patrick.net

GNL says

WookieMan says

You seriously do not understand the severity of this and that's sad.

This is exactly why I called him/her/zer a dishonest person, at best.

I agree with you. My take is open up your house to these people if you're worried about due process. He's not and won't. Conversation done.

Unless one is willing to take in a stranger, paying for the stranger, you have no leg to stand on. Just admit you're wrong Hawk. You know you wouldn't do it. That's what illegal immigration is.

There is a massive subsidy for Democrats involving an asston of jobs in the School System, in NGOs, etc. Mostly administrative.

If 20M illegals become 1-2M illegals, Dems lose a massive number of well paid, low-work, high-volume activists subsidized by the State and Fed. We're talking billions a year in combined State/Fed aid.

Peace and Conflict Resolution groups (total sidebar) is another but nowhere near the level of the illegal immigration situation.

AmericanKulak says

I dont agree with you. Illegal immigraton has been a chronic problem for hundreds of years.

This is a great example of an argument so distorted, I really think it's dishonest.

Im not trying to defend the biden/harris administrations record on immigration enforcement. They really did not do a good job on it, and Im sure thats a reason why Harris didn't win the election.

What I am trying to say is that this country has had ~10-20 million illegal immigrants for decades and that fact didnt fundamentally change during biden/harris even if there was an uptick.

I think the whole 'invasion' narrative is just thinly veiled rhetoric to try to justify using drastic wartime powers. That whole argument does not resonate with me. I dont think we should be using wartime powers in peace time. I hope the courts put a stop to it, and the Trump administration pursues constitutional means to deal with problems.

I am also very skeptical of the trump administraton motives when they use these tactics. Probably the courts put a stop to it, and in the end all that was accomplished was riling everyone up and blaming "activist judges" as the evil of america... when in truth they are pursuing unconstitutional means to their ends, and should expect the courts to intervene. Intentionally setting that conflict up, and then blaming the judges like that is really sickening to see in a leader. Its just 'theater', playing to the crowd... and not a real effort to solve a problem. A better leader would seek political consensus to update laws, and move ahead constitutionally.

WookieMan says

Unless one is willing to take in a stranger, paying for the stranger, you have no leg to stand on

I have done this for refugees. But I have not done it for illegal immigrants. Why is this the test of whether my opinion is right?

DeficitHawk says

What I am trying to say is that this country has had ~10-20 million illegal immigrants for decades and that fact didnt fundamentally change during biden/harris even if there was an uptick.

"Cholera, Polio, TB, and Dyptheria have been chronic problems for hundreds of years. Ignore the fact that they became increasingly rare throughout the 20th Century, especially in the second half, to the point of making front page news during rare outbreaks. Just because we're seeing massive increases in domestic cases over the past few years, there is no reason to take decisive action against the tens of millions of illegals in the country."

Also keeping in mind the people who think 20M illegals in the USA isn't important, they certainly felt different when Biden tried to command OSHA, in an unprecedented move with no parallel in US History, to fire anybody who would not take a (now proven all but useless) experimental medical procedure for a disease with an over 99% survival rate. It's now conclusive that those who took the vax, including those who got every booster the moment it came out, spread COVID just fine. Even the most sexxxed up, biased data sets made by Dems and Big Pharma were utterly underwhelming.

"FIRE THEM!! THEY'RE KILLING GRANDMA!"

DeficitHawk says

I have done this for refugees. But I have not done it for illegal immigrants. Why is this the test of whether my opinion is right?

Because they entered illegally. Boo hoo you rescued a dog for a month or two. The refugee status was likely bull shit and you have your blinders on. You clearly don't understand how people get into this country without following the laws. Hispanics are notoriously great liars. I lived in a 80% hispanic neighborhood for about 8 years in Chicago. Pilsen. I know my Latinos.

Fact is any "refugee" you helped was 100% lying to you. They're only loyal to family. That means they'll do whatever. You literally just admitted to helping illegals here. I'd tread lightly there.

"I can't believe we imported millions of people from low trust societies who were raised to use low trust tactics, and we're losing our high trust society. How can this be happening?"

AmericanKulak says

"I can't believe we imported millions of people from low trust societies who were raised to use low trust tactics, and we're losing our high trust society. How can this be happening?"

Because of our low trust government. This dumbass government even allows politicians to hold dual citizenship.

