EckerNet.Com

The illegal immigrants arrested are being released never to be seen again. Now while this is unacceptable and is itself a big problem, there is perhaps a silver lining to all this.

In short, the charges to the managers that hired these illegal immigrants need to stay. If they are found guilty and are subject to the penalties that sends a message to other employers.

Six of seven current and former IFCO managers charged with felony conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens were released on bond and are to appear May 4 in Albany, N.Y., where the criminal complaint was filed and the investigation began at a suburban IFCO facility.

The managers could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each alien involved, as well as forfeitures.

Now granted this isn\’t happening on the scale to send such a message. Clearly it needs to happen more. But my point is that if you make this a trend and do it often enough and with enough publicity, it does send a message. You raid employer after employer, and round everyone up. Now even if you release the actual illegals, but charge the employers it goes a long ways towards solving the problem.

Part of the reason illegal immigrants come here is because it is still largely the land of opportunity, even for criminals, namely people with no legal right to be here. Take away the opportunity and you take away one of the big reasons illegals come here in the first place. If life here is just as bad as it is back home for illegal immigrants I\’m fairly certain many will self-deport…or at least stop encouraging relatives to illegally cross the border.

As an added benefit, it makes legal immigration all the more attractive. Not only are you here legally but the job market is all that more attractive.