Summary

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that Trump’s mass deportation policy could lead to labor shortages and higher grocery prices.

Experts say agriculture, construction, and healthcare will be hardest hit, with farm output losses estimated between $30 and $60 billion.

Deportations could cost the U.S. economy up to $88 billion annually.

AOC argued that immigrant labor is vital to economic stability, urging Congress to pursue immigration reform.

  • gamer@lemm.ee
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    4 hours ago

    but I’m struggling to find a reason we shouldnt deport illegal immigrants.

    Are you specifically concerned about illegal immigration, or just immigration in general? Because if it’s the former, that’s a silly distinction because the government (we the people, aka Elon Musk) decides what is illegal or not. If the next wave of politicians decides we should have actually open borders, then there would be no such thing as “illegal immigration”.

    I’m concerned that illegal immigrant labor is akin to H1b or prison labor, where the worker has diminished rights and is abused more than other groups.

    Do you have specific examples in mind where immigrants are exploited? If you do, look at those examples and ask yourself: “could we pass laws to protect these people from abuse?”, and you’ll find that the answer is obviously yes.

    Maybe your definition of “abuse” is that they need to work harder to earn less? Well, that’s the society we live in. Capitalism has its problems, but it has worked good enough for us for the past 248 years. For the immigrant, US minimum wage is likely far better than whatever they received in their home country, and I suspect most would happily take that deal. I think that’s what they’d call “the American dream”, as their children will be able to go to school and have a better future than they did.

    …If your issue is with immigration in general, then I don’t know what to tell you. That’s entirely opinion based, and nobody knows what the correct answer is (despite what they might claim). 100% open borders has risks, 100% closed borders has risks.

        • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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          2 hours ago

          Right, he made the great point that maybe we could pass laws to protect people we dont even know are in the country. That makes a lot of sense. Illegal immigrants are a protected class now!

          I’m frustrated that everything trump does gets misrepresented to the point where people are just shouting random fears into the void. Apologies for refusing to jump to conclusions like the rest of the circle-jerkers on this platform.

          I am opposed to quite a lot of what trump does but kicking people out of the country who didnt arrive legally isn’t one of them, because I simply can’t think of a reason why people who broke into the country deserve the right to stay.

          • TheRealCharlesEames@lemm.ee
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            2 hours ago

            You lack empathy. And you need to understand that you are only a victim here for being a sociopath, not for simply discussing trumps actions.

            • Rekorse@sh.itjust.works
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              1 hour ago

              And you lack a coherent response, unless you think name-calling is effective. Good thing all of you taught my why I was wrong.

              • gamer@lemm.ee
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                16 minutes ago

                You’re not engaging in any good faith arguing here. I made a good faith argument that your focus on the “illegal” label is arbitrary and pointless, and even invited a discussion on immigration in general, but instead you came back with some terrible takes and snark. I can’t tell if you’re a troll or a bot.

                Good thing all of you taught my why I was wrong.

                Is that why you came here? To have people teach you why you’re wrong? Because if you already know you’re wrong, why are you spending so much effort arguing against people telling you what you already know? It’s Saturday dude, spend it with friends and family, not bitterly debating politics with strangers on the internet.

      • gamer@lemm.ee
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        3 hours ago

        So you don’t care about immigration, you only care about the “illegal” aspect of it? Does that mean you’re pro-immigration reform, so that more people can immigrate to the US without “breaking laws”?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          2 hours ago

          I seem to remember there’s a word for people who feel that all laws must be followed no matter how unjust. I think it starts with an F.

          • gamer@lemm.ee
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            57 minutes ago

            Good to know! I also hate illegal immigration, which is why, at least on this issue, I’m voting for democrats for the foreseeable future. The republican party is hell bent on increasing the amount of illegal immigrantion in this country, and I just can’t support that. Of course, the dems would never go so far as to eliminate illegal immigration completely (by adopting open borders), but I’m confident they’re at least more open to finding a middle ground that makes most people happy.