I mean, the word illegal means lawbreaker,right? so, if you come to a country illegally, for whatever purpose, you're still a criminal. Why SHOULDN'T we take back some of our tax-dollars and help LEGAL citizens with health care and food? they're my tax dollars,too, and I say we help our own first. what do you think?
205845
Rock on. \n\nAnd even though they're "cheap labor", they're taking away jobs from those that have taken all of the appropriate steps to be here legally. Even a low-paying job is a  valuable job to someone who doesn't have one.
305409
I have worked in resturants, and dug graves, worked on a farm, drove truck, in a factory, and worked some construction, I would do it again if able. I wonder what some people do not know about the word ILLEGAL. it is scarry that criminals are allowed to just roam in the US without knowing who they are or what they are up to.
214626
The key word is "illegal" as in not legal, as in wrong, as in shouldn't do it, as in not right. America has many flaws but one of our strengths is the legal system. What I find incomprehensible is that you would want to base a society on illegal principles as in I will cross another countries border, take up residence and not abide by their laws. My question to you is which laws do you decide to follow and which laws do you ignore and how do you arrive at your decision ? Do you want a society like Mexico where you have to bribe public officials and the police? I have lived in my country 52 years and not once have I had to or wanted to bribe a public official or policeman. On the other hand it is routine to do so in Mexico. What is also routine is bad water, disease and poverty. Do I hate Mexicans? Absolutely not. I want as many of them over here as possible speaking Spanish among themselves but English in general society, just as my German and Irish ancestors had to.Most of all I want them to follow the same laws as my ancestors followed. I do not want a Mexican legal system or culture dominating my life and my country  . We fought a war over that once and I have no desire to fight another one.\n\nLet me repeat I do not hate Mexicans but I will love the Mexican without agreeing to have the poverty, disease and disregard for the law imposed on me. This is my country and it is yours too as long as you follow the law, pay your taxes and learn the language. You would expect no less of me if I wanted to be a citizen of Mexico and common courtesy decency and respect would demand it.\n\nThis is a serious matter and it does not seem wise to me to expect reconquista. It will not happen.\n\nI just read Recoba 01's post. You need to know that I am not intimidated by Mexicans and do not think you are going to take my job. The rules are clear . Get your education, work hard compete fairly and then if you "take" my job all power to you. Mexicans are certainly capable of competeing with the best. As a native born American I am willing to live and let live, treat everyone with respect but as a slogan on one of the early American Flags put it. "Don't tread on me"
289710
Illegals were given amnisty some years back, by another president.  The word that most people seem to overlook or don't understand is ILLEGAL.\n\nIllegal, or unlawful, describes that which is either prohibited or not authorized by law. In general, conduct is made illegal by statute, rule, or regulation.\n\nThere are various terms used to describe a person who either enters a country illegally, or who enters legally but subsequently violates the terms of their visa, permanent resident permit or refugee permit. \n\nThe status and rights of such individuals are a controversial debate based on the economic vitality, job availability, environmental costs of illegal immigration, nationalism, racism, and moral concerns.\n\n\nPlease visit the webpages below to clarify Illegal for yourself.
318728
I agree that a large number of illegals do try to make money off of drugs. and I also agree that they are crossing to make a better life for themselves. With that said they are still "Illegals" which means they have committed a crime and should be sent back and/or punished. There is a legal process they can follow that will allow they to come to America and work legally.
637969
Illegal's are used by businesses & big business RUNS our government, together they keep wages too low to actually live on, reinforce the need for illegal's to work here & outsource other jobs to other countries, putting even more Americans out of work...Americans are being pushed out of our own country and our money and jobs are going to other countries, so big businesses can save money on wages & healthcare...I wonder why American's want imigration reform...
