Illegal Immigrants in the Restaurant Industry

This story about Hugo Ortega was so inspiring and moving for me. It seems that the American people often want to make snap judgements about complicated problems without doing the research required to make an ethical decision. Hugo Ortega has truly forged a legacy for his family while bringing a spectacular glimpse of the Mexican cuisine.

Geez, people, what part of ILLEGAL ALIEN do you fail to understand? You couch this serious problem with such nice terms as "day laborer" and "undocumented worker" and either welcome this scourge or avoid the issue.

I DON'T care if that ego-inflated Bourdain or this guy wants illegal aliens in restaurants. I DON'T want them! I don't want ILLEGAL ALIENS here either. GO HOME! I don't care if this closes some restaurants. I'm perfectly willing to spend more money for my meal knowing that it is prepared by Americans.

I love immigrants... LEGAL ONES. I don't give a damn where you're from, fill out the damned paperwork and do it right. Illegal aliens drive down REAL WAGES of AMERICAN WORKERS, keeping those at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale from competing for jobs... continuing the cycle of poverty. At the same time, those employers who hire ILLEGAL ALIENS should be fined first, and jailed if it happens again.

Funny that 80% of Americans want illegal aliens deported, isn't it? Stop being a shill for CRIMINAL ACTIVITY (yes, that's what hiring illegal aliens is).

LEGAL immigration is not a problem. Stop linking all immigration, both illegal and legal into one catagory. LEGAL is OK, ILLEGAL is NOT!!

Thank you, Robb Walsh, for bringing some warm, light-hearted humanity to what is obviously a very emotional, incendiary and thorny issue, and a problem that unfortunately will not be resolved for a long time.

Some overlooked aspects of the immigration debate:

1) "Immigrants do jobs that Americans will not" is a myth: Depends what part of the country you are in. This is an asylum city. Try Maine: I bet you will find U.S. citizens cleaning dishes. It is true that low wages paid to people in and from developing countries drives down wages; unfortunately, I fear that feeds a lot of prejudice.

2) Why not focus instead on what is so terribly wrong with the corrupt governments of the countries from which so many people feel compelled to flee? Why are politicians in those countries not fulfilling their primary duty as elected leaders to protect their own citizens? If I were a political leader in a country from which hundreds of thousands had to flee every year JUST TO SURVIVE, I would be embarrassed, to say the least.

Thank you, Robb Walsh, for bringing some warm, light-hearted humanity to what is obviously a very emotional, incendiary and thorny issue, and a problem that unfortunately will not be resolved for a long time.

Some overlooked aspects of the immigration debate:

1) "Immigrants do jobs that Americans will not" is a myth: Depends what part of the country you are in. This is an asylum city. Try Maine: I bet you will find U.S. citizens cleaning dishes. It is true that low wages paid to people in and from developing countries drives down wages; unfortunately, I fear that feeds a lot of prejudice.

2) Why not focus instead on what is so terribly wrong with the corrupt governments of the countries from which so many people feel compelled to flee? Why are politicians in those countries not fulfilling their primary duty as elected leaders to protect their own citizens? If I were a political leader in a country from which hundreds of thousands had to flee every year JUST TO SURVIVE, I would be embarrassed, to say the least.

It is a great tradegy that the federal gobvernment does not represent the wishes of 80% of the American people.

Legal immigrants built our nation and illegal immigrants are destroying it.

Legal immigration allows the immigrant to become part of the society and SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These "extranjeros illegales" use up social and educational resources. Pay little or no taxes and worst of all send 40 billion or more back to their home country. What part of giant sucking sound is not understandable.

These illegal aliens bring crime, TB and other exotic diseases, and illegal drugs by the ton. The cost is almost incalculable.

It would be better if we sent 40 billion in aid to Mexico, everyones corrupt country, to get their house in order. The "corruptos" are exporting their unbelievable inability to govern.

I would rather pay more for my food so long as my fellow Americans are serving it.

The worst of this modern day tradegy is that government is a party to this criminal enterprise by not enforsing our laws against illegal immigration.

If the tables were revered with Mexico the American illegals could expect prison or death from our Mexican "Friends."

Absolutely, Art. So, if the problems are so obvious, why are things allowed to continue as they are? Why is nothing really being done about it?

Because the system of illegal immigration benefits corporations and governments on both sides. Corporations get cheap labor without responsibility to the laborers in the form of benefits (sometimes, they don't pay them at all!!!) or to the government in the form of taxes, and American consumers get cheap goods in return. Governments of countries like Mexico get all those billions of dollars flooding their economy, without having to pay for any sort infrastructure or other social services for the workers that made that money.

