No Debates About The Illegal Immigrants Issue?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Only the first generation. After that, they are legal US citizens. But that's another debate.

True.

 

[Teejay32]

Well I'm not with the president on this one. You try living in an area with a lot of illegals. They flood the schools with children who don't speak English, therefore driving down the quality of teaching for those who do. They don't consider this their "permanent" home country, are only here for the money and therefore don't care about the neighborhoods/houses/schools etc. We have an entire house of illegals just down the street from us. I know because my neighbors kids go to school with theirs. But the parents refuse to learn English because they only plan on being here a couple years. They work in jobs that cater to them and speak their language to them so they don't have to learn English. What about my American dream? I don't want to be surrounded by those who just consider us a get-money-quick place. I want neighbors I can depend on, socialize with at block parties and know at least a little bit so I can say hi when walking the dog!

I lived on the north shore until last year. It's extremely hard to tell illegal immigrants just by looking at them, so I'm just guessing that we had plenty. My kids grew up being comfortable with people who spoke different languages, much like I did with the older generations in my own family. When I was younger I worked in hotels & restaurants - nice ones as well as budget ones - and every dishwashing staff I ever worked with was comprised of what we'll call "guest workers." With our house, about every other contractor we hired used these "guest workers" to some degree. They get no benefits of any kind btw.

I understand that tighter controls are needed for people entering the country, but the US has always had a mutual-benefit kind of thing with foreign workers. I'm not supporting any Berlin Wall-looking thing without reasonable allowances for that.

 

[bicker]

Reserving to Americans the benefits paid for with American tax revenues is not isolationist.

 

[Caradana]

I'm with Teejay on this one.
Also, with all due respect, if I were 25 and pregnant and living in a mud hut in Mexico, you better believe that I'd be running toward the US border with all I had.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Reserving to Americans the benefits paid for with American tax revenues is not isolationist.

So you see no benefit to grandfather in or grant guest worker privledges to the estimated 8 million illegal immigrants living in America right now? I think you'd get an entirely different opinion from a large majority of manufacturing and construction companies throughout the US.

And if it's all about money for you, bicker, how much are you willing to spend to hunt down every one of the millions of these lawless scoundrels, many who have children who happen to be American citizens?

IMO, it's just not as simple as building a wall and tossing them out.

 

[Cindyluwho]

First of all I'd like to say that I'm soooo glad that I live in a country that people are trying to sneak into, not trying to escape from!
As far as the immigration thing goes I truly feel that if we really, really need the extra, unskilled labor then we should allow the number of them that we need to immigrate here, legally. Bring only those over that would like to become citizens. Become a citizen, get your job, etc. The only part of the guest worker/illegal thing that ticks me off is that they get free medical care, reduced lunches, free schooling - all the while we're paying the taxes for those services.
And while I'm on my rant....why is it that it's nearly impossible to immigrate here legally from Germany but there's a nail salon on almost every corner where everyone speaks Vietnamese? Shouldn't it be equally easy or hard to immigrate from any country???
OK, I'm done for now

 

[bicker]

So you see no benefit to grandfather in ... to the estimated 8 million illegal immigrants living in America right now? I think you'd get an entirely different opinion from a large majority of manufacturing and construction companies throughout the US.

The fact that they're businesses doesn't obviate the fact that they're in favor of something illegal. If we want a guest worker program, then let's have one: Let's make sure the businesses that want it cover the full cost of the employees they're importing.

And if it's all about money for you, bicker, how much are you willing to spend to hunt down every one of the millions of these lawless scoundrels, many who have children who happen to be American citizens?

I prefer just to deny benefits wherever practical. Simple things. Require a SS# for health benefits and for admission to schools, would be a good start.

 

[Lanshark]

With the back asswards way we do things my guess is the contractors would be hiring illegals to build the fence.

I welcome all legal immigration. Illegals and those that employ them should be prosecuted.

Until the consequences of coming here illegally, or hiring illegals, outweight the benefits we will continue to have problems

 

[Simba's Mom]

Well I'm not with the president on this one. You try living in an area with a lot of illegals. They flood the schools with children who don't speak English, therefore driving down the quality of teaching for those who do. They don't consider this their "permanent" home country, are only here for the money and therefore don't care about the neighborhoods/houses/schools etc. We have an entire house of illegals just down the street from us. I know because my neighbors kids go to school with theirs. But the parents refuse to learn English because they only plan on being here a couple years. They work in jobs that cater to them and speak their language to them so they don't have to learn English. What about my American dream? I don't want to be surrounded by those who just consider us a get-money-quick place. I want neighbors I can depend on, socialize with at block parties and know at least a little bit so I can say hi when walking the dog!

Boy, do I agree with you! We live in an area about 15 minutes from the Mexican border and in our city, illegals are "apprehended" almost daily. One area you didn't touch on is the health care. Because of the high numbers of illegals flooding the hospitals around here, then not paying (either unable to or just don't), health care costs are astronomically high. We live among the illegal immigrant issue and are affected by it every day here.

 

[TSR6]

Something with EOE, or some other business deal actually keeps businesses from terminating employees who are illegal.

The only way to have them leave once hired is to tell them "You are still welcome to work for us, however, I cannot pay you until you provide me with a valid SS#."

