The American Worker's Story:

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I have been a full-time carpenter since 1979. I started framing in metal stud and hanging sheet rock (drywall) and when things got slow I would hang sheet rock in homes for a per foot price of twelve cents (1981). One day our fantastic boss came up to the crew I was working on and informed us that he had a crew (hispanics) that would hang for seven cents per foot and that we could either hang for that price or we could walk. I chose to walk. I was used to making about $200 per day and didn't want to live on less. That was the first wave of illegals I had to endure and it cost me any thought of a wage increase for nearly a decade. If you factor in inflation that would be more than a thirty percent cut in wages over a ten year span.

I left the drywall industry and began to frame homes all the while taking note of what was happening to the drywall and painting industries. I knew guys in both who were being financially destroyed. I knew that both political parties were vying for the hispanic vote and was extremely disappointed when Ronald Reagan gave the illegals amnesty (1986). I have since moved up the ladder a bit because of my persistence (stubbornness) and feel that I am in a position (remodeling) that will not easily be usurped by the second invasion we are now enduring. I have friends in the framing industry who haven't seen a raise in the last five years due to the rapid influx of illegals. I am disgusted with both parties for their rhetoric regarding illegals and would love to ask them if it was their job or their way of life they were giving away would they still do it. They don't seem to have much problem giving away my job and yet they still knock on my door to get my vote. For the most part they all disgust me most especially during the election cycle. It's not that Americans won't do these jobs, it's that they won't do them for half price!

-E. in Snohomish County

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I have been in drywall for over thirty years. I have watched this invasion lower my wages and make it harder to get work for the last fifteen years. In the mid 80's I was making $50-60,000 a year. In the last ten I have not been able to get over 45,000. Don't tell me they are a benefit to society. Only a fool would believe that. Or an employer who made a fortune off cheap labor. Great for them, bad for the rest of us.

-D. in Snohomish County

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I endorse I-409/I-1043. I am an Electrician by trade. It is a safety hazard to have illegal aliens working on construction sites due to language barriers. I have seen many unsafe practices performed by people who cannot speak English. This not only can destroy my work but can harm others.

-D. of IBEW, King County

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I worked in child support enforcement for the State of Washington. We had great trouble collecting child support from absent fathers who were illegal aliens. They used false Social Security Numbers so employers did not have a record or could not withhold (garnish) wages for child support. Also, many illegals don't possess a Social Security Number, or at least that is what the mothers told us. There is no way to find fathers. Without that support these mothers and children go on State welfare which taxpayers foot the bill for.

-C., Thurston County

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My experience is very simple. The juvenile detention school has grown from 25% hispanic to 40% hispanic over the last four years (2004-08). Illegals are coming in and involved in the drug trade and crime. One thing people don't understand is that a lot of illegals are gang members and my students tell me that MS-13 has a goal of creating an army to take over California.

-T., Thurston County

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My father worked lath and plaster in the construction trade. Lost his job to illegal aliens. He wanted his job! Don't tell me that they only take jobs we don't want!

-G., Thurston County

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In the 70', fruit packing houses mostly employed growers wives and families, who hand packed the fruit, paid by the box. Gradually, the warehouses have been taken over by hispanics and work to keep anyone else out. I went back to college to learn a different kind of work to take care of my family because of the way I was treated at the warehouse IN MY OWN HOME TOWN. I was prevented from applying for alot of jobs because I am not bi-lingual. When I was crewboss for cherries, I truly suspected when I was filling out I-9's for my employees (who could not or would not speak English)that the documents were not legal but knowing it and proving it is two different things and when the boss has a crop to get out, they "look the other way" because if the documents look legal on their face, to NOT accept them is "discrimination."

My home was broken into numerous times by the gangs that took over my quiet neighborhood, my son was beaten up at school for no reason except he has blonde hair and blue eyes. This is the school that was 55% white, 40% black and 5% hispanic when I graduated and we didn't fight. Now it's 60% hispanic and my A & B son almost didn't graduate for lack of attendance. When I was in school there, my friends had names like Armijo, Trujillo, Attincio, Pleasant. Now my son is blocked from alot of jobs because the jobs require an applicant to be bi-lingual. This is discrimination. Not reverse discrimination, just outright discrimination against my son and myself. If someone knocks on the front door and asked to come in, that's one thing - (guest worker, military, apply for citizenship) but to kick in the back door, just walk in and help themselves, thinking that's ok? Illegal is illegal.

L., Yakima

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I live in Yakima and am so glad to have some place to say what I need to say. I have been out of work for a year and a half. I am a professional and cannot find a job that pays over $10.00/hr because I am not bilingual. I have had hispanics say "shame on you" for not speaking Spanish. I have been spoken to in Spanish at stores. I have blond hair and green eyes. Why would they assume that I speak [Spanish]?

I live on the west side of town. Most of them cannot afford to live on this side, but it has gotten so bad they are moving in everywhere and they are not legal. Our city is having to ask for federal and state help with our gang problems because it has gotten to big to handle alone. When I was 6 years old I asked my Grandfather to teach me to speak French. He told me that this was America and we all need to speak English. That has stuck with me my whole life including the 4 years I spent living overseas. No one spoke English to me [there]. I had to learn to speak their language. It was good for me and I was respected for it. When you have no choice, you learn. They don't have to learn English they expect us to learn Spanish. How crazy is that!

When I lived overseas I always had to carry papers to show that I was in the country legally. I never had a problem with that. Oh, by the way, I had no rights in those countries, I was not a citizen. I could only work for the company that I was there with. I couldn't even take a class at the local college. So I guess I have seen this from both sides. Legal means Legal. Another thing, every time they protest they fly the Mexican flag. If they want so bad to be Americans I would suggest they follow our laws and fly the flag of the country they want to belong to. Or go back to their beloved Mexico.

D. "FED UP IN YAKIMA"

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