What is your opinion about the current Immigration Problem in the United States?
341960
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\nThey Cant Work - They Wont Stay\nNO Deportation Costs\nThey Wont Come Back
853396
The reality is \nthat we don't have an "Illegal Immigration" problem in America.\n\nWe have an "Illegal Employer" problem. \n\nYet it's almost never mentioned in the mainstream media,\nbecause to point it out \ncould slightly reduce the profits and CEO salaries \nof many of America's largest multi-state \nand multinational corporations - \nwho both own the media \nand contribute heavily to conservative politicians.\n\nEncouraging a rapid increase in the workforce \nby encouraging companies to hire non-citizens \nis one of the three most potent tools \nconservatives since Ronald Reagan have used \nto convert the American middle class \ninto the American working poor. \n(The other two are \ndestroying the governmental protections \nthat keep labor unions viable, \nand \nending tariffs while promoting trade deals \nlike NAFTA / WTO/ GATT that export manufacturing jobs.)\n\nFor example, \nwhen Nike began manufacturing shoes \nin Third World countries with labor costs below US labor costs, \nit didn't lead to $15 Nikes - \ntheir price held, \nand even increased, \nbecause the market would bear it. \nInstead, that reduction in labor costs \nled to Nike CEO Phil Knight becoming a multi-billionaire\n\nThe fact is \nthat we have had an open border with Mexico \nfor several centuries, \nand "illegal immigration" was never a serious problem. \n\nBefore Reagan's presidency, \nan estimated million or so people a year \ncame into the US from Mexico - \nand the same number, more or less, left the US for Mexico \nat the end of the agricultural harvest season. \nVery few stayed, because there weren't jobs for them. \n\nNon-citizens didn't have access \nto the non-agricultural US job market, \nin large part because of the power of US labor unions \n(before Reagan 25% of the workforce was unionized; \ntoday the private workforce is about 7% unionized), \nand because companies were unwilling to risk \nhaving non-tax-deductible labor expenses on their books \nby hiring undocumented workers \nwithout valid Social Security numbers. \n\nBut Reagan put an end to that. \nHis 1986 amnesty program, \ncombined with his aggressive war on organized labor \n(begun in 1981), \nin effect told both employers and non-citizens \nthat there would be few penalties \nand many rewards to increasing the US labor pool \n(and thus driving down wages) \nwith undocumented immigrants. \n\nA million people a year \ncontinued to come across our southern border, \nbut they stopped returning to Latin America every fall \nbecause instead of seasonal work \nthey were able to find permanent jobs. \n\nThe magnet drawing them? Illegal Employers. \n\nOur borders have always been porous \nbut we've never had a problem like this before. \n\nAnd it's not just because poverty has increased in Mexico -\n\nToday, about half of Mexico lives on less than $2 a day, \nbut 50 years ago \nhalf of Mexico also lived on the equivalent of $2 today. \n\nYet fifty years ago \nwe didn't have an "illegal immigration" problem, \nbecause back then \nwe didn't have a conservative "Illegal Employer" problem. \n\nAs the Washington Post noted \nin an article by Hsu and Lydersen on June 19, 2006 : \n\n"Between 1999 and 2003, \nwork-site enforcement operations were scaled back 95 percent\nby the Immigration and Naturalization Service, \nwhich subsequently was merged \ninto the Homeland Security Department. \nThe number of employers prosecuted \nfor unlawfully employing ILLEGAL ALIENS \ndropped from 182 in 1999 \nto four in 2003, \nand fines collected declined from $3.6 million to $212,000, \naccording to federal statistics." \n"In 1999, the United States initiated fines against 417 companies.\nIn 2004, it issued fine notices to three."\n\nThe hiring crimes of Illegal Employers \nare being ignored by the law, \nand rewarded by the economic systems of the nation. \n\nProof that this simple reality is
992998
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...
573856
I think its a start to gaining control of the esculating illegal immigrant problem. With desease and crime so rampant the U.S.A. can't afford other countries problems. All immigrants need to be documented.
657173
Never!  Americans by our very nature are immigrants.  I think that illegal immigration is a problem, and there are solutions.  But to deport every person who is an immigrant is not only impossible, it is wrong.  All of us are immigrants.  I think the question should be about illegal immigrants and what we can do to solve the problem.
