Should illegal immigrants be allowed to stay?

I'm sorry, but why have laws on the books about immigration if we're not going to enforce them??

If someone comes into this country with the sole intent of living here illegally...if they are caught they need to be deported. Plain and simple. If I decided that I wanted to live in Europe and not document it and I was caught, my nice person would be on a boat back here so fast.

So the short answer to a very detailed, difficult, and emotionally charged issue is this: determine what to do with the illegals that have been here for decades (amnesty, etc.) and from that point on--ZERO TOLERANCE. If they didn't come forward and they're caught--THEY'RE OUT. Period, end of story.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jared2 @ Apr 7 2006, 08:53 AM) [snapback]236328[/snapback]</div>

If we're going to put on the facade of wanting to protect the country then grow some balls USA and put your money where your mouth is. Decisions have to be made...difficult ones at that...so make them and repeal them if proven unobtainable or just plain wrong, but make them.

The hispanic voters will be holding the Congress to task for what ever comes out of this. White America is happy to dismiss them while they're picking their fruits and veggies and cleaning their houses, but don't cross them because you'll pay. The demonstrations in L.A. have shown that...30,000 were asked to show up and 500,000 responded. That should be a wake up call to the legislators.

To your last point: enconomics. There's no doubt that the hispanic population here in L.A. is ready to work. But perhaps if the lazy assed unemployed white man would earn his keep by taking one of those jobs things might be better all around. Just yesterday driving home, on a corner close to my house, I saw a panhandler--a white panhandler--sitting on the corner with his hand out. Working the same corner was a hispanic man walking around, working the traffic, selling fruit. Which man will make more money?? I saw more people give the panhandler money than even bothered to look at the hispanic man's wares. Sad but true.

 

This comes up every 20 years or so. Last time Regan gave them all amnesty and said 'never again'. My personal feelings are less to do with the individuals than their governmental policies. If their countries allow easy immigration, then I would allow nationals from those countries equal respect. If their countries disallow foreigners to buy land/houses without citizenship then I would advicate similar treatment. To do otherwise makes us patsies. My personal feeling is all borders should be open and there should be an equal 'holding period' before an immigrant can access ANY social services including health care and education and unemployment...say 5 years across the board. That is to say encourage new countrymen, discourage leeches.

 

My wife just received her U.S. Citizenship after more than 6 years of beauracracy, to include paying loads of fees. We did everything by the book, in accordance with the law, without creating any suspicion to our intent. If we should just open the doors, should she have bothered following the rules?...if that's the case, I want our money back.

I get a little concerned when taxpayers dollars are being spent on taking care of people who do not obey the law - in other words: illegal.

 

<span style="color:#ff0000">" N :angry: O! " :angry: </span></span></span></span>



Do you favor the U.S. Senate proposal dealing with illegal immigration?



Go the following site to complete an American Family Association survey:



<span style="font-family:Verdana">http://www.afa.net/petitions/senateproposal/TakeSurvey.asp

 

NO: Shut the damn borders already. Too many people here already!!!

 

Don't for one moment think that the politicians are going to do anything about immigration. It's merely yet another topic the politicians throw out there to pander to their constituencies to get elected. Remember all the hub bub about gay marriage during the 2004 campaign? They haven't done squat about it one way or another since Dubya got elected.

 

NO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

 

It's very easy to say no. After all, they are here illegally. Simple.

Realistically? Well, we couldn't stop them from showing up in the first place. We haven't been able to stop them from working. What makes one think we could round them up and ship them home if we wanted to?

So, then, do we want to?

On one hand, many have families here. Some have children born here (and therefore are citizens) who are going to school here. We can't kick the children out, obviously, since they are citizens. Can we put them in foster care and kick the parents out? Doubt it, and I certainly don't think we should.

On the other hand, well, they are here illegally. Letting them stay just encourages more.

I think we have looked the other way for so long that kicking them all out would be the wrong decision. It'd be political suicide for whoever pushes such a measure through. It'd seperate families. I'd say give all the illegal immigrants in the country currently the opportunity to become legal citizens. The ones that decline, kick them out. While doing this, secure the damn border. We can argue until the end of time about what should be done with illegal immigrants and it will result in bupkis unless we can keep them out.

