I've been on this all day, lets actually talk. Please no name calling.  What are some answers to this problem.  We all know the politicians aren't going to find one.  What are your ideas. Mine are these:\n\nReal enforcement of Immigration Laws and toughening the penalties to make them a real deterent. In exchange, the quotas for greencards will be expanded so that those here illegally may apply, BUT NO AMNESTY.  They must apply and go to the back of the line.\n\nMake it so that a child born in the United States must have at least one citizen parent to become an citizen themselves, I hate the thought of pregnant women crossing a desert just so their children can be citizens its dangerous for them and the baby. We have to take the incentive away.  In exchange, all the immediate family (Father, Mother, Brothers, and Sisters) of a Child born in the US, who are living here with them should be granted greencard.  I am not for splitting up famillies.\n\nyour thoughts.
211618
I agree, amnesty and citizenship would be an expensive route.  The argument for having aliens make up a portion of our workforce has always been that they are taking the jobs that others do not want.  Why don't others want these jobs, partially because of the low wages.  As such the majority of Illegal aliens would qualify for government assistance if made citizens.  If all 11 million were to take this option and receive welfare the costs to taxpayers would be phenomenal.\n\nOne Item I would add to your list though is to tighten the rules, prosecute corporations that hire illegal aliens.  Only if the demand is decreased will the flood of immigration slow.
223504
No, I think the solution is simple.  Give legal status only to those who apply and earn it.  Quite frankly, keeping the current laws on the books and just not enforcing them has been working as far as I'm concerned but if they are going to press the issue, we need to enforce the laws that they are knowingly breaking.  As an American who was born here, what laws do I get to break?  How about illegal aliens from Iraq, do we give them amnesty as well?
254842
The government needs to make damn sure that they don't make the same mistakes they did last time they gave amnesty as obviously the problem only grew worse by now.  I don't agree with amnesty, myself, but I believe the borders need to be locked down very tightly to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and go from there.  Lock the doors and then deal with what is already in the country, but make sure no more come in without going through the correct immigration procedures.  \n\nAs for this forum, I would say that there is some pretty strong racism from both sides of the issue - the illegal immigrants can be as bad in this aspect and worse at times than the other side. I feel that the ones who are often screaming "racism" are often the worst racists, themselves, but they are too emotionally charged and/or ignorant to recognize that.
108185
I have *NO* problems with the immigrants if they come here legally.  My issue is when they don't, and we 'fly them home' and house them in our 'jails until their flight' and they turn around and do it again.  Not to metnion heath care costs.  \n\nI so believe we rely and NEED their labor and all that, but I'm very tired of them getting a free ride in the jails/healthcare system as that burdens us all.. and where 2/3rds of American's don' have health insurance it is a bit troubling.  \n\nGo home, come back and do it legally and I have ZERO problems with it :)  GL\n\n** The only TRUE NATIVES are The Native Indians (Aborinals) of North America which includes Mexico, USA and Canada.. America does not have the sole 'Native' population and that is blatantly wrong according to history.\n\nWe are NATIVE because we were born here - whether we are 2nd, 3rd or 5th generation, whether we have Native Aboriginal blood or not, we are not considered 'illegal' by today's standards and whether our anscenstors did right or wrong, does not change 'our' birth right.  Those of us born here, OR that come here legally, have the right to stay.  Excusing "Illegal behavior' only encourages MORE Illegal behavior - as President Reagen showed us when he 'excused' the process of other Illegal's into this nation.  If we do not have rules, and processes, where do we all end up?  I guess because we are born here or came here legally, our rights are not as important as the those that broke the law to come?  Hummmm I don't think so.  Do they pay taxes?  They can't without a Social Security Card (oh and breaking the law using ILLEGAL SS#'s? That's very enlightening) and if you are illegal they don't give those out.  Oh you mean sales tax?  That doesn't cover what is used in 'social services' between when they get caught - their medical, their jail time nor their plane ticket home.  That's my 2 copper and while this is a hot debate, and many do not agree, I find this a troubling trend and to 'excuse' 11 million Illegals keeps encouraging them to come illegally in hopes we will 'pardon them again'.  They need to go home and apply like the rest of those that came legally, and quit getting a free ride because 'there are so many'.  ARGH! One last question.. ok, so because there are so many rapists in jail, does that mean we 'just let them out because there are so many and they protest'?  They broke the law too!!  Of course not, but illegal aliens, undocumented workers have more rights than the citizens in our own jails do these days.
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.