1111850
You're right - immigration isn't the problem. It's people willing to overlook the illegal aspects of it. Our country was built on immigrants but when people come here and step on the laws and expect to get rewarded it really gets me going.
583233
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).
1081400
I live in the Southwest and it has been an issue here for as long as I can remember. The problem has become so enormous that the nation is waking to the problem. We wonder whats taken you so long?
628063
How about the Immigration issue or global warming?\nBoth are highly controversial issues.
253968
I think that the problem is the perception that it is okay to come here illegally.  We need to secure the borders, and allow legal immigration.  We need to raise minimum wage so those we allow in will not be unemployed, poor, and taking more from the society than they give.  This should go to ALL Americans!  \n\nWe need to amend the constitution to change citizenship to be for children born to LEGAL immigrants or that have one CITIZEN as a parent, otherwise they are not American.  This would eliminate the "Anchor Baby" issue.  \n\nWe need to NOT make all services available in any language requested.  We need to help folks learn english, and we should not disparage those that are learning.  If governement programs, driver license tests, IRS forms, and many others, were not made in Spanish, primarily for illegal immigrants, the need to learn english would be more important.  That being said, English classes should be taught for free by charitable organizations supported by the government.\n\nWe need intelligent, sane policies.  We need to be willing to pay the cost of farm products picked and handled by legal workers.\n\nIf we do all of this, MORE legal immigrants could come to America, because we would not be paying for and hunting down so many illegals!
361331
The immigration issue confronting the U.S. right now has nothing to do with Americans getting along with Mexicans.  The issue is wether or not to allow illegal immigrants to sstay in the U.S. and how we should defend our borders against illegals.
1162740
well, this illegal problem has been brewing for yrs, even since the last amnesty. this has been an issue that politicians hav avoided for at least 10-15 yrs, but since no one wants to focus on IRAQ & GAS prices, the immigration prob will do for now. this problem has been the cause of our gvmt & employers who indeed make it easy for illegals to work & stay here. ppl r just p*ssed off cuz it has been blown up & its easier to hate & assimilate than it is to hav a voice & an open mind. personally, i think that the honest, hard working non-recipients of public assistance should b able 2 stay if they pass a background check, etc.. after all, the blame should b placed on the American gvmt & Americans. people will treat u the way u allow them to treat u- & dam we've let it go on 4 so long we as americans r to blame. but that's me & we're all entitled to our own opinion-or lack there of.
676513
Illegal immigration. A very serious problem right now. We are being invaded, and for some reason we aren't stopping it. These illegal aliens are draining away at all of the public services that WE PAY TAXES FOR! The citizens of the U.S. pay the taxes, whilst these invaders do not. They are like leeches - and we are doing nothing to peel them off.\n\n1. They get free medical care from American hospitals.\n2. They get free food from various charities!\n\n\nBut, of course, the things that they get are not really free. Maybe for them they are, but someone is paying for them. Someone is paying for these unlawful citizens to abuse the system. The people paying for these undeserving illegal immigrants are the citizens of the United States.\n\nAnother thing - it's absolute idiocy that these invaders are calling the lawful citizens of America racists. Since when does standing up for your country make you a racist? It makes you a patriotic person!  But, in this case, it seems that some mindless sympathizers have fallen for the illegals nonsensical argument. They are actually convinced that they are racists for not supporting these people! But the very people they are supporting are draining away our culture and destroying our economy! It seems that the sympathizers want to kill our country! At the current rate of immigration, the states near the border will become majorly Mexican and will probably start demanding to join a state like Texas or California back into Mexico! If these invaders keep on coming, It will no longer be the United States of America.\n\nIt's absurd that some of the Mexicans believe that this is their country. They say that it has been their homeland for 40,000 years. They say that they are not illegal if it is their land. They tell the law-abiding people to read the history books and find out that it is their land. My history book says that we won Texas and other states from Mexico in a war. It is ours.