There is certainly much scapegoating of illegal immigrants by those who practice the politics of cultural conservatism, attempting to preserve some illusory impression of an essential American culture, which they perceive as under threat by increasing diversity. However, for the rest of us, who care not about such inconsequential issues, we on the Left, who oppose the opening of the border with Mexico, still maintain that the effects of illegal immigration on American society must be considered when assessing whether American polity should interdict.

I have never been exposed to a single advocate of illegal immigration who addresses the root concern; namely, the deleterious impact that the constant flood of unskilled labor has upon those members of this society who are the most vulnerable with respect to their socio-economic positions. Through the chorus of neo-liberal sophistries, enunciating arguments which obfuscate the obvious affects that the saturation of the labor market has with respect to wages and employment opportunities, well-respected liberal economists have persistently stated a description of the harsh reality: Illegal immigration is draining society’s resources as well as depressing wages for those who already bare economic conditions that only provide the most tenuous form of support.

I have seen arguments that refer to the economic growth caused by illegal immigration, making mention of the increase in productivity and the contribution it creates in regards to the consumer market. However, these ploys lack substance because little has been researched concerning where the revenues created from the depression of wages are, in fact, invested, as well as, what types of occupations, assuming that this capital is reinvested in American society, are generated.

Consequently, I would urge those who come here and who have so boldly raised their voices in protest to, perhaps, direct their political resources toward reforming the oppressive socio-economic conditions that have created their motivation to migrate in the first place. I understand that American economic imperialism has played a significant role in the creation of the displacement of peasant farmers from their lands. However, we cannot ignore the fact that much of the wealth in Latin American countries is consolidated within the coffers the elites. America, too, will resemble this disproportionate distribution of wealth if this trend continues.

[tags]liberal,illegal immigration,immigration controversy,socio-economic,conservative,displacement[/tags]