There is currently no official, comprehensive public list of members of the U.S. Congress who hold dual citizenship.

Theres no way to deal with 10-20 million people with some brute force enforcement methods without turning our country into the 3rd Reich.

ICE raids can handle a few people here and there. El Salvadorian gulags can take a few here and there, until the courts shut them down. But its all basically theater, and wont change the basic picture.

If you really want to deal with the problem, you have to do something more productive.

Why not do comprehensive reform and establish legal pathways for people wo meet the requirements we want?
1) Set the requirements we want into the immigration/asylum laws (No Criminal history, No gang membership)
2) Set a program where illegals can register, pay a fine for illegal entry, submit for screening against the requirements, and if they meet the requirements they get legal status and work permit, and if not deport.
3) Legal status people go through a probationary period where they have to stay out of trouble, stay off of the public dole and pay their taxes before gaining permanent resident status.

That will drive voluntary registration which is way easier than doing ice raids, and take a 10 million person problem down to a 1 million person problem where the people who didn't register are probably the people you really want to focus on to catch and deport. Giving the rest of them legal status will probably make it easier to focus on the troublemakers, and the legal people would probably be able to help with information to do this. They don't want gang members around either. You could even write 'failure to register' as a specific disqualifier for asylum admission into the law, so that enforcement can be streamlined.

Offer a carrot along with a stick, and the good people will self-select themselves from the bad people. If we treat the people who ARENT criminals and gang members fairly, this can work to snuff out the criminals and gang members.

This is an old idea, but no one has talked about comprehensive immigration reform for a long time because the two sides wont compromise even though it would benefit everyone.

DeficitHawk says

If you feel that way

Like all left wingers such as DeficitHawk, its all about emotions and feelings. That is why his gaslighting and manipulation efforts are reliably lame.

.

AmericanKulak says

"I can't believe we imported millions of people from low trust societies who were raised to use low trust tactics, and we're losing our high trust society. How can this be happening?"

It's all about the bad faith agenda of the DeficitHawk's which is to exploit the laws and use Soros immigration judges.

The process is anarcho tyranny and Cloward Piven Strategy and the end state or result is for the Democrat Party to gain more power and control, mainly by promoting demographics change via 3rd world immigration.

.

@DeficitHawk

Theres no way to deal with 10-20 million people with some brute force enforcement methods without turning our country into the 3rd Reich.

ICE raids can handle a few people here and there. El Salvadorian gulags can take a few here and there, until the courts shut them down. But its all basically theater, and wont change the basic picture.

If you really want to deal with the problem, you have to do something more productive.

Why not do comprehensive reform and establish legal pathways for people wo meet the requirements we want?

1) Remove criminal aliens, gang-affiliated etc. (in progress)
2) Remove federal funding (done)
3) Fine and/or imprison employers of illegal laborers (beginning)
4) Find and deport those who engaged in welfare fraud, illegal use of SSNs, and illegal voting — all felonies. That should cover the bulk of the alien population.

No need for “pathways to citizenship” after all.

"pathway to ctizenship" = amnesty. This country has done that every 30 years, always saying "this time will be the last time." Well, it's time to unleash Javert.

DeficitHawk says

Theres no way to deal with 10-20 million people with some brute force enforcement methods without turning our country into the 3rd Reich.

DeficitHawk says

Offer a carrot along with a stick, and the good people will self-select themselves from the bad people. If we treat the people who ARENT criminals and gang members fairly, this can work to snuff out the criminals and gang members.

Yep. So it's going to happen. However, the old motto of "Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkey" applies. Forcibly deport enough, and the rest will flee - especially if there is a free flight and a grant awarded once the fakefugees deplane in their origin country, 5 years after the hurricane or earthquake or whatever bogus excuse was used.

Carrots alone don't do it, the stick has to be applied as well. It's not just illegals, fakefugees are getting thousands a month in free shit, NOT including any work permits. If they're getting $30k+/year in medical, food, housing, cash allowances, even a jalopy, why would they take $1000 and a free ticket to go home? Only if the alternative is forcible deportation.

Fakefugees are also considered eligible for "Getting off welfare" tax credits for businesses, which is why they "Work Harder" than Americans looking for jobs. Funny that.

stereotomy says

"pathway to ctizenship" = amnesty. This country has done that every 30 years, always saying "this time will be the last time." Well, it's time to unleash Javert.

