Do you favor stricter immigration laws or do you support a guest-worker plan to immigrants?
466538
Both, they aren't mutually exclusive. The Guest Worker program must have a defined end. Workers should not be able to stay indefinetly.\n\nI haven't seen all of the details yet but the way the McCain/Kennedy proposal handles the current illegals seems pretty good to me.
785055
Yes I would support it. If they become legal then people can't use them as scab labor while they take jobs away from American citizens. They'd pay taxes just like we do.
371688
I hope you don't suppose or believe that those who oppose illegal immigration are "hating" anyone?  Please know there is a difference.  \n\nWanting to have our laws respected (there is a law against coming here illegally) is important to any society.  I want our laws enforced.  That means not allowing people of any race or color to break it for any reason.  The businesses that employ illegal immigrants should be sanctioned by our government to the fullest extent of the law.  Those here illegally should be made to leave.\n\nI'm all for a broad legal system for which people can come here and work.  I would think those from Mexico would rather come here, fill out some paper work, pay a small fee, then try to cross the deserts and rivers at night?
776901
I do not like or dislike a person based on whether they are doing something illegal.  I base it on whether they are doing something wrong.\n\nWe need to keep in mind that illegal and immoral are two different things, not necessarily coordinate.  After a law is changed, we sit back and admire the courage of those who defy it.  So why not before, when you know the law is wrong?\n\nIt is wrong to make it so hard for people to come to America and work honestly for a living, pay taxes and look forward to taking the citizenship test.  I will grant you it is irritating to pay taxes to support schooling and health care for illegals; but it is just as irritating to pay taxes to support schooling and health care for citizens who can support themselves but don't.  So what's the difference?  That part is the government's fault, not your maid's or your gardener's.
957397
They are in favor of a "path to citizenship" (DNC Website) which is the same thing as Bush's "guest worker program".  Look for amnesty coming up.
388366
Oppose illegal immigration, for legal immigration.
332054
I'm a future Latino citizen.  I'd be happy to have a good and generous guest-worker program in place for low-wage workers, tight control of the border, and amnesty for illegal immigrants who have taken roots in the US.  I would hate to see sixty year old people who have nothing left in their own countries deported to satisfy the lust for revenge of some.  I am pretty sure that many of the people who rant and rave against illegals have ancestors who came to the US when the US had much laxer immigration policies, policies that allowed the uneducated, the illiterate, the poor, the hard-working, to come to the US and pursue the American dream.
186518
I oppose amnesty for illegals, no matter what!  I am in favor of those who enter through legal means.  I would like to know how many of the 500,000 protesters,  were legal US citizens?  I'm sure most were not.  I do not feel it is fair to those who came here through legal means, nor do I feel it is the responsibility of those of us who regularly pay taxes to pay for health care, education, and welfare of those who sneak into this country.  Not to mention the cost to the communities for law enforcement.  \nI think anyone who harbors an illegal should be prosecuted for aiding and abetting criminals.  If the Church harbors illegals, it should not only loose tax free status, but the priest or minister should also be brought to justice.  Same thing for employers-if you pander to illegals you should be arrested.\nAnd for those who claim illegals work jobs that Americans won't, I say if all employers paid a decent wage, there are plenty of Americans willing to work.  Secondly, if there is such a shortage of workers, let's put the people on welfare to work, and get them off the welfare lines.
886680
Mine is illegal aliens causing a division for Middle America.. I am opposed to the idea of having a rich and poor division here.. The rich will be rich, the poor will be poor.. how boring America will be without us Middle class citizens..
686955
It will still be the issue of enforcement. We have a guest worker program. If they enforced the laws we would not be in this situation.
497442
I don't know his reasoning behind the Minuteman thing.  I have to say I was kind of surprised by that.  It may just be that he doesn't want an international incident while we are working things out still, domestically.\n\nI think he really does want to strengthen the border, so in that sense I don't think he is 'supporting illegal immigration'.  He is then trying to increase legal immigration through a guest worker program, since people wanting cheap labor was obviously one of the reasons the problem got where it did.  If his program worked perfectly (people actually go back at the end of their visas, etc.) it would mean we would still get immigrants, but at least they would be in the system.  Meanwhile the criminals and terrorists could be kept out.\n\nStopping the flow of illegal immigrants has a huge economic effect on Mexico, granted it was because our money was being sent 'home' there while the services for supporting the worker and his family were being used in this country.  It would be something any Mexican President would be interested in, and both Fox and his leftist opponent are running on platforms based on OUR immigration laws.\n\nI think Bush's main priority is the national security issue of securing the border, and he has the other elements in place to build a consensus and (with regards to the illegals already here) for reasons of practicality and humanity.\n\nI wouldn't think it was a bad system as long as the border were secured BEFORE legal immigration were increased.  However, there are absolutely people lobbying for even more relaxed immigration.  The pro-illegals are asking for a rolling statute of limitations that would make illegal immigrants legal if they could get here illegally and remain here for three years.\n\nContact the Senate Majority leader and House Leader with your concerns, since they will have the greatest impact on negotiating the actual Bill to be voted on.