133975
Problem #1: Population \n\nThe first problem I see with the current state of the immigration laws is the significant rise in population that has, and will, continue to occur over the next fifty years. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an estimated 1.1 million immigrants, both legal and illegal, enter the United States every year. 700,000 of these are legal immigrants; 120,000 are refugees, and between 250,000 to 300,000 are undocumented or illegal “aliens” ( Baldwin, 1995). The United States population at the moment is roughly 288 million people. If this trend of aliens is not decreased, the population will reach 400 million by 2050. How many people can America hold? \n\nProblem #2: Benefits Illegal Aliens Recieve \n\nCurrently, under federal law, undocumented foreign citizens are eligible for emergency healthcare, free schooling from kindergarten through high school, and W.I.C. or Woman, Infants, and Children nutritional program ( Baldwin, 1995). This is important to note because there are currently between eight and ten million aliens currently living illegally in the United States. An estimated 2.5 million of these illegal aliens currently reside in the state of California alone, due to the agricultural jobs that are readily available for cheap labor (Kadetsky, 102). It should not be surprising then that the residents of California were outraged over the amount of money that they were being forced to spend, and the amount of resources that were being used to support aliens that are not “allowed” to be in the United States in the first place. \n\n \n\nProblem #3: Homeland Security\n\nIn the Fiscal year of 2002, which runs October 1 through September 30, the United States Coast Guard, which is the country’s primary maritime, or sea going, law enforcement agency, intercepted 4104 immigrants from various South American countries (USCG, Para 2). Since then, the numbers of immigrants intercepted by the Coast Guard, has continued to climb at an alarming rate; jumping to almost 11,000 in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, and currently with less than two months into the 2006 physical year, there have already been 1,000 migrants accounted for and processed through the Coast Guard (USCG, Para 1). Illegal immigration can potentially cost American tax payers billions of dollars a year. The United States Coast Guard, whose primary obligation is to prevent the loss of life at sea, can not stop this problem by its self, it is mearly the first line of defense. It is up to the rest of America to join the fight and help put an end to this awful practice.\n i couldnt agree more they should learn our language
322835
You mention numerous good points. Truth is, illegal immigrants themselves (Mexicans or others) are not the problem. It is the failure of the American Gov. and the American peopele. The gov guys are too busy trying to get reelected and make some $$$$ for themselves and their families. The Messicans are only trying to better their lives ...a human trait.\nAmericans are all skuttling around taking care of paying their bills and making ends meet that they don't participate in the process of creating  security, and standards in gov and their lives to worry about immigration until it maybe is too late.\nHow can any of you, knowing that supposedly voting for what you believe in is going to determine your future, even in the greatest compassion for the poor illegals, condone immigration by only one group in the large, electoral modifying sizes that these people are coming into our country? I love compassion but who will weep for me when there is crime beyond our ability to control it, there is not housing or water or elec. or gasoline or? you name it ..because there are too many people. The maojority (amnystied illegal/not citizens will vote for social welfare programs to feed their families, give them health care etc. For Pete's sake ...these people aren't even citizens and they are demanding things. Wake up and take your country back. Let the gov guys know you're PO and your mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. And then do something about it. Find your own little way to boycott, to not support, to speak of your concerns to your compatriot American brothers and systers. Rise up and DO something. Think about it ...you will figure a way to play your part in protecting our country and way of life from an invasion. Forget the terroists in the Middle East. We have a much bigger problem with this issue here in this country. Just remember ...it's your brother, boyfriend, husband, father that is over in Irag possibly dieing for America and Americans. Think they want to come home to a world of poverty stricken, illegal types who speak a language other than English? By all means be compassionate with others of all races ...but get our nest in oder first ...then we can work on Mexico and other corrupt governments to take care of what is their responsiblity.
356889
It's too costly and time consuming to deport ALL the illegals.\n\nI would like to see a CONDITIONAL amnesty given to all the illegals here now. (Assuming we are stopping more from coming in). The conditions ...\n\nThey must learn basic English.\nThey must learn some American history and culture.\nThey must be financially dependent, i.e., either employed or have a financial sponsor.\nThey must swear their allegiance to America and be signed up for the draft. (Within the draft eligibility guidelines)\n\nThey must do this within a time frame, such as 1 year. If they don't, or at least show effort after the time frame, they will be deported. \n\nI have many loose ideas running around in my head ... how about this?  The Illegals allowed amnesty through the above conditions, will have a felony conviction on their records. They will not ever be allowed to vote or own a gun.  I'd love feedback on this thought ... good or bad!
