The economic recession currently plaguing the U.S. has hit illegal immigrants - most of whom are Mexican - especially hard. As workers with no legal protection they are often the first laid-off. Further, many employers were willingly to hire illegals even when state law prohibited it. But now with many more legal workers to choose from, hiring undocumented workers no longer seems worth the risk.

Further, many illegals workers in the construction industry. South Florida only employed 250,000 workers - not all illegal - in the industry often building one high-rise after another. Needless to say, the real estate industry has suffered more than most. Landscaping - another major sources of work - has also declined as more homes fall into foreclosure.

Though no official statistics are available, looking at unemployment figures within the Hispanic community - the community that most resembles illegal immigrants in the labor sector - when you guess that unemployment among illegals is nothing short of 10%. The Hispanic community’s unemployment is currently at 8.6% from a previous 5.7% earlier this year.

With not much work available, many illegals have simply returned to Mexico. Mexico’s economy depends greatly on remittances from workers aboard, with over $23 billion so far this year, and naturally that will greatly fall. This past summer Mexico recorded an incredible and sudden steep in money transfers from the U.S., this was simply many illegal workers cashing out their savings before heading back.

These people when to work everyday in America doing most of the jobs native Americans would never consider. These are often harsh, manual labor jobs that require long hours. Picking fruit in 115 degree heat is such an example. They did not complain, but did honest work that should earn them the respect of the American people. America doesn’t necessarily owe them something, but it could help them as they return to Mexico.

An idea that has been considered for sometime, but never implemented is a highway fund for Mexico. Most illegal workers come from the poverty-stricken south of Mexico. Unlike the north, which enjoys a healthy amount of U.S. investment, the south is neglected. This is due mostly to the fact that getting goods to the south is costly given the abysmal road system. A Mexican highway that went through the south may be followed by investment.

The U.S. should support such a project by matching every dollar of investment Mexico makes toward a national highway. This will allow returning migrants to eventually find work in their countries. I do not want anyone to believe that my advocacy for such a highway is nothing more than a cynical effort to keep Mexican workers south of the border by bringing them jobs.

Of course, such views would be racist and as an immigrant myself I could never hold them. Most illegals come to the United States leaving their families behind, by making Mexico richer they can earn a living along side their families in their country. That’s doing them a favor.