I gotta admit, I know almost nothing about this subject except that it's pissing a lot of people off. People are mad that illegal immigrants come to America and take jobs away from American workers and that they live here without paying taxes but still receive free medical insurance (? I thought nobody received free medical insurance until they reached Canada) and a whole bunch of other tax-supported services like schools. And I know that Spanish-speaking and very Mexico-, Cuba-, etc. -centric neighborhoods are sprouting up all over the place especially in major cities and the Southwest, where Spanish is in some cases even more dominant than English and people wave around the Mexican flag at rallies demanding rights from the United States government.
My knee-jerk reaction to some of this is to get pretty angry. America has no official language, yes this is true; however, English is without a doubt the de facto official language and has been for roughly 230 years. My native language is English and I feel particuraly threatened when people tell me that I HAVE to learn Spanish. Pardon me, but until 150,000,000+ people in the US with proper US citizenship all speak Spanish as their first language, I wont be forced to learn any language. By the way, I have nothing against learning Spanish, but if I do it will be out of choice, not because someone has ordered me to in order to accomodate people who, upon coming to a predominantly English-speaking country don't even take the time or effort to try and learn the local language. I actually love languages and speak German, Russian, Czech, and Georgian already! I also have nothing against Spanish being spoken at home, church, or in all Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. My problem starts when public institutions are expected to speak in Spanish as well--especially schools. If it's Kindergarten and the kids are in fact learning English, that's fine, but kids shouldn't be going through elementary, middle, or high school speaking only Spanish in the US.
Another reaction of mine is simply to become confused: if these people just want to work honestly in the US, why don't they just go through the normal channels to achieve citizenship? Why all this big hassle of living as an illegal alien? Is it because US companies wouldn't hire them if they had American citizenship and were therefore entitled to minimum wage? Is it for something else entirely?
And lastly, it's made me very wary of bringing up the issue because people seem to have such strong feelings on the subject. From conservative conspiracy theories of Mexico slowly trying to take back her territory from the Mexican War, to ultra-liberal sympathizers who do believe that all public institutions and organizations should be required to be bi-lingual, there seems to be little middle ground. I think the idea of a Hispanic invasion in the literal sense of the Latinos are going to come and slaughter all the non-Hispanic races in the night is absurd, but I also don't think these immigrants should be treated all that differently from past immigrant groups, aka. they should be expected to learn English (and as all of my grammatical mistakes have probably shown, it isn't always easy and even the native speakers have to work at it sometimes, but nevertheless we do), and should gradually start to recognize the US and not Mexico, Cuba, Honduras, El Salvador, etc. as their home.
But I'm mostly posting this blog to learn. I want to hear from everyone else out there who has a strong opinion on the matter and/or knows something about it who is willing to present their case logically. Seriously, this issue is an important one and I'd like to know more about it.
I'm not sure why we hate them. We're socialized to see them as a drain on the system, lazy or stupid, god knows what else. Most of all, it's just this completely irrational fear of losing our culture.
I've noticed a pattern before the election season: suddenly the politicians and media hyperfocus on some fear-based issue (in 2004, it was same-sex marriage and abortion). Rather than logically discuss it, every politician takes an extremist point of view and holds tightly to it. It's a way to split up the populace into two sides, and additionally, it magnifies the very small differences between Democrats and Republicans.
I think this issue could be solved if we just stopped exploiting our neighbors. Check out my first blog if you're interested...
You need a shirt!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180000800356&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=008
Oh man. You have a few mistaken ideas:
1) Undocumented workers pay taxes. The IRS created a system so that undocumented immigrants could pay taxes. Many of them don't go to the hospital, don't go to school and don't recieve any help from the government... and still, they pay taxes. The pay $80,000 more than they recieve.
2) May 1 protesters are not America-hating Mexico-lovers. The truth is that any flags that were flown were flown for one reason: identity. Sure, they raised their Mexican flags in protest. Wherever they live, their heritage, their roots, still lies in Mexico. This is the reason they're being targetted as scapegoats. There's nothing wrong with being proud of one's roots. Also- the majority of the protesters were waving American flags.
