—There is no good reason why immigration should be absolutely prohibited. On the other hand, the question that the careful restriction of immigration is imperative. Clearly, it is our duty to accept only such immigrants as show promise of becoming capable and efficient American citizens. It is also clearly our duty to accept even this type of immigrant only in such numbers as we can conveniently assimilate. We must not be selfish with America, but we should not be misled by the statement that anyone in  has a “right” to make his home in this country. Those who come to this country are personally benefited, no doubt, but unrestricted immigration may lower the tone of American life and permanently injure our social and political institutions. America is for the present generation, but is also for posterity. The millions of unborn have as much right to be considered as have the millions now clamoring at our gates.In the earlier part of our national history free land was abundant .
131265
i could not have said it better my friend.what is wrong with trying to protect your country way of life,what have we become when it is wrong to defend your country.and not look for the truth of the problem of illegal immigration,the true problem is mexican gov. not the American peoples love for their country.
310633
Immigration is a priviledge. You're not always going to be gauranteed the right to immgrate to wherever you want.\nSay a country has an epidemic of sickness, or something, another country could close the border and not let them in.\nOr if you're running away from the police and you come to another country, they're not always going to let you stay.\nOr if something is legal in your country (say polygamy) and you try to bring it into America, they wouldn't let you.\nThere are lots of reasons why an immigrant could be turned away.
328466
I'll continue life as usual. Clean my own home. Mow my own lawn. Cook my own meals. People who are not accustomed to doing for themselves the things that they are currently hiring illegals to do for them do not have one drop of my sympathy. Businesses want to leave? Let them. Agriculture can return to American families...where it belongs. Americans will have to do their own dirty work, and there's nothing wrong with that. Civilizations crumble when too many of their citizens do too little for themselves. Make yourself useful and productive or no one will need you.
671836
what a man!  Like I always say," there is no right way to do a wrong thing. "\nThis Immigration issue is just that simple. Its all about peoples choices, Right or wrong, Legal or Illegal. \nOnce the choice is made and acted upon, the consequences are yours to live with.\nIf you choose to become a criminal and a coward by sneaking into another country to escape a bad situation, then you should expect to be reviled and despised by the legal populace. And if your choice is a legal one, hold your head up and  walk through our gates into freedom and prosperity with pride.
485869
I've often thought that everyone should have to pass the same test as an immigrant who is being naturalized before they get the full rights of citizenship.  What we get free we don't value, and far to many people in the U.S. value neither their citizenship nor their freedoms.  I sometimes feel they don't even value their country.  I wouldn't require government service or anything like that for citizenship, that smacks too much of a police state, and it should be something that can't simply be paid for but which will require both work and study.  It would be possible for a person to live in this country without passing the test if they so chose, like a legal alien, they just couldn't vote, hold public office, receive a passport, serve as an Officer of a Court, serve as an Officer in the Armed Forces, or be eligible for government benefits and assistance.  They would still pay their taxes like any other legal alien.  When U.S. Citizenship is a privilege to be earned, and not a free prize, people might start taking their responsibilities more seriously.
46777
We need to control who enters our country. Illegal immigration results in a lack of control. Though some would like to help as many people out as possible there are limits to the help we can provide. We need to reasonable and sensible with our resources. Via illegal immigration, criminals or terrorists can access our country without our knowledge. In addition, we must insure that people who enter our country are inocculated and have not contracted any infectious diseases. We want to mantain our infrastucture of economics, medical and education needs. With a lack of knowledge of how many people are here and who they are, how can we plan and budget for our needs?\nThink of it like a rescue boat, only so many people can fit before we begin to sink. Plus who would you want in your boat, the murderer or a child?
246628
If you're implying that immigrants are a threat and should be kept out of our country, you're setting up a straw man.\n\nIf you're implying that our consitutional requirement of citizenship by natural birth is a good idea, then you've got the argument just right.\n\n[ADDED] Just a note to Angelhimm (above me): Austria is Austria, was not part of Germany until Hitler annexed it, AFTER he IMMIGRATED to Germany. Naturalway has his facts straight.
