A Day Without Illegal Aliens

Illegal aliens, the "Dirty little secret" of Philadelphia's restaurant world are being urged to strike on Valentines Day to prove their importance to the U.S. economy.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, activists have urged illegal aliens working throughout the Philadelphia region, particularly Mexicans who staff the city's restaurants, to strike on one of the biggest dining days of the year.

One restaurateur told the Inquirer that a "Dear Employer" form letter was faxed to him this week asking for support in defeating the Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act passed by the House of Representatives in December:

Dear Employer,

I am writing to let you know that on Tuesday, February 14, I will not be coming to work. Instead, I will be participating in “A Day Without an Immigrant”, an effort to bring attention to the importance of immigrant workers to our local economy. We are asking for changes to our
immigration laws which would give many undocumented immigrant workers a chance to earn legal status. We see you as an ally and apologize for having to make our point in this manner.

I have joined this effort because this holiday season, the House of Representatives passed a terrible bill that makes undocumented immigrants into aggravated felons and makes anyone who works with them a criminal. Instead of going after immigrants who cut lawns and harvest crops, wash dishes, prepare food, build houses and take care of children and the elderly, we want Congress to give all immigrants a chance to be here legally. Please tell the Senate to stop the advancement of that proposal(HR 4437).

As an employer of immigrant workers, you know that we work hard and contribute to the success of your business; we want to continue doing so. The Senate will be working on an immigration bill soon. I am asking you to help by writing a letter to Senator Specter, asking him to support
comprehensive immigration reform and give immigrant workers a real path to legal status.

Accompanying this letter is a fact sheet for employers, explaining how the house bill will impact you. You can find more specific information, including a sample letter to send to Senator Specter at the website: http://daywithoutanimmigrant.com/ Please send a copy to PICC and to us, your employees, so that we may know that we are all together to reform the immigration system in a fair and workable way. I hope that you will join the campaign. Thank you for your understanding and support.

With all due respect, your employee

I don't think the Philadelphia Valentine Diners need worry. Most illegal aliens are too afraid of being fired or deported to engage in the strike.

The restaurant owners contend that Philadelphia could not sustain its current restaurant boom without illegal workers to bus tables, wash dishes and prepare food.

"These are jobs that pay minimum wage to $10 an hour," he said. "It's not the type of job that [American] people relocate for."

Shame on this industry for shamelessly violating the law by hiring illegal aliens. If the restauranteurs are truly unable to find legal workers perhaps they should consider raising the meager wages they pay employees. Perhaps then they wouldn't feel they have to break the law. Shame on these law breaking restaurant owners and more shame on the so-called advocates who are also exploiting the illegals.

Comments

[mike]

Give me a break, first and foremost immigration has been a cornestone for america. Back in the days mexican immigrants were the only race allowed to enter the u.s. while the irish, chinnese, and other asian races were not allowed. And you know what guess who wanted the immigrants southern farmers, no the demanded them as workers. Come on lets face a real issues that actually affect us, because if you read the each state's welfare program 3/4 of all the money goes to big fat company tax breaks. The minority is handed out. DO yo really think the government cant pay for a universal healthcare program? Please, we need to guard our jobs not from foreign invasion's, but from outsourcing. for pete's sake the have boats off american coast full of indians doing customer service jobs that americans can do for a fraction of the cost! I mean if you were a politican who would you listen too, the person who donates $100 or the one who gives you millions and keeps you on check. We have bigger problems, dont you see the government only wants you to be entertained on some non-important issue like abortion or immigration, while thay hit you from behind. Common an alaskan governer who was the backing of big oil companies had a bridge built that cost over 200 million dollars for about 23 people who lived on an island, while if you took a ferry from the mainland it would only take 23 minutes while the bridge would take 45 minutes? 200 million would help alot of hospitals, and that's only a portion of the crap the government spends.

[Raylen Jones]

I feel that they should have to go back and try to make a better economy for their own country..the illegal people that is. I actually quit a teaching job in september due to the high number of illegal Mexican families that were being taken in over the Black, White, and Asian children by the Mexican assistant director.I just feel that if all the other imigrants here have to go through a screening process..why do Mexicans get to sidestep that and enjoy the same liberties as the people that have done things legally?
If we don't out an end to this right now and reclaim this country...our children don't stand a chance.The funny thing about this is that some Hispanics cry racism yet many African Americans feel exactly like Whites on this issue...they too have been stepped over for many things due to illegals. Bottom line is that it's up to every American to help get our country back and let the fruits of our labors to be enjoyed by our own children..American children.

