What do you think about illegal immigration?
360431
What part of the word "illegal" don't people understand?
908663
It is hard to have an argument for illegal immigration because it is "illegal".  We just need to find better ways to accept the people who want to come into this country so it is LEGAL.  Although it is the 21st century I believe the US's stance on immigration should still coincide with the "Great American Melting Pot".
835906
Illegal immigration is not good, but the people that are here illegally contribute to our society in a positive way.  These immigrants are the ones willing to do our "dirty" work (janitors, farmers, grape-pickers, etc.).  Without them, minimum wage will increase drastically, products will become more expensive, etc.  Politics won't tell you that - a lot of people are unaware of the benefits that these people have.  Wait until there are no more illegal immigrants and you'll see what I mean.
298480
Illegal immigrants don't steal jobs from Americans, they take the jobs that Americans tend to think are too menial to be worth the wage that the corporations are willing to pay (agriculture, hotels, and such mainly). Would you want to make sub-minimum wage for farm work? Or hotel room service work?\n\nI don't have a problem with people wanting to come here and make a living. Heck, that's how this country got started, how it grew, how it prospered. However, the way the world is now, I *DO* have a problem with illegal immigrants.\n\nI think that the borders should be strengthened. I think they should be walled, fenced, mined, guarded, patrolled by dogs, razor wired, electronically monitored, etc. I think anyone who tries to cross illegally should be consided a potential terrorist. I think those who try and sneak into this country should be punished. Those who come in legally, who want to work within the laws, who want to actually contribute... welcome to America. Come on in.
1054732
My parents were not legal Immigrants, but I am. For myself it wasn't that difficult, to get here from Scotland. It took effort and a lot of paper work, and a sponser, to guarantee, my welfare, for the first six months.\n I got a job early, and put no burden on my sponser. But I was covered by his generosity.\nOther legal immigrants from other nations, had the same problems as I did, some worse, due to the old quota systems. But they too all waited in lines, saw Doctors, got X-rays, filled reams of paper work, and did the right thing.\nIt angers me to see those illegals, sneak, or really, openly cross our borders.  They seem to think they are entitiled to do so. They see no crime being committed, and other latinos who were born here, or whos parents, got here, illegally or legally, try to help them out, and can't see what they are doing to our health system and schools.\nI think the politicians are working hand in glove with businesses, to supply this latest form of cheap labor.It lowers all our standard of living. See how expensive health care is now, if it's even available, and out pension plans, going down the tube. All of this isn't all due to illegal immigration, but it certainly isn't helped by it.\nWe need to control our borders and immigration. What other country would allow over twelve million illegals amongst them. \nI have no bias, against those people who are just trying to better their lives, for them and their families. But how much better would it be, if they did that in there own Country.\nMexico, could easily be a first world country, given its natural resources, and the skill and hard work of their natives. But their Government is too corrupt, and so few own the majority of the wealth of their nation, and aren't willing to share, it with the less fortunate amongst their people.
646313
Immigration is GREAT !!! When legally done..it's what makes America what it is...however, illegal immigration MUST be stopped...it's like a 2nd Welfare system draining our pockets....if you wanna come here ..you have to pay the freight...not me, or other Americans who are already paying MORE than our share. It's basically Freeloading...you come here for all the perks...and leave without paying taxes. Many get free healthcare..and other benefits that Amercan citizens who work can't afford. If you wanna come here...learn the language...and do it the right way.
241020
I hope someday happens. I think the US government should see both sides of the problem with illegal immigration and then decide what to do.\n\nI really have faith that the problem will someday be solve, soon or later it will be solved. I am just scared, because if it takes long time for this to happen, I am scared that a civil war will end this up. If is not a civil war, then it will be something worst.\n\nI hope both sides understnad the problem, but I am sure that people, immigrants, will let the government know that they don't like what they are doing.
1016145
Being from Texas, I've been aware of this issue for at least a decade. What's amazing to me is how some people can't see the difference between legal and illegal. They keep yapping about how racist it is to want to guard the U.S. border. They're obviously clueless as to what this constant invasion will mean to the future of the U.S. \nBut it has opened my eyes to how much our elected politicians do not want to stop the invasion.
