Posted on 09/13/2005 2:57:21 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com
As Biloxi rises from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it is doing much of it on the backs of undocumented foreign workers. Some are starting to suggest that their contributions are worth at least a temporary visa.
"If we are working and helping to raise this city, at least they should give us a work visa," said Manuel Armenta, a 44-year-old Mexican who came to Biloxi five months ago to do cleaning work at a hotel...
...So far, there's been little risk [of deportation]. The Department of Homeland Security has announced a 45-day period in which employers would not be fined for hiring undocumented workers. It said that was because many people had lost their proof of citizenship or legal residence in the storm...
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
If he does what he's done all along, he could be rightfully accused of not just allowing but encouraging illegal aliens to take rebuilding jobs from those affected by the hurricane.
This would be a perfect issue for the Democrats to take up, but whether they have the sense to do so remains to be seen. Note that Jesse Jackson recently complained about illegal aliens taking rebuilding jobs, so perhaps his complaints will filter "up".
From Jesse Jackson's "Hurricane looting not over yet":
"President Bush characteristically issued an executive order effectively lowering the wages of reconstruction workers -- and hiking the profits of their companies. He wiped out the requirement to pay prevailing wages in the disaster region, apparently thinking that $9 an hour for construction workers was too high a price to pay. The government can save money, no doubt, by exploiting illegal immigrant labor."
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse13.html
I agree. At least they are willing to work. Trade citizenship with locals who don't want to work.
But, but what about all those NO-ians who are unemployed?!?
"If we are working and helping to raise this city, at least they should give us a work visa"
I agree. Mexicans want to come to this country, to work.
That puts them a leg up in my book, a bit higher than those who have lived for 40 years on a government dole.
I thought you were talking about ancient astronauts.
"But, but what about all those NO-ians who are unemployed?!?"
They've all been shipped out of the area.
If only they could cash in that card, I'm sure they'd all be heading right back there with their lunch bucket and hard-hat .
That's not proper public policy.
Encourage the locals to go back in and do the jobs. Perhaps Jesse Jackson could help (instead of his usual policy).
They are unemployed in STL, ATL, Birmingham, Houston, and Dallas. More on this: These people are getting a complete new start. I could never profess to know what these people have gone through, nor will I decry their need for help. But I believe after they have been given housing, schooling, and the like, it would be unfair for them to continue living on welfare in another state. Awaiting the flames..
Have you bothered to ask them?
I've been to N.O. many times over the years and there was very little building of any sort going on. For that matter, there wasn't much maintenance either. So i'm thinking that there were not many New Orleanseans being put out of construction/rebuilding jobs. Now if the illegals start to take over the restaurant/hotel jobs, then JJ might have a legitimate argument.
I just glanced at the article and right off I saw where Je$$e says the Shaw group is a "Republican related" firm.
Somebody forgot to tell him who runs that company I guess. It's this guy right here.
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2005-01-25/politics.html
(thanks to Tax Relief for helping point this out to me the other day)
..it would be unfair for them to continue living on welfare in another state...
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One of the biggest politically-driven failings of our governments is the welfare system being allowed to become a way of life, as opposed to temporary assistance.
They should be given a choice. Work or nothing.
No, illegals must be deported. The work will still be done without people who have invaded us.
"They've all been shipped out of the area."
Let's all hope Jesse Jackson doesn't here any comments like that.
Otherwise, he might start talking about how this is an intentional move to replace blacks in MS with legalized former illegal aliens.
And, then Nancy Pelosi et al would join in.
It seems like the best way to avoid something like that would be for the GOP to support doing the right thing for a change: give American jobs to Americans.
2. Evacuees on welfare work and get off welfare.
No excuses.
Ray Charles could've seen this one coming.
September 4, 2005 - Conroe City [TX] Councilman Jay Ross Martin encouraged those [evacuees] seeking temporary work to go to the day labor site... they [the evacuees] probably have a better chance now because a lot of the normal workforce [illegal aliens?] has been picked up to do cleanup efforts in the affected areas, Martin said.
September 4, 2005 - President Fox said... "The reconstruction of that city [New Orleans] and of that region is going to require a lot of labor. And if there is anything Mexicans are good at, it is construction."
September 8, 2005 - Bush suspended the Davis-Bacon Act's application to federally funded construction projects in the Gulf Coast areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. As written, Davis-Bacon requires that contractors working on federally funded construction projects pay all of their workers the area's "prevailing wage," as determined by the Wage and Hourly Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
September 9, 2005 - Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, "There will be a huge construction boom in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that will create thousands of jobs for Americans."
September 10, 2005 - Feds Relax Hiring Rules For Storm Vicitims Who Lost Documentation: employers can simply state a potential worker was unable to provide documents because of the hurricane, according to a Homeland Security spokesperson. The policy is being implemented nationwide and subject to review in 45 days. - Thread
September 13, 2005 - As Biloxi rises from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, it is doing much of it on the backs of undocumented foreign workers. Some are starting to suggest that their contributions are worth at least a temporary visa. "If we are working and helping to raise this city, at least they should give us a work visa," said Manuel Armenta, a 44-year-old Mexican who came to Biloxi five months ago to do cleaning work at a hotel. - Thread
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