This is why I'm so against illegal immigration

[Feralpeg]

As someone who lives in a border state, illegal immigration is a huge problem here in Texas. While I am in no way for illegal immigration, the fact is that there are millions of illegal immigrants in this country now. The children go to our schools, they go to our hospitals/doctors, they get food stamps, and they get drivers licenses. So why not just make these people legal? The government (that means us) are paying for their children's schools, free breakfast/lunch program, ESL classes, shots for the children, food stamps, etc. So why not just make them legal so that they can pay taxes and contribute to society? We don't have the manpower to round them all up and export them, and even if we did, how are we going to stop them from coming back? Right now I just see at as being a big drain on our system, but at least if they were legal and paying taxes, it would not be as bad.

Because, once you give this group amnesty, that sends a message that we are soft. Trying to keep people out is going to be extremely hard. So what keeps the next group from coming in waiting for the next time we face the same situation and have to give them amnesty? It doesn't send the right message.

Last night, I heard a priest on TV saying he doesn't think we should treat these people like criminals. Huh? They are criminals. They are illegal. Illegal means they've committed a crime. Do we treat them the same way we trip a bank robber? No. But, we don't ignore the fact that they are breaking our laws.

They took a poll on a local news station. It asked if people favored strengthening immigration laws. 98 percent were in favor. I guess none of the illegals in this area watch that station. They are probably watching the local Spanish channels. I wish they were something the populace of the US could vote on. I'm sure it would send a clear message.

This morning I heard that two US agents managed to smuggle enough radioactive material across the Mexican border into the US to make two dirty bombs. They are acting like this is surprising. It isn't surprising to me. We talk about home security. It's a joke. What is to keep any terrorist from walking across the border from Mexico just like the hundreds that do each day? If, for no other reason than security of this nation, something needs to be done about this.

As for being racist, I hate everything comes down to race. I have nothing against people of Hispanic heritage. I have friends who are Hispanic. The difference is they are here legally. I don't care what race you are. If you are here illegally, get out!

 

[disneyaggie]

Because, once you give this group amnesty, that sends a message that we are soft. Trying to keep people out is going to be extremely hard. So what keeps the next group from coming in waiting for the next time we face the same situation and have to give them amnesty? It doesn't send the right message.

Last night, I heard a priest on TV saying he doesn't think we should treat these people like criminals. Huh? They are criminals. They are illegal. Illegal means they've committed a crime. Do we treat them the same way we trip a bank robber? No. But, we don't ignore the fact that they are breaking our laws.

They took a poll on a local news station. It asked if people favored strengthening immigration laws. 98 percent were in favor. I guess none of the illegals in this area watch that station. They are probably watching the local Spanish channels. I wish they were something the populace of the US could vote on. I'm sure it would send a clear message.

This morning I heard that two US agents managed to smuggle enough radioactive material across the Mexican border into the US to make two dirty bombs. They are acting like this is surprising. It isn't surprising to me. We talk about home security. It's a joke. What is to keep any terrorist from walking across the border from Mexico just like the hundreds that do each day? If, for no other reason than security of this nation, something needs to be done about this.

As for being racist, I hate everything comes down to race. I have nothing against people of Hispanic heritage. I have friends who are Hispanic. The difference is they are here legally. I don't care what race you are. If you are here illegally, get out!

I totally agree!

I can guarantee you that if the government would not give the illegals hand outs, things would quite a bit different.

It is amazing to me that even at the DVM they can take the driving test in Spanish. What the heck ? ? ? You are here in AMERICA where we speak ENGLISH. If you can't take a test in the language of that country, you should not drive here at all.

A Mexican lady I know (here LEGALLY) is very upset . . . mainly at her own family. She will say, "Here I work hard cleaning houses, paying taxes and doing the right thing, and my cousins come over here and say, 'why are you working and cleaning houses? The government pays for us'". It positively infuriates her! And me!

 

[disneyaggie]

Sorry folks, but I am getting a bit confused.

I just saw a march here in Dallas with the Mexican flags and signs, with some idiots chanting "Viva Mexico". I have to keep remembering all this rot is here in the USA, not Mexico. The lines are starting to blurr.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We did the amnisty thing under Reagan and we now have more illegals. So it did not work them and Kennedy it will not work now.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

As someone who lives in a border state, illegal immigration is a huge problem here in Texas. While I am in no way for illegal immigration, the fact is that there are millions of illegal immigrants in this country now. The children go to our schools, they go to our hospitals/doctors, they get food stamps, and they get drivers licenses. So why not just make these people legal? The government (that means us) are paying for their children's schools, free breakfast/lunch program, ESL classes, shots for the children, food stamps, etc. So why not just make them legal so that they can pay taxes and contribute to society? We don't have the manpower to round them all up and export them, and even if we did, how are we going to stop them from coming back? Right now I just see at as being a big drain on our system, but at least if they were legal and paying taxes, it would not be as bad.

Because it would give others the reason to come here. It's like denying a child a cookie before dinner. If that child continues to cry and scream loud enough you eventually will give in and give him/her a cookie. This is the cookie.

 

[caitycaity]

ferelpeg and virgo10, i think you misunderstood me. i totally agree with you. my "if you think that is a problem..." was aimed towards the poster i quoted. i was referring to her comment about no one picking fruits and veggies.