Yep.

This is the LAST TIME - 1986

BTW, one of the very first acts of the Xiden regime was to repeal the First Trump Admin's tougher "Public Charge" rules about Medicaid, Welfare, etc. in March 2021

By the way, the idea that social programs should be for citizens only? That's "WELFARE CHAUVINISM", lol, is cloudy cuckoo lefty land
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_chauvinism

AmericanKulak says

BTW, one of the very first acts of the Xiden regime was to repeal the First Trump Admin's tougher "Public Charge" rules about Medicaid, Welfare, etc. in March 2021

And assuming the deficits were not (intentionally) under reported along with the unemployment rate, the effects of the Xiden or Birdbrain Biden administration were clearly displayed in the annual deficits of about $1.65 trillion in 2023 and $1.9 trillion in 2024.

How much of the Birdbrain Biden deficit spending propped up the economy, especially the stock market ?

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Nope. No amnesty of any kind. No pathway bullshit either. BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

Cheaters aren’t supposed to prosper. What dumb shit would want cheaters?

DeficitHawk says

3) Legal status people go through a probationary period where they have to stay out of trouble, stay off of the public dole and pay their taxes before gaining permanent resident status.

This creates an incentive for more inflow.

Glock-n-Load says

No pathway bullshit either. BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

I agree.

Glock-n-Load says

Nope. No amnesty of any kind. No pathway bullshit either. BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

Cheaters aren’t supposed to prosper. What dumb shit would want cheaters?

I don't even think we need immigrants. We need two parent families assuming they're not widows(ers). Have children 2-3 at a pop. Raise a family. If younger people at least replaced themselves with kids this wouldn't be a problem.

I tell every kid I know, even in their teens to have kids as early as possible. I don't get pushing this back to 35 and 60% of kids come out retarded. I don't like religion but I do think marriage should be a thing. If divorce laws benefit women they need to be evened out.

Every couple will get in arguments. As long as it's not physical work it out. Don't just cut and run and take the bread winners money. Kids need structure. Instead we're importing kids that were likely abused and raped. They won't be great citizens even if the rules were followed. We need to fix our culture here first.

Glock-n-Load says

BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

A few years back, I had a bum ankle and had to take an airport wheelchair to get to my gate. I mistook the fellow wheeling me around for a Central American or South American Hispanic, and asked what he thought of Trump, who was in his first term at the time. He told me he strongly supported him which I found surprising. He said he was from the Phillipines, and his relatives were waiting over 7 years to get into the US legally, and he hated cheaters who cut the line, so supported Trump.

Eric Holder says

DeficitHawk says
3) Legal status people go through a probationary period where they have to stay out of trouble, stay off of the public dole and pay their taxes before gaining permanent resident status.

This creates an incentive for more inflow.

That is what the Left like DeficitHawk wants.

Exploit the immigration law along with Soros-style immigration judges to achieve an open border for the 3rd world.

That is why Trump is acting the way he is as far as damage control mode not just dealing with the trade deficit and Birdbrain Biden style spending at USAID, EPA, the ~$180 billion in student loan forgiveness, etc.

No one trusts the Left because of their virus-like bad faith agenda.

.

WookieMan says

I don't even think we need immigrants. We need two parent families assuming they're not widows(ers). Have children 2-3 at a pop. Raise a family.

If we had the demographics and birthrate to sustain our population, and maintain a ratio of working vs retired people, I'd agree we wouldn't need immigration. But we don't. And you cant legislate it. You can try pro-natalist policies... pay people for kids, tax breaks, etc... but i doubt it would have much impact. Every rich, industrialized, urbanized country goes through this demographic shift. The ones that don't take in immigrants will fall behind industrially.

The USA will become like a retirement community if we don't bring in immigrants. A few young people tending to a bunch of old codgers and feeding them oatmeal. Industry can't be sustained with demographics like that. We will have 'lost decades' period like Japan.

DeficitHawk says

The USA will become like a retirement community if we don't bring in immigrants. A few young people tending to a bunch of old codgers and feeding them oatmeal. Industry can't be sustained with demographics like that. We will have 'lost decades' period like Japan.

Since you Lefties love Silicon Valley and technology progress, then perhaps innovation and productivity gains can be realized to address demographic challenges.

