A pending House bill calls for making illegal immigration a felony. That doesn't make sense to me. Now, we deport people.\n\nIf this bill passes, apprehended illegal immigrants will serve time in a penitentiary at taxpayer expense and then be deported. ISN'T this worst than them using welfare taxes...in prison they won't even have to pick a tomate for a early meal!
212550
I think the HR4437 is a radical solution to a more complex problem,if they want to pass that bill, why they don't just go knocking door to door and deport all the people that look Hispanic, there has to be a better way to solve this immigration problem, they are here, they work, they pay for the food they eat, taxes for that food, pay for rent, pay for everything they use or consume, what are they gonna do with all that space they are occupying , what are they gonna do with all the apartments , the food , the production of food, the clothes , the products the immigrants buy, they are already here, they live somewhere, you see them everyday, sending them to prison is just to radical, first you need to secure the border, and then find a solution to the more than 12 millions illegals aliens,
202329
I Agree W/ joevette\n\nAs Far As Getting Illegals OUT\n\nIf Congress were to pass a law that said, quite simply, that the CEO (ANY EMPLOYER) of any business that was caught employing ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS went to jail for a year - \nNO EXCEPTIONS - \nThen within a month there would be ten million (more or less) people lined up at the Mexican border trying to get out of the United States And Back To Whatever Country They Came From. \n\nThey Wont Stay If They Cant Work\nNO Deportation Costs\nAnd They Wont Come Back\n\nTo baldowolf316- You Are Correct About An Invasion\nThis Is Economic Terrorism\n\nInstead of calling it ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, We SHOULD be calling it a FOREIGN INVASION, because the CONSEQUENSES of this INVASION are as Terminal to our Freedoms and to our way of life as ANY act of Terrorism ever perpetrated against us!\n \n(For The Past 25 Years Or So) The U.S. is being Invaded by People from Another Nation \n\nThey Aren't Citizens --They  Don't pay the taxes --\n\nTheir ALLEGIENCE  is to their HOME COUNTRIES. \n\nThese Invaders are causing a BLEEDING in the System. As invaders, they're NOT Playing by the same rules as the Citizens. \n***(For example, instead of spending the money they make in the Nation they've invaded, much of the money is sent back to their own nation.)*** \nIn effect, they are LOOTING the Treasury of the United States as surely as if they went to Fort Knox and loaded up all our gold bullion on trucks and drove to Tijuana with it. \n\nThe Invaders are also TAKING more in the way of SERVICES  than they pay into the System. This is so, because many of them work under the table and **Don't Pay Income Taxes,** which largely support the U.S.\n\nThis leads to a WEAKENING of the SYSTEM.
370962
I am in favour of this - COUNT ME IN!  DEPORT THEM ALL!  NO EXCEPTIONS, NO EXCUSES, NO COMPROMISES, NO AMNESTY!  Get whatsherface out of the church and ship her over the border asap, and any other illegal aliens as soon as they are found!  \n\nI read in the news recently that the FBI arrested 10,000 criminals in a one week sting - if this can be done, more than 10,000 illegal aliens can also be found and deported every week.  If this is done consistently, yes, we WILL deport ALL of the illegal aliens - no more of this "we can't possibly deport 12 million illegals.  YES, WE CAN!!  To heck with the cost of deportation - if we get busy and consistent with deportation, it won't be long before many will run back across the border out of the USA on their own steam!  If, at the same time, we also hammer ALL companies who hire illegals, even if it means fining them to the point where they have to shut down business, sobeit!!  And, at the same time, shut off ALL access to social benefits such as food stamps, medicaid, illegal children in our schools, etc., believe me, they will start leaving on their own very soon.  \n\nSo, yes, I'm IN FAVOUR!
425424
It will take more than a wall. It is a step in the right direction, but, there should be more room in those jails for the Employers who buy to have those illegals here. We keep the illegals to long in our jails. Bus transportation out of the country and sending the bill to whatever country they came from would be cheaper. Maybe that way those countries would have an incentive to stop these people from leaving their countries illegally in the first place.