Sounds like a win-win situation to me. Well, to the usual suspects: The political and economic elite.

What I can't understand is why anyone would ever advocate to perpetuate this system: They are not standing up for people who "just want a better life"; they are overtly encouraging a corrupt and unethical system of SLAVE LABOR that allows for all manner of civil and human rights abuse. Anyone who thinks illegal immigration is just fine the way it is certainly is no friend of the people.

I'm glad to see there is still some sense amongst the readers of the HOuston Press. Most get what its about. The panderers and elitists have made it into a racial issue. What people are blind to is taht keeping the current system is keeping an underclass in this country. The libs have had some degree of success in making it out to be an issue of race and hate. But what they cover up are their own interests in having a near-slave class of people. People who work under dangerous conditions, people who have little recourse if not paid or get injured. Illegal immigration is no friend of the working man nor the illegal alien. It cuts wages. It forces legal immigrants and citizens out of particular industries and service oriented jobs. The people who have spread the lies about clamping down on immigration as hate are the ones who rely on this slave pool. Remember which party freed the slaves. Liberals just happen to have better PR right now and can twist their ideologies into being as they are proponents of the common man.

But even liberal elitist need their grass cut cheaply and their food served cheaply.

An interesting article that made some good points while making me hungry at the same time. However, the write of the piece chose to gloss over the fact that Hugo committed identity fraud when he purchased his Social Security number; and that someone else legally in the US may have just had their Social Security number compromised.

NEARLY EVERY ARGUMENT PUT FORTH AGAINST IMMIGRATION REFORM IS NOT BASED ON FACTS OR CREDIBLE SOURCES. http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/taxes.asp; http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?sid=415.

NumbersUSA and the CIS use distortions and half-truths to foment anti-immigrant fervor. They are also funded/founded by the same bigoted xenophobe, John Tanton. http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?pid=180

1. It's a question of law: There is a difference between laws and morals. If it really was a LEGAL issue, then they should have no qualms about CHANGING the law. Give these people a process by which they CAN come here legally and work, because as it stands now, there isn't one. If we stuck with "the law is the law", then women would still be little more than chattel and Blacks would not have the right to vote.

2. It's a security issue: Where was the only legitimate terroristic bombing threat since 9/11 from? The CANADIAN border. You see Canada has way more Muslims than Mexico. Now, the State Department lists the ELN, FARC, AUC and Shining Path as "Terrorist Organizations". http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm They also list Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/c14151.htm. Is it possible that there are hundreds of Cubans, Peruvians and Columbians sneaking across the border illegally? Yes, it's possible. Is it probable that there are "hundreds" of ARABS, IRANIANS, EGYPTIANS & SAUDI'S (and other Middle-Easterners) sneaking across the border as many anti-immigrants like to INFER? In all their hysteria they have found ONE example of a Middle-Easterner being snuck across the Southern border: Mahmoud Youssef Kourani. A Lebanese National who snuck across to raise money for Hezbollah. Which for me begs the question: if the same is true for Canada, why aren't we clamoring to build a wall up there? Isn't it a little disingenuous to quote 150,000 OTM's without specifiying that the VAST majority of them are from Central and South American countries? http://judiciary.house.gov/media/pdfs/ERCRSreport.pdf

3. They only come here to live off Welfare & Foodstamps: GAO report shows that 3% of total monies spent on AFDC and 2% of the monies spent on Food Stamps went to households with an illegal alien as it's head. http://www.gao.gov/archive/1998/he98030.pdf.

4. They don't pay taxes and are bringing down the economy: As a general rule, the federal government reaps a net benefit from illegal immigrants in the form of Social Security payments that the workers are never able to collect because they are not citizens; it is the states, in terms of social services, education and medical services, that pay the bulk of costs associated with supporting the undocumented population. Even so, Rector and MacDonald's claims are disputed by numerous scholars, including even MacDonald's senior colleague at the Manhattan Institute, Tamar Jacoby. Jacoby, who studies immigration extensively, told the conservative National Review that while individuals might receive more in services than they paid in taxes, "they are growing the [overall economic] pie so significantly that that cost pales in comparison." Jacoby cited a recent study of immigrants in North Carolina that reported that over the prior 10 years, Latino immigrants had cost the state $61 million in a variety of benefits — but were responsible for more than $9 billion in state economic growth. http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/jacoby.htm. Further, $68 billion sent home to Latin America last year....if this is how much they're sending back, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THEY'RE SPENDING HERE? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5226810.html.

