Consider consequences of tighter immigration

I'm watching a young Mexican man diligently washing dishes and cleaning tables, and I think to myself, "Why would we want to deport this person?" He's just trying to earn a living doing anything he can find, quietly, respectfully.

The election is just over, and I can see a real sense of worry on his face as he avoids eye contact and I hide my happiness with the results. Yes, the Mexican labor force are mostly hard working, family-oriented folks doing jobs many (not all) of our young folks would consider either too difficult or beneath them - landscaping, restaurants, housecleaning, labor. Our own "millennials" should take a lesson from these humble people lest one day they too are compelled to put down their smartphones, roll up their sleeves, get their soft hands dirty and actually sweat on second or third shift jobs to make ends meet.

Generalities are bad, but this would be an unexpected consequence of deportation, especially if the economy picks up and more of these lower-level jobs rise in demand. Somebody will have to do it.

John Finney

Palatine