I want to hear from normal everyday people. Who thinks America's immigration policies need fixing? And what do you think is the most reasonable way to fix them. Please everyone..no racist crap will be tolerated. Think hard about your answer and be reasonable. Killing everyone is not a good answer. Just close the door may be, but how easy do you think this is? What about everyone thats already here? What do you think about some foreign people who went to college and worked very hard for a fair chance versus the drug addicted/criminals that some Americans are?
135887
Mexicans are desperate to live in the U.S – they always have and always will. The rich and magnificent neighbor to the North is like a drug that they can’t do without. Husbands and fathers leave their wives and children for years to come to the Promise Land. The choice is clear: live in a country that is corrupt, impoverished, with no future and teaming with disease; or come to a country that is paradise. This is a problem that will never go away. The ONLY solution is to take them over and make the country livable for them.
166034
WHAT DON'T YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE THESE PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE LAW.  When millions of Europeans came over the United States (ellis island ring a bell?), they went through the system.  They applied, they worked, they waited.  The first thing they DIDN'T do when they got to this country was break a law!\n\nThere is a right way to do things, and obviously these people have not done that.  Yes, these people have families, but it OUTRAGES me that they work here and send their hard earned money back to their families in other countries, instead of putting the money back into this country, our society that they "so desperately want to me a part of."  Because all the while that they're working here MY TAX MONEY is supporting their medical bills, school systems, and prison system when they get in trouble.  I am TIRED of paying out the *** so someone can live the American dream. WHEN DO I GET TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM?  When is my country going to stand up for me, an american citizen instead of giving a rip about the other countries in the world.  \n\nOur government is laying their weight upon the middle class citizens, burdening tax systems, handing out kick backs.  Did you know that 3 days of fighting in Iraq costs the American people more money than an entire years allocation of AIDS research, alternative energy programs, low income legal aid, and Headstart combined.  And now, they are more concerned about the feelings of illegals, non-citizens, who need to support their families in poorer counties.  This is not about race!!  They need to be concerned about our families, here, now, job-less, struggling to fill up the gas tank, struggling to keep food on the table.  It's not people in the ghetto or on the streets.  It's people in the suburbs too.  I DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.  Please wave your flags in another country.\n\nI agree whole-heartedly with your comments.
178210
Discover problem: illegal immigration cross over US boarders.\n\nSolution: Hire 6000 patrol officers to guard a 1500-mile border. Build a 500-mile chain link fence.\n\nProblem not solved. Charities now helping illegal immigrants cross over.\n\nNew solution: Increase to 14000 patrol officers. Offer 4-star holding-cells with welcome party to immigrants that make it over. Raise budget for war in Iraq. Hold party for other laws piggy-backing the immigration laws.\n\nProblem still not solved.\n\nNew solution: Legalize red-neck hunting of illegal immigrants.\n\nProblem solved.
585722
obeirn1:  Fianlly someone with a brain on here.  I agree with you 100%.  Here is the trouble with this immigration debate, to much prejudices, and racisits trying to run the country.  Also some of these "haters" as I have so affectionatly called them, tend to go with what the neighbor says without investingating things themselves.  Like most things, when people jump to conclusions, this whole thing will turn out to blow up in the "haters" face.  People dont realize that it is not just "Mexicans" here illegally, and if you look at the problem more, you will se that it is actually our own Governement (INS policies) that prohibit the majority of these hispanics from gaining papers.  Look at it from their side, if your kids were starving would you not do what you had to do to feed them?  Now if you cant afford food, how on earth are you to afford thousands of dollars for papers, when the wages in countries like Mexico are 5 bucks a week....people just think they know all when they refuse to see the tarnish on the coin.  ~~To answer the question, I am ashamed that as a whole, americans think they are somehow better than the rest of the world!~~
111875
When looking at this issue here in this forum I was beginning to think that all America had gone crazy by only really considering 2 categories.  Citizen or Illegal.  There is a third category and that is Alien Residents who are in the country legally.  There is a large difference and I am glad that you to have noticed it as well.  All of us started out as immigrants at one point of history or another.  Even the Native Americans are said to have come from somewhere else, however as they settled the land centuries before any one else they are the only ones who we can say did not immigrate to this country, or Hemisphere for that matter.  As we are in the middle of trying to hammer out legislation for immigrants while we are doing this we should look at the laws that have been on the books since the 1920s and think about updating them.  I would favor them making it against the Federal Law to be an Illegal, however I would not support housing them in Federal Prison for any time and costing us even more than what we are spending now, deportation should be enough for first offense.  I do not feel that those who have assisted Illegals in a humanitariun sense should not be guilty of any crime, however those that profit from bringing them to the country or taking advantage of them when they are here should be punished.  There need to be many things done to update our system and make it have some teeth.  We also must as a nation realize it is not just a Hispanic problem we have illegals from every country in the world and we need to be aware of it and aknowledge it being that way.