260013
NO! Because we cannot afford a huge flood of immigrants into this country, our social structure cant bear it.  Plus, then you are allowing everyone in- I dont know about you, but Id prefer Mexico keep their child molestors and murderers, we have enough up here already.  Are the schools in your area empty?  Are they complaining about having too much money?  I know mine are filled to the max, so an uncontrolled flood of illegals filling the place up faster than we can build new schools would not be a good thing.  Are the jails empty and your cops having nothing to do in your area?  Not the case where I live.  Are the roads empty where you live?  Not where I live, I dont know if they can bear thousands of new cars on the road, as you flood us with illegals.  Are your health care costs Low?  Is it easy to find a Dr. in your area?  By adding millions of uninsured illegals to our system, do you think your costs would go down or up (duh-up of course!)? Etc Etc.  Legal immigration allows for non-criminal, educated people, who actually want to be come productive citizens to come to the US in a controlled manner.  Legal immigration is great.  Illegal immigration is horrible for the US and for all the legal citizens (both immigrants and natural born).  Learn the facts of this problem before spouting off about how our government is "being mean".
263372
Very good analogy. Also you called him/her a burlgar because they also take our tax money by being allowed to go on welfare. I am a citizen and work hard. I dont support people staying on welfare but I rather pay taxes to other americans than Illegal Immigrants. That was total Bulls*** that they felt the need to protest and ask for amnesty like they have ANY rights here. You dont see me at the courthouse smoking crack or weed and saying I have a right to do it.
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.
91256
The secreat word here is ILLEGAL, many have gone by the rules and have came here and I greet them with open arms. Help them anyway I can. But if you are illeagal, then you have commited a crime and need to pay for it.
127815
I'm neither, but i think it makes everyone a criminal not just Immigrants, if an American Citizen helps out an Immigrant we're considered criminals as well which sucks cause if I see a guy in the dessert dieing of thirst or hunger I will help him out, and I'll probably be treated as a criminal for doing it too. I think the US has become a country with a strict policy on everyman for himself, and srew the rest.
606277
Great idea!  Hell, while we're at it why don't we drain their governments welfare system, health-care system, and break all of the laws we can while we're there!  Oops, they've already finished that job for us, maybe that's why they're here!
525952
To the ones that argue we have our own murderers and drunk drivers:  Yes, that is true.  But, again you need common sense to understand this, if the illegals were deported and not allowed to cross our borders the numbers would decrease dramatically, not near enough, but nevertheless the numbers would decrease. Not only do we have to support these folks with welfare and indigent care at our medical facilities, we support those that are fortunate enought to be apprehended for their crimes by putting them in prison.  And for you folks that keep screaming that all of us anti-illegal alien people are just racist or we don't like dark people, get a life.  Illegal is illegal whether you are white, brown, pink or purple. A criminal is a criminal no matter what kind of face he/she has or what color it is and criminals need to be punished period.  Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. I work with many foreigners and they all have the proper papers and documentation, it is not that hard to get.  If you want a better life than where you are, and you think that the great country of the USA is the place to be, then get the proper documentation and paperwork taken care of.  Why would you want to come to our country as a criminal and have to keep looking over your shoulder all the time.  Makes no sense unless that is what you were to start with and what you want to remain.  In that case you have no right to ask for anything from our country, even when you are wronged by being paid less, denied medical care, etc... Our criminals in jail have the basic care as they should.  That is what you should have once you are in jail/prison. Then be deported back to your  home country.  No matter what color you are or where you come from.
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.
253952
If you cross into Mexico illegally, the first time they deport you. The second time you go to jail. You cannot work in Mexico, you cannot go to school without their permission, and you cannot own land. i say the same should go for whoever enters illegally here from there. They get too much free education, and their free medical care is stripping hospitals of much needed funds to care for citizens. The same punishment for them here as there country gives to others.
627240
Amen Amen, you are so right....America tends to forget about its own.....I have known families of illegals drawing benifits that should have gone to our people here.  Yet my husband has to pay taxes every week out of his check like all the rest of us legal americans do...yet they work, draw a check and no taxes are held out.  I feel sorry for all the other countries but good god we need help here to.
251460
We need to strengthen our borders and send them right to the back of the line. We'd love for you to come here, and we'd love for you to make a better life for yourself in our country, but we don't like it when you work illegally (yes, that takes jobs from other people, and if you came here legally you wouldn't have to worry about making so little for so much work), don't pay taxes, and take advantage of our social services. Illegal immigrants are lawbreakers and should be treated as such.