I've mentioned how senior care has been modernized such as in small group homes for aging with internet cameras, etc.

.

WookieMan says

BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

Cheaters aren’t supposed to prosper.

I understand this perspective. It would allow the moral hazard of letting people who broke the rule get the benefit. It would be better if we had a legal alternative that they could have used. But we dont, and havent for a long time. Not in the numbers needed to prevent our demographic collapse.

IF you had a rule that people could immigrate, but must be outside the country to apply, that might make sense to avoid the moral hazard. But then you'd be driving a huge churn of people... the ones already here leaving and new ones coming. And I expect some of them woudl be the same people, leaving and applying to reenter.

DeficitHawk says

And you cant legislate it. You can try pro-natalist policies...

The first step would be to eliminate no-fault divorce...

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Glock-n-Load says

BACK TO THE END OF THE LINE is the only fair way forward.

A few years back, I had a bum ankle and had to take an airport wheelchair to get to my gate. I mistook the fellow wheeling me around for a Central American or South American Hispanic, and asked what he thought of Trump, who was in his first term at the time. He told me he strongly supported him which I found surprising. He said he was from the Phillipines, and his relatives were waiting over 7 years to get into the US legally, and he hated cheaters who cut the line, so supported Trump.

That's how the left plays it. We hate these people. My guess is most on the left haven't even left the US ever. I love Mexico. All I've ever heard is how dangerous it is. Same with Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican, Jamaica, etc.

Philippine's are actually pretty fun if you cruise and they're on the front end of their contract. Tail end they're a little down. 7 days a week dealing with A LOT OF SHITTY Americans is not easy. I like cruising, I generally hate the other passengers. I find a few bars and hit it off with them. My tips are included but I tip heavy if I get a good vibe. They see me coming 50' away and my drink is ready.

As I said I think a lot on the left don't leave the country because they don't have the money. So they're like just bring them here. One rape later or murder and you're flipped. I'm hoping that's happening now. We'll see.

DeficitHawk says

IF you had a rule that people could immigrate, but must be outside the country to apply, that might make sense to avoid the moral hazard. But then you'd be driving a huge churn of people... the ones already here leaving and new ones coming. And I expect some of them woudl be the same people, leaving and applying to reenter.

What's the problem with that? People with expiring H1B visas have been doing this for decades: leaving, re-applying, returning.

AD says

Since you Lefties love Silicon Valley and technology progress, then perhaps innovation and productivity gains can be realized to address demographic challenges.

I've mentioned how senior care has been modernized such as in small group homes for aging with internet cameras, etc.

Innovation like Soylent Green?

I do agree innovation can improve productivity. But people want that improved productivity to benefit them by improving their lives. Not just making up for the fact that there are no people working anymore. I went to McDonalds the other day and you dont order at the cash register anymore... you punch everything into a kiosk and then go sit down with your number and wait. It feels like a dystopian future where you only interact with automation and not humans. A demographic collapse will be terrible to live through even if we do continue our progress with innovation.

Oh well. I guess Ill be soylent green by then anyway.

Eric Holder says

What's the problem with that? People with expiring H1B visas have been doing this for decades: leaving, re-applying, returning.

Oh, its not really a problem. You could do it.

The main problem is if there is no path for people who are already here (either by applying while here, or going abroad and applying) in enough volume that they can really use it, then they wont participate. Then your back to trying to deport 10+ million people who are evading detection.

AD says

Exploit the immigration law along with Soros-style immigration judges to achieve an open border for the 3rd world.

The same left that is demanding no deportation for illegals, is having a hissy fit today over 59 Afrikaners with a legit reason for refugee status - racial discrimination from government.

WookieMan says

I don't even think we need immigrants. We need two parent families assuming they're not widows(ers). Have children 2-3 at a pop. Raise a family. If younger people at least replaced themselves with kids this wouldn't be a problem.

Boom!!!!

DeficitHawk says

Not just making up for the fact that there are no people working anymore. I went to McDonalds the other day and you dont order at the cash register anymore... you punch everything into a kiosk and then go sit down with your number and wait.

Your missing the point. Kids can't even get jobs in most places. If you're not doing sports at 15-16 you need to be working. Illegals take those jobs. This isn't about 40 year olds pulling down vegetables that are illegal. This is about 40 year olds that are taking jobs from our kids that they could save a bunch of money at a young age. They're gone with illegals. Get them out.