137851
I like it!  Nice suggestion.  Maybe Ill even go downtown which is supposed to be "shut off" by the protests and do it.\n\nLots of silly posts again.  Americans would be happy to pick cabbage or any other fruit or veggie if the pay was enough.  But its not, because the illegals are willing to do it so cheaply.  Its called Supply and Demand, and its Econ 101.\nSecondly, its not racist or ignorant to realize that the social infrastructure of the US cannot bear the weight of so many illegals.  The Health Care System is breaking, the Justice System is breaking, the Schools runneth over with students, and all you ignorant people can say is that we are racist for not allowing them in.  Well, I hope one of the illegals, one who is a child molestor or a murder or a thief moves next door to you.  Legals should always be welcome in the US- but a tidal wave of illegals is swamping this country, and because they have not been screened, there is a much higher % of criminal element that are illegals that would ever be allowed to immigrate legally.  Wake up and educate yourselves on the facts of this matter.
577044
I've read some of the comments on here by others,and they do not want to see the TRUTH!!!!! Since i live in a border state,(Arizona),i know exactly what you mean!!!! Just today,i was reading an article about four people being killed,because of ILLEGALS trying to run from the police,when they tried to stop them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the incidents involving illegals,has really been INCREASING,since all the talk of amnesty!!!!!!!!!!!\n\n Some people on here have said, "Americans commit a lot of crimes too"!! And,while this is TRUE,there is nothing we can do to American citizens,except lock them up!!! It's not like we can deport THEM!!!!\n\n But,the thing is, the ILLEGALS should NOT be here in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If they were not here,these crimes would NEVER have happened!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
559114
I think immigration's out-of-control. I think that a lot of our politicians have some bright ideas about 'one world' etc., and some of those don't quite work out the way they planned, and then there's those gosh-darn unintended consequences etc.\nIf people keep it civil, immigration's no problem, but we're well beyond 'civil' in some cases, and policies need to be improved and amended to slow this stuff down quite a bit....bum's rush doesn't cut it...
116104
I believe that Bush wants to offer blanket amnesty to all illegal aliens in the United States, as long as they submit to background checks and make their presence known in the country.  He calls this his "guest worker" policy, much like they have in Europe.  Foreign immigrants, he says, will fill the jobs that no one else will take.  Although this sounds racist and perhaps elitist, it is common practice in every part of the world, including Europe and Asia.  He doesn't want to kick anyone out, as I understand it.  It is one of the few Bush policies that I agree with.
329511
i believe we need to secure our borders,but criminalizing a group of hardworking people trying to escape poverty for their family's sake is not right.is anyone aware of the hardships and living conditions these people put up with so they can send extra money to their faMILIES.hell these are the type of people that should be americans.
