Do illegal immigrants, undocumented workers, have rights, do they want them?

There are estimates that there are somewhere around 12,000,000 ( twelve million), undocumented workers, also called illegal immigrants in the United States. This figure has appeared in new papers, magazines and many other printed material. Even after years following the first report of the estimate of 12,000,000 the figure of 12,000,000 is still quoted. How many new illegal immigrants have come into the country since that figure was first quoted?

Immigration reform, meaning new laws to address the entire issue are a hot debate but in the end its only what the congress for the United States will decide, something dependent on government.

Are latino immigrants really that dependent, so incapable of managing their lives that everything rides on what government decides?

Thank God there are a growing number of support groups for these productive, contributing human beings in our society.

What I would like to introduce here are ways in which the entire immigrant population can help raise they lot, evolve using the existing means at hand, take independent measures to assure they can come into and remain in the United States legally and comfortably.

I am not sure of the spelling anymore but did anyone reading this every see a series on television called, : Mciver, Macyver. The spelling was something close to that. Anyway it was a program about this one individual that was ingenious at adaptation, and as resources as could be. From the most simple items around him he could device, invent of put together tool, and even weapons that could serve him in a time of need proving that you do not need much more that what is at hand in a tight spot. Well I would suggest that the millions of illegal or undocumented workers can be just an ingeious after all we come from a long stock of geniouses. Look what the Toltec, Aztec, Maya, Inca and other civilization accomplished with the most primative of available tools and knowledge. Does anyone have to be reminded that our forefathers were engineers, biologist, zoologist, master agriculturists, master builders, astronomers?

what is lacking? For the sake of arguement let us say it is money. Well its well documented that remittance from these so called illegal and undocumented workers yearly amounts to a combined figure of over 300 billion dollars and that the money transfer companies have gotten obscenely rich off of the backs of our brothers, the underprivilaged and scorned even hated immigrant population.

what is needed is unity, organization and opportunity. If I spash you with a single drop of water most likely you would not even be aware of it but if I was to hit you with a 30 foot high wave of water weighing many tons I could certain knock you down and even throw you may feet away and even worse, right.

The question is what can the entire illegal and undocumented population mostly lations due with the few dollars they are able to in truth have in hand at any given time? I can suggest a few things which would both increase their economic and political strength.

Let us take for example a service for which cumulatively immigrants pay out millions of dollar for each year and year after year. This service in money transfer. What would it take for the entire immigrant population to set up and own its own money trasfer company?

Another thing which has made news of late is that banks in their desire to capture the dollars spent by the entire immigrant population have launched campaigns to bring in the unbanked as they are known into the mainstream of financial services. What would it take for the entire immigrant population to put together enough capital to create, operate and benefit from their own bank?

Now most of these individuals that make up the entire immigrant population, speaking of illegal immigrants or undocumented workers of course and also immigrants in general including those that process into the United States legally do not think or have knowledge of a corportate structure or an investment arm.

They live day to day and spend day to day all that they have on hand. What if they were to collectively work to set aside a small amount of money to participate in investment vehicles? Did you know you could purchase a 50% stake in a gold/silver mine with 500 million dollar worth in gold and 1 billion dollars worth in Silver for $500,000.00. Yes it true these kind of purchase are available. With enough money a group could purchase such a mine and be able to hire world class geologist, engineer, and all the technical people required as well as all machinery and equipment to properly operate such a mine? Let us see. 12,000,000 in number and $500,000.00 needed. that is an average of just under .05 each.

A money transfer company all expenses required including registration and licensing in each state would require between $50,000,000 and let say $100,000,000 to set up internationally. 12, 000,000 in number and let us say on the high side $100,000,000.00 needed that is an average of Just over .83 each let us say .84.

In the country of New Zealand a financial service company is allowed to operated very similar to a bank with offering full banking services such as establishing accounts, taking deposits, offering investment service and money management all the things a full bank can do with the exception of one or two things but for the most part can operate very similar to a full bank but cannot call itslef a bank. The license and operation can be set up with about $140,000.00 to start let us exaggerate the required initial start up capital to $1,000,000.00 and is not required to hold any reserves but let us say it put into reserves $2,000,000.00 for a total of $3,000,000.00. so 12,000,000 in number and $3,000,000.00 needed. That would be an average of .25 per person.

As you can see these are things which could very easily be established, managed, made to produce and grow giving the subject immigrant population and inormous financial strength and foundation.

Has anyone heard of or have knowledge of the Foreign exchange market known as Forex? I suggest with the capital that could be raised by the entire immigration population would be enough to hire from among the best, most knowledgeable, and most experieced traders in the world and set up a trading organization to invest in the Forex market and achieve trenmendous gains on an investment account. We are talking about a multimillion dollar account. I have recieved reports from traders who have successfull turned a 30 trade operation with only $3,000.00 per trade over a period of 10 months into $233,000.00. Imagine what could be done with an multimillion dollar account.

I am a world traveler and an investment reporter. For the past 15 years I have traveled to many countries, attended many investment seminars hosted by countries such as China, The Philippines, Taiwan, S. Korea, The USA, Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Mexico, El Salvadore, Guatemala, Honduras, Equador and believe me there are many outstanding and quite beneficial investments out there for participation many of which are directly with the heads fo state of these countries. Wouldn't you think that an investment group the size and with the financial strength that the immigrate population in the United Stated could put together be in a postion to affect nation and international relations? Couldn't we as a nation of people although disburshed and citizend of different countries then affect our image and influence our own destiny?

The problem as I see it is unity, exposure, education, awareness and cooperation as well as determination, self determination. Do not wait for what Washington decides to take control of our own lives. We can do substancially more as a people.

For those that wish to participate in the discussion, debate, or contribute to this subject you are welcome to leave you comment but hopefully you will do more than than and take an active role in making these possibilities come true.

How to reach out to all the members of the immigrant population? create awareness, and bring our ideas into action? Any suggestions and efforts on behalf of the immigrant population of the United States and all nations involved would be greatly appreciated.

By the way how serious are we as a people, the latino community, the entire immigrant population? How much do we spend on beer and cigarettes? We are content to give our money to the large corporations that provide us service and subject ourselves to the whims of powerful nations but we ignore the fact that we if united are in fact a powerful nation in our own right, a nation of people. How much more so would we be, Powerful I mean, if we unite ourselves with other nations of underprivilaged citizens. If I recall correctly the overseas workers of the Philippines contribute something in the neighborhood of $40 billion dollars on a yearly basis into the economy of the Philippines. Just more food for thought.

Oh yes, should illegal and undocumented workers have rights? and do the want rights? You bet they do, but its up to us to do something about being recognized and positioning ourselves to demand those rights.

Dr. Gilberto Dominguez