273830
Those of you who sympathize with the illegal immigrants are thinking with your hearts. Do you think for one minute that I have no heart? I do, but I have to think with my brain. If I were them, I'd come here, too. But the fact of the matter is that these people are breaking the law by their mere presence.\n\nTo those of you who say that they are only here to do the jobs that no one else would do. THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE!!! My father was put out of business by them!!!! He was a private contractor/painter. They charge so little for their spray paint jobs on people's homes, and they are able to do that because they have no liscence to do contractor work and no insurance and pay no business or income taxes...their costs are lower because of these things. And do any of you know any high school students who would like a weekend/evening job but can't get one at McDonald's, etc? I do! And many other places that would have hired them in the past just don't, because they can hire undocumented ILLEGAL workers. And let's not forget that they don't come here alone...or if they do, they soon send for their family...wife and 4 or 5 or 6 kids...or maybe they just bring 2 and have the other 3 or 4 here on TAXPAYER MONEY!!!! And then we have to provide healthcare and education to them!!!!\n\nI don't think that these women who stay home with their kids are lazy. I TOO AM A STAY AT HOME MOM...and I do realize that many view it as a luxury. The problem is that they have babies at our expense. They file for MEDI-CAL (here in Calif. that's the publicly funded "insurance" for poor people...and my family doesn't make enough money to afford insurance, but we don't make little enough to qualify for this, but if someone with no papers walks into the office and says "I'm illegal and have no papers," they are not turned away, they are given a plastic card that entitles them to VISION, DENTAL, HEALTH, HOSPITALIZATION, and PRESCRIPTION BENEFITS that my family cannot even afford, and how is it being funded? MY HUSBAND'S PAYCHECK!! They get food stamps, section 8 (almost free housing) and crowd our Head Start (free preschool) and public schools.\nYou say that they improve the economy? The only people benefiting are business owners, the rich moviestars and CEO's who can afford them as nannies and gardeners and can afford to go to the car wash and out to dinner, and the rest of us have to suffer living among them and sending our kids to overcrowded failing schools!\n\nThat's the reality of it.\n\nHey, abbby23 (BELOW): I don't suck, and I'm not ignorant of history, but Mexico's ownership of California and other South Western States is just that: HISTORY! Does Mexico want it back? For what? It can't even take care of the states it has, that's why you guys are all coming here! You think I don't know that I am from immigrants? Of course I do! But don't pretend that you (I'm assuming you're Mexican, because of something you say, but if not, no harm intended) aren't half immigrant in your blood...yep, read your history, girl, your daddy came to this continent and raped yo mamma!! don't like to think of it that way, do you? The point, anyway is that this is NOW, CURRENTLY, and FOREVER a LAND OF LAWS. IF YOU WANT TO COME HERE, WHY NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS. I will admit that I feel a little bit guilty, seeing that I know and love quite a few Illegal Immigrants...but the opinion I'm voicing here is from the point of view of what is best for the U.S.A. not for the people I know. Naturally, I don't want my husband's uncle - who is here illegally (not to mention his wife and two of his daughters, and several of my husband's cousins, etc.) I don't really want them deported. They're great, hardworking people. But the citizens of this country need to draw the line and get people to follow the laws. If I blatantly broke laws like Illegal
662144
i think immigration is great for our country, but the problem with ILLEGAL immigrants is that they don't pay taxes, but still use public services. that really sucks. as far as im concerned, if they really wanted to be here they would\n1.apply for citizenship\n2.learn our language\n3.become a part of society\nand for all you people who think everyone is just pissed at the mexicans, i don't like illegal aliens from ANY country. immigrants from every country are overstaying their visas, people just tend to focus more on the mexicans because there are more of them than others
1024277
