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I have lived in Florida for over 30 years. I have definitely seen an over-whelming influx of Hispanics here since then. Not just Mexicans, but Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, etc. I'm quite sure that the vast majority of these Hispanics were not and are not 'legal' aliens. I'm not sure exactly what the hang up is about these folks that are already here.

When a person fills out an application for employment, they are required to produce either a Social Security Card, or a Green Card. I see these companies that hire mostly Hispanics for manual labor, that have 20-30 people on their crew. I'm not sure if any of them have legal documentation to work in the US, but they are working, out in the open, each and every day. I don't see an Caucasians. Rarely do I see Black people either. The 'jobs that no one else wants' is all that I hear when the conversation comes to illegals here in the states. I hear the folks that were born and raised here in the US complaining about not being able to find a job. They can find a job, but they don't want to work for $6 an hour, and in the heat, and have to sweat. Mommy and Daddy will provide for me. These jobs are essential to our lives. Years ago, men in their 40's and 50's would do this same labor. And for less than half of what the minimum wage is today, and they were happy just to have a job and provide for their families. This is what the Hispanics are doing today.

I believe that they should be given a 'map' of the path to at least getting a legal way to work here, if they are here. If they aren't here right now, then they probably will be later today or tomorrow or next week. If they are already on this country's soil, then give them a green card, and they will work. They won't work any differently than they did without it. If anything, maybe they will work harder , knowing that they can legally go and spend their money without the fear of the Border Patrol going through the motions of picking them up, and then letting them go. It seems that they would be a better part of todays society than the spoiled kids who live at home until they are 25 or so, and finally get a job at the local fast food establishment. I for one would welcome the day that our government finally recognizes that the neighbors that we share this continent with, both North and South, are not our enemies. They are vital to our success.

A few years ago, the government began a huge crack down here in Florida looking for illegal aliens. The farm workers all got spooked, and they left in droves. They didn't round up as many as they would like to have, but they did do some collateral damage. The farmers lost their workers, and they had to find whoever they could to help them harvest their crops. They lost a lot of money because of this crackdown. I didn't see the spoiled kids who 'can't find a job' rushing out with a sigh of relief, saying "finally, now we have a job". These Hispanics weren't hurting anyone. They were helping the local and national economy. Working for less than minimum wage, but were happy just to have aa job and some money for their families. Kind of like our grandfathers did for us. Not such a bad work ethic huh?

Learn more about this author, David Franz.
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