Because of illegal or disputed status, millions of immigrant workers holding U.S. jobs continue to live hybrid lives that make utterly no sense morally or economically.
While living in the shadows to avoid deportation, 50 to 75 percent of them nevertheless pay local and federal taxes and even contribute $7 billion to Social Security coffers, not to mention producing profitable goods and services for employers and serving consumer needs.
However, until President Obama and Congress treat immigration reform as urgent, provide a sensible system legalizing millions of workers who've been in the country for years, and create temporary worker status for others, rabble-rousers will exploit the issue merely to stir up mindless hate and political chaos.
Billions of dollars are spent by local and federal authorities to track down and deport illegal immigrants. That system has no end in sight, only more billions in border and intrastate law enforcement.
Consider the Los Angeles-based American Apparel clothing manufacturer, with some 7,000 employees. Rather than face stiff fines for hiring illegal workers, the company has fired 1,800 workers, including many who have worked there for 10 years, have been given shares of company stock and are paid above-minimum wages.
If American Apparel can't fill vacancies, will the company move production overseas where labor is cheaper and taxes are minimal?
Reform will end futile enforcement costs, restore stability for thousands of small businesses that rely on unskilled labor and silence a divisive issue that poisons our culture.
