Illegal immigrants opted to stay during Gustav

I agree, hopefully this will stop soon....

Geeze, too bad that hurricane couldn't have taken some of them with it. This article makes it sound like the hurricane was concieved by ICE just sniff them out. Don't break our laws and you wont have a problem. Your own damn fault for breaking into our country and stealing from us.

I don't care if they are Martians; GO HOME!!!!!!

Here we go again. Seems like this is another hard luck illegal immigrant editorial coming out of Tijuana, MEX.

I challenge the editor of this piece to write articles concerning the corrupt Mexican government, the drug lords, and those who take advantage of ANYONE wanting to jump the fence to come to the USA instead of articles like this one.

Seems to me the editor has enough feedback from the readers and bloggers of this type material to understand that illegal immigrants, whether it be from Mexico or any other country, are not welcome into the United States. If people want so desperately to enter the USA, then get the proper paperwork and work here LEGALLY.

PERIOD !!!

Alice you are truly heartless. Stop for one second and imagine the plight of these people. They would rather risk their lives and suffer through a hurricane then be deported to a country where they physically won't be able to feed their children. And you want to literally kick them out the door because you believe some Americans might possibly want a job rebuilding demolished properties. If you have ever seen the fields in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, like I have, you would know that the farmers there would gladly hire US citizens if any of them showed up for work that day. What you don't get is that Americans really don't want these jobs. The next time you buy some fruit at a decent price, remember that.

i LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE VEGGIES AND THE FRUIT ARE PICKED BY ILLEGALS. THEY SPEND ALL DAY BENT OVER, IN THE HOT SUN, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE CHILDREN NOT MUCH OLDER THAN 4 OR 5 YEARS OLD WALKING ALONG AND PICKING UP THE FRUIT THAT FALLS OUT OF THE BAG OR OFF THE TRUCKS. AND MANY TIME THEY ARE INJURED AND THEY DON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF BEING SENT BACK TO MEXICO OR HONDURAS.

NOW THERE ARE NO AMERICA N'S WHO WOULD DO THAT WORK FOR 5 DOLLARS A DAY AND THAT IS ALL THEY GET THAT IS WHY THEY LIVE IN CANYONS, ANY PLACE THAT'S NOT TO FAR FROM THE FIELD, SO IF AMERICA N'S WANT THOSE JOBS THAN THEY WILL HAVE TO GET THE OWNERS TO PAY MORE, AND SUPPLY HEALTH CARE AND VACATION TIME AND THAN WE WILL ALL BE HAPPY , EVERY THING WILL COST MORE BUT WE WILL ALL BE HAPPY.

I am fed up with these poor scared illegal immigrant stories. Why doesn't the author point out that these people are here illegally stealing jobs from Americans who desperately need them. It is high time we deported the lot of them! Since when is breaking the law so noble. Not only are they stealing jobs from Americans (and these are skilled construction jobs) but they take the money they earn and send most of it out of the country to their relatives so the money does not go into the US economy where it is sorely needed. Not to mention the fact that they do not pay a single dollar in income taxes and I guarantee that their employer does not pay any either. So, when they go to the emergency room for medical care, the money to pay for it comes out of the tax dollars paid by Americans. They also go to the emergency room for non-emergency treatment because no doctor is going to see them without getting paid, whereas an emergency room can not turn them away. This means long waits for people who truly do need emergency care and the closing of one ER after another because they can no longer afford to foot the bill that is the difference between what the gov't pays and the true cost of the care.

I also think that the companies that employee these day laborers should be seized by the gov't and sold off with the proceeds going into the US Treasury. If our gov't was serious about putting a stop to this it would not be that difficult. Simply have people watch these day laborer congregation sites and get the names on the trucks (or license plates to trace) of the companies that are hiring these people. Then simply show up at the company work sites and arrest all of the illegals and the managers that are permitting them to work and paying them under the table. Then go to the corporate headquarters and serve a seizure notice, taking control of all of the companies assets. The company can then be placed in receivership until such time as the company can be sold or it's assets liquidated.

All of this may sound extreme, but it is only extreme measures like these that will get the point across. The US will no longer tolerate the blatant hiring of illegals.

As far as the comments about the field workers in SoCal - Is the author espousing the practice of paying slave wages to keep food prices down?? I would gladly pay more for my produce to eliminate this practice and make sure that field workers are paid a decent wage that at least meets the state minimum wage or, even better, reflected a fair wage for the type of work that is being done.

