| Illegal immigration proves there's no such thing as cheap labor December 16, 2005 The problems caused by immigrants in America could be reduced by a third if immigration laws simply were enforced. Since 2000, this republic has experienced the highest number of immigrants -- legal and illegal -- in its history, according to the Center for Immigration Studies report "Immigrants at Mid-Decade: A Snapshot of America's Foreign-Born Population in 2005." In Pennsylvania since 2000, immigration increased 46.7 percent. There are about 35.2 million immigrants in America. Of the adults, 31 percent have not completed high school, 29 percent of immigrant-headed households use at least one major welfare program, 33 percent lack health insurance, 18.4 percent live in poverty and virtually 100 percent of increased enrollment in public schools nationally in the last two decades is due to immigration. Since about a third are here illegally, those problems would be that much smaller if the Bush administration had the desire and the diligence to protect America's borders from the foreign invasion. Yes, more than 11 million illegals can provide cheap, compliant labor for unscrupulous employers who rather would violate the law by hiring the lawbreakers for low wages than obey it with fair wages for Americans. The C.I.S. report is another reminder that no matter how cheap the labor, there is a high price to pay for illegal immigration. Last updated December 18, 2005 |