Emily, The governors of Florida and Texas could stop this in a heartbeat, by closing down business that hire anyone who is not documented - and imposing huge fines. If a business will not pay those fines, its easy to attach their assets.
It is so easy, so legal, so simple and so inexpensive a solution, there is no excuse not use the tools you have to stop it.
You say "illegal immigrants are overrunning the states of Texas and Florida" - would you be more specific.
I lived most of my life in California where migrant workers are the backbone of the largest, and most productive agricultural region in the world. Based on first hand experience, I have some questions.
Is the word "overrunning" accurate, or overstated, perhaps hyperbole? If you meant it literally, what percentage of the population in your state, is here illegally (one in ten, one in a thousand?). If you meant it figuratively, can you explain what is triggering those feelings in you?
Florida and Texas are huge states with huge populations so I think it is fair to ask how many people does it take to overrun these states? Is it just certain parts of the state, or the whole state?
How are illegal immigrants identified? How do you do you know if someone is here legally or illegally? What countries are these immigrants coming from and how are they getting to Florida - are they walking, flying into airports, bussing in, driving in, coming by boat?) Once immigrants reach Florida or Texas, where are they living and how are they getting food?
If your state has laws forbidding companies from employing undocumented workers, are they being enforced? Do those laws need to be strengthened, perhaps significantly higher fines, even criminal charges?
I know several organizers in Florida and Texas, and both state's depend on migrant farmworkers - and cannot afford to lose agricultural revenue. In western states, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, automotive, restaurant, shipping, and ranching industries all depend on an influx of immigrants to stay open. Put out an ad for jobs in these industries, and 1 out of 1000 applicants are white. Worse yet, even fewer white applicants have the required skills.
Would it be fair to say that people in Florida and Texas are un-informed? Do residents in these states know enough about their economies to make informed decisions?
