Texas Lawmakers Propose Bill to Outlaw Hiring Undocumented Workers...

...except for household help, because that would put a large portion of the Texas population in jail.

Microcosm of national policy indeed.

Hello ma'am, you look like you need some assist with carrying those heavy boxes into your store. What's that? I'm breaking the law? But ma'am, I'm just trying to be helpf-

OH GOD HELP ME, THESE POLICE ARE TAKING ME AAWWWWAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY-

That's... bad? i don't even know

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that in particular, most of the lawmakers would wind up in jail, along with any number of well-off white citizens. It's not like sending up poor black folks for victimless drug offenses!

What amuses me the most is people here opposing a law that goes after the businesses hiring illegal immigrants, one of the root problems of the whole issue.

Tell me, apart from making the law stronger which it should be, how do we fix the issue of illegal immigration in regards to business?

edited 3rd Mar '11 8:36:15 AM by MajorTom

Reminds me of another law that was supposed to prevent buisnesses from hiring illegal immigrants, but there was an exception added for the agricultural sector due to "economic burdens".

^ Personally, I think immigration restrictions should be reduced and amnesty be given to those already here.

This is the kind of bill that will probably only make illegal immigration worse, as it enshrines the legal right for the wealthy to a source of cheap labor.

The most it could change is what type of jobs illegal immigrants look for when they cross the border. This won't stop or slow them from crossing at all, as they will still come as long as there are job opporunities for them.

So, they've basically admitted their economy essentially relies on illegal immigrants. Seems the solution is to make it easier to actually become a U.S. citizen. So people don't just sneak in illegally.

I mean, theoretically you could just outlaw all immigration, but that would inflate the illegal immigrant problem more. But if you allowed everyone in, BAM! No more illegals.

^ The same logic applies to rape or any crime really. Beware going that route, it relies on faulty easily abusable logic.

^ It worked during Prohibition. Sometimes empiricism wins out.

Until rape laws start having "Oh, but it's okay in [insert situation that applies to almost everyone]" added to them, that's hardly comparable.

I think this law would be appropriate if they closed that loophole.

The economy of Texas wouldn't tumble, it's just that most people wouldn't do those hired help jobs for minimum wage, which means -gasp- that rich people might have to... MOW THEIR OWN LAWNS?! PREPOSTEROUS!

The chances of that happening with serious offences like rape and abuse is zero anyway. There's the potential for a slippery slope, and then there's ignoring any pretence whatsoever to common sense.

Migration should be easier. Nationalism is way overrated "this is my country not yours get the fuck out" is archaic bullshit as far as I'm concerned - you're a human being, an honest working person who would do a decent job well if given the chance, then welcome to my home.

Immigrants and asylum seekers are demonised by the likes of the Daily Fail/Heil, Torygraph and the Daily Sexpress over here, accused of being no-good spongers. Which completely ignores the fact that immigration laws currently treat them as sub-human scum and deny them the chance to make something of themselves in our society! If you don't let them have benefits, get jobs, etc, then the criticisms become a self fulfilling prophecy.

Relax the laws, some kind of amnesty on those already here, and, ultimately, stop being so fucking nationalistic and bigoted. That is the right way to solve the problem, not building a giant wall as high as the stratosphere to keep the undesirables out.

Or pay decent wages for the hired help. I'm in favor of this btw, just saying, if you're gonna create loop-holes and honestly believe illegals are here to stay, you might as well make immigration easier.

edited 3rd Mar '11 10:09:52 AM by Ratix

I'm still in favor of howitzers and DOOM fortress to secure the border.

I fully support this. Its finally going after the people who hire illegals, rather than just the illegals. Legislation like this, combined with a relaxation of the rules for entering America legally, are exactly what the states need right now.

What Game Chainsaw says. (Seconding Barkey's comment earlier too.)

Sadly, that's why this will never pass. Too many business interests want desperate illegals they don't have to pay jack shit to in this country.

I'd almost be inclined to agree with you, except...

This is the kind of bill that will probably only make illegal immigration worse, as it enshrines the legal right for the wealthy to a source of cheap labor.

^

He's talking about closing the loophole though. Not leaving it s the rich can still have their maids.

Edit: Nevermind, thought he was, disregard.

edited 3rd Mar '11 8:52:20 PM by Barkey

I don't understand, isn't this already illegal? Or is this one of those laws like the driveby shooting law where it just tacks on more penalties for existing crimes?

Maybe they are passing this law so they can be like "Lol we're srs this time guys, enforce this one better than you enforce the other one that is still binding."

I do believe it is against federal law to hire illegal immigrants already. It's possible that there wasn't a state law on the books in Texas.

Perhaps they're imposing stricter fines or even jail time?

They'd better drop jail time, that'd be a huge deterrent to said employers. They can probably pay the fines with all the money they are saving paying those guys jack shit anyway.