597471
Unfortunately, yeah.\n What originally got me so "militant" is that my youngest daughter was born with a genetic condition that caused multiple disabilities and health issues. If anybody out there REALLY wants details, I'll list 'em all. Our little girl qualifies 100% for "Katie Beckett" Medicaid, but we have to continually fight for it because of the large number of indigent illegals locally. That was my first turning point. My second turning point was that when after I took a stand by expressing my views on illegal immigration, I was labeled "racist" and "xenophobic". I don't care about race. I don't care about country of origin. What concerns me is that there's a whole influx of people into this country that don't want to be an American, they just want America. We return you now to our regularly scheduled programming.
658790
Wow, you people amaze me on here. I don't mean just one person in particular I mean everyone! Before you begin to pick sides, please understand the other side of the argument. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but there are some things people just need to realize man. First off, illegal aliens, yes they should be sent back because they are illegal. But people though, if their country is so much better off with our "outsourcing economy" why is it they still want to come into our country? Another thing is because they are doing the jobs that are paying low wages and yea, they are doing it illegally; but let me ask you something, what about all the americans who are here working as drug dealers, bank robbers, and criminals trying to get their money? Aren't they as illegal as the illegal aliens trying to make a living? Oh an please don't get on me with that immigrations get more welfare: to be honest with you the "caucasian populations" get more welfare and is more dependent on the state. So therefore I've contradicted myself in both ways, which explains what I'm trying to say please think before you judge, and learn before you speak. That's all....... thank you..
274411
A more important question that I don't see being asked is: "Who has let this happen?"  We have had, and still do, laws criminalizing almost all aspects of being illegal, from simply being here, to being illegal to hire them.  For the problem to be this big, police, INS, politicians, you name it, have to be complicit.  How come there is not a witch hunt in our communities to see who is responsible?\n\nIf the police accidentally shoot someone, we hold them accountable.  If a politician is caught taking bribes, we hold them responsible.  If millions of illegals come here we look the other way and pass more laws?  Does this make any sense to you guys?\n\nDon't forget this is not the first time we have talked about amnesty.  It didn't work in the 80's, it won't work now.  More laws is not the solution, punishing those who broke the law (US citizens and illegals alike) is.
181247
I'm sorry that americans can be so self-centered. I wish I understood it but I don't. I'm an american but I have a heart and I also understand where you are coming from. So many americans scream that you aren't paying taxes and you are getting welfare but they don't realize that it is our OWN goverment that is at fault for starting welfare programs and other programs to aid immigrants if they didn't want them here. The proposed bill that wants to make illegal immigrants felons is a bunch of bull too. Already americans throw a fit because they are paying taxes for welfare for immigrants among other things but if we make them felons then we are going to have to pay taxes to keep them in jail! It is a crazy situation and I'm disgusted that americans act like illegal immigrants are not people. I know that you would come here legally if you could. Who wouldn't?
192514
Are you married?  If so, do you have children?  You should have an opinion to this Immigration Reform, if not for yourself, for the future of your children and their children.  In 1985, I believe, Reagan had a similar bill pass congress allowing those illegal immigrants to stay and become citizens.  Since then, the flood gates of illegals have opened wider, 11 plus million have crossed from 1990s to 2004.  Now, we are facing yet another immigration reform, why?  Because the government didn't step up to the plate when it was time to do so and enforce the illegals from crossing over.  They allowed it, day after day, month after month, year after year.  Now they must face the music on this and do something about it.  But at who's expense?  Not the illegals, but the true Americans that struggle making ends meet.  If the American people don't step up and stop our government doing this, we might as well open the border completely and let any and all who want to come here from Mexico, Canada, and all over the world in.  It's not just Mexicans from Mexico that are here illegal.  Watch the news, they are interviewing many from all regions of the world that are here and have been here for years illegally.  I know we all come from immigrant backgrounds, unless you are a true blooded Indian from North America.  But, our forefathers before us come the legal way.  That's how these illegals should have to do.  Send them home and let them come through the proper channels.  If they had children here, send the children with them.  Just because they were born in the USA should NOT constitute them to be classified as an American citizen if in fact their parents are illegal aliens.  There's a lot to the topic that needs to be addressed and resolved for the betterment of the American people, not the American government.