580108
Yes, I love it!  I look on the internet news daily for more stories like the one about the mayor of Hazelton, PA, or Sheriff Joe in Arizona, or big unexpected roundups of illegals in different cities.  It does my heart proud to see the citizens of the USA standing up against this injustice that the government has allowed to occur and get out of hand - illegal immigration.  I believe the power of the American citizens is now snowballing against illegal immigration and whether the Federal Government wants to or not, they are going to have to listen to the people whom they work for, and act accordingly.  The days of the freebies and handouts for illegal immigrants are quickly coming to an end and the smart ones will start planning their own voluntary self-deportations now, rather than wait until they are found and shipped out, possibly leaving family members behind in the USA.  Better they start planning and get themselves organized for an orderly return to their home countries before they get caught by immigration officials or the police or their landlord or their employer.  This way, if they have lived cleanly in the USA so far, without committing further offences since they first illegally came over the border, they have a hope of returning legally one day, if they go home now and apply to immigrate to the USA through the proper procedures.  WAKE UP ILLEGALS!  Do yourselves and your families a favour and return yourselves in an orderly fashion now, while you still can.  Otherwise, don't cry and whine when you get caught and shipped out on a moment's notice, when you aren't ready.  The jig is up!  Amnesty is NOT coming!!  Wake up and smell the coffee!
656590
We are all humans,sadly there are some that think the color of skin or  racial origin make them better than others others! I agree that the illegals are creating a big problem in this country,I agree that many of them come here and drain our system and resources\nI sat here several hours last night,just thinking.I tried to imagine myself as a parent in a country where there wasn't much opportunity to provide for a family.A country where a large portion of the population doesn't have running water.Can you even imagine what their lives must be like if they'd risk everything to cross the desert in a semi? I asked myself "what would I do" I think I would do what others have done and chance crossing the border and then try to become a citizen.From what I am told,if you live in such a country,obviously you wouldn't have the means of applying for citizenship before crossing the border.And being that you have little or no funds the US probably wouldn't approve your paper work anyways.Would any of you stay there and listen to your children cry because they are hungry or thirsty?Or would you cross the border?Not all illegals come here with criminal intent.Although just being here is illegal,I think you might have a different view if it were you and your family!\nAnd where does the blame truly belong? Illegal immigrants have been here for as long as I can remember.We didn't just wake up a few weeks ago and they were here! Our government turned their watchful eye the other way and let it happen. Have you ever wondered why?What were they getting in return? Who was benefiting from looking the other way.Have you wondered why after all the decades ,why our government suddenly wants  to put an end to them crossing our borders? Look at the news,everytime our government or someone connected to the gov.makes a huge blunder,an event has been created to take the attention away from the blunder! When the thing with Clinton and Monica first hit the news,the next night we heard about two guys carrying viles filled with Anthrax.I told my daughter not to be scared because it was only a deversion and that it would be reported later that they had made a mistake,sure enough that's exactly what happened!So look to the news .An election is coming up,and then there's that report that our Marines have deliberately killed innocent women and children in Iraq.Have you wondered why the trial for saddam is taking such a long time to conduct? Is that really saddam or a look alike?  Do any of us really have any answers?All I can say is that as a result of recent headlines,I see this country dividing and it is scary!
349002
I work with a guy who was about 4 years old when his parents immigrated legally. He was not born here so when he got old enough he started the process to become a legal citizen. He paid for it, he did it the legal way and he has been here seventeen years and is about to get his citizenship. He is adamantly against illegal immigration. I makes him mad to think he went through the proper, legal. tedious process and those people could end up getting their amnesty without doing what he had to do. \n\nI'm sick of people claiming those illegal immigrants just want 'work to feed their poor families'. That is such a CROCK!  I have yet to see anyone coming across that border looking emaciated or starving. I see people from Ethiopia and other countries where they are REALLY starving, their children are DYING from malnutrition  and they would LOVE to come to the USA. They are POOR. The USA sends aid to those countries but we cannot take in millions of poor people to be supported by our taxes. It's the same with those illegally entering from our border with Mexico. We cannot continue to support unlimited numbers of people who just 'want a better life'. I want a better life, too. I can't just go move in with a rich person and demand they take care of me and my family, provide us with medical care, food, clothing and let me have the run of his house. It don't work that way. You have to live according to what YOU, YOURSELF, can provide. If they want a better life, make it better in their own country. They shouldn't slither into the USA and demand WE take care of them. They're not starving! They are no more poor than some of our own citizens. They need to get a real life in their own country.
