Trump's Mass Deportation and The Division of Labor

1. 84

   peoplepower73posted 6 weeks ago

   Stephen Miller who was Trump's speech writer and one of the architects of  separating children from their parents in Trump's first term is now selected as Chief Deputy of Homeland Security.  He is now the brains behind Trump's Mass Deportation Policy.
   
   He will be working very closely with Tom Homan who is selected as Trump's Border Czar. Between the two of them they will be managing Trump's policy to deport undocumented immigrants from this country. At the Madison Garde GOP convention, Stephen Miller stood up and said, "America is for Americans only."
   
   Aside from cracking down on undocumented immigrants, Miller has his sights on limiting immigration, as well. he has supported an end to birthright citizenship and pledged to “turbocharge” his efforts to strip naturalized citizens of their legal status. He has also prepared to end parole programs for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua and let Temporary Protected Status protections expire for more than 800,000 people.
   
   There are an estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the US, according to the Global Migration Center at the University of California-Davis. Of those, about 8.5 million are employed, said Giovanni Peri, an economist and director of UCDavis Global Migration Center.
   
   While Miller forms the plans, it will likely be Homan working to coordinate carrying them out. Trump has indicated he’d like to see the military take part in the forced removal plans, which would require Pentagon buy-in and a likely transfer of money from defense programs to pay for a surge in detention facilities. There will be legal challenges that the Justice Department will have to defend against. Homan would be the point person making sure everyone is staying on the same page.
   
   It’s worth noting that Homan’s job, such as it is, exists only as two words on paper right now, as there is no “border czar” job title in the federal system and no pool of resources for him to tap. It’s also fun to remember that he was promised, but never granted, a similar role in the first Trump administration. But Homan has the experience needed to carry out Miller’s wishes. He was hired to head ICE’s deportation arm before eventually becoming its director and implemented Trump’s “zero tolerance” child separation policy.
   
   I live in Southern California. The San Juaquin Valley is one of the largest produce regions in the country. Undocumented migrant workers are used to picking the crops and they do it dirt cheap on a seasonal basis.  Trump and company keeps saying the immigrants are coming for your jobs.  The problem is nobody in their right mind would take those jobs away from those workers and farmers are not going to pay higher wages to non-immigrants,
   
   The same thing goes for Hotel and Motel workers who are also working for dirt cheap wages. We have many care washing facilities.  Who is willing to take those jobs?
   
   I get the feeling, Trump's plans are based on what he sees as ideal for him and he has the ability to project that onto others.  I don't think he has worked an honest days labor in his whole life.  We have a choice.  A division of labor that keeps the economy running smoothly or one that is going to pass on the increased cost to the consumer as the public takes those jobs from immigrants.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      I don't know a lot about Trump's plans for migrant workers, only what he has shared in interviews ---  Trump has expressed mixed views on the use of migrant workers for jobs in the U.S. economy, showing some support for legal immigration in some contexts while also emphasizing new restrictions.
      
      During his presidency, he frequently criticized programs like the H-1B visa system for potentially undercutting wages for American workers but also increased the use of temporary work visa programs. By the end of his term, over 2 million temporary migrant workers were employed in the U.S., reflecting a 13% increase from the Obama administration. These workers filled critical roles, often in industries deemed essential.
      
      In the 2024 campaign, Trump suggested reforming immigration to make it more merit-based, including proposals to automatically grant green cards to top foreign graduates from U.S. universities, but with strict limitations to exclude individuals considered ideologically or politically undesirable. His administration's broader stance often focused on reducing overall immigration levels while maintaining pathways for more highly skilled workers, from around the world to fill jobs in STEM jobs.
      