You're right. You shouldn't -have- to learn any language. The point people are trying to make is that it would be practical because of the rising Latino population in the US.
Undocumented workers are hired for the following reasons:
1) They're cheap.
2) Don't have to put them on your tax reports.
3) They can't sue you if you make them do something dangerous.
4) They do what you say because they fear being deported or being fired.
5) They're used to working hard.
I live in Houston, Tx. so maybe this is why, but I have never, in my entire life, seen a non-Hispanic person working in a construction site. I've also seen very few Hispanic persons begging for food.
If there is one thing you can find in the US, it's work. If someone claims they can't find it (at least here in Houston) it's because they're not looking hard enough.
Believe me when I say this: I don't doubt that you're wrong. However, this is BRAND new information to me, where did you get this? I'm talking about undocumented workers paying taxes which would include illegal aliens living below the poverty line--who would have all their tax money refunded to them anyway given their financial situation wouldn't they? Please don't bite my head off, I know nothing about our tax laws.
And then this still doesn't answer my one fundamental question: why don't they just go through legal channels to gain entrance? Is it because of quotas? Is it some other aspect of the bureaucracy? Is it that employers specifically hire from this demographic because of reasons 1-4 (there are still a lot of hard-working native-born Americans out there)? What is it?
People cross illegally because getting a visa takes time and money, two important resources that people in porverty lack. If they can't get work immediately, their families will die.
Hardworking Americans won't work under those conditions...
Isn't that in part because many of the conditions the illegal immigrants work under would be illegal if it was an American citizen having to endure them? For instance, isn't minimum wage standard for all American citizens but the illegal immigrants are allowed to be paid with sub-minimum wage salaries?
Um. The conditions they work under should be illegal regardless of documentation.
Minimum wage is minimum wage. It applies not just to citizens, but to legal residents also. It should also apply to undocumented workers. However, the method for keeping these people under exploitation is fear. They break their backs for a few dimes and even though they know that what's happening is an injustice, they can't say anything about it because they fear deportation.
Instead of establishing a comprehensive system that allowed all workers, regardless of national origin or documentation status, our administration creates loopholes and unfair policies to keep exploited workers as they are.
The crazy thing here is that they want to break our laws when they don't work for them, but want to ensure enforcement when the laws can protect them. Wish all of us could pick and choose which laws we want to honor or not ... and have no backlash of consequences but instead have our politicians fighting for us. What a great country, the likes of which many of us LEGAL AMERICANS aren't allowed to participate in. We just help to fund "their freedoms".
Are you that clueless to think that only they are being exploited?
Well, you're sitting at your home computer typing this out.
I really don't think your exploitation runs deep.
Besides, undocumented workers pay taxes, for the most part. They pay about $80,000 more than they consume. So where's all this money going?
Your statement was somewhat cluttered. Did you mean to say that undocumented workers are exploiting us, or that politicians exploit us?
Read this and wake up:
North American Union to Replace USA?
Have you heard about what Bush, Fox (Mexico) and Martin (Canada) have been doing to our country?
Read this, it's outrageous !! Your eyes will be completely opened.
North American Union to Replace USA?
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=14965
Here's the website where they've been planning it since 2005:
Security and Prosperity Partnership Of North America
http://www.spp.gov/index.asp
Also, the newly passed Senate Immigration bill has things in it that are destructive and sneaky (i.e.: If you had been watching the debate then you already know how this outrageous bill was getting worse by the hour. Right down to the final minutes before the vote, Senators were adding language that further undermines our nation. For example, the bill calls for "consultation" with Mexican authorities before the agreed-upon fence is built!)
All this craziness going on in our country, and Mexico's hordes of illegal aliens, .... makes more sense now; including the recent, offensive, awkward visit by Vicente Fox.
SOUND YOUR HORNS and alert others of this.
WRITE YOUR POLICIANS !! before they sell us out.
Wow... a world united... without borders... where all people are equal without regard to national origin.
That sure is terrible...
My eyes are open. AND they're not impressed.