\n\nHeres another argument that although seems reasonable, has many flaws. Some people believe that illegals are helping our economy by providing cheap labor for employers. This is true, but the money they make is not circulated back into the economic system. It's going back to Mexico. And, as the illegals pay no taxes, they aren't helping much there either. These illegals are not benefiting the system - they are destroying it.\n\n\nHere are my solutions to the problem:\n\n1. Deport illegal aliens as soon as they are found.\n2. Build a wall. The Great Wall helped the Chinese against the Mongolians. The wall that we have to build will help us with the criminal invaders that are the Mexican illegal immigrants.\n3. Talk to Vincente Fox and demand that he stops giving his people pamphlets on how to get in the U.S.A. illegally. It is happening, and it is a huge problem. Vincente Fox is a terrorist!\n4. Punish companies that hire illegal immigrants severely. If the illegals have no incentive to come, they won't come. Simple as that.\n\n\n\nEducation: $22.5 billion\nBilingual Education: $3.3 billion\nAFDC: $2.4 billion\nSSI: $2.9 billion\nSocial Security: $24.8 billion\nHousing Assistance: $2.6 billion\nCriminal Justice: $2.6 billion\nJobs Lost by Americans: $10.8 billion\nOther Programs: $51.4 billion\nFood Stamps: $7 billion\nHealth Care: $1.4 billion\n$131.7 billion annually. More than the War in Iraq has cost us annually. In fact, about twice as much. We've been in Iraq for 3 years. It has cost us about 277,000,000,000. Illegal immigrants have cost us 131,700,000,000 a year. And, that number will rise at the current rate of illegal immigration.\nWar protestors are always complaining that we've spent too much on the war - well, look at how much we've spent on illegal immigrants.
984049
It's relatively new since controlled immigration and the concept of legalising immigration is also relatively new.  Were we worried about this fifty years ago?  No, because immigrants did not want to emigrate here as badly.  Now, with labour becoming increasingly less expensive in other countries, we called in more immigrant workers to help boost the economy in the U.S. (yes, people, it was actually originally produced to boost immigration so that in the long run, the economy would boost), and it actually worked.  The only problem now is that corporations are now moving overseas to find cheap labor, or hiring ILLEGAL immigrants for cheap labour, and that's hurting the economy.  It's not immigration that's the problem - they have the same expectations and are legally bound to same rule that Americans are bound to when it comes to employment.  It's the problem of labour allocation (moving to other "cheaper" countries like China and boosting its economy, instead of our own) and hiring ILLEGAL immigrants.  I think we need to stop judging the legal immigrants - they came here for the same reason the original "Americans" came here, to make a better life for themselves and to work for fair wages.  Start blaming the employers of illegal immigrants and the corporations that are investing in underdeveloped countries.
395179
This is a very serious issue that can not be summed up in just a few words due to the sensitivity of the problem and I say problem because it is !\nImmigration into the US must be stopped on an illeagal plane due to the safety issues there are some that feel that none of them belong herebut to them I say "do you belong here and why" they were probably born here and have citizenship by rights but if you think back we are all decendants of immigrants to this country and to all those who wish to come to our country legally I say "welcome" but you must follow the proper way to gain entry and you must pay the taxes for the services you use because I am not going to support your family while you are here !!!!! I am also a little confused by the second part of your answer white or mexican? I am an American and wether I am black white or of mexican origin should and does not matter but if you are wondering my color?I am a white male and proud to have black and hispanic freinds!
548674
Only half in jest,you're entitled to your wrong opinion.seriously, Iraq has\nbeen a big problem for a few years,& we are probably taking a butt  whipping.Vietnam,redux.But I strongly disagree that the border/illegals thing is a non issue.Back in 1986, there was an amnesty declared for all the millions of illegals that had snuck over the border. The arguments back then were similar(with the exception of terrorism).Some things are still true-illegals still take some jobs that americans dont want. But they also take jobs that we can & will do. FYI, reps from the govts of honduras, guatemala and mexico expressed displeasure about our border security & said our policies violated the human & working rights of citizens of these countries. READ THAT LAST SENTENCE AGAIN. Mexican border guards kill guatemalan illegals by the truckload, then mexico complains about US??? IS THIS THE UNITED STATES OR Los Estados Unidos De Mexico y America Central???
410845
My take is the same as yours - a lot of hoo-ha and then back to life as we know it.  Personally, given the total reality of situation, I don't see a whole heckuva lot changing when it comes to illegal immigration.  Too many people getting too much out of it.