Reply #60: "Illegal immigration" isn't just for brown people.... [View All]

That's what cracks my ass up about this whole "debate" -- "illegal immigration" has become synonymous with "brown people from south of our border".

I live in San Francisco, a town chock full of people who have come here and remain here illegally. A huge number of those are from Mexica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. An equally large number are from Asia, primarily China. And an equally large number are white Europeans, primarily Ireland and England.

The number of Irish illegals in construction in this town is huge. But I am willing to bet a million $$$ that when someone sees Mr. Whitebread Irishman swinging a hammer on a job site, there isn't a soul whose first thought is "illegal immigrant taking away our jobs!" Now, make that carpenter a brown guy -- illegally here or not, and I am willing to bet the same money that "illegal immigrant" does enter the picture.

The only crisis in my mind from undocumented workers in my area is that, without some sort of legal standing, they remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. They are also forced to live their lives on the fringes and in fear.