There is a small percentage living under the conditions you describe, but the majority of illegal immigrants in this country do not. I know this because I know so many. They have jobs and not just poor unthankful jobs Metin. All illegal immigrants do not live in Los Angelos or work in a chicken facotory or do field work. Many have insurance and live in the same standard of living I do. there is a law in NC where if you do not have auto insurance, then the registration is cancelled on your vehicle until you do. That forces many to go get auto insurance. I just left a job of 5 1/2 years that involved the insurance industry. Most give fake id numbers when they purchase their insurance. The same for their jobs. They know to go to mom and pop insurance agencies where it won't be checked. Their children go to the same school my daughter does. They have large screen tvs, ipods, and SUVs. Their parents do many types of work but in most cases, unless it is field work (which I did as a kid) or factory work, the working conditions are similar to those for everyone else. There are a lot of illegal immigrants working in construction and the service industry (painting houses, roofing houses, et al). They accept lower wages but in many cases even that is not true.

There is a serious problem in this country much like ocurred here years and years ago. Some employers do skirt the labor laws by hiring illegal immigrants because they know the workers will not complain. However, after a couple of months, most illegals know that they can get another job just down the road so their condition will improve. that typically happens, but there is no shortage of illegals new to this country that the same low-down dirty employer cannot hire someone to replace him. That must change. In those places they do not have protection. They do still get free medical care though from any hospital. Keep in mind that many legal citizens of this country who work in the same industry basically live in the same condition. They are hired as 'sub contractors' who must pay their own taxes and buy their own insurance. The employer who 'contracts' them only pays for workers compensation and liability. That is the way that industry has always been. Typically construction falls into that category. That is what the guest worker program will hopefully take care of. It will not stop though until our government starts enforcing our laws and real punishment is issued to those employers who hire illegal immigrants and abuse the labor laws. I never believed they should all be made citizens. I believe they should be legalized as guest workers and start paying taxes under their own identity (not mine) and receive benefits just like under the current visa program.

Not all illegal immigrants work in that industry though and it is a wrong perception. I know many in that industry but I also know many who work in other areas as well. They are our neighbors and our school children's friends.

People forget that there is a problem in many countries and definitely in this one, where slavery still exists. People are brought to this country (and others) and hidden from the publics view. they work as slaves or in the sex trade or in sweat shops hidden from us. Many times their masters are illegals as well. It is often russian, chinese, japanese, or arab. It is not just the Mexican illegal immigrants. this happens in many countries but most Americans cannot believe that it could happen right here in their own country but it does and that NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.

When I was younger, my aunt was almost caught up in the white slavery market and taken to Japan. She was drugged in club where she and her friends were celebrating (she was a model in San Franscisco then) after returning from a shoot and taken on a boat on the same night the police raided after a 3 year investigation. she was unbelievably lucky.



>>>But making 12 million non-citizens suddenly citizens creates a problem today and many more tomorrow.
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>>Why citizens? There must be other options. Make them foreign workers, make them pay taxes, but above all make them legal aliens, with a certain set of rights and obligations. And make that simple to do and simple to check.
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>What are you saying!!! It makes them free... :)
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>They're modern slaves... Thew earns a few money, they don't have insuranje.They don't have syndicate. They can't call police even their bosses beated them... Masters don't want to change that... :)