You just showed your colors. Americans don't want to sell out their country .. or their countrymen.
I'm a citizen of the Earth. We all come from the same primordial soup. We all bleed the same color, regardless of race or creed.
I believe everyone has the right to have a good life, not just WASPS. I believe that if there is a god (there probably isn't) she should bless the entire world, not just America.
America is awesome. I love being here... I love being here because I can say what I want, love who I want, worship as I want- what's wrong with hoping that other places can be like this? What's wrong with hoping that we can unite with other people from other places in our journey for an improve humanity?
Reality Check: Getting visas take time and money for everyone. (..and not only in America -- believe it or not.) Some who are trying legally to gain citizenship have been waiting up to 10+ years. These potential citizens also want what America has to offer -- they just start out by obeying the laws of the land. What a concept. They read the "Welcome" on the doormat as they come through the front door.
People either fail to realize or fail to comment on the fact that their country, their corrupt leaders, their smugglers and their drug cartels are RICH. They need to have a revolution and reclaim both Mexico and pride in their citizenship --they need to fight to institute human rights. Use their independence day to boycott and rally their causes...we know that they are familiar with how to do this.
By the way, there are many types of jobs the illegals are taking -- not just dishwashers and toilet scrubbers.
Black Activists Joining Minutemen Against Illegal Immigration
http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/001665.html
Black Americans Oppose Illegal Alien Amnesty; Urge Passage of Enforcement Only Bill in the Senate
http://sev.prnewswire.com/legal/20060523/DCM03122052006-1.html
Black leaders oppose alien 'amnesty' plan - and threatened to sue the U.S. government if such legislation is passed
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20060523-112231-6327r.htm
Many Hispanics Say Demonstrators 'Don't Speak For Us'
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2006/040506dontspeak.htm
Population boom core of problem - Social Security Problems and More
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/letters/sfl-pb411may26,0,5791560.story?coll=sfla-news-letters
I honestly sympathize with that, but it really is a Mexican problem that should be handled by their own government.
For being a new-bie, you began with a head on your shoulders. People don't do the research and then speak out of bias, opinion, or ignorance. Glad to see some people come to the drawing board with a little common sense.
In addition to doing your own personal research, filter progessiveu using the word "illegal" or "immigrant" and you'll find additional blogs - many of which have statistical references, researched info., etc. (Make sure the facts cited are correct, launch/follow the links. Work to not be mislead.) My personal research has shown me that we are moving further up a creek, and without a paddle. Get familiar with the characteristics of a third world country, because if the amnesty bill passes the House, we are on our way to becoming one --- just a matter of time. (Approximately 20-ish years.)
my roommate was looking for work for over a year and when it I needed to find a job it took me two weeks if you need a job you'll find it unless your too picky
I agree with your points
what you say is true. I worked there for four years and they've always deducted taxes from my paycheck. and of course i never got any of that money back. but its ok. i never thought the us should've given me some of that money back. i knew before-hand how things were going to be and i accepted the rules. after all, i used the highways; the public lights, and i even had to go to the hospital once, on account of a panic attack, which at the time, i took for a heart attack, haha. well the americans are good people. i like them. heck, the best girlfriend i ever had was american. Debra sweetheart. i miss you. anyway. I believe one of the primarily reasons why many americans dont like the immigrants is beacuse of race. I mean, if the illegal immigrants were blonde tall arians, americans would not complain much about them. imagine a maid like ellen mcpherson doing your laundry. or for the girls, imagine a leo di caprio cutting the grass on a sunny day. wouldnt you invite him to come in for a refreshment?. camon, lets be honest. i dont care for immigrants coming to argentina as long as they are hot. we are lucky, thousands of colombians come every year, and you know, colombians girls are sweet. many others come from peru; chile; paraguay, brazil; uruguay; ecuador; venezuela, etc. they can work and they can also study for free in the university. there are a couple of americans from washington dc in the UBA who could not afford to pay for education in the us so they came to study here. and they are welcome. you know why? because they are people. just like us.