130292
some kind of action needs to be taken to stop immigrants from getting into our country illegally. how is it fair for the people that went through the proper process to become a legal American citizen?  How is it fair that these illegals take advantage of our system and pay 25 bucks for invalid social security cards/paperwork?  Yeah, it's a hard process to become legal in the U.S., but it's that way for a reason!  I wouldn't dare flock to another country without the proper paperwork and knowledge beforehand; I would do it legally, the way it's supposed to be.  I just don't understand why these people can't just be honest and do the right thing.\nAnyway, I agree with the website you've posted and we all have to work together for our country and the people that are here legally and people who worked to get into this country the right and legal way.
395533
I'm against; but i do realize that a small portion should be given amnesty,(Speaking of only thousands, not millions) The rest should be deported back to their native land and some should be given a temporary VISA on probation to see if it would work for them to be citizens, If not, they go back too, But only people who honestly turn themselves in should be given such opportunities.\n\nAn idealist view would be to say " they're all illegal. GET THEM OUT". But in reality, that wouldn't happen.\nI just think we should stop anymore from coming but deal with the people we already have.\n\nSometimes you just have to meet in the middle.
157535
Problem #1: Population \n\nThe first problem I see with the current state of the immigration laws is the significant rise in population that has, and will, continue to occur over the next fifty years. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an estimated 1.1 million immigrants, both legal and illegal, enter the United States every year. 700,000 of these are legal immigrants; 120,000 are refugees, and between 250,000 to 300,000 are undocumented or illegal “aliens” ( Baldwin, 1995). The United States population at the moment is roughly 288 million people. If this trend of aliens is not decreased, the population will reach 400 million by 2050. How many people can America hold? \n\nProblem #2: Benefits Illegal Aliens Recieve \n\nCurrently, under federal law, undocumented foreign citizens are eligible for emergency healthcare, free schooling from kindergarten through high school, and W.I.C. or Woman, Infants, and Children nutritional program ( Baldwin, 1995). This is important to note because there are currently between eight and ten million aliens currently living illegally in the United States. An estimated 2.5 million of these illegal aliens currently reside in the state of California alone, due to the agricultural jobs that are readily available for cheap labor (Kadetsky, 102). It should not be surprising then that the residents of California were outraged over the amount of money that they were being forced to spend, and the amount of resources that were being used to support aliens that are not “allowed” to be in the United States in the first place. \n\n \n\nProblem #3: Homeland Security\n\nIn the Fiscal year of 2002, which runs October 1 through September 30, the United States Coast Guard, which is the country’s primary maritime, or sea going, law enforcement agency, intercepted 4104 immigrants from various South American countries (USCG, Para 2). Since then, the numbers of immigrants intercepted by the Coast Guard, has continued to climb at an alarming rate; jumping to almost 11,000 in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, and currently with less than two months into the 2006 physical year, there have already been 1,000 migrants accounted for and processed through the Coast Guard (USCG, Para 1). Illegal immigration can potentially cost American tax payers billions of dollars a year. The United States Coast Guard, whose primary obligation is to prevent the loss of life at sea, can not stop this problem by its self, it is mearly the first line of defense. It is up to the rest of America to join the fight and help put an end to this awful practice.\n\n\nthanks cherokee rose i put my signature on  petition you rock
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.
650387
You are 100% correct and I agree with everything you said here.  As well, yes, there are American citizens on welfare (some don't deserve it, either) but the distinction here is that they ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS and our welfare system is to help AMERICAN  CITIZENS, NOT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!  Also, definitely NO green card or "path to citizenship" for illegals presently in the country - deport them ALL and stop saying it is impossible - yes, it is possible.  It may take time, but it is possible and it can be done and I am sure it will cost less than what they cost us while living in the country illegally.  Let them apply for a temporary worker visa AFTER they leave the country on their own steam - if they don't and are later deported, NO CHANCE FOR A TEMPORARY WORKER PASS OR LEGAL ENTRY BACK INTO THE USA EVER AGAIN, because they passed up their chance to do it the right way.  No rewards WHATSOEVER for illegal immigrants because that is sending the wrong message to other would-be illegals and that is also telling those who have sacrificed and waited in order to immigrate legally, that we don't respect them for doing it the right way.
331019
hmmm.....don't see many of the regulars answering this question/statement do you.\n\nanother aspect of this immigration topic we have yet to pick the scab off.\n\nI love it.\n\nOh but I have to add....they are all going to post quickly with "illegal".....though that had nothing to do with the question.....that is going to be your basic answer.\n\nLMAO\n\ngood post!