This left a windfall of occupations in demand, especially people available for contract / sub contract jobs like roofing, construction, electrical, plumbing, and in medical fields etc thus pushing up pricing and completion dates. And with the previous administration's incentives and porous border policies, the demand was slowly being met. However along with people wanting to work to a better life, gangs and various criminals also entered the porous border. Many recall the sad story of Laken Riley 2 and there are many others.
My parents were immigrants. They immigrated here and took advantage of the rule of opening a business and employing people, which allowed them to get permanent residency cards (green cards). Such type of immigration helped America grow economically. Unfortunately that is not offered anymore, but should be brought back. But there's another rule that seems neglected/obsolete. Work visas seem obsolete and prejudiced against blue collar workers. For instance they either require at least a bachelor's degree or are geared towards temporary agricultural work.
"Noncitizens constituted almost 19% of the U.S. labor force as of March 2024. Despite their economic importance, the available options for them to be hired by U.S.-based employers are often insufficient and, in many cases, obsolete." 3
Now is this a lot of hyperbole or legitimate concerns? You be the judge.
Wouldn't it make more sense for Congress to figure out what parts of our country need what types of occupations, particularly in the trades since we have the professional part mostly covered with HB1? Thus a lack of roofers in Bellingham would call for VETTED immigrants with roofing experience and require them to work in that city or state for a particular amount of time before the freedom of moving to another city/state. In this scenario we would have people who are skilled and thus meeting the demand, instead of who knows who they are, if their paperwork is real, where they came from and what their intentions are.
The previous administration and sanctuary cities and states have created a very dire situation: A humanitarian crisis! Everyone knows Illegals have been enticed with various support offers, in California Gov Newsome has guaranteed them free healthcare, although now Cali is facing a $60 billion deficit. In NYC illegal migrants are guaranteed housing, so they get put up in shelters and hotels, but only for 60 days. Then it's "outta here"! Meanwhile their budget deficit is overwhelming them. None of that makes any sense, but that's what happens when lunacy prevails. A lot of these migrants wish they never came. Now President Trump's Administration is getting rid of gangs like Tren de Aragua and MS-13 by utilizing the 1798 Foreign Enemies Act. However, non-gangs are getting caught up in it. Just last week here in Bellingham ICE busted 37 illegal migrants with fake work documents. 4 It's very sad to watch the video as the families are caught off guard, very worried and in economic jeopardy. One arrestee even has a pregnant American wife, thus splitting families.(You can donate) This is all the fault of the previous administration: Biden / Harris.
Wouldn't it make more sense to setup a forgiveness program whereby illegal immigrants that are working or want to work are put in a program where they are allowed to work and pay fines for coming here illegally. However they would be allowed to live here, but they would never be allowed to become citizens due to coming here illegally; they could be permanent residents instead if they don't break the laws. Now this would not apply to criminals and gangs, they need to be deported, as we have enough of our own here in the USA. In this scenario we wouldn't be splitting our nation in 1/2, lefties getting unhinged and righties happy, but then feeling bad for the families. And families wouldn't be split apart. Why not bring America together. In this scenario, we would maintain a work force that's been working and needed. It would also keep our population from dwindling dangerously low amongst the younger generations that are supporting the elder through social security payments, nursing, housing and many other support services and products.
While Trump's administration is doing an awesome job in closing the border and making us safer by deporting dangerous gangs and other criminals, they should treat the people that have been working and not breaking the law, aside from coming here illegally, differently. After all who ever heard of chasing out hard working people working jobs we have trouble filling, and are here to better their life and family. I would say these people can become patriotic if they aren't already.
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(1) https://bellinghamnews.org/articles/overpopulation-collapse.html
(2) https://www.foxnews.com/us/laken-riley-murder-defense-prosecution-weighs-whether-jose-ibarras-brothers-testify-trial
(3) https://immigrationforum.org/article/explainer-immigrant-and-nonimmigrant-work-visas/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BPUgbh95SRKPPviDltAM7CWepOxT9FgNlzWvlf_ecGFHtyCbIT6ScRoC2UUQAvD_BwE
(4) https://youtu.be/vGi0fEG_FAE
.(You can donate to the families caught up in this mess.)
***Thanks deepai for the picture https://deepai.org/
[ ] Brackets are used to correct the spelling of a person's quote or add more descriptive words to avoid English and Literature Teachers from having a heart attack, LoL.
By Chief Editor Angelo-Lk-Whatcom-Rider-Writer, Published: 4-9-2025 Updated: Not yet buddy
The ugly illustrations are drawn in a feverish hurry of 1-3 minutes by yours truly under his high school pen name Zouk
And of course, when in a hurry, I use AI if it's not too much bull biscuits! Usually takes the liberties of advertising itself on the pic.
About The writer: I've lived in Bellingham since February, 2011, and love the beautiful trees & greenery producing all that oxygen, and of course, the lake, bay, hills and mountains too. I've also been in the lovely Anacortes area for part of that time, going back and forth, since moving here.
Educational/Professional Background: Economics & Political Science Degrees at UCF. Attended Graduate School of Economics at FSU, and have worked for the FL Labor Dept as well as consulted for the FL Labor Dept on behalf of the US Labor Dept. I've been happily working in my own businesses since 1993.