"A Lambasted Landscaper's Lament"

From E.J. Montini's blog at the Arizona Repulic:

He's been a Valley landscape contractor for years; he pays decent wages and provides health benefits; he considers himself a loyal, patriotic American. But he asks that I keep his name out of the paper because some of his employees are illegal immigrants and because, he says, “People are nuts. They don't want to talk about this. They just want to yell at you and string you up.” Arizona's employer sanctions law will not kick in until next month, assuming it doesn't get tied up in court. The landscaper says that he'll comply with the new rules. For now, however, he wonders if he could make a few points without getting shouted down. Only if there were no one around to hear you, I say. He begins by discussing the notion that illegal immigrants fill jobs that Americans don't want. “When I put ads in the paper that we have openings, there is not one white guy busting down my door asking to push a lawnmower,” he says. “It does not happen. Same with the guys I know who do roofs. Same with other contractors. Why does Arizona have to be a cowboy and go after the businessmen here?” Some would say that it's because the federal government isn't doing anything, I tell him, and that someone has to take the lead. “That's a joke,” he says. “This is going to hurt Arizona. I have painting contractor friends. Framers. Roofers. When this law takes effect and they have to fire people – like I will – do you think those employees will go away? No. They'll start working for themselves and everything we put into them, all of the training, will be used against us. Only they'll be working for cash and paying no taxes.” He pauses and then adds, “And what happens then to Social Security?” The landscaper says that his average employee makes about $400 a week. From that, each pays the federal government over $30 in taxes. He matches that amount. “When the government gets the money and finds that it can't match an employee's name with a Social Security number, does it send me back a check saying, ‘Sorry, we don't know what to do with this money?' No,” he says. “They keep it. Why? Because they need it.” The Social Security system has received billions from illegal immigrants who will never collect benefits. Some suggest that without that money, the system would collapse. “We need a program where people can be identified and can work here,” the landscaper says. “Maybe a system that says if you don't have a job you have to leave. But as it is, I might have to fire a guy who has worked for me for 10 years. He is married to a U.S. citizen. He has never been in trouble. Owns a house. A truck. Has two kids who are citizens. He's been paying a lawyer 10 years to get citizenship and still hasn't got it. Now I'm supposed to fire him because (Gov.) Janet (Napolitano) and some others got on a bandwagon and are mad at Mexicans? That's not right. Why not punish everybody else who deals with illegals or makes money from them?” He includes those who might sell supplies to such people. And groceries. And clothes. As well as individuals who use their services. And everyone who benefits, directly or indirectly, from illegal immigrants. Every business with a “se habla español” signs in its window, for instance. Or those who own Spanish language newspapers, TV stations and radio stations. “What would happen if we punished everyone who has benefited from illegals?” he asks. “What would it be like then?” For one thing, I say, there'd be no one left to shout down a frustrated landscaper.

You really should read some of the vitrolic comments in this thread. Everyone will understand how touchy a subject illegal immigration is in Arizona.

But... but... what would Jesus do?

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