[D]

I HAVE ALOT OF MIXED FEELINGS ON IMMIGRATION AND ILLEGAL ALIENS. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 3 WONDERFUL KIDS ONE OF WHICH IS NOW A PARENT HERSELF. I AM LESS THAN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATED AND POVERTY LEVEL. I DEAL WITH ILLEGAL HISPANICS ON A DAILY BASIS ON MY JOB AND I BELIEVE THAT THAY DO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY BUT THEY ALSO TAKE AWAY. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD HAVE MORE RIGHTS OR THINGS MADE EASIER FOR THEM THAN FOR AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. I FEEL AS THOUGH I AS MY CHILDREN ARE FORIEGNERS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY. THERE ARE MANY PROGRAMS TO HELP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BUT THE SAME PROGRAMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS WHERE I AM FROM. ALSO WHERE I AM FROM I HAVE SEEN THE POPULATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS RISE DRAMATICALLY. ALL I KNOW IS THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO GET A HOLD OF THE SITUATION. WHEN AN AMERICAN CITIZEN CANNOT FIND EMPLOYEMENT OR BETTER THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THERE IS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT IN THEIR WAY OF DOING SO I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT. IF UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO BREAK THE LAW AND NOT BE DEPORTED, I HAVE A REAL BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT. YEAH I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS BUT IF YOU BREAK THE LAW ARENT YOU SUPPOSE TO BE PUNISHED? THEN WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ILLEGAL ALIENS LIVING IN OUR COUNTRY WITH MORE RIGHTS AND FREEDOM THAT I FEEL AS I HAVE AS A BORN UNITED STATES CITIZEN. I KNOW THAT OUR COUNTRY IS BUILT ON IMMIGRATION AND ALL THAT BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE AS AMERICANS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO SPEAK THERE NATIVE LANGUAGE AND MOST OF US HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO A CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY. I KNOW THAT I HAVENT. EACH AND EVERY DAY AN ILLEGAL ALIEN ENTERS THIS COUNTRY AND UNTILL THEY ARE CAUGHT THEY ARE BREAKING THE LAW. ONCE THEY ARE CAUGHT AND NOT DEPORTED, WHO IS BREAKING THE LAW THEN?

[tyree]

Our local high school was 93% Caucasian in 1979. The local school district closed three schools that year because there were no more homes being built and enrollments were steeply declining. Now we are over 65% Hispanic, we have numerous bonds and taxes levied on us to pay for more schools. The areas that used to be playgrounds and parking lots are covered with temporary classrooms. I will be paying for all this for over thirty years via my property taxes. In one three month period three friends and family members where hit by Hispanics driving without licenses. After his wife had a stroke one friend had to wait an hour to her into an emergency room because they were all full. Illegal immigration hurts. If we are going to continue to admit illegal immigrants into the country I want a list of all the laws I get to break.

[suek]

>>Shame on this industry for shamelessly violating the law by hiring illegal aliens.>>

I'm not as firm as I want to be on illegal aliens. I keep horses in an area where there are a number of Mexicans who are self-employed. It is apparent to me that they have day jobs, and come to work the small piece of land they rent after doing a day's work. Over about 20 years, about 4-5 different individuals have rented a particular 1/2 acre piece of property and I've seen the hard work they've invested. I think we'd be lucky to keep these people here as citizens. On the other hand, I know there are people who have made demands on the system that have caused some 80 ER facilities to close down over the years due to inability to maintain themselves financially. Our local school is about 50% "hispanic" as defined by ESL definitions. That's about 175 students which cost the state about $7000 per year. Do they effectively contribute that much to the state coffers? Much of this country was built by immigrants who entered the US before immigration limits were established...there were no restrictions. They also prospered or failed on their own.
It seems to me that there are two primary issues today - benefits and security. I don't like the idea of a national ID card, but if such was required, then it could allow benefits if an individual had one, or not if not. Security would still be a problem - I think there is no doubt that the borders need to be sealed, but even if that is done effectively, we still have to figure out how to deal with those who are already here illegally, and those that we need for labor since as a society we're limiting family size as we are. I know at least one person who had her SS number stolen and used to establish identity. Provisions have not been made for this...fingerprinting at the minimum would be helpful.
I don't like a National ID card. I don't like registering an identity with the police. But maybe it's time.