Illegal aliens do pay some taxes. Most of them are working using a fake social security number which is a felony or using a stolen social security number which is also a felony and wreaks havoc on some American citizen's life. Because there earnings are typically low, they have a very small amount of tax withheld from their paychecks. The also pay a little tax in the form of sales tax although because they send a great deal of their earning home (which hurts our economy) so they don't spend much. They also pay a tiny bit of property tax but they often share apartments between 5 to 20 illegals so each pays a tiny amount of property tax.
Their tax contribution is tiny but illegals consume a lot. If they have children, each child costs $8 to $10 thousand dollars per year to educate. That alone is more then they contribute in taxes, They often have lots of children. When they get sick they go to hospital emergency rooms who by law cannot turn anybody away even if they can't pay which illegals seldom can. And they commit a lot of crime. So far this year ICE has deported 280,000 illegals from our jails and prisons who were picked up for other crimes. They deported about 200,000 more last year. They could deport a lot more except most jails are not yet certified to recognize that they are holding illegals and in a lot of cities like Houston, LA and San Francisco they have sanctuary policies where they don't cooperate with ICE. The cost of providing justice is huge and that is even before you consider the damages to their victims.
At the Federal level illegal aliens cost about $10 billion more than they contribute in taxes. At the State level where most of the cost of education, healthcare and justice falls, illegal aliens cost far more. In California the net cost after their triivial taxes is about $9 billion. In Texas and Florida it is about $3 billion each. In Arizona it is about $1 billion, etc, etc, Wherever there are lots of illegals the taxpayers are getting screwed!
I am half hispanic and I certainly do not hate illegals. But that does not mean I don't want our laws enforced and the illegals forced to leave. Wanting laws to be enforced is not a sign of bigotry! Most of my anger over this situation is aimed at the government who has refused to enforce their own laws and at the businesses that are giving the illegal aliens jobs. More than anything I want to see the laws against hiring illegals enforced and I want to see some executives doing the perp walk. When executives start going to prison the problem will be largely solved.
I don't think I've ever agreed with a statement more. In a capitalist economy, you have to get them where it hurts...in the money. I've long thought that all the talk about amnesty or guest worker programs or any other solution to the problem was entirely premature, as long as there is financial incentive for employers to hire undocumented workers at lower wages. Cut that off, and the jobs available to them dry up, and there is less reason to come here illegally.
If I were in a poor country right next door to a wealthy one that would hire me, and I had a family to support, I would consider crossing the border and working illegally. Who wouldn't do that for their family, if there seemed to be no other options?
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
You are correct immigrants have to jump through all the paperwork hoops we have to, to get their kids in school and to get medical assistance. As for as schools, most American's abandoned the public school system in the 1970s and that is where most of the immigrant kids are going.
Your comments are ridiculous. Do you realize how asinine your assertation that "most American abandoned the public school system" is. What are you basing this on? You are a complete idiot who is clueless.
We hate illegal immigrants because they are what else.... illegal!
I think we also hate them because they make up a portion of our tax dollars. They however, take all the jobs we don't want.
so if you don't want them what’s the problem with them taking it
they smell
I dont hate them, but i do not think it is fair for US citizens or immigrants trying to come here legally. They are going through all of the paper work and time and then they just sneak in here and do not pay taxes and do actually take jobs away from Americans. Everyone tries to make it look like they take jobs that Americans will not take but i know for a fact that it isnt true and i know they do not all get payed really low wages. I am just angered by this altogether
Wow. You're so angry that it's affecting your grammar!
Actually, most undocumented immigrants do pay taxes. The fact that undocumented workers are here is not their fault. The government has created loopholes so that their labor can go "unnoticed" by the administration. They're doing what they can to survive and are willing to work hard to make a living- this is their crime.
I know Americans that would do jobs that Latin American immigrants do... In fact, most of them are of Latin-American heritage...
Com on now, keep the remarks about the topic!
You say illegal immigrants pay their taxes. You say they pay more than they get. Document where you are getting this information so we can all judge.
