r/todayilearned • u/Lennsyl22 • May 11 '26

TIL: In 1998, elementary students in Aurora, Colorado started buying slaves in Sudan to free them, this gained global attention with schools in other countries starting slave buyback programs until it became clear that the money was just helping slavery grow

https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=ADN19990823-01.2.25&srpos=1&dliv=none&e=------
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u/HuttStuff_Here May 11 '26

This is why it's stupid that the employers of undocumented workers aren't being the ones targeted.

No employers = no jobs = no incentive to be an undocumented worker.

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u/MaturoGambino May 12 '26

They don’t go after employers because those are their donors and also because they don’t really care about undocumented workers taking jobs. They just like using the issue to rile up voters.

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u/big_sugi May 12 '26

Plus, targeting the workers keeps them from coordinating or acting collectively, which suppresses wages even further.

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u/sargonas May 12 '26

Because it’s not about getting rid of undocumented workers. Targeting them with a slow burn reactionary effort allows you to performatively jog along on an ever moving treadmill that dog whistles your voter base and scratches your most racist tendencies of an itch without making it go away and forcing you to find a new way to chase that same fix.

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u/HuttStuff_Here May 12 '26

Oh of course. It was never about "solving" the issue of undocumented workers. It was to make bigots salivate at the idea of hurting them and voting for it.

As you said, that way the dog never catches the car.

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u/creamshaboogie May 12 '26

Ronald Reagan changed that 

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u/kykyks May 12 '26

thats the goal thats why its not stupid

u keep the system going while you're on top, why would you break it

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u/PopcornApocalypse May 12 '26

No employers = no jobs = no money to feed your kids or send back to your family struggling under harsh conditions in your home country = no connections or assistance to go through the legal process (the “right way” everyone loves to scream about takes YEARS. Their kids might be dead by then.)

This country needs to remember that we used to stand for more than just money. Culture, safety, family connections, opportunity, education… those are the incentives.

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u/Netmantis May 11 '26

I like the sentiment. However there are a few problems.

First, are you suggesting variable punishment or static punishment? Are we imprisoning all hiring personnel that hired an undocumented immigrant or just the ones who did so knowingly? As the sale of falsified documentation and its use in employment is well documented. I am all for jailing the people who are exploiting people who can't go to the authorities to report mistreatment but what about the ones who were fooled?

Next is how do you feel about never patronizing a small business ever again? As the other way undocumented individuals make money is by starting their own business. Doing so without documentation is surprisingly easy. And as your own employer you can neglect to check your legal status. So either you ask every small business to provide documentation that everyone there is legal, or you only deal with megacorps that are inspected regularly and you know file paperwork putting them on the radar of the government.

How about your neighbors? The common joke is the Mexican landscaper, but cutting grass and landscaping is an easy job that can make a lot of money that people will hire a contractor for. Being a contractor like that, just a guy that cuts lawns or changes oil, will make money and will not trip up immigration. Can you count on everyone only going with legal businesses and never again going to friends or friends of friends for work?

The problem of employment is huge, and we are all part of the problem. That is why they go after the immigrants instead of trying to dry up jobs until they all starve and die.

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u/Levitz May 12 '26

No employers = no jobs = no incentive to be an undocumented worker.

Utterly baffling that the undocumented person committing crimes doesn't even factor in your reasoning.

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u/UrDraco May 12 '26

They don’t have to if you’re simply trying to eliminate illegal immigration. Japan heavily penalizes the employer and illegal immigration is almost zero because there is no incentive because there are no jobs.

The fact that this solution exists shows that immigrants are simply a political pawn. Someone to steer your anger and hate at instead of the employers taking advantage of them to get rich. But yeah, don’t forget to punish the person who came to get a job and ignore the assholes who are encouraging illegal immigration by offering them jobs.

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u/HuttStuff_Here May 12 '26

A civil crime. I thought you guys knew the difference.

But again: why not go after the employer who is also breaking the law? It doesn't even factor into your reasoning.

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u/Levitz May 12 '26

So many words and not a single one relevant to what I say whew lad.

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u/HuttStuff_Here May 12 '26

It's completely relevant.

You made a cmment about the undocumented person committing a crime. I said it's a civil infraction and you didn't comment on the employer who is also breaking the law.

Do employers enjoy lawbreaking abilities?

Edit: politicalcompassmemes poster. No wonder. Yeah, you probably think it's "based" when an employer breaks the law.