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We live in a country with ~300 million citizens, and ~10 million illegal immigrants. That means that illegal immigrants only make up about 3% of the population,

We live in a country with ~300 million citizens, and ~10 million illegal immigrants. That means that illegal immigrants only make up about 3% of the population, which doesn't sound like much! However, illegal immigrants are spread _very_ unevenly across the country[1], creating pockets where lower-class American wages are suppressed[2]. The effect of illegal immigration isn't nearly as strong as globalization and anti-trust legislation removal, but it is there, and is definitely felt in those areas affected. The "decimation" comes from the cumulative effect of all of those factors(globalization, anti-trust legislation removal, illegal immigration, and automation) pushing jobs out of the area and lowering wages. [1]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274081/Pew-Hispanic-Center-Interactive-map-shows-concentration-illegal-immigrants-state-state-America.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274081/Pew-Hispanic... [2] https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21705699-who-are-main-economic-losers-low-skilled-immigration-wage-war https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21705699-who-ar...

samstave 9y ago
Well, one should also account for gumption. Those illegal immigrants are standing outside every Home Depot waiting to provide labor for any job you can give them. I've never seen a white or black person standing outside a Home Depot just hoping that someone will come hire them. Also, think about the last time you ate food: that food was likely picked by an illegal Mexican immigrant or cooked by a Mexican chef. I ate at Kobe Japan restaurant in Walnut Creek for a hibachi meal - the chef was named Jose. If a Mexican rapture ever happened - many people would starve to death. The work ethic of Mexicans is beyond the pale...
- TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
  That's cool. My point still stands. Illegal immigrants don't comply with our labor laws, don't pay taxes, suppress wages in the area, don't have the leverage that a legal worker does, and bring down the quality of life for local lower class legal workers. I don't blame them for doing it, I know they're just trying to live the best life they can. But that doesn't mean I'll ignore the economic impact they have on the lower class.
  - jaclaz 9y ago
    >Illegal immigrants don't comply ... I would have thought that before that, the good US citizens that employ them don't comply ...
  - philk10 9y ago
    They do pay taxes - and don't collect on them...
  - BeetleB 9y ago
    >don't pay taxes Except when they do: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/09/undocumented-immigrants-and-taxes/499604/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/09/undocum... Anyone want to guess at how many Americans work under the table and don't pay taxes?

samstave 9y ago

Well, one should also account for gumption. Those illegal immigrants are standing outside every Home Depot waiting to provide labor for any job you can give them. I've never seen a white or black person standing outside a Home Depot just hoping that someone will come hire them. Also, think about the last time you ate food: that food was likely picked by an illegal Mexican immigrant or cooked by a Mexican chef. I ate at Kobe Japan restaurant in Walnut Creek for a hibachi meal - the chef was named Jose. If a Mexican rapture ever happened - many people would starve to death. The work ethic of Mexicans is beyond the pale...

TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
That's cool. My point still stands. Illegal immigrants don't comply with our labor laws, don't pay taxes, suppress wages in the area, don't have the leverage that a legal worker does, and bring down the quality of life for local lower class legal workers. I don't blame them for doing it, I know they're just trying to live the best life they can. But that doesn't mean I'll ignore the economic impact they have on the lower class.
- jaclaz 9y ago
  >Illegal immigrants don't comply ... I would have thought that before that, the good US citizens that employ them don't comply ...
- philk10 9y ago
  They do pay taxes - and don't collect on them...
- BeetleB 9y ago
  >don't pay taxes Except when they do: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/09/undocumented-immigrants-and-taxes/499604/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/09/undocum... Anyone want to guess at how many Americans work under the table and don't pay taxes?