Illegal immigration debate

There has been lots of news coverage lately and Congressional and Presidentail proposals on how to handle illegal immigration. Your thoughts?

Here were some protests this weekend:
Imm protests

Re: Illegal immigration debate

This has been a huge issue in my town. We have a sizeable population of immigrants (mostly illegal) from Guatemala. They wait along Main Street most days to be picked up for work.

I wasn't bothered when we first moved here. But there have been a few incidents in the last few months- a day laborer was found passed out drunk, propped up against the school building in the middle of the afternoon. And a few men were living in the woods behind the elementary school. If/when we have kids, this is the school our kids will attend. So that concerns me. Not to say that they are criminals, but it is estimated that at least a percentage had records in their native country.

Undocumented workers do not pay taxes, most send their money home. I am no expert but I am sure the economy will suffer. And if there is no crackdown, the numbers will continue to grow, IMO.

And if I were a less-than-honest business person (not that there are many of those ) and I have to choose from an illegal and a citizen (including someone who came here through legal channels) I'd pick the illegal so I wouldn't have to pay the taxes. That's not fair to people who came here legally.

Message edited 3/26/2006 10:02:35 AM.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

WOW....

well i am for the crackdown...

Re: Illegal immigration debate

There is a White House comment line you can call to express your opinion on this issue (202) 456-1111

Re: Illegal immigration debate

I almost started a new thread about this.. Glad I searched first and my search engine worked!!!


To come to the US as a legal immigrant is a gamble. A legal immigrant is someone who is not a U.S. citizen but has been authorized to permanently live and work in the United States. If you want to become an immigrant, you must go through a three-step process. First, the USCIS must approve an immigrant petition for you, which is usually filed by an employer or a relative for you. IF YOU DON’T HAVE FAMILY IN THE US OR IR NO JOB SET UP, IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBE TO TRY TO GET A VISA. Second, a visa number, through the State Department must be immediately available to you, even if you are already in the United States. If you receive an immigrant visa number, it means that an immigrant visa has been assigned to you. SOMEONE CAN BE DENIED A VISA FOR NO APPARENT REASON OR IT CAN TAKE MONTHS TO YEARS.(I know after 9/11 everything is even longer which I have no problem about, but the INS should really get more workers and vastly improve their strategies because people fall through the cracks that way. Hard working people in my family have not been able to get in the US but convicted rapists and murderers from Ecuador have been able to get granted to come here with no problems whatsoever. Third, AFTER RECIEVING Visa, you can then apply to become legal resident. Then if you want to in the future, you can apply to become a citizen.
My uncle by marriage who had sisters already here who were citizens applied for a Visa and was denied for no reason. He was a professor in Ecuador. He chose to illegally come here so he could give his mother better health care because she was ill. He is now a citizen with 3 kids, one in medical school, one in law school, and the third graduating high school this year.
My grandmother tried to give her kids a good life. She also could not get a visa. She came here illegally by passing off as someone on vacation. She then applied for a visa, (its easier to get one that way) and was granted one. Three years later her husband and 5 kids all came to the US legally. While my grandmother was here alone for those 3 years, she had 2 jobs. Both as seamstresses, she worked 20 hours a day. I will forever thank her for this. Today my mother is a nurse and her siblings are managers, police officers, and teachers. Many of you are parents. If your country was in a horrendous civil war, or if evil militants came and started ransacking and killing and raping people in your homeland, wouldn’t you want to protect your kids and leave right away. Would you wait years so you can leave legally? Would you wait if you see your kids starving and having to drop out of school in second grade (my father dropped out) to support the family because the country’s decided to cut wages but not the cost of living? I would leave as quickly as possible, regardless of the consequences of what would happen to me personally.
To make coming here illegally a felony is ridiculous in my opinion. Most that come here do not come to vandalize and stir up America. They come here because they have a dream for a better life for their husbands, wives, children, and parents. If it wasn’t such an unorganized and lengthy process most immigrants would come here legally. They don’t dream about buying the newest LV bag or leasing the newest Lexus, all they want to accomplish is to have a secure and loving house, food daily, and to provide as much education to their children as possible. How can you make trying to obtain the American Dream a felony?
What I do agree with is the crackdown of business owners who pay pathetic wages to both illegal and legal immigrants. These people are inhumane and they are the ones that are making this economy suffer., not the workers. They should get penalized. My father knew someone who was being paid $1.50 an hour to work as a janitor for 15 hours a day, 7 days a week. My father has since helped him become a legal resident. As far as immigrants taking jobs that teenagers would want, I’m sorry, but where I went to high school every teenager wanted to work in the mall, video store, etc…. none of them would be a janitor, gardener, etc regardless how much you paid. For those who house illegal immigrants, I hope they also wake up one day and realize what they are doing. They pack people in like sardines. And it’s not that inexpensive either. I’ve met people who lived like that and showed them studios which is the same amt (if living with one or 2 roommates) as living in those inhumane quarters.
If the bill is passed, they also want to make it a felony for those who help illegal immigrants to be charged with a felony. No one, not my parents, not my employer, nor my country can tell me who I can and cannot help. As a Catholic, it is part of my service to aid as many people I can as I would want help if I was in desperate need. The only person that should have say in this is God. I am not saying that I sneak people into this country at all. But, my family does time to time go to Hispanic neighborhoods and hand out clothes, food, drinks, on the streets and in churches with no questions asked to the individuals at all.
I’ve never been to Ecuador. My whole family is planning on going together in 2-3 years. like any tourist, I will see the beautiful Salinas beaches, and the Galapagos Islands But we will spend the rest of the time, visiting true poor Ecuadorian villages, and bringing food, water, and building new shelters.