666233
Good question.  I'd like to hear some good reasons why they think it is acceptable too. Personally I don't think there is ANY valid argument that will fly for coming here illegally.  I'll check back.  Thanks for asking.
213581
There is a huge incentive for poor people in a desperately corrupt country to face almost certain death to come to a place where there are far too many short-sighted employers who are willing to sabotage our country by circumventing the whole idea of supply and demand for labor. The problem is not that Americans will not do the jobs that are needed, but that they are not willing to do the jobs for the wages that are offered. Supply and demand says that if you want labor in a tight market, you have to pay what it is worth. By purposefully recruiting desperate people who are entering illegal, and thus cannot defend any human rights they have, the employers are able to pay slave wages, charge for mimimum wage, and pocket the difference.\n\nWe the people are the losers. Instead of building a wall to keep out immigrants, we should deport criminal employers.
85909
Remember that most Americans are decendants of immigrants.  How can we say no to immigrants who are looking for a better life when we ourselves are really immigrants.\n\nOpen the border, keep records of people coming in, turn away criminals.
465846
we have less children because we know are limits financially. we don't think it's wrong to come to America. just do it legally.
646316
You know it's quite interesting that the issue of immigration has gotten the American people all fired up like it's life or death for them, whereas when their own loved ones are sent to a war over questionable arguments, their voice is hardly heard. Yes it's wrong for people to come here illegally, and if they're here for drugs or whatever, then they should be punished. But for us to force out families that have been here for many years and are just trying to live a better life than the one they had is not just unreasonable, but inhumane. It's our duty to control our borders and prevent them from coming; those already here who can prove their worth to our country shouldn't suffer because we failed our own people during the past 20 years. Use your minds and stop spewing hate.
570208
Legal Immigrants, yes they should be here.\nIllegal Aliens should not be here, and they have criminalized themselves, by their own actions.\nIf you do something wrong, don't you have to face the consequences?  In America, we do.
206313
I agree with you - no illegal immigrant has the "right" to do anything but to be returned to his/her own country. It disgusts me when people compare our ancestors who immigrated here legally with these people who care nothing of our laws, and so have no problem breaking them to enter.  We have immigration policies (they need to be enforced), and people can enter this country through an already established procedure. We should not be made to feel ashamed because we ask others to obey the same laws that every American is asked to obey!
556160
I have wondered this same thing many times.  The illegal immigrant supporters always say these things, "Well, there are lots of American citizens on welfare!" and " American citizens break laws, too." and "Lots of American citizens are in jail."  "Sometimes American citizens steal SSNs."  "Sometimes American citizens drive without licenses or insurance."  What these questioners don't seem able to grasp is that, yes, we have bad American citizens, too, but the big difference is that they are AMERICAN citizens, meaning they ARE our problem and so we have to deal with them with our systems and our tax dollars.  However, illegal immigrants are NOT our legal problems - they are legal residents of their own home countries and only those countries should have to deal with them and their problems.  We should not have to pay for illegal immigrants' children attending our tax-paid schools, and we should not have to pay for their medical care when they go to the ERs of our hospitals.  They should not even be here and every time they are discovered via arriving at ERs, applying for social services, registering their children in schools, applying for jobs, etc., they should be immediately arrested and they and their families who are also illegally in the USA should be deported immediately, no questions asked and no consideration, whatsoever.
363435
As citizens of the United States of America, We have a duty to preserve this nation and demand that the immigration laws be upheld for future generations.\n    The old people have a saying:  "We do not own the land, We inherit it from our children."  \n I would feel very badly if I did not do my best to leave this land at least as good as what I was born into.  \n  Enforce our immigration laws.
579695
I'm confused as to why people think subjecting immigrant to the same social responsibilities as US citizens is punishing them in some way?\n\nAmerica has always been about people coming here. That is part of waht makes this country great. The current initiatives (while by no means perfect) are under way to establish the ground rules for what immigrants need to do to be a part of our society