Here is a source that refutes the notion that illegals contribute more than they cost in exhaustive detail. Basically it says that illegal aliens cost taxpayers about $10 billion more then they contribute.
The High Cost of Cheap Labor
But that is just at the Federal level. Where iilegals really get expensive is at the State level because States pick up the majority of the tab for education, healthcare and law enforcement.
Most illegal aliens are earning very low wages. In our system low wage earners pay very low taxes. It is absurd on its face to argue that illegal aliens contribute more than they cost. Poor people are a burden for taxpayers and illegals are no exception.
The reason most people are against illegal immigration is that it make no sense to further burden taxpayers by importing more third world poverty when we already have enough of our own.
they come here holding beaner flags,like thats gonna make us like you more.If your so proud to be mexican...GO BACK.and those who arent proud...GO BACK TOO cuz we dont want u
I was born in Russia. My parents brought me here when I was 10 and I have been here for over 11 years now, but I still have trouble thinking of the US as my home, however in recent years instead of referring to the US as them and Russia as us which was my customary way of speaking I have started to refer to both as us not consciously gradually and without my knowledge of doing so. Now I don't know what its like for other immigrant but I know from personal experience that knowing the language does not make you a part of the country. We me and my family have been here for 11 years and from day one took the proper steps to become citizens and still we have not been given citizenship even though we pay our taxis every year and have never neither here or in Russia been in trouble with the law maybe that has something to do with why people choose to stay illegal to avoid all the hassle it takes to become legal.
oh and I wrote a blog on the subject of immigration if your interested
My girlfriend is from Russia too, and her parents have been trying for years to get American citizenship. It's an incredibly difficult task, and I don't think the average American realizes it...
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story.
Now, as the Great Communicator, I'm not sure what all this fuss is about.
Whenever you need hard, backbreaking labor done at a discount price, simply drive to your local Home Depot. A friendly crew of Wetback Day-Laborers will be happy to assist you with your project.
When you're done, simply pay them, give them something to drink outside, and call your local Department of Homeland Security. Your local DHS agents will be happy to give them a free ride back to their country of origin.
You get your job done, the Wabs can buy tortillas and beans for thier family, and the DHS earns thier paycheck. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.
For your convenience, here are some toll-free numbers to call.
The toll-free national Department of Homeland Security hotline number to report illegal alien and related suspicious activity is 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423).
The U.S. Border Control can be reached at 1-877-USBP-HELP (1-877-8727-4357).
I'm wondering what inspired you to write your comment. Let me guess. You are likely an uneducated white male who feels emasculated knowing that there are people in this country working hard and making money. The fact that you must rely on racial epithets to express yourself is a further demonstration of your underdeveloped vocabulary and intelligence. I feel sorry for you. From your email there is quite a bit of hate, hostility, and racism that you feel towards immigrants and it suggests that you are insecure and angry at your own pathetic life. I feel sorry for you... You are a sad example of a human being. As a white female, I know many men...boys like you. You are the reason for your own failure. I can not believe that you would characterize anyone as "disposable", you are disgusting.
I am amazed at all the discussion that has been going on so far, but not surprised. Illegal immigrants pay taxes like all the rest of us. I think this a huge fact that is so often overlooked and so vital to this discussion. They pay taxes and yet cannot take advantage of the simple basics that we all as citizens enjoy such as free public education until high school and in-state college tuition in the state you reside in (among many other benefits that THEIR taxes also pay for). If we took a stance of hating immigrants as so many of us in our ignorance are prone to do, there would not be a United States here at all. It is amazing how easily we forget our own history. So the natural arguement is: well, my ansectors came here legally. That may be true, but also even 80 years ago the restrictions, barriers, and general exclusivity that are present today were not present then. It is extremely difficult to obtain legal status in the United States, if not impossible. Shouldn't the immigrants who have been here for long period of time, have assimilated, have contributed to the American society be allowed a chance to stay here without fear and threat and racist remarks? Are we that hateful of a nation that we do not consider the the basic human rights applicable to everyone who is not american-born? The policy should not be to eradicate, deport, or degrade immigrants with hate and racial slurrs, but to educate them and make them love this great country just as much as we do. This is possible. If we concentrate on educating immigrants, making English language a requirement, we can build a better, stronger nation with a positive image across the world. Consider all the wrongs we have committed towards minorities, starting with Native Americans, then blacks, Japanese, and then eastern european immigrants. We are living through another phase of injustice: which side will you find yourself on?