 

What a charade. We're getting this legislation for two reasons:

1) to head off vigilante groups (Minutemen)

2) so Republicans can point to ANY kind of legislation they've produced. Anyone notice that, aside from the Medicare drug benefit and tax cuts for the super-rich, there's been precious little actual legislation the last five years? Yeah, we've had our structural tinkering (Homeland Security) in response to 9/11 (which Bush didn't want), and tons of PORK. What else?

Another set of hoops for illegals to become citizens? Give me a break. Who has any idea how many illegals are here, or where, or who they are?

Only three things would show seriousness of intent in dealing with illegals: 1) sealing the border (easily enough done; we've had the technology and the manpower for decades) 2) preventing employers from hiring illegals (laws banning this have been on the books for decades, and how many prosecutions have there EVER been? ONE! ) 3) rounding up known illegals and deporting them (making it a felony to be an illegal was rejected this time, but it's always been a civil crime, anyway).

CA played with the idea of requiring health care and education workers to report every illegal they knew of, with penalties for not doing so. How far do you think that got?

Ever wonder, when immigration legislation is considered and you hear that lobbyists representing those whose profits are based on their use of illegal labor are opposing stricter measures, that no names ever get in the news? Even though at least a few million illegals are being employed at a given time, why do we never see investigative reports done by TV network news organizations or bellweather newspapers, identifying employers, or asking DA's
why employers aren't prosecuted?

Has failure to REALLY deal with illegal immigration ever been a "dealbreaker" issue with voters? Not to my knowledge. It's right down there with "cleaning up prostitution" and enforcing the laws against recreational drug use.

 

Their is no way we can deport all the illegal immigrants. Control the borders, (what ever it takes fences, manpower or technology) let those that are here identify themselves and given a choice that in a reasonable period of time they assimilate, become U.S. citizens or guests or some legal status, or leave. Period. If a citizen you swear allegiance to the flag and country, learn English and work for decent wages

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(longjohn931 @ Apr 7 2006, 07:31 PM) [snapback]236608[/snapback]</div>

:blink: You really need to cut back on the ganja.



<div align="center">" Where there's a will there's a way! "</div>

 

NO!!!! But the solution runs along the lines of punishing those who hire the ilegals.

Either way...NO benefits for illegals. It is also time to amend the constitution to say American citizens can ONLY be born of a mother who is a citizen.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(2Hybrids @ Apr 7 2006, 12:14 PM) [snapback]236375[/snapback]</div>

Great point, when DW came to the US, she went through the waiting list process AND learned english while she was waiting. Furthermore, she came here before we met so there were no special clauses to get her here quicker. Needless to say, this is a hot button issue with her, as she says, "If I can enter the US legally, why can't they?"

Your point sarge brings up a question I have on this. Whenever DW or I would change jobs, we had to show proof that we were elegible to work in the US, in my case, certified birth certificate, DW INS work permit. Now neither of us are much for job hopping, but in the early 80's I had to furnish this, but my present job (since 91) requires security clearances etc. so it would be expected. My question is, when did all this change? Seems companies can now hire willy nilly without eligibility checks, what gives?

The second part of your post I condone, allthough I would require legal residence rather than citizenship.

 

My wife, an immigrant from the Philippines, has been a citizen for some time now. She went through all the paperwork. Her reaction: No. Not that they should not be citizens, but that they should not get a special place in line just because they have been here for a while. After all, she was here for many years paying taxes while still on a visa. Certainly there needs to be a pathway to citizenship, but to simply hand citizenship to anybody would be to cheapen citizenship.

It isnt easy; she left her family. She is the only one of her family living in the States. But she has done things legally.
To rehash an old phrase...illegal immigration is just that...illegal.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(finally_got_one @ Apr 10 2006, 05:39 PM) [snapback]237759[/snapback]</div>

Mabouhy (sp?) to your wife!

Her point is precisly the same as DW's, maybe a filipina thing.

PS: What part of the country is your wife from? DW was born on Leyte (near Ormoc) and grew up in the Manila area, Marakina actually. We presently have a house on 5 Ha on Leyte.