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

Walls are stupid. They presume that immigrants don't have access to ladders.



Rich::

No no what you ment to say was ( They presume that illegal immigrants don't have access to ladders. ) I just love how almost everyone leaves the word ( Illegal ) out..

 

[roger_ramjet]

What's the debate? They're illegal, so if they're caught, send them back. I couldnt give a rats if it leads to higher prices, though the lord knows most people are so inured to the convenience of the cheap goods provided by migrant labour that they'd be up in arms when prices go up. It'd be a little ironic, actually.

Anyway, as a legal immigrant myself (though admittedly from a much wealthier country than those in central America are) I don't have a lot of sympathy for those who enter the country illegally. I understand it, but I do not sympathise.

 

[Feralpeg]

At this time, they are building new houses behind mine. The vast majority of the workers speak little or no English. I would guess that a very large percentage of the construction workers in this area are illegal.

I have a really big problem with the builders in the area that hire these people illegally. The builder is making money hand over fist. I have no idea what type of wages these workers make, but I know that they work seven days a week from sunrise to way past dark. On weekends, they often dump their children (I know that word sounds bad, but that is the way it seems) in our neighborhood playground. Those little kids stay there all day by themselves.

There is no way the builder is paying benefits for these workers and their families. I see them walking around on the rooftops and just cringe because I can't imagine what would happen if one of them was hurt on the job.

I'm really sorry that life in Mexico is not good. I wish the Mexican government would work with our government to bring US industry to Mexico and employee the people so their lives would improve. This continuous wave of illegals into the US is not good for either country. I'm all for any legislation that helps stop this problem.

 

[PixieDust32]

At this time, they are building new houses behind mine. The vast majority of the workers speak little or no English. I would guess that a very large percentage of the construction workers in this area are illegal.

I have a really big problem with the builders in the area that hire these people illegally. The builder is making money hand over fist. I have no idea what type of wages these workers make, but I know that they work seven days a week from sunrise to way past dark. On weekends, they often dump their children (I know that word sounds bad, but that is the way it seems) in our neighborhood playground. Those little kids stay there all day by themselves.

There is no way the builder is paying benefits for these workers and their families. I see them walking around on the rooftops and just cringe because I can't imagine what would happen if one of them was hurt on the job.

I'm really sorry that life in Mexico is not good. I wish the Mexican government would work with our government to bring US industry to Mexico and employee the people so their lives would improve. This continuous wave of illegals into the US is not good for either country. I'm all for any legislation that helps stop this problem.

Bravo! You're so right!

 

[Planogirl]

Unfortunately, the Mexican government is totally happy with the way things are and actually works to make it even easier for undocumented workers to enter the U.S. A lot of the money earned by these workers is sent home to Mexico and that is a big help for them I imagine.

I don't know what the answer is but doing nothing isn't working too well.

 

[PixieDust32]

Unfortunately, the Mexican government is totally happy with the way things are and actually works to make it even easier for undocumented workers to enter the U.S. A lot of the money earned by these workers is sent home to Mexico and that is a big help for them I imagine.

I don't know what the answer is but doing nothing isn't working too well.

You're so right, the stupid President and the corrupted government are so happy because the immigrants, legal and illegal send so much money that it helps them, it makes me so mad that President Fox wants the US Gov to take care of the issue when the issue is THERE, if Mexico ( and other latin countries) was a better country, without the government corruption, people didn't have to risk their lifes coming to US, living their families behind.

 

[diznygirl]

The problem with illegal immigation is the drain on the system. They pay no taxes, yet avail themselves of all the benefits of being here like free healthcare and free public schooling. And when taxpaying cititzens try to fix the problem, they are shouted down by the generations of Hispanics who entered the country illegally.

Someone has to tell them - the system just can't handle it anymore.

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

People worry about illegal immigrants. People worry if this war keeps up there will be a draft. I have an idea. Lets mix the two together, and solve the problem. How about all immigrants that want to come to the U.S. Must serve at least 6 years in the millitary. During that time they can learn english, and get use to american life. After 6 years if they served with honor let them become an american.

See how easy that was...

Yes I am joking around..

 

[Dan Murphy]

Unfortunately, the Mexican government is totally happy with the way things are and actually works to make it even easier for undocumented workers to enter the U.S.....

I have seen on the news where the Mexican government supplies the future illegals with DVD's, maps, brochures, etc on how to best slip into the US, sort of like a travel agency. And have seen where groups of illegals have sued because the US government does not have any/or enough watering stations in the desert to keep them from dying from heat exhaustion in the desert crossing. I wonder if the rest of the world laughs at us.

 

[Tinks]

People worry about illegal immigrants. People worry if this war keeps up there will be a draft. I have an idea. Lets mix the two together, and solve the problem. How about all immigrants that want to come to the U.S. Must serve at least 6 years in the millitary. During that time they can learn english, and get use to american life. After 6 years if they served with honor let them become an american.

See how easy that was...

Yes I am joking around..

Joke all you want.....it's been done.

My DH's grandfather immigrated here from Ireland. In order to get citizenship, he enlisted in the army and fought for the U.S. in WWI. He was given citizenship after his service.