Boy, I haven't checked this page for a while, but it seems like it's attracted lots of representatives from all sides of the spectrum. Obviously lots of people care deeply about this topic one way or another, and it's become abundantly clear that no one has a satsifactory answer.
To liberals: The illegal immigrants ARE breaking the law by crossing into our country, and that should not go unnoticed. Laws are in place for a reason, and even if we don't always agree with them, they are the only things holding society together. As heartless as that may sound, just think what people would do if all of a sudden there were no laws or there was no enforcement of said laws...would you really want to live in that kind of a country?
I know, I know, people will say that these people are suffering and laboring under inhuman conditions, and I don't doubt that in many cases that is the truth, but it is the principle of the thing that our laws have to be respected and enforced or else thy lose all meaning! We have immigration laws and make it so hard to get in (by the way, it's nowhere near as hard to get into the US as most other Western countries; the only country that might have it easier is Canada, but they share no borders with countries with loads of people striving to get in) because we simply can't support everyone. Our infrastructure needs time to adjust; our culture needs time to adjust; our politics need time to adjust. We simply can't have the entire population of Latin American come over whenever they want as they would simply overwhelm the system.
To conservatives: However, looking at this realistically, it would cost the US a huge amount of money to track down all the illegal immigrants hiding in the country (12 million was the last estimate, right?) and deport them all, and then there's the question of what to do with any children they may have had while they were here. Illegal parents or not, if you are born on sovereign American soil you are by law eligible to receive American citizenship if you so choose. Do you make them go back with their parents or make them live alone without any parents at all after you deport their families? I think this would help to exasterbate many of the problems we already associate with immigrant families, aka. crime, seclusion from society, and antipathy towards America.
Now the idea of a wall between the US and Mexico is to me just kind of ridiculous. If you want a good idea of just how good walls are at keeping back hordes of humanity, look at the Great Wall of China and think just how successful it was at keeping the Mongolic tribes to the north out. No, if you really want to keep them out, you need to have something more like the Berlin Wall, with mine fields, barbed wire, guard towars every 100 meters or so, guard dogs, and machine gun nests, but we're talking about hundreds and hundreds of miles of a border like that, not even considering the fact that some immigrants sneak in via boats through the Gulf of Mexico. If you guys want to spend all of the money you make at your jobs on ensuring that no illegals take them, and all your tax money to be sure that it doesn't go to any Mexican families, be my guest and join the Militiamen, but as for myself, I'll take my chances.
In short, we need to keep enforcing the laws we have in place (and you know what, if we did just that, we'd cure a lot of the problem right there, rather than permitting big companies and corporate farming ventures to buy their way into being allowed to use illegal immigrant labor) but realize that the laws aren't perfect and that some people are going to get through no matter how good a job we do. But that's not the end of the world. America has survived a LOT worse than this, and will continue to do so.
Oh, and on a personal note, I don't know who you guys think you are, but racial slurs never have a place in any argument. Those are for Klan rallies and hate-mongering. You got an argument, than by all means share with us, but if it consists of "these people are monkeys and are lower than us superior whatever the hell you are," then tell it to the Grand Dragon or to your Führer, cause they're the only ones who'll acknowledge it.
Important note. Entering into the US illegally is a civil offense. AKA its the equivalent of getting a parking or speeding ticket. It is more illegal to drink and drive or posess drugs because those are criminal offenses. So if you are going to call them illegal people you better start calling anyone who has broken a criminal law an illegal person.
