[Sangetsu]

What is an "illegal alien"? An illegal alien is someone who entered into and resides inside America without legal permission. By that definition such a person is breaking the law, and is subject to arrest.

Why should illegal aliens not be arrested for committing such a crime? Why should police not be allowed to arrest them for committing such a crime?

Do companies knowingly hire illegal aliens in America? Is this against the law? Yes. Why does it occur? Because the federal government still refuses to implement a mandatory immigration status database.

If a person comes to your company with a social security card and fills out the form saying he is a legal resident or citizen, you must take him at his word, even if he doesn't speak a word of English. There is no way to tell if he is what he says is true or not.

Anyone in America (including MMM) who is interviewed for a job in America is required by law to fill out a questionnaire asking about one's citizenship or residential status before he can be hired for a job. Unfortunately, this questionnaire is never verified by anyone, it is a joke. An employer may suspect or believe that the person applying for a job is an illegal alien, but since there is no way to check a person's immigration statue, and with the existence of anti-discrimination laws, an employer has his hands tied.

Any illegal alien who gives a false social security number when applying for a job commits a federal crime, in addition to the crime of illegally entering the country in the first place.

MMM, what if you were a construction contractor trying to feed your family, and your wages were reduced from the $18 an hour which was paid 25 years ago to the $10 an hour which is paid today? Would you still think that the immigration law was unfair? If one of your children gets sick and you have to go to the emergency room and have to weight 10 or 12 hours to see a doctor because the emergency room is full of "people of color" from Mexico or Guatemala, would you think the immigration law was unfair? If one of your family members was killed by an illegal alien who was driving drunk (figures are hard to come by, but the best estimate is that illegal aliens are responsible for about 5% of accidents in America, which means 2000 deaths, 140,000 injuries, a $11.5 billion in damages), would you still think the immigration law was unfair?

Use Japan as an example when comparing immigration policies. Japanese police routinely check foreigners for their visas or residency cards. Is this racial profiling? Of course it is. Do I care? Of course not, I am here legally, and I don't mind showing my ID to any Japanese policeman who asks me for it. The law in Japan says that foreigners must present their ID/passport upon request to any police officer who requests it, he doesn't need any "just cause" to ask.

Since all of you Japan fans now know that Japanese police have these powers, does it change your mind about liking Japan? Does it make you not want to live in Japan? Probably not.