Illegals destroy the drive of younger generation willing to work for less and ship it back home. Go work at home.

WookieMan says

DeficitHawk says

Not just making up for the fact that there are no people working anymore. I went to McDonalds the other day and you dont order at the cash register anymore... you punch everything into a kiosk and then go sit down with your number and wait.

Your missing the point. Kids can't even get jobs in most places. If you're not doing sports at 15-16 you need to be working. Illegals take those jobs. This isn't about 40 year olds pulling down vegetables that are illegal. This is about 40 year olds that are taking jobs from our kids that they could save a bunch of money at a young age. They're gone with illegals. Get them out.

Illegals destroy the drive of younger generation willing to work for less and ship it back home. Go work at home.

Block by block, city by city they take over. They push out all the jobs that teens and retirees use to do and then after they are all that is left they bitch and moan about wages being depressed.

DeficitHawk says

Industry can't be sustained with demographics like that. We will have 'lost decades' period like Japan.

I've been to Japan and will take such a homogenous but high-trust society over the horrors that "diversity" has inflicted on the US any day. It's obviously very prosperous and safe even now.

They key is that they care about each other because they are all Japanese. And their industry is clearly still working fine.

The biggest impediment to family formation in the US is the cost of a house, pumped up by the greed of boomers and directly counterproductive policies like the mortgage interest deduction.

Patrick says

DeficitHawk says

Industry can't be sustained with demographics like that. We will have 'lost decades' period like Japan.

I've been to Japan and will take such a homogenous but high-trust society over the horrors that "diversity" has inflicted on the US any day. It's obviously very prosperous and safe even now.

They key is that they care about each other because they are all Japanese. And their industry is clearly still working fine.

The biggest impediment to family formation in the US is the cost of a house, pumped up by the greed of boomers and directly counterproductive policies like the mortgage interest deduction.

Family formation is the problem with illegals. They block it. If my kid gets a $15-20/hr job at 14, he's going to have a lot of cash by 22. Hooks up with another like minded chick that works and they can buy a house easily. Starter home but condos and and small houses to start are $200k in much of the country.

I agree with the Japanese society. But it's hard for young people to get a job because cash paid illegals are cheaper than American kids. Illegals are not taking $200k/yr jobs. Maybe some that overstayed a visa but that's rare. We have a problem with many 16-20 year olds that can't go to school and pull in $20k. Wife and I were pulling in $60k, rented and then bought a two flat for $325k at 22-23.

There were not remotely as many illegal back then. People always say Obama deported the most, but they were still incoming throughout his terms. You have to reverse the net inflow or it doesn't much matter. 2k entry level jobs getting sucked up is 2k less jobs Americans have. This doesn't effect 40 year old men or women. If you can't get any skills at a young age, even blue collar, you're likely screwed.

WookieMan says

Illegals destroy the drive of younger generation willing to work for less and ship it back home. Go work at home.

I guess everyone has to have their boogeyman to blame.

I think the younger generations suffer economically for a different reason... Demographics. The boomers are a huge cohort, now drawing on society instead of contributing. Social security and Medicare are BY FAR our largest public expenditures are distributed across a smaller taxpayer base while the largest cohort are moving into retirement. I dont hate boomers, they didnt ASK to be born in a large cohort... but that demographic pressure is very real. The older generations have left a huge debt interest payment behind for the younger generations to deal with, and I do blame them for that.

I've worked elbow to elbow with immigrants in a few different industries over the years. It never made me lose sight of the value of work or be unable to find a job.

Patrick says

The biggest impediment to family formation in the US is the cost of a house, pumped up by the greed of boomers and directly counterproductive policies like the mortgage interest deduction.

This, I agree with.

Patrick says

I've been to Japan and will take such a homogenous but high-trust society over the horrors that "diversity" has inflicted on the US any day. It's obviously very prosperous and safe even now.

Its true that Japanese culture has much more value for adherence to law, crime is very low and there is trust. You can send your kids out on the street and trust they wont get abducted. Its very remarkable and it IS cultural. USA has never had that. Our recorded history is outcasts and immigrants founding colonies, fighting native populations for land/resources, revolution against our prior colonial power, wild west, slavery and civil war, etc. The divisions and distrust in our society runs deep. I dont agree with the narrative that Mexican immigrants arriving in the past 50 years are responsible for this cultural difference. The differences are much more deeply rooted in our societies history and founding.