141512
If Congress were to pass a law that said, quite simply, that the CEO(ANY EMPLOYER) of any business that was caught employing ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS went to jail for a year - \nNO EXCEPTIONS - \nThen within a month there would be ten million (more or less) people lined up at the Mexican border trying to get out of the United States And Back To Whatever Country They Came From.\n\nIf They Cant Work They Wont Stay\nNo Deportation Costs\nThey Wont Come Back\n\nThe EMPLOYERS Must Be Held Accountable\n\nGood Luck With Your Report
300112
well, lots of reasons. one, the bill is fundamentally bad.\n\nillegal immigrants can already be deported without a trial, so I am not sure how that changes. but the felony thing is crazy.\n\nour judicial system can't handle it...the entire prison system house 2 million.\n\nhow can it deal with 11 million more?
321925
I've seen those facts before, attributed to the Los Angeles Times.\n\nThe fact is that illegal immigrants concentrate, not only in states, but in specific localities.  That is enough to significantly impact statistics for that locality, be it a state or a county.\n\nThe impact is huge, but it is mostly for state and local costs, which the federal government refuses to reimburse while refusing to allocate (federal) funding enforce laws that might prevent this from occurring.\n\nContact your Congressmen. Don't forget to say that the 10 year 'rolling amnesty' through the 'statute of limitations' provision in the Senate bill has got to go.  They are ignoring the elephant in the bedroom.
95745
I think they should be tried, sentanced and put in jail. You people don't seem to see the big picture here. You think they're helping mexican immigrants. But as we increase the amount of people in this country who A.) don't vote, B.) Don't register C.) Don't pay taxes because they don't want to register for a social security number D.) Don't want to learn english because the bleeding hearts of this country want to help them.....this country will have to lean more and more on those of us who ARE legal. ARE paying taxes ARE keeping the money we earn at our jobs INSIDE this country. Taxes will have to go up to compensate. And who do you think are taxing our medical systems for care because they don't pay medical insurance? And good luck paying for your bleeding heart through your pocket.
248934
try working and not paying your taxes for a few yrs .. see how politicaly correct you get treated... that "survivor dude, richard hatch just got 4 years in prison for not claiming his prizs money..  why dont the illegals have to go to jail for not paying their taxes???!?!?!? they must be sent home at all costs nothing less is acceptable... and ps they ARE  taking work away from americans... i see it more and more every day... stop using companies that hire illegals.. if your not part of the solution you are part of the problem!
604443
I agree with you.. though I'm Canadian, I would support such a bill here in my country as well.  I think it's disgusting that we, as taxpayers, pay for illegals to be deported back to their countries.  I also feel that, if an illegal commits a crime, they should be returned to their country rather than my tax dollars paying for them to be imprisoned.  I don't care if they're from a country that will chop off their hands for the crime, their penis, or even capitol punishment.  If they can't do the time... they shouldn't do the crime, especially in my country.\nAlthough our immigration laws are not as lax as most US politicians would have American's believe, I still think we need to review our immigration laws in Canada and put a stop to certain types of people that are permitted to come into this country.  I know the states has a similar issue.  As far as this goes, I'm on the same page... and I think USA and Canada should combine their resources to fight illegal immigration across the Canada/USA border and the Mexican/USA border as well as illegals coming in through other methods such as ships and airports.
175670
I read your rants and I cannot debate you because I agree.  However, it still is not fixing the problem now is it?  We really need to look at the practicalities of this.... It will take a process of time, but first, any illegal migrant who is in our prisons or jails, should be shipped out immediately!  No regards on this one.  Next, any illegal migrants who are already employed here should be back taxed on prove able income for the duration of their employ and the employer should be HEAVILY fined.  Then, they should be allowed the opportunity to remain and work as taxable aliens until that time they choose to gain legalized status.  They also should be required to learn the English language, since they are in an English speaking country.  There is so much more but that would at least be a start.  Agree?\n\n\nAs for those who call these illegals-immigrants- they are not.....they broke the LAW.  When you defend them because`they came here wanting to better themselves and help their families' you are propitiating that breaking laws is okay if it helps you achieve your golas, or it makes your life better.....think about it!!!  If it will make my neighbors life better to steal my refund check out of my mailbax, is that alright?  If it makes someones life better to come into your place of business and kill you to take your money, is that alright?  We cannot go around and disregard the law because it is inconvenient people!
