what do you think about allowing immigrants into our country?
342705
I wish I could find a good one to clean our house.
817494
I feel we should let them come over. However, they should have (if immigrated legally) a mandatory 2 years served in our military. If caught immigrating illegally, they should have a 10 year mandatory serve and sent back. If they are caught in the act of crossing a border (mainly hispanics, obviously) they should serve 15 years and sent back. My $0.02. American.
673628
I don't think so. My family came from Italy to America legally, and worked hard to become US citizens and learn English. They struggled for a better life. Why belittle the privilege of being a citizen of the Great United States of America? We should welcome all who come in good faith and rejoice with them when they are declared citizens just as many of our descendants have done. \n\n\nYou started me thinking about the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, "Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..." \n\nIt was never meant to say, "Just walk right in and do what you want."\n\nThere is good reason to come to this country legally, and sure we could make it a little easier, but what it all comes down to...    It IS worth it.\n\n\nUpdate: I have just read some of the replies of the people who are against enforcing legal immigration and oddly enough I don't think any of them are native Americans. They probably don't know how hard their ancestors had to work to give them the life they have now. I'm a young man, and luckily, I've never forgotten.\n\nRegards to all,\n\nBlewz4u
686150
The majority of immigrants come to this country for the American dream, hoping for a better life and their children. Although it's politically wrong to engage in illegal crossing to another country, the incentive is still strong. Many of them have successfully made it to America.\n\nLet's not to say it's a waste of our tax money for their welfare, education, etc.., but many of the illegal immigrants have improved our economy nonetheless involving in crucial jobs. U.S. employers and consumers would suffer as well as the illegal migrants who are deported. Reforms that deport illegal migrants are unwise: for economic as well as humanitarian and pragmatic reasons.\n\nI think the alternative is to have a guest-worker program, with low administrative burdens and job flexibility for migrants with a path to permanent residency for being hardworking and eventually earning a naturalized citizenship. It could enhance our economy and reduce the flow of attempted illegal crossings.\n\nRemember the United States is made up of various diverse races as a nation. We should be proactive, not reactive, to work around this matter in the long run.
118375
We need to control who enters our country. Illegal immigration results in a lack of control. Though some would like to help as many people out as possible there are limits to the help we can provide. We need to reasonable and sensible with our resources. Via illegal immigration, criminals or terrorists can access our country without our knowledge. In addition, we must insure that people who enter our country are inocculated and have not contracted any infectious diseases. We want to mantain our infrastucture of economics, medical and education needs. With a lack of knowledge of how many people are here and who they are, how can we plan and budget for our needs?\nThink of it like a rescue boat, only so many people can fit before we begin to sink. Plus who would you want in your boat, the murderer or a child?
120791
*Retrieving part of an earlier post of this nature*\n\nKK First I'd like to cut to the chase here, it is a wolf thing you know...\n\nI wanna say I have no prob with immigrants, after all most of the people we concider American's ancestors (and some of mine) were immigrants who came here by legal means. There is no problem there.\n\nThat said, let us define then the real problem...\nIllegal Immigration and what is wrong with that can be summed up in one word...\nILLEGAL!!!\nNothing more is needed to define that, but for those who need a definition between immigrants who apply to the US through proper channels and are here by set rules and permissions and those here by illegal means...\n\nOK, they are here not by following proper applicants and permissions, gaining entry by just crossing over into this country or outstaying visa's and never leaving.\n\nI do have a problem with the huge amount of money being shelled out by us tax payers to pay for welfare, education, medical ect to someone here illegally.\n\nNot only that, it is evident here in states on the borders that businesses are using low wage/under the table pay Illigals as their workers. And we are not just talking picking fruit in fields. All sectors are now affected by it, from construction, to manufacturing, to high tech trade jobs. Often using falsefied documents to obtain those positions.\nIt is wrong that Americans who wish to work cannot find work at a reasonable wage and must resort to accepting near minimum for positions that took years of educational expenses and experience to be able to do or to go on unemployment as they cannot find the work that pays a reasonable wage to meet living expenses or to move to areas not as affected by the situation...\n\nIt is past time our government here in the US starts representing the US people and stop accepting big business money to ignore the problem.
651281
I am very honored that so many people want to come over here to the United States. This is supposed to be the land of freedom and opportunity. If we look at it, everyone is an immigrate. People have fled to the U.S. to escape poverty, genocide, political instablity, etc. As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for my ancestors who were forced to come to this land during the slave trade, I would have never been here. Why is it that only the United States is trying to protect the borders so harshly. I've traveled to may countries, not a a legal citizen, but as a tourist, and I have been welcomed with open arms. The resources that we take for granted such as health care, retirement, and social security, isn't offered to a lot of people outside the United States. Everyone should be given an equal opportunity, but on the other hand, we are over looking the fact that there are people who are sneaking into the United States that what to cause harm. Maybe the process of becoming a legal citizen shouldn't be so hard. How would you like it if you were only considered a citizen based on a document of papers? I'm not discriminating against Africans, Jews, Polish, Hispanic, Arabic, or any other race. We just need to redefin where we are trying to do with this immigration bill and not over react by saying that immigrates will be felones and will have to be deported. This just ridiculous if you ask me.
