"Each new day a bullet—each victim someone's son"

So, there's another push for immigration reform. This is one of those issues that I believe is the result of ignorance in most people and down-right greed in others.
Both the argument that the United States has a moral responsibility, as a rich country, to employ unfortunate undocumented workers who need to provide for their families and the argument that Americans will not take the nasty jobs that illegal immigrants are willing to take result in horrible abuse of those who, after all, are just as human as the United States' citizens and legal residents.
The fact is, with little to no enforcement of lax laws and the general acquiescence of the public, employers see a profitable advantage to hiring illegal immigrants. Since they are undocumented, these workers are not subject to requirements for minimum wage, benefits, overtime, holidays, worker's compensation, safe working conditions, or any of the other costly standards set for businesses in our country.
So, sure—illegal immigrants are pushing legal residents and citizens out of certain industries, like construction, in many parts of the country. Documented workers cannot compete against the lure of more profit.
Churches in México have a special wall covered with photographs of people who traveled north and were never heard from again. Most of the Mexicans I talked to in Guanajuato wanted their government to promote jobs in México instead of relying on the billions sent home by those who did make it to the States alive.
Strengthening enforcement and penalties against American businesses that hire undocumented workers would not only discourage illegal immigration by taking away the reward, it would restore a little more human decency to our country. Those who take advantage of the destitute would be punished accordingly. Ever wonder who finances the movements against immigration reform? Me, too.