      These positions reveal an acknowledgment of the economic role of migrant labor, balanced against a strong emphasis on protecting American workers and curbing broader immigration flows.

      replyreport
      1. 84

         peoplepower73posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         Nice flowery prose, but who is going to pick the crops, work in the hotel, motel business and wash cars?  I don't think it is foreign workers schooled in the academic disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  who come into this country looking for menial  jobs.  I don't think "American workers" want to do those menial jobs either, do you? If they are not done by those who are now picking those crops, the cost of produce in this country is going to go sky high.  Are you prepared to pay the higher prices for your vegetables or to stay in a nice hotel?

         replyreport
         1. 85

            Sharlee01posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            I understand that many people are predicting doom and gloom about the future, particularly when it comes to paying higher prices for food and other necessities. However, I just don't see this happening. The more I research some of the plans that Trump has discussed, the more confident I become that the outcome will actually be the opposite of what others are expecting. While I could be wrong, I really believe his agenda is a solid one, especially when it comes to economic policies. If things don’t turn out the way I expect, I’ll happily welcome your "I told you so" – but for now, I feel optimistic about the direction he’s proposing. 
            
            Those who want to fill Essential Jobs, that are hard to fill can continue to work in the US H-2A Visa or H-2B visa. I would like to see programs for these workers to become citizens. This would be optimal.

            replyreport
      2. 91

         MizBejabbersposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         I haven't checked into the pros and cons of this, but I do have a question so maybe someone who has can answer it. What happened to the Bracero program that was in effect when I was young? As an elementary school age child I grew up in the Foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Our rural town was in a dry county so my dad quite often took us with him when he drove to a town of similar size in the nearest wet county when he wanted to buy alcohol. It was in the beginning of the Delta and was prolific with cotton fields. In the fall when the cotton was ready to pick, legal workers were brought in from Mexico to pick because there weren't enough local pickers to harvest the cotton. I could hardly wait to get into high school so I could take Spanish and learn their language to communicate with them. Unfortunately, one year of high school Spanish taught by the English teacher didn't enable me to do that. When I moved to West Texas after marrying the first time, the Braceros were still being brought in, and my husband's family ran a Spanish language movie theater to accommodate them. Life goes on and one day the Bracero program ended. So my question is "Why, because it seemed to be working just fine when imported workers were needed?
         
         Also, I don't agree with most of Trump's policies on immigration, but I do agree with his stance on birthright citizenship. Other countries do just fine without it, so why do we still have this old outmoded law on the books?

         replyreport
         1. 89

            wildernessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            The birthright provision was implemented because of slavery and the end of it.  Anyone born of a slave, in the country, was a citizen.
            
            It might not have been the best solution to the problem of slave children/citizenry, but it was what we had.
            
            It is still on the books because the Constitution is so difficult to change.  And, probably, because some people like the idea.

            replyreport
   2. 89

      wildernessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      It sounds like you're saying that we have to ignore our laws, promoting illegal activity, in order to eat.
      
      I'm sorry, but that is beyond my comprehension.  It is not true, it relies on unethical, immoral and illegal behavior and it NOT necessary to feed America.

      replyreport
      1. 84

         peoplepower73posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         The funny thing is it has been that way for years, since undocumented people have been working the fields and working in the hotel business. It is not until Trump and company have come along and are messing with the division of labor. 
         
         You have a choice to have your strawberries cost what they do now or have them picked by "documented legal Americans only" who will pass the increased labor cost onto you.
         
         You are right.  It is NOT necessary to feed America.  It is necessary to feed America at a lower cost.
         
         Talk about unethical, immoral, and illegal, it describes Trump completely.  It is just as a sitting president, he gets away clean. Thank God for all his money that he is able to afford the best lawyers who were able to delay his trials until he was elected as president. But that is another story.

         replyreport
         1. 89

            wildernessposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

            Yep.  And the employers and employees picking those strawberries get away clean even if both working AND hiring are illegal.  If one, why not the other?  I mean, if our laws mean nothing, why bother with them all?  There are plenty of anarchists here that will help us go that road if we want.

            replyreport
            1. 84

               peoplepower73posted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

               Maybe you missed this on my opening argument,.
               
               There are an estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants in the US, according to the Global Migration Center at the University of California-Davis. Of those, about 8.5 million are employed, said Giovanni Peri, an economist and director of UCDavis Global Migration Center.
               
               This is for your dining and dancing pleasure.
               
               https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-p … on-promise

               replyreport