536011
Some yes, some no. \n\nI think those that have been here for 15 years, can pass a literacy test and swear alligiance to the US and who can substantiate that they have worked most of their time here or are a spouse of a worker I think they should be granted amisty . The 15 year period has to be unbroken. That is no deportations or arrests during that time period. I also feel they must renounce citizenship in the country of origion. Something we don't do for most imigrants but the fact they arrived here illegally I think is justification for more stringent requirements. \n\nFor those here less than that or ones we keep deporting and catching again. No I think we should grant them no amisty. I feel that the majority of them do not want to be Americans except for economic gain and do not believe in the US. Nor that they would have anything like the tolerance we have for them if the posisitions were reversed.  I think they would throw us out on our ear in a heart beat. Often they do even here. Try to get a job working at a place where mostly illegals work. If the boss is an illegal you'll find that the job is not availible for people of a different ethnic group. \n\nI think blanket amesty would be to revive racial/ethnic/religious prejudice in the nation. I think we will fragment along these lines and encourage even more enemies of the US to come here. While the majority of illegals come here just for work. They have been recruited en masse by legals once here by various racist organizations such as LULU. \n\nI also think that unemployment will reach new heights as most of these former illegals will suddenly want better paying jobs that do not exist and be replaced by illegals. With our welfare system already near collapse this would be just enough to end most social services for the poor for all Americans I feel. \n\nThen there is a secondary issue. If we allow these people to become Amercians in mass. It opens the door for relitives to come over here outside of quotas. So if we give 3 million illegals amesty then we have just brought over 10 million other relitives of these 3 million. I don't think the US could survive such an influx of people, especially when the bulk of them will be of a single non-English speaking ethnic  group. Remember legal US citizens have the right to bring over direct family members legally and unaffected by quotas.
536581
I think immigrants are a great thing and don't forget america was founded on immigrants. As for illegal immigrants from Mexico, they tend to take the shittiest jobs and get paid below miniumum wage. Immigrants are what make this country. Illegal immigrants aren't ok but what do you suggest? a police state in which everyone has to carry an ID at all times proving they belong to the country. And if and illegal immigrant is found, shoot him at sight? The ones that cause trouble end up getting arrested and deported, the ones that don't just have to work harder than most because there is unfortunatly a lot of discrimination against them. I can't believe this place has so many intolerant ignorant people proposing radical measures and hostility torwards people that were born in a different country. \n\nAmericans had it easy long enough and if there's someone else willing to work harder than them for less pay they should be able to.. isn't that what capitalism/free market is all about??
863066
I am assuming this is a class assignment since it has been asked a couple times tonight..\n\n "Do you think that immigration should be limited or that any limits should be lifted - Why"\n\n"Do you think that it is different today than in the past and why?"\n\n"Do you think that illegal immigration should be punished and why?"\n\n"Who do you think should have to pay for the immigration process (background checks etc.)?"\n\n"What do you think should be the criteria, if any, for someone wanting to be a citizen (in the past there were job and or monetary requirements, should there be now and why)?"\n\n"Should our immigration laws be stricter or more lenient than other countries'?"\n\nHope this gets you started. Good Luck!
401867
I think they should be sent back and come back here LEGALLY.. it's not that hard... unless you are a criminal. Then you don't belong here anyways.
1096698
I TOTALLY agree that the illegal immigrants should learn English and become legal. Our ancestors which came here over 200 years ago, wanting to become legal and assimilate to our culture. They were proud to be American and payed their taxes, knowing that was their price for a better life. We shouldn't have to assimilate to other peoples culture if they want to come over here. i have no problem with people wanting to come over here legally. America is a melting pot that is a mixture of many cultures. I also, have no problem with them flying their flag. I am proud of my heritage and, would have an Italian flag in my house. That's not saying that I am not proud to be American it is that i am also proud of where I came from.
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!
516714
Also, look at it this way...if people were to invade your country and demand what belongs to you should belong to them, would you be okay with it?  If so, then open up your southern borders!  If you can't differentiate between LEGAL and ILLEGAL, then you need help in the head.\n\nbtw,\n\nIf you're against illegal immigration, please click on the link below. United we stand, together we'll defeat and deport the illegals!!\n\nhttp://www.illegalimmigrantprotest.com
328881
I can't comprehend why any illegal immigrant couldn't have just came here legally. I don't have a problem with people coming to the United States that way. However, I do have a problem when [insert nationality] sneaks by our borders and settles down. It's not fair to those who already live here.\n\nWhich brings me to my next point: immigrants taking American jobs. The fact is, yes, they do take our jobs; IF they aren't legal, that is. Furthermore, illegals take up living space, use up American food and drink, ride our public transportation, and take advantage of our welfare and/or other government aid programs. I don't have a problem with legal Americans using the above. I DO have a problem with illegal [insert nationality] doing so.\n\nBy now, it should make a whole lot of sense. You don't deserve to be in America unless you're legal. Otherwise, you need to be kicked in the teeth and sent back until you're ready to earn your way in like everyone else.\n\nOne last thing: I HATE, beyond explanation, immigrants who come to this country and wave their flag before ours. I HATE immigrants who come to this country and refuse to speak English; it's uncomfortable to hear a different language in public. What if they are talking about setting up a bomb? It's only proper to know and have a complete understanding of the English language in this country. Finally, I HATE that our government is being so lenient on illegal immigration.\n\nThere's no excuse. If you're illegal, get out! We don't want you draining our resources!
323295
I agree. If you want to come into the US you do it legally and you have to obay our laws. OOPs you already broke one. You came here illegally. Laws are for a reason. If everyone got way with breaking laws the US would be like the Country you are trying to flee.
200989
yes becuz canada is having a people shortage i mean canada does not have enough people,,and legal imigrants would be a great thing to have!!