No Debates About The Illegal Immigrants Issue?

[Mskanga]

It's the people who are *in* the system who are the ones being caught and sent away, while the ones who slipped in here with no documentation are just allowed to do whatever.

You can say that again , the only thing they didn't check with me was my mother's blood type because everything else was checked and in more than one occasion. They went as far as contacting my husband's employer and request an affidavit that we were still together and my husband was financially responsible for me......they put me through the wringer , if that is the law , it's for everyone and not just some.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Under the H1B program I believe US employers did have to make a "good faith" effort to find residents to take some of the high paying IT and nursing type jobs. Then they have to post the salary of the person they imported from overseas to take that job. That's why you had IT job descriptions that were so ridiculously convulted that it was highly unlikely a resident candidate would have been available...and if they were available they wouldn't have taken it at the posted lowball rate.

I find it quite odd that suddenly construction jobs are jobs legal residents don't want! And it seems that happened in the last five years. Landscaping and agriculture I can understand. The Atlanta area seems flooded with new housing construction while other neighborhoods are wilting because people are rushing to buy new homes out in the boondocks. Then those same people sit in miles long traffic jams trying to get to their office jobs.

If another country flooded our markets with low priced goods businesses would be screaming bloody murder. People are a commodity as much as corn, steel or oil. Too much of something will only hurt your economy.

As for Long Beach Island...it might be a good idea for Jersey Shore businesses to see if they can work with Six Flags to get employees. Dormitory housing and shuttle busses would go a long way towards getting people to go home once the season is over.

As for the kids of illegal aliens. If they were born here they are US residents. However their parent nor their illegal siblings should not be eligible to collect welfare benefits. Private charities should be free to assist anyone.

I'm a "liberal" and I say.... ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT. Amnesty has been tried before and look what is happening? And I mean enforcement against businesses who hire illegals. If you can't get a job you will more likely go home when you are supposed to.

As for the guest worker program... Again I could see it for agriculture. At the same time some of the problem in our country isn't a lack of people to do jobs. Its a failure to communicate the availability of the jobs to the people. There was an article in the Atlanta Journal a few months back about poultry farmers in Claxton importing workers from Korea...people who were fully skilled in other professions, who had money and for whom this was just their legal entry to life in the US. When I read this I was happy that they would be contributing citizens when they left their poultry jobs but was somewhat annoyed because it seems they could have recruited for workers in Savannah or Atlanta using the same or similar incentives.

And finally...it would be wise to be careful when allowing the illegal immigrant join the military. I'd probably limit this to specific countries of origin where we wont have to worry about them going home and teaching what they learned to the rebel cause or joining up with drug cartels. Once in the military they should have a temporary citizen status where they can vote and do everything citizens do. After completion of their first tour that condition should be made permanent.

 

[Bravosntha2g]

We will never get the current illegals out of the country. Americans are willing to do the jobs illegals do, just for a slightly higher price.

There is a very simple solution. We place the military on the border. This can happen as soon as we begin leaving Iraq. If someone attempts to cross the border, they shall be shot on sight. After just a handful are shot the message will be sent. Who would risk crossing the border when their death is assured? It may sound brutal, but IMHO it's worth a few deaths to solve a national pandemic.

 

[jennobrn01]

I witness first hand the "squirting out babies" because I work in OB. There is many a morning; after working a long 7p-7a, that I am near tears. Tears of anger and frustration at seeing hard working American citizens deny themselves sufficient hospital stay's because they can't afford it. And in turn seeing illegal immigrants receive all the stay and care they could ever want after flashing the medicaid card.

Many are the patients that can hardly speak a word of English, but they know the word "Medicaid". Illegals have placed much strain on the healthcare system of America. The benefits I see them receiving would curl your hair. It's just wrong.

I support strict enforcement of our existing laws in regards to illegal immigrants.

 

[Teejay32]

It will if the citizens who vote send a loud and clear message to Washington.