It takes 10+ years to be able to get a visa legally and a lot of money. You think those people should let their families starve? People do not take responsibility for their actions in the sense that the US made Latin America more poor and now we are threatened by the consequences of our actions. NAFTA made things worse in Latin America. It gave the US the edge while Latin America got the short end of the stick. The US with the CIA installed horrible dictators all over Latin America who heavily caused a lot of poverty in Latin America. So we put in dictators there and no we are suprised that those countries are poor? And we just want to wash our hands clean? Its time for the US to take responsibilty for its actions.
The only way the US is going to slow the flow of illegal immigration is by stimulating the Latin America economy. As long as the majority of Latin America is in poverty and people are starving a fence will not stop them. A marshall plan for Latin America is the only real solution. All others are temporary and ineffective (AKA fence on border and checking documentation for employment).
Thar illegals are criminals. In LA 95% of all outstanding warrents for homicide are for illegals. Want more disturbing statistics on crime and illegals look at my blog "Enough is Enough. Get out of my country."
jackass
Firs of all i am 17 i am an illegal immigrant in my experience going to school having friends or just living around people that are citizens is hard u get criticized because of your race sometimes skin( me for example i am probably the whitest skinned Mexican you would see) so i don't have a problem with that in fact most people think I'm Caucasian(or have citizenship) i don't like the illegal immigrants that are career criminals or that are just criminals i think those immigrants are the ones who should get sent back!.. me my family and a lot of other immigrants do nothing wrong just want to live in this great country!... i recognize that we won't be getting any slack for that
and that the people who came to the U.S. legally might be upset if anything was to happen to aid illegal immigrants gain citizenship easily well all i have to say to them is
(from what my parents told me) there is almost no job opportunities in Mexico and if there are any u don't get paid enough to support yourself so its a do or die sort of situation. i might be breaking the law by being here but i don't mean too, i was brought to the U.S. when i was 3 years old my parents decided to come the the U.S. to give me better opportunities, a better life and just to experience all the great things this country has to offer ... i know English and Spanish although Spanish is my native language i am more familiar with English i was raised in here i know nothing
of the lifestyle of Mexico, well only the things my teachers teach in my Spanish class in school and what my parents tell me ....although most of illegal immigrants are criminals or ignorant , or have almost no respect to others we are not all the same!!.. by saying they are all criminals you are wrong... we might be criminals for being here illegally but i am talking about the arrest warrants and any other crimes.
I assume you will soon be getting out of school and getting a job.
Are you aware that it is a felony to work off the books in the cash economy. It is tax evasion.
Are you aware that it is a felony to use a fake social security number?
Are you aware that it is a felony to use a stolen social security number which belongs to an American citizen.
I just don't want you to claim ignorance when you start committing felony crimes.
It's time for Mexicans to go home and fix Mexico.
why don't they just go through the normal channels to achieve citizenship? Why all this big hassle of living as an illegal alien? Ah hello, because THEY CAN'T... you think they like being "illegal" quite obviously not... it's because there aren't enough visas to give to everyone... that's why.. get it straight, we're not going anywhere as much as it makes you so angry... why don't you just find a new town to live in?
Enforcement is starting to work and combined with the bad economy, the illegal alien population is starting to decline. The Center for Immigration Studies has a study out that says the illegal alien population has declined from over 12 million to just barely 11 million. If we can get E-Verify to be made mandatory then decent jobs for illegals will get very scarce.
The strategy is called Attrition through Enforcement. Rather than giving amnesty or anything like it, instead we steadily enforce our laws. We really don't need to arrest or deport any illegals (unless they are committing crimes other than working). We just need to fine the crap out of the people who hire them and make them desperately afraid of being caught with an illegal on their payroll. When we raid an employer we just send the illegals home to their families and tell them not to bother to show up for work tomorrow. The focus of law enforcement should be on the employer.
When the jobs dry up the illegals will self-deport for the same reason they came. They will be looking for a better life. Attrition through enforcement will take a few years but it took a while for the problem to get this bad.
And the reason there are not enough immigration visas for every Mexican that wants to come is that our immigration laws are designed to benefit America and American workers. Our laws are to protect our citizens and if not every Mexican who wants to come can then that is too bad. It is high time you all fixed your own country.