Thoughts on illegal immigration

I live in the desert Southwest. I hear a lot about people coming from other countries-especially the one directly to the south of us, to "steal" jobs, healthcare, social security benifits and on and on... Well, here's my thoughts on it.

It is no small feat to come to this country illegally. People really dont realize just how hard it is. The immigrants usually go through a coyote, a human smuggler, who serves as a "guide" across the desert. The people make the trip and then are put in a northbound van. Sounds simple right? Well, temperatures in the desert can top 115 in the day. There is no convience store, no Micky D's, no Motel 6. Its you, the desert, the heat. The coyotes are not there to help ease your way, they're there for money. If immigration comes close to finding you, they will abandon you and take your money with them. There is no shelter, no water, no food. Sometimes it can take up to 3 days to make the trip on foot. Think for a minute. I mean it. Now, think about what it would take for YOU to do that. What kind of situation in your country would give you no alternative but to make a 3 day trip on foot through the desert with the clothes on your back and a bottle of water. Be realistic on this. No one with any other option would do this. The reality is people die trying to come to the US. A LOT of people die-in the desert- from exposure and thirst. According to the Arizona Daily Star here are some numbers :
Illegal Immigrant Deaths
2004-125
2005-119
2006-127
2007-130
2008-97

For those counting thats 598 human beings dead in the desert in a 5 year span.

The choice these people face is - risk my life trying to go to the US or watch my family starve to death. To make that choice... I dont know what I would do in their shoes.

The fact is that we need them. There are over 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. If they were all the sudden gone, imagine the huge hole that would leave. The majority of these people work, pay taxes and are solid members of society. To make statements like "kick em out-deport them now!" is so stupid and short sited. You cant just kick em out, the logistics of trying make it near impossible.

So whats the solution?
1. Mexcio needs to take an active part in the lives and well being of their citizens. If things are good at home, there is no need to risk your life trying to cross the desert for what we would consider a crappy job. If you can afford to feed your family and live, you dont have to leave your home, family, friends... They wont leave home if they dont have to.
2. The United States needs an immigrant worker program and a path to citizenship. The immigrants are here. They work. We need their work. If you think they take our jobs well, they take some - come on, we're being honest - but the jobs they take are not all blue collar. The work they do IS necessary to the economy of the United States. Remember, the majority DO pay taxes, they buy homes, they shop. That's a big chunk of change that would not be going into businesses. We have to stop whining and crying about "illegals, illegals" and find a realistic solution. "You have to go back to Mexcio and apply to come to the US." Yeah, suuuure. Leave your family, your job and your life. Go back to the country you left 20 years ago-maaaybe we will let you back in if you fill out all the forms. Maybe. Doesn't sound like a solution to me-does it to you?

It's time to remove our craniums from our anal orifice about this problem. Occam's Razor suggests that "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." So, we can try to find and deport 12 million people (during the fiasco that is the Iraq war) OR we can give these human beings a means to citizenship and legal work

What does common sense tell you?

interesting reading http://www.nomoredeaths.org/ to learn more.