(A repost from a comment I entered on the Chronicle's article comment section)
If we want illegal labor to go away then don't count on remedies from government, we have to make it happen ourselves. And since the problem stems from economic incentives it makes sense to respond in kind.
- Don't hire illegal labor (lawn care, maids, concrete for that new patio, etc.)
- Don't do business with any company that uses illegal workers.
- Be ready & willing to pay more for goods and services from companies that employ only "legals".
The point is to remove the underpinnings that attract and keep illegal labor in the US. If we're not ready to accept that costs and responsibilities that come with the effort then we may as well get used to the status quo and quit whining about it.
It's generally a given that companies like builders and restaurants - and by extension, consumers - benefit from reduced labor costs from illegal workers. It's also expected that if these same entities were to switch to legal labor and the increased costs that come with it, that they'll protect their profit margins by passing on the increased costs to consumers. That's not gonna change. Those of us who want to see reductions in the influx of illegal immigration *must* be ready to accept the costs that come with that goal.
In another post I advocated a bracero worker program that provides a temporary, non-immigration fix to satisfy the need for labor, the earning potential for foreign workers and the sense of law & order that many Americans want. While not perfect, it's a start.
Rounding up and deporting an estimated 12 million people is an unrealistic goal. So is expecting to win the hearts and minds of America by race-baiting and flying of foreign flags. Resolving this situation lies somewhere in the middle.