I am very pro-illegal... and I used to not be... but since I moved to Los Angeles, my view of what an illegal immigrant does differs from what I thought it was...\n\n1.  If you see a panhandler or a begger, what do those signs always say?  Vietnam Vet, or something to that effect... and they're very rarely hispanic... Go to any homeless shelter, and tell me the racial demographics of the homeless, the alcoholics and the drug addicted that roam the streets... They are mostly American Citizens, who contribute less than nothing to the US...\n\n2.  They are always working, whether they are selling fruit near a highway entrance, or washing dishes, or picking produce.  When people talk about hispanics, they always say they're taking our jobs... b/c they're willing to work hard for them, while Citizens believe that they are entitled to the jobs just b/c they are citizens...\n\n3.  They drain our welfare system... Believe it our not, it's very hard to receive federal assistance without a SSN... There are a programs to help with the poverty stricken in general.  Also If we were to legalize them, they have to produce financial documents stating that they will NOT receive any form of federal assistance... so if we DON'T want them getting any more federal assistance... legalize them... \n\n4.  They are criminals and bring drugs and gangs into the US... Well people of all color and race do drugs and join gangs... so as long as they are people, there will be some good ones and some bad ones... but to classify an entire race due to the actions of a few, is not fair\n\n5.  They will be a financial strain? NO! B/C they will now pay taxes, and they cannot fake the number of dependants, b/c they all the SSN... Also the estimated 60+ million (Which is the latest and most accurate number to date, but ofcourse it's all guessing... )  would have to PAY to receive Amnesty.  Right now to become a Citizen LEGALLY costs anywhere for 700 - 1000$ for filing ONLY, if you hire a lawyer, it could be MORE... So for example only 30million are actually able to receive amnesty... they will pay lets say 1000 each... that would be 30 billion dollars in revenue... not to mention new jobs created to handle the paperwork, as well as more work for lawyers, which creates more work for paralegals, which creates more schools for paralegals, which creates more jobs for those working at the schools, which creates more jobs for day care centers.. you get my point?\n\nGranted there are problems with Amnesty.. I know there will be problems with Medical care, housing, schools etc.. but since it's only for people who ALREADY are here... HAVE been here for many years... The change in housing and school crowding shouldn't be the biggest issue... The bigger issue is how will we tame the anger and animosity we've created between two classes of peole that have become one... That is the true issue...
447464
Illegal immigration in the US???
419286
Do You REALLY Want To Know What I Think???\nOK, I'll TELL You\n\nA close, personal friendship with President George W. Bush has given Mexicos President Vicente Fox the opportunity to purposely allow (or even send) Millions of Criminals, Thugs, Anarchists, and Potential Terrorists to swarm over our southern border in breathtaking numbers. (Nearly half of all illegal aliens currently living in the U.S. came here since Bush became president in 2000.)  \n\nFolks, There Are More Than 20 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS In Our Country\n\nMore Than 80 Percent Of Them Came Over Our Southern Border\n\nAND...They Are Still Arriving  - At A Rate Of 8 Thousand Per Day\n\nEl Presidente Fox has been unrelenting in his brazen DEMANDS  on The United States, Starting with OPEN BORDERS even before he was elected. He has called for OUR Border to be a " Joining Line.” His visits to the U.S. have been filled with endless requirements for Mexican Citizens Illegally in OUR Country — \n-Taxpayer-Subsidized In-State Tuition for Illegals at state colleges and universities, \n-Free Healthcare, \n-Guestworker Programs \n-And AMNESTY for all. -       \n\nThe American people need to understand that the United States is under attack! No, not by Iraq or Iran, but by MEXICO! \n\nThe MEXICAN GOVERNMENT  Has Been Deliberately and Systematically working To Destabilize and Undermine The very Fabric and Framework of American Society. \n\nMexicos President Vicente Fox Has superintended over the biggest invasion of the United States in our country's history. - That's right, Invasion! \nhttp://frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=21309\n\n(For The Past 25 Years Or So) The U.S. is being Invaded by People from Another Nation - They Aren't Citizens --They  Don't Pay the Taxes -- Their ALLEGIENCE  is to their HOME COUNTRIES. \n\n$$39 BILLION Dollars -With a B- That Amount Of The money They Earn in this Country is sent back to their own nation. ANNUALLY-In 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 SOCIAL SERVICES  (HEALTH, EDUCATION, and WELFARE) Than they pay into the System. This is so, because many of them work under the table and **Don't Pay Income Taxes,** \nThe TAXPAYING CITIZENS (Thats YOU Folks) Are Supporting Them\n\nMEChA and the LA RAZA movement teach that Colorado, California, Arizona, Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon and parts of Washington State make up an area known as "AZTLAN" -- A fictional ancestral homeland of the Aztecs before Europeans arrived in North America. \nAs such, it belongs to the followers of MEChA. These are all areas America should surrender to "La Raza" once enough immigrants, legal or illegal, enter to claim a majority, as in Los Angeles. The current borders of the United States will  be extinguished.