575258
It may sound cruel but all benefits must be stopped to the illegals. Period. That goes for the children they have too. If we can get the guts to deny them it is possible they will leave. I think I read where Texas is sending a bill to Mexico for services to the illegals.  That is a great idea.  Hold Mexican assets and take the cost of services to their citizens. Mexico would then do something about the boarder.
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
321582
I think the felony for aiding an immigrant is a non-starter and a negotiating point the House put in.  I think if we can't enforce the laws we have, all we would have with that law is an even more 'illigitimate law'.  (I am sure that is in your text book too.)\n\nHowever, while the principles you are discussing are one theory of political analysis, using any one theory alone is like wearing blinders.  Yours doesn't get you to the point in this case.\n\nThere is frustration with a demand for rights we reserve to legal status individuals, and with the assumption that overburdening schools and services should not be taken into account if the people doing it are 'good people'.  Basic human rights are different, and if we are physically being cruel to people or not allowing them due process or something, that would be different.\n\nThose who repeat that illegal immigrants are here illegally aren't dim wits unable to comprehend basic social theory, and many have progressed beyond Poli Sci 101.  What you see is people saying that the ones demanding legal resident rights aren't entitled to them, and are out of line to demand that kind of rights.   Those rights are conferred precisely because people are here legally.  Illegal immigrants aren't part of the protected class that came here legally at a rate designed for assimilation. \n\nI believe that, myself.  I think the best argument for regularizing current illegal immigrants is that while we have to close the border and limit immigrants, these people are already here.  As a practical matter, if they would meet our standards (not gang members or terrorists, and self supporting), a lot of people think it is best to just say 'ok start today' on tough enforcement.  The problem is that the amnesty in 1986 to do just that was taken by many as something that would happen regularly.  Since 1986, there has not been enforcement at the border and the illegal immigrant population has exploded.  Moreover, people come onto this site and actually say they should get amnesty 'because nothing has been done for Mexicans since 1986', as if amnesty were a regular process.  That would nullify our immigration policies, which have good reason for existing.\n\nI think we need to close the border, really, really close the border.  Then we can turn to the people inside, and decide how to handle that.  It is a lot easier to be empathetic when you are not being told that theoretically we should support the poor of the entire world.
276012
Immigration needs to be controlled, I agree.  But to do that, I think, we need to create a system in which illegal immigrants that are already here and that contribute to this society to integrate into our system through legalization.  I think that deportation or criminalization of 11+ million people would have a negative impact in our economy and society.  \n\nThere are many reasons as to why the protests are taking place. Currently there are about 625 immigrations laws that the senate is debating. Some of these laws are cruel and inhumane. Some take on very good points, and some are just ridiculous. \n\nOne of the main issues is that some senators wanted to pass a law that would make all illegals and anyone who helped/hired illegals criminals. With 11 million illegals that would make a good chunk of the population criminals (legal or illegal, citizen or not citizens). \n\nIt is not so much an uproar against law enforcement, but an uproar against injustice and inhumanity. They are not demanding to violate the law or much less. They want a chance to become legal immigrants with the right of being able to go to a hospital when sick and without being scared that they will be forced to leave their families unprotected. \n\nThese people are not illegal because they want to, they are illegal because the goverment has made it extremely tough to become legal. These people are paying taxes as everyone else, trying to be good citizens as everyone else, and working for a better future for their families, just as everyone else. If an anmisty was to be approved, it wouldn't be a free ride either. The person would have to prove that they are an asset to this country, and have to have their taxes filed, a clean criminal record, have everything in order and pay the big fines that the goverment would implement. They are not seeking immediate citizenship, but a chance to eventually become citizens. They are not fee-loading as some people might think because they do pay taxes. And they are doing jobs that Americans find degrading.\n\nDougDoug_ I hope you get to read this too.  Illegal immigrants are not choosing to ignore our right to control immigration, what is happening is that the government has already made it extremely tough to become a legal immigrant that they have no choice but to stay here illegally.  This is one of the main reasons why these people are walking into the streets and asking for a chance to become legal.  They do not want to be illegal or stay illegal, and to become legal immigrants they would have to show that they are a contribution to the US, pay taxes and prove that they are not trouble makers.  They would have to pay fines for being illegally in the US plus all the cost that inquires to apply for a green card (legal residency).  \n\nAlso, let it be clear that they are not asking for immediate citizenship, but instead a path towards citizenship.  You have to be a resident for 5 years in order to apply for citizenship.\n\nIt doesn’t make it right that they are here illegally, but that’s what they want to fix.  And  they are willing to pay the consequences of staying here illegally (read above).
