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StumblePublished Friday, Aug. 15, 2008 | 2 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008 | 10:15 a.m.
Sun Expanded Coverage
(The Sun has gone on the road to listen to voters and talk to political leaders around the West. Reporters will examine the economic, cultural and demographic forces re-shaping the region as they drive to Denver for the first of the two major party conventions the Sun will cover.)
A few more interesting insights from David Plane, professor of geography at University of Arizona.
• The period of relatively light immigration in the 20th century was an anomaly. Immigration rates (legal and illegal) are lower, per capita, than the historic highs of the 19th century.
• Policymakers worsenened the illegal immigration problem by hardening the border over the years. Decades ago, when the border was softer, people would go back and forth. Come to the states, make some money, go home. Border crossings now are dangerous and expensive. Once you do it once, you're not going back. "Walls have two sides," Plane said.
Has Las Vegas become a sanctuary city? Head counts across the valley at construction sites there are thousands of illegals. Working back of house at the casinos', thousands. Nothing is being done to protect good paying jobs from being taken by illegals. Is this a good explanation why Clark County has so many citizens collecting unemployment?
Major diffferences between the immigrants of the 19th and 21st centuries: the vast majority of 19th century immigrants were LEGAL and they came here to adopt the culture and mores of the U.S., they came here to become "Americans". They learned English, became citizens, paid their taxes and fought in the wars. They did not demand to be spoken to in their native languages, to have forms printed in Polish, Italian, Czech etc, or to have special privileges and protections because of their race or immigration status.
when did a house cleaning job, a lawn mower or a laborer in home construction become a good job?
These are jobs for the unskilled and kids, get them back in there to do the jobs instead of being on welfare and we can talk about getting rid of the illegals (which i am in favor of)