Americans emulated Frenchmen this week by taking to the streets all over the country to protest new immigration laws being debated in Congress that would make felons of illegal immigrants, and “literally criminalize the good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself” who help them assimilate.
But where I have little sympathy for the rioters in France (and I invite you to click here to see why), I have a lot of sympathy for the protesters in America. Because the Americans are protesting bipartisan collusion in Congress to enact laws that do not even begin to address the root causes of illegal immigration. Yet they seem determined to reject President Bush’s guest worker plan which does.
But here’s why these new laws will be as effective in dealing with illegal immigration as drug laws have been in stemming the flow of illegal drugs into this country:
Employers who hire illegal immigrants are like people who buy imported cocaine. And just as we should blame people addicted to drugs for creating the demand that drug cartels supply, we should also blame employers addicted to cheap labor for creating the demand that Mexicans and other undocumented workers will continue to supply…and quite rightly so.
So stay tuned. Because the French riots and American protests are bound to become very incendiary before all is said and done….
illegal immigration jobs, French riots, American protests
Dave Miller says
ALH
This is a really informative article. The links to earlier articles put this whole debate into very important context. I also like the way you compare what is going on in America to what’s happening in France. Too many reporters and political pundits offer simplistic analyses. Thank you.
Rachel says
Hi Anthony
You have such an incredible ability to put complicated political issues into context. I agree with you on this completely. These are hardworking people doing jobs no Americans want to do. We should be thanking them instead of trying to lock them up.
I don’t know what to make of the French rioters though. I found your articles on the Muslim rioters really informative and these seem to be getting to that point also.
Anonymous says
As European, I am impressed with your understanding of issues about French riot and German strike. It is madness these people yet expect so much welfare when looking at what has happened in socialist countries all over Europe.
Are news reporting in America about Chirac storming from European business meeting yesterday?
ALH ipinions says
Anon
As it happens, I read about this incident at BBC News. Although I’m almost certain FOX News reported on Chirac’s hissy fit with appropriate derision.
Frankly, I think he should be more concerned about what is happening in France than about what is happening with french.