Illegal Aliens vs Undocumented Workers

During the presidential primary debates when some of the candidates used the term "undocumented worker" opposed to illegal alien I was really annoyed. These individuals were undocumented workers because they had crossed our borders without the proper authorization - work visa, student visa, permanent visa - went to work for some dubious employer who ripped the government off of tax money, Social Security and Medicare taxes and then got caught.

They were and are here without legal documentation and are therefore illegal. They broke the law, plan and simple.

This really irritates me. My wife is a Brazilian. Twenty-four years ago we decided we wanted to raise our daughter in the United States. We went to the United States Consulate in Rio De Janeiro and applied for a permanent resident visa for my wife. At that time we had to provide proof that I had employment waiting for me, and that we had a place to live. We also had to sign documents swearing that during our first five years in the United States neither one of us would apply for any kind of welfare benefits from the State or Federal government. No welfare, no food stamps, no Medicaid. For five years we were entitled to nothing. Imagine that, and I was a US citizen.

Now, things have evidently changed. Instead of enforcing the law, the government is making plans to allow the illegal aliens in the country to stay and buy themselves citizenship, or at least residency.

Fine, I can accept that if the government insures that they pay all of the back taxes, Social Security and Medicare Care premiums they owe for all of the years they have worked in this country. In addition, they need to pay all legal and government fees that will be needed for the program to succeed.

The other group that needs to pay up are the employers who have used the illegal aliens as cheap labor for years. How many landscaping and construction companies are making big profits because their non-union work force accepts what they are paid? In addition, these employers are not paying the taxes, Social Security and Medicare they should for their employees.

All of these companies should be fined heavily, and their owners should do jail time.

The sad reality is that our politicians are afraid to lose their contributions and do nothing.

Remember two years when Swift and Company Meat packing had six of their plants raided and 1282 illegal aliens (9% of Swift & Company's national work force) were detained and deported?

What penalty did Swift and Company suffer?

I came across their testimony before a Congressional Committee and you can read for yourselves.
http://www.hreonline.com/pdfs/07012007Extra_SwiftTestimony.pdf

I have nothing against anyone coming to this country to better themselves. I just believe that they need to follow the rules. They need to get the proper visa (s), pay their taxes and follow the laws.

After all. that's what all the rest of us have to do. If it is good enough for those of us who were born here, its good enough for those who want to join us.

It's Common Sense.