Of course this is just all my opinions, and if you don’t agree with me, then that’s fine too. We are all entitled to have different opinions because that’s the beauty of living in America.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

I still wonder about what will happen to the US and its economy if illegal immigration continues at its current rate. Many schools, for example, will find it harder and harder to effectively educate the growing number of students, and then they are being set up for a life of more minimum wage work.

I am also surprised that there is not more concern about illegal immigrants from a national security point of view. Not all of these immigrants are from Central and South America.

I think making illegal immigration a felony might be a bit extreme, but I think Bush's remarks will allow it to continue unchecked. I think I'd rather see more emphasis on helping those who came here legally to get good educations and know how our system works, so they don't find themselves exploited.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Other countries don't allow it, why should we.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

I came from haiti as a legal immigrant at the age of 7. I believe that their are alot of people who come to this country in search of a better life. I don't think anyone would want to leave their country if it wasn't for good reasons. These people who are illegal, want to work, and want to pay taxes, but because they can't get regular jobs, they are forced to work doing things that me or you would probably not do. They are not criminals. All immigrant families that i know are all college educated proffesionals. I am now a US Citizen, but i know how hard it is for those who are illegal, and can't work. It is very hard. Some of these people lived good lives in their country, but they had to escape the violence. This subject is very close to my heart, because i know many people who would love to be able to work, go to college, and drive, but they can't. That does not make them criminals.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

If they want to be here, it should be done legally.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

we pay for their medical expenses, schools, ***!

Re: Illegal immigration debate

What I don't get is, why are these people marching with flags from countries they had to sneak out of in search of a better life?

I am all for a crackdown. they're a HUGE drain on our tax system and costing us more than they're saving in "cheap labor"

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Message edited 4/4/2006 10:09:26 AM.

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

What I don't get is, why are these people marching with flags from countries they had to sneak out of in search of a better life?

I am all for a crackdown. they're a HUGE drain on our tax system and costing us more than they're saving in "cheap labor"

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Posted by Tumbalina

Posted by june262004

Posted by Daveswife

Posted by Tumbalina

we pay for their medical expenses, schools, ***!

I'm sorry but i dont understand. These people are not looking for handouts, and they are not all on welfare. They want to get an education, and be able to contribute to society.

And they can... BUT become legal first!

Re: Illegal immigration debate

Posted by SweetestOfPeas

What I don't get is, why are these people marching with flags from countries they had to sneak out of in search of a better life?
"

Re: Illegal immigration debate