Those who do not support border control (the wall) and wants the illegals left alone (i.e. keep saving those who come illegally)--should be responsible for their welfare.

I think a lot of us are prepared to deal with the pandemic of illegal residents - not the pandemic of Mexicans or Spanish-speakers. If you want to shore up support for removing very large groups of working people, those messages better be a hell of a lot clearer than they are in this thread.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Yes..

And you are entitled to your opinion...but I am sure there are those who have a harderline against illegal immigrants, would disagree and want 2nd and 3rd generations gone as well. We all have our limits as to what we feel is acceptible in the debate, but as always, the reality is somewhere in between.

 

[wvrevy]

Simply put: we are a nation of immigrants, and it is hypocritical in the extreme to whine about "illegals" when it is practically impossible for anyone to legally immigrate at this point. Should we encourage illegal immigration? No, I don't think we should. But should people that have been living here for years be sent away just to satisfy the racist and xenophobic views of a certain segment of society?

 

[CheshireVal]

Simply put: we are a nation of immigrants, and it is hypocritical in the extreme to whine about "illegals" when it is practically impossible for anyone to legally immigrate at this point. Should we encourage illegal immigration? No, I don't think we should. But should people that have been living here for years be sent away just to satisfy the racist and xenophobic views of a certain segment of society?

I hardly think it's racist or xenophobic to want to stop shouldering the tax burden of illegals. I'm sick and tired of them receiving all our benefits when they pay nothing into the system except for piddly sales tax.

 

[ducklite]

I hardly think it's racist or xenophobic to want to stop shouldering the tax burden of illegals. I'm sick and tired of them receiving all our benefits when they pay nothing into the system except for piddly sales tax.

I agree.

I strongly disagree that's it's impossible to immigrate legally. If they have a skill that is needed, it's easy. If not, then we have enough unemployment with people who are already here legally. In that case they have NOTHING to offer and will only take.

I am all for allowing LEGAL IMMIGRATION for people who have the promise of jobs when an employer has unsuccessfully searched for "internal" employees. I feel that a guest worker program would be mutally beneficial, however the onus MUST be placed on the employer to make sure that the employee leaves when they are supposed to, or the employer will face SEVERE fines--this will cause employers to look very hard for employees from the pool we already have in this country legally. Making it easier to get in legally if you have something to offer isn't a problem.

However I am vehemently against ILLEGAL immigration. Illegal's do not offer, they take. They in essence steal from taxpayers, school, medical, other social services.

And I'm incensed that in order to gain citizenship you need do nothing more but wait until your mother is over the border before spurting yourself out. Like I said, why on earth would we offer instant citizenship to any child born on our shores? That in itself is the number one reason we can't simply perform mass deportations of illegal's.

Anne

 

[cardaway]

Would the people against sending them back feel differently if hundreds stormed the border patrol all at once and then were caught and rounded up a few miles later by the local police? Would it be OK to send those folks back?

What's the difference, the way they got in?

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I hardly think it's racist or xenophobic to want to stop shouldering the tax burden of illegals. I'm sick and tired of them receiving all our benefits when they pay nothing into the system except for piddly sales tax.

I agree.

 

[Teejay32]

I hardly think it's racist or xenophobic to want to stop shouldering the tax burden of illegals. I'm sick and tired of them receiving all our benefits when they pay nothing into the system except for piddly sales tax.

But if we're talking about receiving benefits, we're not necessarily just on the subject of undocumented dishwashers and strawberry-pickers - we're now onto immigrants in general, or the old debate on people in general who collect without contributing. Receiving benefits suggests legality, people with green cards are eligible. I am on the side of people coming here to work, and many of those workers do go home.

Like I said, why on earth would we offer instant citizenship to any child born on our shores?

That's usually how people get citizenship. Everywhere.