132911
A\n\nThe key word is "Illegal". It is not fair to the immigrants that enter this country legally to allow them to stay, nor is it fair to ALL the people born in this country or who have become citizens of this country, for illegal immigrants to be allowed to stay. We (citizens) all pay taxes and our money stays in this country to help make this country great and to keep it going. I realize they want a better life, but starting it out doing something "Illegal" is NOT the answer. They need to go back and then take the legal steps necessary to enter this country legally. \n\n@--->---
254656
First of all, do they really think that it will make any difference at all? It won't. In order to actually make a noticible dent in the economy, they would have to hold out a heck of a lot longer than 24 hours...and I just really don't see that happening. Second of all, where do they get off? Nowhere else but in America could someone protest, throw a fit and expect someone to make allowances for the fact that they have, in fact, broken the law. There are legal ways to enter this country, they could have chosen one of them and then there wouldn't be this problem. However, they chose not to obey the laws of this country and, in my opinion, they need to be held accountable for their lawlessness. \n\nIf we allow all these illegal immigrants amnesty, what message does that send to all the immigrants who entered this country legally, who paid their dues and did things according to the rules? Gee, we're sorry we put you through all that because our laws are completely meaningless and we're going to give amnesty to everyone who decided they didn't want to be bothered with the pesky rules? What next, are we going to allow all mass murderers to run free because, hey, if you can break one law, why not all of them. What if all the rapists in every maximum security prison across the country stage a protest demanding their freedom? Why have any rules and laws at all if they can just be arbitrarily changed to exonorate a group of people just because they protest and demand it?\n\nI understand that the people coming here illegally are desperate and in dire circumstances, I don't doubt that at all. However, as someone who grew up in dire circumstances myself (yes, I know what it's like to go to bed hungry for weeks on end, to not have heat in the winter and to face the uncertainty of whether or not you're going to have a roof over your head), I still believe that breaking the law is unacceptable. That doesn't mean that I don't understand the motivation behind it, but it is what it is. After all, we have hundreds of thousands of legal American citizens who are homeless, who are hungry, who are in desperate situations and who are crying for an opportunity to support their families. However, should one of these people choose to rob a bank or sell drugs in an attempt to support their family, we don't see protests in the streets to exonorate them of their crimes. We may understand the motivation behind their actions, but the truth is that they've broken the law, regardless of the reasons/circumstances and in this country, there are consequences for breaking the law. If there aren't, then what's the point of even having a legal system?\n\nCome here legally and I don't have a problem with it. Come here from whatever country, make a life for yourself, send your kids to college, make yourself a millionaire, win the lottery, start a fortune 500 company. I. DON'T. CARE. That's the sort of thing that this country was built on. I, myself, have relatives who immigrated to this country legally and who have been very successful in building their lives and their fortunes. Great for them! Certainly there are those who are racist, but don't make this a racial thing, that's the easy cop-out.