Why do I feel that this immigration problem is going to draw a lot of voters to become?
484990
You might want to take a look at who is in favor of what before you jump to conclusions.  Check your representatives' web pages on this issue.\n\nThe Republicans control the House that put out the stricter of the bills, for example.  It says nothing but protect the border and felonize illegal immigration.  The felony provision will drop out per the House majority leader, and I predict that some sort of path to citizenship will likely come in, but that is because of the Senate.
1046828
They shouldn't be even considering most of the proposals on the table, as they give benefits to illegals that even US citizens do not get (tax amnesty, social security amnesty/fraud, etc...).  \n\nHopefully they won't be our elected officials too long if they keep this up, but most voters are apathetic/uninformed and that's probably the biggest issue we face.  If the elected officials are not "punished" (i.e. not re-elected), then they will get the message that they don't "know better" than the rest of us.
613264
For the wrong reason.....VOTES\n\nElections comes down to the center voters. While I disagree with many things that my party has done over the last year or so I they know I will still vote for them because they are the better choice then the other side. Roughly 41% of the country almost always votes Democratic while roughly 41% votes Republican. Leaving the middle swing voters the real controllers of elections. Right now the largest minority voting block is Hispanic, hence their fear of that voting block. Since the House is based on districts they can cater to a smaller voting block. The Senate is based on the whole state so the center has more power with them.\n\nHowever stating all that I think the Senate and President is making a mistake on reading the American public. I think a lot of Republicans are willing to skip and election cycle just to prove a point. \n\nYou also have the added point that runs through all political moves "Follow the money". It takes a lot more money to run for the Senate then the house. I am sure many of the people giving money to their Senators have benefited from the cheap labor and they don't want to loose that. They really want nothing to happen and as long as this debate is dragged out and not solved the longer they get the cheap labor. Once one of these illegals get citizenship I seriously doubt they will be willing to work for the same rate.
226874
Probably.  I haven't noticed any tangible problems from immigration -- other than problems purely stemming from the fact that we've declared a lot of it to be illegal.  As far as I know, the economy is better and lots of things are less expensive as a result of immigrant workers.  I don't think many Americans are eager for many of the agricultural and service industry jobs that many immigrants perform.  If there is an unemployment problem, it has much more to do with outsourcing overseas, and the general state of the economy (to which immigrant labor is a benefit, not a burden).\n\nAs far as making this country what it used to be -- an ignorant, bigotted, Indian-massacring, slave-owning backwater -- I think that's kind of crazy.  But one *good* thing that you *would* need -- is lots of immigrants.
246646
Have you ever tried to get visas into other countries?  Some are just as difficult.\n\nThe general fear which pervades many Americans (and we're not the only ones) is that new immigrants will upset the balance that we have.  It will drive up unemployment, and people who live here will  be replaced by cheap labor.  \n\nNow they have the "potential terrorist" excuse to also increase their immigration fears.
420233
Yeah, you got it about right. They may not to be able to do anything about it. It's up to the voters, remember this is a free country. We all get to vote.
866063
more american citizens need to be speaking up and letting these politicians know we are not going to let this just be an election ploy. and that we are against it. they need to start pleasing the ones who do get to vote legally. who are here legally  and to h@** with what the illegals want.
793406
I feel like I am going to be hunted down, right in my own country. I have to add that a lot of legal hispanics are against illegal immigration too. My neighbor who lives in a double was furious the other day, the other side of his house was rented out to illegals, a drug bust went on, he's dominican and he is legal, has been since birth. He has two small children, so you could just imagine what he was saying about illegals. I do think illegals are invading the country, I dont think they could ever over run it, even if there is a large latino ratio, there are still thousands of legal latinos that are p!ssed just like any other race. Just not so many on here of course!
436640
1) Many businesses rely on illegal immigrants. Quite a few Republicans don't like the idea of punishing businesses.\n\n2) 11 million people. 11 million potential voters. And neither party wants to alienate the Hispanic populace this close to the 2006 midterms.\n\n3) Many people, particularly liberals, have framed this as a race issue, rather than a law issue. Sorta kinda true, since most illegals are Hispanic, but irrelevant. I don't care if they're white, black, or green, they drain society and infest it with drugs and crime.\n\nprasoonc : Oh really? My parents filled out tons of forms to get here and make this country better. Legally. And since when did the  Native Americans have anti-immigration laws like we do?
1112201
I won't jump on you.  Consider me a friend.  You may be right.  I don't know if the government has that goal.  My perception though is that the government, which in this case I'm mainly referring to our elected representatives that make policy, doesn't have a history of making decisions based on the best thing to do or the most sensible.  Votes speak loudly.  Immigrants, especially Mexican, are very influential in elections.  Candidates spend alot of time catering to the Spanish vote.  A politician who wants to be elected or re-elected would be foolish in a state that has a high population of voting immigrants, to not promise them things to win votes.  The President does the same thing.  We'll never know what a president or other politician really thinks or what he says behind the walls of his own home.  If we did, we wouldn't elect them.  Regarding your question, I think the government does send a message that we want to be sensitive to our immigrants and we tout how important they are to the work force.  And at the same time the same officials talk as though they want border control, strict enforcement, etc etc.  It's an art of catering to both sides of an issue without we the voters figuring out what's going on.\n\nAt least that's the way I see it in a thumbnail sketch form.
695067
Well, let's use the fear of vote fraud to end machine politics.  When they have better voting systems, tie it to better registration procedures.  Eliminate the dead, the felons and the aliens.
1068000
Very simple...politics. All of the minority lobbies have their bases convinced immigration reform is racism. No one wants to lose any votes.
1041876
I agree with you...and you are so right....they do make it hard for people to get legalized....as to why I dont know ....but alot of people are trying to change that....I apologize for all you have gone thru and truly wish I could help you.....but all I can do is vote for better immigration laws....
605850
Only reason is cause, this is a "internal" problem. But that's how it is with dividing cities. Poors (in this case: illegal aliens), move to cities, than the middle to upper class move to the suburbs.\n\nIn conclusion, I don't think this will really stir much division of the U.S., because it's not like the Civil War. The illegal immigrationists aren't being used by the people who support them.\n\nAmericans will come to their senses, and support NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION!
876059
Many people are FOR immigration-- legal immigration that is.
1085527
Hmmm....mainly because they have VERY powerful advocacy groups DEMANDING money out of the american taxpayers' wallet. Vote against immigration amnesty, if you feel strongly about not having the United States become the Global Welfare Provider...and you're going to have to fire a bunch of people out of state and federal government, too...and I doubt they'll go quietly...
306672
By all accounts, we are putting them to work.  And that's fine with most people, especially the people who hire them.  So there is no problem.\n\nBut problems were made.  Because they became more numerous, they became more visible, and so they got more notice.  Eeek!  An immigrant!  Two, three, a dozen, right over there!\n\nNow we have to sort out frightened people's "concerns" against the economic benefits of having them here to do our crop picking, lawn care, babysitting and other low-end jobs.