Id be very interested in a proposal to make America like Japan in this regard. But I dont agree that deporting Mexicans will have that outcome.

As far as the lost decades, Japan did have severe economic challenges for decades. Entire rural regions are abandoned with empty houses as the smaller population has consolidated into the cities to keep the factories running. Lots of towns in rural Japan have only a few retirees and no kids, and schools are shut down. Japan has started to increase immigration to combat this trend.

DeficitHawk says

I guess everyone has to have their boogeyman to blame.

Not a boogeyman at all. There are younger people out there that want to work if they have decent parents. Stuff like landscaping. Illegals pack 20 in a house, take those jobs for less than minimum wage. I'm not sure what your reality is.

Your writing leads me to believe you're a professor type. You know what illegals do, make you go to college because there's nothing else for a kid to do. Instead they could be learning some plumbing, electric, etc in high school. Nope, the illegals took those jobs.

The business owners need to be held accountable for sure, but illegals bankrupt young people before they even have a chance. That's my point and it's 1,000% valid. What we get in return is a bunch of half assed educated college graduates with shit degrees and $100k of debt. They could have been working and couldn't. It's not that Americans don't want those jobs, it's because someone crossed the Rio and took them. Doesn't pay SS or income taxes. Anyone advocating for this is kind of off their rocker.

Demographics is a bad excuse as well. Family formation is smashed by liberal college professors and massive debt. Boomers didn't graduate college with the inflation adjusted amount of $100k. It was $5k inflation adjusted worst case at the time for someone that is 70 now. You'd get a job, screw and start a family at 22. Immigration is not the answer at all.

The answer is getting 22-30 to start screwing, getting rid of illegals, cut all college funding from the federal government and build solid 3/2 homes in decent but not high end areas. The left is actively trying to destroy this country and illegal immigration is part of that. Get them out even if they're productive. My kids can get work as teens where I live, but most can't because of illegals elsewhere.

WookieMan says

There are younger people out there that want to work if they have decent parents. Stuff like landscaping. Illegals pack 20 in a house, take those jobs for less than minimum wage. I'm not sure what your reality is.

Your writing leads me to believe you're a professor type. You know what illegals do, make you go to college because there's nothing else for a kid to do. Instead they could be learning some plumbing, electric, etc in high school. Nope, the illegals took those jobs.

Illegals do a lot of manual labor I agree. But they do not prevent US born people from doing that work, It's just US born people don't choose to do it because there's better options for them. The going rate for day labor in my area is $30/hr, and many of the people doing that are likely illegal. No US kid in my neighborhood will take that for manual labor, though some will take it for babysitting and easier work. Any US kid who comes and leaves a flyer on my doorstep for $30/hr to mow my lawn will have a job. But none have. Plumbers and Electricians make way more per hour, and are NOT generally illegal immigrants. Not the licensed ones anyway. For remodels on my home, I paid carpenters ~110/hour and that was 10 years ago. Plumbers and electricians want 'per job' quotes not hourly, but it comes out to ~200+/hr. I know they have overhead to run their businesses, but they make good money and are not illegal. AND they are fully in demand, so there is lots of opportunity to get into it.

I am not a professor. I currently work as an engineer in technology fields.

DeficitHawk says

No US kid in my neighborhood will take that for manual labor, though some will take it for babysitting and easier work.

In a snooty neighborhood, maybe. In the country as a whole, no way. That's 3x what McDs pays.

Plumbers and Carpenters can't just become them after HS, they need apprenticeships and/or training.

The reason the trades are so hot is because for 30-40 years, Leftists and Democrats were "College or Bust" and defunded Trade Schools and Careers like crazy. Now that the Boomers are too knee and back injured to enter a crawlspace, there's a shortage.

Hector Rodriguez the Guatemalan Illegal can snake a drain or put up drywall but he's illegal, has no license, not bonded and insurers. No insurer or builder or city will pass or pay for his work without those things. Wrapping frayed higher load 10AWG dryer wire with electric tape is fine in Tegucigulpa but State Farm or Orange County doesn't think so.

The "Americans don't want to make $30/hr" is pure propaganda.