584220
H-LL NO, They broke the law coming here illegally....If they came here legal I would offer help...\nThe illegals work, don't pay taxes, or support the country, their money goes back to Mexico....some FAMILIES I am already supporting on welfare, (so they can send the money they make back to Mexico)... I don't want them in my house too....If they are here legal, I would offer to help them get on their feet......Some people say we need them, that is an excuse, we have to many homeless, jobless people here that are AMERICAN, most would do any kind of work to improve their lives & get food in their bellies....I would not help any ILLEGAL people, I have & will help the hungry & donate to homeless shelters...people say this country was founded by immigrants, LEGAL ONE'S.......Peace & God Bless
545339
Typically I think Bush is sincere and sticks to his guns.  Here I think his National Guard to the border band-aid will drain needed border security funds for permanent improvements.  Worse, I think it is an insult to our intelligence.  When the Guard goes home, nothing will be left for that expense.\n\nI think he is carrying water for big business here, to be honest.  He has always wanted a guest worker program going forward to get the cheap labor, and I suspect he will work hard to get it.  I think it may result in no bill being passed, however.  It is unfortunate for the illegal immigrants here if that happens since their legalization has been tied to the going forward authorization to bring in a perpetual class of cheap labor.  The fact that the cost of that labor (education services, etc.) would be paid for by voters is what may kill the bill.  If employers want that going forward expansion of legal immigration, they should truly fund ALL costs of that program.  Meanwhile illegal immigrant legalization is being held hostage so long as the going forward immigration plan is tied to legalization of current illegals.\n\nI would support legalization of current, qualified illegals with roots if I knew the border is going to be truly secure.  I think we need to see how effective border security actually is before we add on a future guest worker program to bring in new people who may not leave, however.
469046
The reason is that, they are considering both sides of the coin. Ilegal aliens work in restaurants (cooking, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, etc, for low wages). The truth is that employers don't want to hire U.S. Citizens because U.S. Citizens want more money. So, let's say that they hire U.S. Citizens for 50% more in they paycheck than Ilegal aliens. Than increase would be reflected in the price of the goods or services. Can you imagine drivers,cooks,construction laborers, janitors, plumbers etc?\nWe complain about the problem, but we don't want high prices on most products and services.\nThe politicians are evaluting the problem, but most likely they have to come with some kind of guest worker program, to help businesses succeed and not fail.\nOtherwise who is going to do those jobs for minimum wages?\nAnother thing is Taxes. Ilegals pay taxes for groceries, gasoline, insurance, utility bills, licence plates, etc.\nCan you imagine how much money those people generate to most States?. Believe or not Millions of dollars that help the economy of the United States.\nWe definitely want that problem solved without a high price.
603198
The problem is that in order to get a perpetual stream of low wage workers, big business has tangled the amnesty concept up in the guest worker program.  A Senator projected immigration under the guest worker program, including the increased legal immigration going forward, as bringing in an additional 217 million poor immigrants in the next 20 years on top of those already here.  There is no provision for employers to offset the impacts on schools or other services.  \n\nI think the guest worker plan in this form has to go.  I would be OK with legalizing current qualified illegal immigrants so long as I really felt the border was secure and employers could be held accountable.  I would combine the House Bill provisions on border security with the Senate Bill employer database and penalty provisions.  \n\nHowever, an increase in legal immigration assumes that we have really stopped the illegal immigration.  I think we need to make sure the border is actually secure before deciding whether and how much to increase legal immigration rates going forward.
573986
I'm not sure I'm reading your question properly:  Would refusing to hire illegals make Mexico better and be better for illegals?  \n\nTo be honest, I think the particular illegal must think his or her immediate future is better here and working.  However, as social policy, so long as we are a pressure valve for Mexico's poor and criminal (gee, thanks on that last, too) they have no need to reform.\n\nI did notice that Kennedy tried to put into the Senate Bill something about OSHA regulations having to be followed for the guest workers, too, and IT WAS VOTED DOWN!  I am not sure what that is supposed to mean.  Guest worker eyes, fingers and toes aren't important to protect?  Aliens thrive on lead based paint dust? \n\nI'm beginning to think we should go with clean border security now, then take a long hard look at how we want to handle the rest.
689980
It is cheap to the employer because the taxpayers pay the benefits for the employer's employees.  That is why the employers are pushing the guest worker program.  The smallest part of the guest worker program allows limited potential legalization for some current illegals.  Most of the guest worker program is to provide a going forward cheap (to employers) work force to the tune of 185 million to 217 million poor immigrants over the next 20 years.  \n\nThis is intended to permanently drive down wages for the less skilled.  Meanwhile, the employers want to welcome the new immigrant's families so the schools and social services throughout the country will be overburdened.   (Did you know that it costs $18,000 per year to educate a single child in California?) As a result, education through the public schools will degrade even further, and upward mobility will be reduced.\n\nWe will become an upper crust of rich and a vast lower class of poor with perpetually reduced wages and educational options.\n\nWait a second, isn't that what the illegals broke into our country to avoid?\n\nTell your Congressmen that having no bill is better than the Senate Bill. Make them go back and come up with something sensible.