New Immigration Policy & Its Impact on Hawaii

[Kelena]

The sad truth is you still can't get a good chile relleno around here.

[Lee M-S]

I think the saddest "illegal immigrants" are the people brought here as kids and who have grown up here. The US (or, to keep it local, Puna) is only home they've ever known, and now they face deportation to a place where they'll be total strangers.

[PaulW]

Only 21,000 in the whole state? I don't think we'll notice anything.

[glinda]

quote:

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Originally posted by Lee M-S

I think...

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we should be a sanctuary state

[Punatic007]

I think the people who pay taxes and don't live on food stamps etc.. understand the reasons why illegals need to go home. Shame on Hawaii gov for suing the federal government, very strange irresponsible and non-productive behavior for a state.

Interesting this was not an issue when Obama did the exact same deportation last year.

[leilanidude]

Every illegal that is in Hawaii and works for cash - is taking away a possible job (and taxes from the state) for a legal immigrant. It also tends to lower the prevailing wages as those illegals work for less in order to get that job.

[mikewj]

Appears to be some confusion between 'Illegal Immigrants' and "Refugees". Refugees by definition are attempting to escape oppression, and in many instances are fleeing for their lives. Illegals should be required to leave the country and make application to enter the US in the normal legal way. This is necessarily a broad brush statement, since there are many illegals who have been in the US long enough to have children born here. Those children are legal US residents, so how should these families be dealt with?
Should the bracero program, where non citizens, mostly from Mexico, were admitted on a temporary basis to help with crop gathering, be reinstated? This is a complex issue, no easy answers, but certainly mass deportation is not a great solution. Many businesses rely on low cost employees to survive. Are there enough legal and native born people able and willing to take up the slack if mass deportations occur? Trump hotels would certainly feel the brunt. Hawaii is not exempt from this problem, and the Tourist industry would certainly be affected by these proposed programs.

[Kapoho Joe]

Close the borders for real or else don't bother deporting anyone. They will just sneak back. One of the great benefits of living in Hawai'i - too far to swim!

[kalakoa]

Every illegal that is in Hawaii and works for cash - is taking away a possible job

Only if a citizen wants that job and is willing to work at it.

[mermaid53]

Some transplant Californians are accustomed to getting cheap labor. I know a skilled carpenter here who was asked if he would build a post and pier 384 sq ft studio for $12/hr. I've heard similar stories from other people.

Not knocking Californians...I'm orig from San Diego but in Hawaii for many many yrs now.