 

[CheshireVal]

But if we're talking about receiving benefits, we're not necessarily just on the subject of undocumented dishwashers and strawberry-pickers - we're now onto immigrants in general, or the old debate on people in general who collect without contributing. Receiving benefits suggests legality, people with green cards are eligible. I am on the side of people coming here to work, and many of those workers do go home.

No, that's totally different. People with green cards are here legally, and they contribute to society in every way that US citizens do, with the exception of voting.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

and many of those workers do go home.

Are you sure about that? What about the illegals here in the Boston area, do they go home? That would be a little far for them to travel at the end of a long days work.

 

[Mskanga]

Simply put: we are a nation of immigrants, and it is hypocritical in the extreme to whine about "illegals" when it is practically impossible for anyone to legally immigrate at this point.

That is not true, A LOT of people immigrate legally, they do it lawfully which is the way everyone should. There are procedures to follow in order to get into any country. I find it very hard to be able to get into the USA via airplane from Europe , without a valid visa in your hands, but it's a lot easier to cross the border on foot.

 

[Teejay32]

Are you sure about that? What about the illegals here in the Boston area, do they go home? That would be a little far for them to travel at the end of a long days work.

no, I meant when they've put enough aside to buy a house in Guatamala or whatever. Interesting question though: do you think with $450,000 starter homes and whatnot, that Boston already figured out it has to import its cheap labor?

 

[Feralpeg]

I have a question regarding the idea of granting guest worker status. What happens after they come here with a guest worker status and then disappear? How do we keep track of these people so that they must renew their status or go home? Just a question. It sounds almost impossible to police. We can't even keep track of people who enter the country from other places on a temporary basis.

 

[bicker]

And you are entitled to your opinion...but I am sure there are those who have a harderline against illegal immigrants, would disagree and want 2nd and 3rd generations gone as well.

They'd be wrong. My perspective is supported by the law; theirs is not.

We all have our limits as to what we feel is acceptible in the debate, but as always, the reality is somewhere in between.

No, the reality is what the law actually requires. I haven't contributed my personal perspective about what I believe should be the case, but rather have contributed my personal perspective about what actually IS the case -- what IS fair based on what IS the law.

 

[caitycaity]

it's not practically impossible to immigrate legally. i know 3 people who have gotten citizenship in the past year.

furthermore, even if it was practically impossible - that's the law. we have a finite amount of resources and as a dmeocracy, it is within our right to set our own laws. if people don't like it, work to change it..don't just ignore it. citizens of this country should be the ones with a say, not citizens of other countries.

I disagree. I don't think we have a majority who thinks the illegals should be thrown out. And just wait until the MSM starts doing non-stop sob stories on the individual people we're threatening to send back. Our collective guilt trip, irrational as it may be, would be too much to bear.

sadly, i think you are right, though i do know a decent number of liberals who are very opposed to illegal immigration and the rights afforded to those who come here illegally.

i am definitely in favor of putting strict penalties on employers of illegals, restricting the citizenship rights of people born here illegally, and yes, even building walls if that is what we need to do. i think economic disincentives will work better than physical ones though.

 

[Chicago526]

Well, most would consider me a liberal, and I'm 100% against illegal immagration. It needs to stop and it needs to stop now. Companies that hire and house illegals need to be fined and/or shut down.

What I'm not sure of is how to handle those already here. My gut instinct is to send them ALL back, but that's easy to say to a anonomus "them". When you are talking about individual families, especially with children it gets harder. I'm not saying we shouldn't send a lot of illegals back, I'm just saying it's not the black and white issue it seems to be. When dealing with people, it's always shades of grey.

I live in an area with a high number of illegals from Mexico and central/south america. My school system has an enrollment that is 60% hispanic, and a majority of those speak English as a second language. No, I'm not in a boarder state. I live in the the suburbs of Chicago. So this entire mess directly affects me and my family. Be sure I'll be watching the Congress very closely on this issue, and will vote accordingly when the time comes.