5. They are committing crimes and filling our jails: Last year, the Federal Bureau of Prisons reported that over 27,000 Non-US Citizens entered Federal Correctional Facilities. Unfortunately, it doesn't give a break down into Criminal or Illegal aliens nor the ethnic make up or nationality. But even if you assumed they were ALL of Latin American descent, which they were NOT, that would be .22 percent of 12 million.
http://fjsrc.urban.org/analysis/ez/displays/s_freq.cfm

There were 125,655 people in Texas Prisons in 2002. Of those, 30.7% were White, 41.3% were Black and 28% were Latino. Unfortunately, of those 35,183 Hispanic inmates it doesn't break down their immigration status. http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/html/just/features/0504_01/slide2.html. The estimated population of illegals in Texas in 1999 was 700,000. http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/illegal.pdf. Even if you assume that ALL of the inmates in Texas prisons of Latino descent are illegal, which they are NOT, that is STILL only 5% of the total estimated illegal population of the state. Therefore, one can reason that 95% of undocumented workers do NOT come here to commit crimes and fill our prisons.

6. Let them go to the back of the line and come here legally: THERE IS NO LINE. You cannot come to this country except on a tourist or student visa if you do not have family here, have special talents/advanced degrees, are sponsored by an employer or get married to a citizen. Student and Tourist visas do not permit someone to work. Therefore, there is NO way for a skilled or unskilled tradesman or laborer with no ties to this country to come here and work. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis. That is why we say the system is broken!

7. They remain loyal to their home country and refuse to assimilate: Most Latino immigrants maintain some kind of connection to their native country by sending remittances, traveling back or telephoning relatives, but the extent of their attachment varies considerably. Only one-in-ten (9%) do all three of these so-called transnational activities; these immigrants can be considered highly attached to their home country." http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=80So what's left? Bigotry, prejudice and ethnic discrimination. If this is not true, then why are people saying they are a "threat to American culture"? http://www.chron.com/disp/commnts.mpl/metropolitan/5309623.html?o=TimeStampDescending&plckCurrentPage=0.

Yes "Future", we understand you don't care. You don't care that this man risked life & limb to come to this country and work his butt off. You don't care that he paid taxes and saved his money. You don't care that he built a business from the ground up that added to the economies of Houston, Texas and the Federal tax rolls. You don't care that he never asked for a handout. You don't care because you are a bigot and because you are prejudiced, WE don't care that you don't care. Like it or not sir, they're here and they ain't goin' no fuckin' where.

Boo f_ckin who.....an illegal that has made good.....we don't have any illegals in Houston (1/2) the population.....I don't care what his bullsh_t story is.....if he is still illegal....deport the asshole......I don't care how well he cooks. Same goes for all the illegals in the country. I swear between the landscape lobby and the food industry, you would think we took the world to raise! Make them come here LEGALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Geez Mr. Cotez,,,,,,I guess that is what you think......me and all the LEGAL AMERICANS are going to make sure that all you illegals are sent back home.......wheather u can cook or not.

E. Cortes, Esq.:

Pulling the race card is just shameful. How can you even look yourself in the mirror after saying something so utterly absurd?

None of this has anything to do at all with race, and you know it. There's no "bigotry" against illegal immigrants, but there is prejudice against this outrageous SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT, AS IF this country OWES ANYTHING to people from other countries who are non-citizens. Now THAT is off-putting. Really doesn't further your cause.

If illegal aliens would demand the same rights and privileges FROM THEIR OWN GOVERNMENTS, instead of fleeing like the cowards they are, the world would be an entirely different place. Demanding "a better life" from a government THAT IS NOT YOUR OWN IS asking for a handout.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth

There will not be peace as long as people stop thinking we owe them something. All I hear is that they(Mexicans) were here first. What about the Myan, and Aztec? They (you people) stole the land from them to claim for Mexico. They were in Mexico long before you or your people were. Your just theives, like you say we gingo's are for stealing from Mexico. Look in the mirror asshole!

The hypocracy of the pro-illegal people is mind boggling. Their definition of free speech is, "if you agree with me it is free speech, but if you disagree you are a racist!"

Can you imagine, non-citizens, who enter the country illegally demanding rights they do not have. This preposterous attitude is accepted by those who see a chance for their own economic or political gain by importing a permanent underclass who will work for sub par wages to increase their own profits at the expense of their own nations economic health. A permanently undereducated class who will accept their economic pablum no questions asked. People who will segregate themselves and are more easily controlled.