129118
Pancha, I can see your rationale here; however, I think you may be just a little bit too generous with your ideas than most American citizens would be able to take. I think it is a good start, though, with maybe some room for negotiation.  \n\nI agree it is going to be almost impossible to deport most of the illegal immigrants who are currently in the US and I can also see the inhumanity of deporting most of them after they have lived here for so long.  I feel it is partly the fault of the American government that so many illegal immigrants have gotten into the US at this point; there has basically been a "tacit" okay from the US government as, for the most part, they have seemed to turn a blind eye for many years, and in that way the illegal immigrants have been encouraged to "come on in and tell all their friends and family to come, too."  They have been taken advantage of by the employers who have hired them at slave wages, but they have been happy to take these jobs because even that is better than what they get at home.  \n\nHowever, I also believe that if the rules are going to be bent for some of the illegal hispanic immigrants, then something must also be done to speed up and make a compromise for the people who have taken the time and trouble to enter the US legally and go through the proper application procedures and pay the fees, etc, or it's not fair to them.  I also understand that there is a lot more motivation for the Mexican and Central American immigrants to come in to the US illegally, just by their proximation to the US border; much harder for someone who has to cross an ocean and has no choice but to come through a legal customs checkpoint, as I think that if it were possible, a lot more illegals would be coming from overseas, too.  \n\nAlso, I understand that the poverty of the hispanic immigrants in their home countries make it difficult, if not impossible for them to take the time necessary to file proper papers (the family is hungry NOW, and can't wait years for applications to go through, they need food now!), let alone be able to come up with the fees. (In this way I believe the US immigration laws are discriminatory towards poor immigrants, and not just hispanic immigrants, as there should be some special consideration for poor immigrants from other countries, as well.)  Obviously, we do have a need for immigrants from all walks of life, not just the professions and not just for people with lots of money to begin with, but labourers, farm hands, janitors, construction workers, etc.  \n\nHowever, if any kind of concessions are made, in the end, for a portion of the current illegal immigrants in the US, I truly believe the government has to immediately and very firmly crack down on the employers who have profited from and taken advantage of the illegal immigrants, so that these people, once they are documented, will no longer be vulnerable to being taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers.  And, also so that these employers are forced to uphold the employment laws and not pay anyone less than minimum wage and minimum legal benefits.  So what if the prices of things go up a little bit - we have obviously been paying artificially low prices for our goods for a long time now, on the backs of the poorly payed and often maltreated and cheated illegal immigrant employees, and so we need to be prepared to pay realistic prices for our goods. \n\nAt the same time, immediately, the borders have got to be secured to prevent any further illegal immigrants from entering the country, while making it easier for them to go through the process legally for work visas.  \n\nAlso, I believe that the illegal immigrants do NOT take pride in NOT paying their fair share of taxes and all their costs to live in the USA.  I believe they are, for the most part, a hardworking, proud segment of society who would take pride in paying their taxes and would do so voluntarily and happily, if they had the
308983
I think the walk outs were a justification for everyone who is sick and tired of the White Man controling everthing.... lol  Just playing.  Im in germany right now but if i was in San Jose California, I would most definetly walk with my friends, because in the end, a color is just that, a color.  I see these people are people who could really make America what its supposed to be. A GREAT MELTING POT. Just think If America after the Revolutionary War barred immigrants from entering.  The great build up would of never occured. The word freedom would of never existed, and by golly ;-) I wouldnt be here today. I have the great pleasure of being mixed with black, White and 2 types of American indian.  if anything, i have more of a say so than any white person! I think we should use Europe as an example as a long term goal. Open Borders! By the way, What nationaility are you Kittee???