 

[Mskanga]

Giving amnesty to those illegals already here is a slap in the face to those of us like myself that came here legally doing the lawful thing. In my opinion every single person crossing those borders knows that doing it illegally or staying past the expiration of your visa carries a chance to get caught and deported , so deportation should not be something surprising to any of them because we all know that is a possibility , it is a risk some people are willing to take, if they get caught they should be deported, as plain as that.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I just called Senator Kennedy's office here in Boston and left a voice mail about what I wanted to talk about and asked if somoene would call me back. Now let's just see if someone does call me back.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

Seeing the workers who pick the grove across the street, I have to totally agree. This IS a problem. The answer? I'm not sure.

arrest them, deport them and their family. if they want to immigrate, follow the legal and proper system. that way they can get a SS number and pay taxes. then they can go back to picking the oranges and the strawberries and their illegal employers will have to begin to run a legitimate business. you know, the way it's supposed to happen.

 

[Castlebound]

Who will pick the fruits and veggies? Well I can tell you that before illegal immigration became such a huge problem my grandparents on my dad's side picked produce. Before they decided to move to "the city" they worked long hot days and moved to where ever it was picking time. There were times when my dad and his sisters and bother had to help even though they were little kids. My grandparents came from very poor families who had been poor for generations. I have relatives who live in southern Missouri and Arkansas who still pick produce and cotton in the summer to earn extra money. So yes there are Americans who would do those jobs that illegals do now. Have any of you who think that we should give illegals rights been to any small rural farming towns? I'm not talking the cute little towns with a B&B and a cute little farmers' market. I'm talking about the towns that are miles from a large city and farming or working on a farm is the ONLY way to make a living. The people like my grandparents who used to work those farm jobs now don't have jobs because illegals will work for almost nothing. So those people who have no other options are now living on government aid. So this problem costs us even more money than the cost of just the illegals using the system!

 

[SamIAm21]

A few weeks ago at about 3:40 p.m., I left my office building in Chicago and walked out the revolving doors into a sea of people shouting Viva Mexico?? I thought what the heck is going on. These are people who have come to this country illegally, they are yelling Long Live Mexico, but they want to live here?

Our tax money goes to educate their children, pay for their health care costs, pay for their food, pay for their housing and eventually (sooner rather than later) the well is going to run dry.

I know these people are just here looking for a better way of life, but maybe they should put all this energy into making Mexico a better place to live for future generations.

 

[Deb in IA]

First of all, as a daughter of LEGAL immigrants, who have since become naturalized American citizens and value their citizenship greatly, I too, am very offended by the ILLEGAL immigrants who now claim this country as their home.

That said, the fact is that someone left the door open for the last 50 years, and now, there are 12 MILLION illegals here. We cannot undo what has been done. The problem should have been addressed when it first started. Now, these people have children and grandchildren that US-born citizens. We cannot, logistically, send all 12 million back.

So, what to do with them??

We need to find a way to MAKE the ones that are already here citizens, to make them pay taxes and support our government.

And, more importantly, we need to make our borders secure, to staunch this continued flood of illegals . . . before the illegals outnumber the citizens.

 

[Feralpeg]

ferelpeg and virgo10, i think you misunderstood me. i totally agree with you. my "if you think that is a problem..." was aimed towards the poster i quoted. i was referring to her comment about no one picking fruits and veggies.

Sorry caitycaity, my rant wasn't really reflected at you. Your post just gave me a place to begin.

 

[Minnie824]

I also have no problem with legal immigrants...its what made our country what it is. I do have an issue with Illegal immigrants who demand rights. Who wave their own flags, demanding these rights (as posted in the original post of this thread). People who are against stronger laws say, well who will do all these jobs the people living here illegally do. I can tell you who...legal americans, thats who. The problem isn't illegal people doing the jobs, its the employers who get by paying next to nothing salaries, and these illegal immigrants will work for that. Its supply and demand...if illegals are not here to do the jobs, employers would need to pay more, you'd have more legal americans wanting and doing these jobs, as it should be. I completely agree with the laws that Bush is trying to pass on this subject.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

First of all, as a daughter of LEGAL immigrants, who have since become naturalized American citizens and value their citizenship greatly, I too, am very offended by the ILLEGAL immigrants who now claim this country as their home.

That said, the fact is that someone left the door open for the last 50 years, and now, there are 12 MILLION illegals here. We cannot undo what has been done. The problem should have been addressed when it first started. Now, these people have children and grandchildren that US-born citizens. We cannot, logistically, send all 12 million back.

So, what to do with them??

We need to find a way to MAKE the ones that are already here citizens, to make them pay taxes and support our government.

And, more importantly, we need to make our borders secure, to staunch this continued flood of illegals . . . before the illegals outnumber the citizens.

I agree. My grandfather immigrated here from Mexico legally and my grandmother immigrated here from Lebanon legally.

It seems like we are in a catch-22 situation now. These illegal immigrants are here now, ther is not enough man power to round them all up, and then if they do, some of them have had children in this country and they are legal, so then what?

We need to secure our borders and stop this inflow and deal with the ones who are all ready here.

 

[redshoes]

Can someone explain to me what the process is for becoming a legal immigrant?

 

[Miss Jasmine]

There are many different ways to gain your green card depending on your circumstances.

 

[redshoes]

There are many different ways to gain your green card depending on your circumstances.

Thanks. I'm sorry I should have known that there were several different ways to obtain a green card.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Thanks. I'm sorry I should have known that there were several different ways to obtain a green card.

There is also the H1B program.

 

[caitycaity]

I have relatives who live in southern Missouri and Arkansas who still pick produce and cotton in the summer to earn extra money.

i grew up in an area where a lot of high school kids did this over the summer as well (not cotton, but produce).