Obama announces immigration overhaul shielding 4 million from deportation

[pampango]

43. "Low skilled migrant workers right now do not compete with American citizens in the job market ..."

So dishwashers or landscapers or retail workers or dry wallers working "off the books" do not compete with those who are citizens or legal immigrants? I believe you will find many posters here who strongly believe that such completion does exist and has had a large impact on American citizens and legal immigrants.

Even if one accepted your rather unique economic theory, should we conclude that it is best to leave this large group of people untouched? Their "off the books" world really does not affect those of us who work in the "on the books" world? It would seem to be an uncaring society that would accept a large caste of people who live 'off the books' with no protection from and limited involvement with the mainstream society.

Many poor and minority people also work off the books so that they can continue to collect some benefits and thus have a minimal existence.

Which would imply that "low skilled migrant workers" and "many poor and minority people" all work "off the books" right now. Does that not mean that they compete with each other for "off the books" jobs? Or are there certain "off the books" jobs for 'migrant workers' and others for 'poor and minority Americans' so that they do not compete with each other?

If providing people here illegally with some measure of legalization so they can participate in society more fully and with less fear is not a liberal policy, what alternative do you propose that is more liberal?