Why does our news media continue to try and make us feel bad for the law breakers. If the news media wants to do something to help the US economy recover, they could start reporting these businesses that are operating illegally. There is no doubt that the states and the federal gov't could use the tax revenue generated by these businesses hiring legal, tax paying workers and from the businesses paying their share of the social security taxes. Also think of what this would do for the local economies of these areas. Most of the effected areas are poor agricultural areas. Since each dollar in wages paid into the local economy is said to change hands 6 times, this would be a real shot in the arm for all of the grocery stores, restaurants, retail stores, etc. in the effected region.

I FOR ONE WILL NOT FEEL BAD FOR THESE PEOPLE. THEY SHOULD BE DEPORTED AND SENT HOME SO THAT LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS CAN HAVE THE JOBS THEY SO SORELY NEED!!!

I agree with you ICE should be arresting them and sending back to where every they came from, It seem like our government want them to stay and we have to difference laws our laws that we must obey and than our laws they do not needs to obey.

McCain and Obama both want to give them amnesty which is bring more and more in now, we have laws in place that would take care of this but no law enforcement department is doing anything about it.

I guess the illegal are our replacement we are no longer needed because we want to much money to work.

Austinite 1 I live in Arizona and believe me they have put a lot of us out of work, many of my friend was in the home building, electrical, air conditioning, plumbing field and was let go because the illegal came in and took the jobs for cheap labor. Ask the building inspector how many problem they have with the illegal building home. Us American are willing to work but was let go for your poor illegal labor so they can support their family, well what about our family sense this is our country.

Alice isn't truly heartless, you are because you do not care about the American citizens

Tabhi, you are right no American will do the job for $5.00 per day, only someone who is stupid and do not know how much profit the companies are making. If children 4 or 5 is working in the field the companies should be close and the owner put in jail for breaking child labor laws.

Yes the cost might go up and that because the companies want such high profits, but if we are paid fair wages the cost would not be a factor. Do not tell me they do not use our hospital because that is a lie, where has you head been. Wake up they are breaking laws, stealing people Social security numbers, driving without insurance and so forth. I do not want to hire someone who do not use their real name, because you will never be able to trust them period.

But if you really like the people feel free to go live with them or move to Mexico and help fix their country for we do not need you here. I want true American who care about this country and all of our children who die to keep this country safe.

Hey Tabhi---Stop shouting. There are lots of people looking for work baby. They'll do the jobs, and the owners will just have to pay a little more for enticement for legal workers. Also, if the migrant workers would come, pick, get paid a decent wage for their work, then go the hell home instead of overstaying their welcome, I wouldn't be having a problem with either one of you. But I have no sympathy for them, for illegals of any sort. They should all be deported.
Heck, there was a big amnesty program what, 10 years ago? There are still illegals here from before then. If it wasn't worth the effort then why would it be now?
They should all be deported.

I agree with JS in SD....who cares? There are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! HELLO!! CRIMINALS! Crap, kick them out and seize the companies profits that are supporting this drag on our society!

They are NOT from this country, they are NOT the US government's problem! If the US would stop allowing illegals in then these people would be more inclined to rise up against their corrupt government and make some progress in their OWN country. Then we would be able to some some progress in OUR country.

I was born here and my grandparents are immigrants who waited in line and paid their due to be here legally... ALL immigrants should do the same!

Stop for one second and imagine the plight of these people. They would rather risk their lives and suffer through a hurricane then be deported to a country where they physically won't be able to feed their children.

Does this mean you think that we should have open borders? Over 40 million Mexicans alone have said they would be willing to come to the US if it was legal. There are already 12 - 20 million illegal immigrants here already which the American taxpayers have to support. At what point does it become Mexico's responsibility to provide for its people? Why should Americans be FORCED to support illegal immigrants? If guestworkers are needed to pick the fields, fine, allow TEMPORARY LEGAL guestworkers, not illegals. It's not just beneficial to us, it's also helpful to the guestworkers, who are often taken advantage of because of their illegal status.

And you want to literally kick them out the door because you believe some Americans might possibly want a job rebuilding demolished properties.

For the right wage, I would gladly rebuild demolished properties.

If you have ever seen the fields in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, like I have, you would know that the farmers there would gladly hire US citizens if any of them showed up for work that day. What you don't get is that Americans really don't want these jobs.

Why does seeing Mexicans in the field mean that farmers would gladly hire US citizens if any of them showed up for work? What you don't get is that Americans can't afford to work at the wages offered by the farmers because Americans don't believe they should have to live in a small room with 19 other American farmhands. As a teenager, I worked on a farm during my summers and found it to be fun and immensely rewarding. As an adult, I couldn't possibly support a family on such wages.