\n\nThe Council of LA RAZA succeeded in having itself added to congressional hearings by Republican House and Senate leaders. And an anonymous senator even gave the Council of La Raza an extra $4 million in earmarked taxpayer money, (supposedly for "housing reform,") while La Raza continues to lobby the Senate for virtual open borders and AMNESTY for ILLEGAL ALIENS \nhttp://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=13863\n\n-- Angel Gutierrez, \nProfessor, University of Texas, Arlington- \nFounder of the La Raza Unida political party - \n"We have an aging white America.  They are not making babies.  They are dying.  The explosion is in our population . . .They are shitting in their pants with fear...I love it. We have got to eliminate the gringo, and what I mean by that is, if the worst comes to the worst, we have got to kill him."  \n\n-- Art Torres \nCalifornia Democratic Party chairman - \nAt the Latino Summit in Response to Prop 187 at U.C. Riverside (Jan. 14, 1995): \n"Power is not giv
1169451
Good question.  I'd like to hear some good reasons why they think it is acceptable too. Personally I don't think there is ANY valid argument that will fly for coming here illegally.  I'll check back.  Thanks for asking.
612938
I can't believe the drivel that comes out of some people's mouths (or, in this case, fingers).\n\nThere are clearly two distinct camps on both the issue of illegal immigration and the invasion on Iraq. However, I am of the opinion that both do not necessarily require the same answer.\n\nIllegal immigrants come to the United States seeking a better life. They frequently face numerous challenges just to get here, and then they face racism and intolerance when they get here. I think there are many problems with the current immigration laws, and I don't see an easy solution. However, I don't think the current laws are fair. The citizenship test is all but impossible, and the whole process is terribly expensive. Now think about it--most of the people who want to come here are looking for a better life. They don't have the financial or educational resources to do so through legal means. At the same time, I don't think we should allow everybody to immigrate to the U.S. We are already overpopulated! My class is already full, and a number of my students are illegal immigrants. It's a challenging dilemma, and the right and wrong of it are completely ambiguous.\n\nThe invasion on Iraq, on the other hand, was unnecessary and violated international policy. It was a means for Bush to garner support and rally the country after 9/11. It worked so well that he just wants to continue with it. Propaganda will influence a majority of the population a majority of the time. We don't need to be there. This war is about more than terrorism, or even oil. It's about making Bush look good.
470660
OK,I have been called alot of names for this but here I go ....\nThere are 12 million illegal immigrants in this country RIGHT NOW.If they all became LEGAL right now that means:\nThey for sure would be paying taxes.(imagine how much 12 million ppl would contrbute)\nThey would have to be paid decent wages(thus not lowering wages).\nThey would no longer be ILLEGAL.(tired of hearing that one,how are ppl illegal).\nThey would be documented,with health screens,finger prints,background checks.\nThey could no longer be exploited.\nI know I am forgetting some things,but I think this is the only solution(here come the insults).I don't agree with breaking apart families,or sending ppl away that have been productive members if this society for decades."Illegal" immigration has been going on for a long time and only now it is a country wide issue.And I don't think all those ppl should be deported because some ppl want to label them as "illegal" or because they are stigmatized.\nAnd I also think the border should be better looked after.I love my ppl, but damn.
577837
I strongly support legall immigration, if you're looking for a better lifestyle, you must work and pay for it. \n\nI disagree with illegal immigration, but I think I understand it, people is desperate and hungry, they do it just to survive, if they go peacefully just to work, they shouldn't be treated like criminals or animals... they must regularize their situation in the US, to live in peace there, that way would be better for both sides.\n\nAnd it is sad to see good people's efforts ruined by illegals that take advantage of the situation and start breaking systematically the law, forming gangs, singing the american national anthem in spanish (when you're in the US, you must respect the national symbols as you want yours to be respected as well) and claiming those territories were ours and we'll take them back (like a form of invasion). These kind of people give good reasons to racist groups to convince good american people to reject every latin they see, and instead of helping their own people, make things even harder.