: It is not my intent to speak ill of any such immigrants, just trying to state the facts and I have encountered them. I'm a little squishy on immigration--meaning I haven't really made up my mind on the issue.

add a third: ability to make sweeping, uninformed generalizations