The fracture is compunded by the 56 Billion these illegals send out of this country to their home coutnries to further add to our balance of payments defecit. My source for this is the right-wing International NY Times!

Illegal aliens, Bah Humbug!!!

I'd guess that, if Hugo brought up grinding wheels from Mexico, he is making chocolate liquor instead of cocoa powder. Here is a cool video showing the process as it is done in Oaxaca.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E07Bv0Ehyk

Hey Top, I'm a Native Texan, born & raised. And you know what? I ain't goin' no-fuckin-where mamon. How do you like them apples, Slingblade?

Clarity, OK fine. When is it NOT "pulling the race card"? When is OK to call out racism when we see it? When they hang nooses from a tree? When they drag a man from the back of a pick-up? Or are you one of those polly-annas who believes racism no longer exists and everybody is treated equally since 1964?

Hugo is a perfect example of where the term "wetback" comes from.As for you Cortez...who in the h--- knighted you. You were[if truth were known] probably one of the rowers on that plastic boat with Hugo.I think the ICE should really start busting down on all these eateries since this article states the stats.of how many"illegal Mexicans" are employed by such.I know I'm going to start reporting.When it comes to illegal, then I'll proudly stand up as a racist, bigot or whatever name you want to call me.I'm going to stick up for my country.I guess Sir Cortez flys the Mexican flag over our upside down "old Glory" as well as his countrymen too.

The unmittigated gall of these illegals is mind bogling.

Here we have law brakers on many levels demanding special rights from the citizens of a country in which they are not citizens! They ignore the abject failure of their country Mexico to provide them with a living! They sneak into our nation in the dead of night and demand rights they do no have!!! They refuse to speak our language and want to make this nation into another corrupt, narco terrorist state like Mexico, the Columbia of the north. What unmitigated gall!

Great food article, but an overly simplistic story about illegal immigration. The fact is, the vast majority of illegals will never approach the sort of success that Mr. Ortega enjoys. His is not a representative case and never will be. Furthermore, you have to wonder how many illegals he employs at rock-bottom wages in his restaurant. Beyond the irony of that situation, consider the hypocrisy of a former illegal now taking advantage of the newer ones. Now there's an interesting story...

That picture of Hugo Ortega's entire family on a staircase might as well be a poster celebrating both illegal emigration (something our laws contradict) and chain migration (something our laws SHOULD contradict).

Neither growing up in "one of Mexico City's worst slums" nor having a relative who obtained citizenship well after illegally emigrating entitles someone to US citizenship.

Please, for the love of God, stop drinking the "Illegal-Doesn't-Matter" Kool-Aid.

I was disappointed in this article, Mr. Walsh, because I was not expecting it to champion illegal and immoral behavior. Will the next step/s be be justifying stealing cash from liquor stores and/or celebrating insurance fraud in the name of indigent "self-empowerment"?

This story should be posted on every bulletin board in every culinary college and institute in America. There are literally thousands of kids out there that are paying up to $50,000 to attend culinary schools ansd when they graduate they are going to be competeing with illegals for jobs at $8 an hour ! I know because I was one of them. Fortunately, I had an alternative occupation to fall back on or i would still be making $8 an hour and working in a kitchen where the illegals dominate the workforce and the language and the radio stations. It sucked not having another American to talk to. So, read and head any of you that are contemplating going into the culinary business. My advice to you is to watch cooking shows on TV and take a couple of weeekend or night classes if you really want to learn but do it only as a hobby my friends !

I feel that our government is moving in the wrong direction. Even when they move in a positive direction, they get side tracked in legislation. It's insane. Immigrants make up the U.S. and without immigration, we wouldn't be the country we are today. I feel that the U.S. needs to rethink it's spending. Stop trying to win the 'war on drugs' by fighting the source of the issue. It's not going to happen. We need to take the, roughly, 12 billion a year spent fighting this so-called war and build more legal entry points along our border. A couple years ago a poll in Mexico showed that almost half the Mexican population wants to move to America. With that many people wanting to come here, they will find a way. If we do not have enough legal points of entry, they will come here illegally. Those that are here illegally need to be filtered through their actions. If they are here and working to make a better life for themselves and their families, they should be given the option to stay here and provided a path to legalization. If they are here and have been found to commit criminal actions, they need to be sent back to Mexico and monitored so that they cannot come back.

Mike Taylor - U.S. Representative Candidate, (TX-18)
http://miketaylor08.us