South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, still in the running for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, told an audience in Des Moines, Iowa over the weekend the American “economy needed 11 million” illegal immigrants to stay functioning.
During his speech, Buttigieg was asked by a member of the audience, “Do you think illegal immigration is a problem in the United States?”
“There’s no question we have to fix the system — for sure. But part of the problem is we’ve got an economy that really needs people, especially rural areas: I don’t think it’s a mystery to people in rural areas why there are a lot of undocumented workers,” the Indiana mayor said.
Buttigieg argued that the problem isn’t illegal immigrants but rather an immigration system that will not allow in a sufficient number of legal migrants into the country.
“We have a system that wasn’t actually set up to have that many people come in lawfully. The reason there’s 11 million undocumented folks here is that the economy needed 11 million more people than the system was prepared to let in,” he said.
He also said he supports a “pathway to citizenship” — which has become a Democratic buzzphrase — for anyone in the U.S. illegally.
“There are over 10 million people who are undocumented immigrants in this country who don’t fall into [the DACA] category and the reality is we can’t have comprehensive immigration reform that works unless it addresses the status for those 11 some million undocumented immigrants,” Buttigieg said during a CNN town hall forum.
Buttigieg said his own city of South Bend could accommodate at least 30,000 migrants.
Political analysts have said one of the reasons why President Donald Trump won in 2016 was his pledge to combat illegal immigration.
Trump has attempted to work with Democrats and reluctant Republicans to provide a citizenship pathway for tens of thousands of “DACA recipients,” illegal aliens allowed to remain in the country under an Obama-era program.
But so far he hasn’t convinced enough members of Congress to back his plan.
You have a very valid point here, Dan, and I fully agree with you, Indeed, the Twinkle-Toes and SJWs are far too busy flapping their weak wrists to pick up a tool and actually work. Yes, it certainly would be a great cultural revolution to put the Lefties out in the fields, as China does.
I also agree that the little homosexual doesn’t want to get blisters cutting her own lawn or painting her own house. How about her partner?
11 million says the guy that’s so confused he thinks he’s a girl. He’s really confused on this one too.
The little homosexual does not want to get blisters cutting HER own lawn or painting HER own house…..
The TWINKLE-TOES and SJWs are too busy flapping their weak wrists to pick up a tool and WORK.
It would be a great CULTURAL REVOLUTION to put the Lefties out in the fields like China.
What he says in a way is true. They put liens on illegal a-liens, which in turn generates revenue. Nature of the Beast and a corrupt system of commerce based on maritime law, but they won’t tell you that, just that it helps the economy.
How many Spic & Spans would we need if America hadn’t aborted 61 million of her own over the last 47 years?
What I need is for the gray van showing up every Mon morning full of wetbacks looking for a job & wanting to fill out applications to run off a bridge. Our boats are made in America by Americans.
Maybe we could re-purpose some Federal Employees to help US companies get the workers they need. This would solve two problems immediately. First, it would get the Federal Government to lose some of the fat (lower the cost of our Gov’t). Second, it would generate MORE taxable income that would go into the treasury.
Looks like a win-win to me.