"Illegal Workers Face Hardship in Big Easy"

Where is the contact information for this pity party? I would dearly love to RSVP with my regrets.

So people illegally in this country are being underpaid and "made" to work in hazardous and illegal conditions by unscrupulous employers. There are two problems here. The problem of evil, opportunistic employers that the AP article focuses on. And the problem of people illegally in this country seeking employment at all, which the article dismisses as being of incidental importance at best.

Yes, any employer violating wage, labor and workplace safety laws ought to be cited and treated appropriately by enforcement of those existing laws. Hey, perhaps we could even begin enforcing those laws enacted as part of the 1986 amnesty that were supposed to make life so miserable for those employers who chose to employ undocumented labor. I understand that actually enforcing a law is far less popular than having some politician hold up a piece of paper and proclaiming how tough they are being on the problems of the day, but doing so might actually prove effective at alleviating those problems the legislation purports to address.

As for the plight of the poor, downtrodden, endlessly exploited illegal, undocumented alien workforce, I have a suggestion that just might mitigate a portion of their suffering. Get in line. Get a visa. Get legitimate employment that offers appropriate compensation and workplace safety without the threat of deportation that permits the exploitation in the first place. And when your visa expires, go home as is your obligation.

Once you are playing the game by the rules - all the rules, not just those you choose to exploit for your own convenience and personal advancement - I will be every bit as much on your side as I am on that of the kid born and raised in an Iowa cornfield. Until then, you will get no more sympathy from me than does the bank robber who snivels that the conditions of his chosen profession are too onerous to be conveniently endured.