We could all associate some of our childhood and even teenage memories with a cheeseburger. Without being too specific, most of us have seen a McDonald's television commercial, visited one of our children's playgrounds, or eaten their famous cheeseburgers at one of their multiple locations. The same could be said of some other well-known franchises like Burger King, Jack in the box or Wendy's, to name a few. However, have you ever wondered what the real cost of a 99 cent hamburger is? What if I told you that by indulging in one of these burgers, you are contributing in part to the hiring and also, in some form, to the exploitation/enslavement of undocumented immigrant workers. Also, once you realize this, would you be willing to pay more than the usual 99 cents if it was to fill the gaps in the fast food industry and prevent the hiring and abuse of migrant workers or Is the status quo enough for you? Whether you and I are for or against immigration to this country (legal or illegal), the fact is that illegal immigration is a problem. A problem that unfortunately involves human beings from all over the world coming to the United States in search of the American dream. Most undocumented workers come from Latin America, with countries like Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala among the most recognized. Jeffery S. Pacel and D'Vera Cohn report that as many as "12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, with 8 million illegal immigrants in the workforce": (Pacel and D'vera V. Workers) Along with this figure, the report states that "illegal immigrants held 25 percent of all agricultural jobs, 17 percent of all clerical and housekeeping positions, 14 percent of construction jobs... " middle of paper ...... politicians are trying to stay in the middle and not proponents of change or big meatpacking companies like IBP, Tyson or Cargill, with their hiring practices), our juicy cheeseburgers would likely remain at 99 cents if we were to follow the Tea Party's call for a coercive-only approach. immigration reform would increase the costs of every food product we buy raw or cooked; This might not affect people in a higher class, but it could certainly cause problems for the middle and poor working class who live paycheck to paycheck while creating. dependence on food products traditionally grown in the United States "Over five years, a enforcement-only approach would result in farm income losses large enough to trigger large-scale restructuring of the sector, higher food prices food and greater dependence on imported products. » (Nixon New York Times 2014).