Is it illegal to be American?
364251
----Actually to all those that call you a jerk, they clearly don't know what they are talking about...more ignorant folks than you can shake a stick at.  When one marries an alien, they don't become a citizen automatically and it certainly ain't free.  It is also fraud to marry someone just so they can get a green card.\n\nI'm not really sure what the question is here, but I will try to comment on what you wrote.\n\nFirst of all, not many Americans (including those that work in the immigration system for a living) understand the phenomenon of immigration in the United States very well.  So don't feel badly.\n\nThere is a myth perpetuated in American schools that the United States is special somehow because it is a "country of immigrants."  This is a real fallacy.  Most countries are countries of immigrants...everyone had to come from somewhere.  I'll bet most of the population in the United States has already been there for many generations.  However, this creates the expectation among many Americans that immigration of any kind is perfectly acceptable and even wonderful somehow.\n\nThere are many ways of looking at the phenomenon: political, sociological, administrative, etc.  A lot of Americans don't give it a lot of thought at all, assuming that things will just take care of themselves like they always have.  Some Americans see immigration as a constant source of cheap labor, easily exploitable, whether legal of illegal.  Politicians, understanding that everyone in their precinct eventually will probably be a voter, are not really in a hurry to be anti-immigrant, and will even interfere with Executive Branch processes on the behalf of illegal aliens residing in their districts in hope of getting their votes in the future.  Other folks don't like the idea of people breaking the law to get benefits for which they don't contribute.  And still others have a mix of sentiments.\n\nHere is the scoop.  There are two general types of immigrants: those who enter the United States legally with the permission of the Government; and those who don't.  The latter category include those who defraud or violate status once they are in, in addition to those who walk across the border or are otherwise trafficked across. In my experience, legal immigrants resent illegals because they didn't bother to go to the trouble that they went to.\n\nPeople want to improve their lives.  It is a basic fact that distinguishes man from animals.  You can hardly blame a guy for wanting to do that.  However, crossing the border without the permission of that country is a violation of the sovereignty of that nation.  That is hard to explain to guy living on beans and tortillas, and it is a rather thin distinction when his family is starving.  One illegal hardly hurts anyone, right?  \n\nHowever, a flood of aliens puts a strain on a country's financial resources.  Also, turning a blind eye to illegal entry also helps criminals make a profit from facilitation.  People in the destination country are not always nice and will often exploit an illegal worker.   Therefore, a country puts up controls to try and responsibly manage immigration. \n\nThis allows people from all countries, including many refugees, to seek a better life in the United States in a manner which protects them from exploitation and gives them the means to start productive lives, paying back into the tax base which supports schools, public services, etc.  there are many ways this happens through the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security (formerly INS).  Through the use of immigrant visas, the Department of State seeks to reunify families which have already immigrated to the US, allow new immigrants to immigrate, and permit talented professionals to enter to pursue their professions.  The Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also issue refugee documents allowing thousands of
236281
It is illegal to do such a thing.
995970
if you were born in the USA you are an American
553123
i know for a fact it is illegal in the us because i'm an american. go george bush
1098903
My belief is No!  I am a tenth generation American with many immigrant grandfathers, I am also Choctaw Indian.  My husband and I have been forced to deal with a decaying economy, and poverty because Illegal Immigrants come to America and Accept all the benefits every Legal Immigrant, and American has already earned.\nIs Stealing a crime?\nWhen you reap benefits that you have not earned you do not deserve them.\nAnd, that is what Americans are raised to believe.
1060092
Americans have a Constitutional Right to say anything they wish, in any language, as long as they are willing to pay the consequences in civil action suits. It is called Free Speech. But, if  I say something untrue about someone and it is considered damaging to their reputation, they can sue me. If I say something that incites hate, I can be taken to civil court.\nIn Canada there are two official languages, English and French, but there is a large Asian population in Canada and the Asians use their native language much of the time. \nIn the USA many people speak Spanish. It is certainly not illegal. I think Americans are patriotic, and in light of current events they are touchy about the subject. I think there may be some concern that Spanish will become a 2nd official language.\nThe whole subject is about communication, and honest communication breaks down barriers.\nThanks for the question.
765390
everyone wants to be american...dont they?
510051
Yes, illegal is a crime in America.
979067
You are American, aren't you?...
604586
An American is an American.  We all have the same rights.  And if akk American is more of that hyphenated-American immigration crap, get over it.  Once you "LEGALLY' live here, you are an AMERICAN, PERIOD.  The name of your previous country is null and void.  It is now your ethnic background, not your nationality! you left there remember??.  If you prefer to be called and akk or what ever, move back to akk or where ever you came from.  You came here for a reason...to become an American.
585655
No I do not.  Laws were made not to be broken.  Although all laws are not right all the time, I believe it is unethical to live illegaly in another country.\n\nCulturally, I feel like America is a very diverse country and that is what makes it unique.  However, we as Americans are just that Americans and should live under no other flag, language, or pride.  I feel a lot of the times immigrants come over to create and support their own mini-country in some areas.  We all have seen mini-Mexicos, Chinatowns, etc.  A lot of times I feel like they are living and exhibiting like their home country instead of trying to positively and actively portray being a good citizen that deserves that American opportunity by being a good example of an American period.  Not to say at all that one is not worthy but I think a lot of times they need to do their best in trying to uphold and even contribute to uplifting society and not perpetuating a cycle of poverty and ignorance (poor education)as well as a lack of encouraging betterment for future generations.  A lot of times parents are too preoccupied with working to siply provide and then the children are caught between two cultures with a lack of full direction resulting in a lot of teen pregnancy, wrong turns early in life, or lack of wanting a better life.  I am by no means characterizing an entire group, I know that everyone is different and some do well and want better but these situations have been long realized and backed.
930348
Yes and Bill Gates is an American........\n.Legal immigration is good and illegal is a crime.
972800
no way, they were born here so what makes that illegal?
448479
Why ? If you are an American then you are an immigrant. If you are not FOR immigration then you better hand it over to original Indians. Just because you got comfy comfy so you want to deny it to others?
684261
Not ALL people from another country are illegal . Just the people who come here without permission to do so and stay here and don't pay taxes.  Yeah, that's pretty illegal.  On the other hand, if someone comes here with a green card or something legal like that; it's all good.
613760
If you would like to ultimately become an American,you should try to legally migrate to the US.
676804
Based on your use of "YOU" when referring to the U.S.A., I can assume that you either aren't in the U.S. and therefore you should mind your own business, or you are in the U.S. but don't identify yourself as an American.\n\nIn either case: You are no better than the dog sh!t I wipe off the bottom of my shoe.