Say Anything Blog

The plight of the poor migrant worker worsens with Employer Sanctions Law sending more and more illegals searching for work in Texas:

HOUSTON - Illegal immigrants are coming into Texas, but not from where one might think.  The rush is coming from Arizona, Oklahoma and other states - places that have recently passed tough new anti-illegal immigrant laws.  The two toughest measures are in Arizona and Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma statute, which took effect in November, makes it a crime to transport, harbor or hire illegal immigrants. Effective Jan. 1, the Arizona law suspends the business license of employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. On a second offense, the license is revoked.

Anecdotal information seems to indicate that illegal immigrants are leaving these states in growing numbers.

“They’re really tightening the screws,” said Mario Ortiz, an undocumented Mexican worker [wtf does “undocumented” mean] who came to Houston after leaving Phoenix last year. “There have been a lot coming - it could be 100 a day."…

Enrique Hubbard, Mexico’s consul general in Dallas, said a dozen Mexican families from Oklahoma have applied for consular documents listing their new homes in the Dallas area. He expects more to arrive because jobs are available in north Texas.

Texas’ reputation as a welcoming destination has experts predicting more immigrants will come to Houston and other cities in the state. Texas has not passed any statewide law targeting the employment of undocumented workers.

Ortiz, a native of southern Mexican state of Tabasco, said he left Phoenix eight months ago working 60 to 70 hours a week as a nursery worker. While now he can only pick up two to three days a week of yardwork and barely earns enough to send back to his family, he prefers to be in Texas.

“Here, they let you work. Over there, they won’t. There is a lot of racism, but here there isn’t - it’s better,” Ortiz said of Houston.

Ah, “undocumented” workers experience “racism”.  I guess we are racist for wanting people to have “documents” to get a job.  You know--things that Federal Law mandates, like social security numbers and identity documents proving who you are.  I wonder how many folks would like an "undocumented" sex offender sneaking into their neighborhood? Or how about an "undocumented" doctor performing surgery on them?

Have fun in Texas.  Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.