Why are people claiming that "most Americans' ancestors were illegal immigrants once" when that is impossible?
480616
You are ABSOLUTELY right. Take in to consideration, in 1607, there was no "America", this was a new world, without a name, and without a law. The Europeans who came here did a million things wrong (treatment of Natives), but we have spent decades trying to correct that. If you are 1/3 or more Native American, you do not have to pay taxes. It's probably not enough, but you can't change the past. \n\nThank you, by the way. I was unsure when immigration laws were passed. Now I have more to feed my argument with. Let's not forget about Ellis Island. Before border control, that was all we had. Every person who came in this country for about two decades passed through there. They underwent inspection after inspection, and if they had a HINT of ilness, they were sent home, no questions asked. Think of the thousands (or more) who tried to come here the "legal" way (since that was the ONLY way), and were denied access. If we just let anybody come here, without rules or guidelines, it's like slapping the face of those who never made it. \n\nI think we need better border control, and speedier citizenship processes. We need to tell the people we want to deport "If you want to stay here, here's the paperwork. You can live HERE (name of city or building or street) and work THIS (name of specific job or jobs) until you finish your immigration papers. If you are not legal by (Set date) you will be deported. Then, we tighten border control and deport EVERYONE we see come here illegally. \n\nNow that immigration is inside the law, we need to address the issue and handle it properly. We need to quit arguing about the past, because it is behind us. Let's move on and fix our nation.
629004
I am sorry you have the wrong number=== Reason #9 Only American Indians have the right to criticize immigration policy \nOur response: \n\n9The idea that only "Native American" have the right to oppose immigration to the United States ignores the concept of "nation." There was no such thing as the political entity known as the the United States until the Founders created it in 1776.\n\nFurthermore, there are not grades of citizenship. One is either a citizen of this country, or one is not. We are not more or less citizens of the United States based on the number of generations preceding us on these shores.\n\nAnd, particularly, we are not more or less citizens of this country based on our skin color or ethnicity.\n\nSince everyone in the world has ancestors who immigrated from somewhere else, the immigration history of one's ancestors is probably not relevant to the formulation of wise public policy.\n\nand for that matter reason #1 1 Yes, my ancestors came from somewhere other than North America. As did yours, as did everyone else's—including those of the Native AmericansEveryone's ancestors, in fact, came from somewhere other than the place they now call home. In other words, every nation is a "nation of immigrants;" the slogan is meaningless and certainly no basis for public policy. \n\nBecause a policy was appropriate in the past does not mean it is necessarily eternally good. That my ancestors were immigrants is irrelevant to the formation of a prudent public policy today. \n\nIf my ancestors were pioneers, am I constrained to advocate pioneering and expansionism as the best policy for the nation? What would you think of someone who responded to you when you said you opposed expansionism: "But we're a nation of pioneers?"
601808
It does happen but it takes a generation or two for new immigrants to assimilate into American society.  Some groups do not want to assimilate and just want to have their own communities, separate from others.  This is NOT what American is about.  I do not disparage anyone's culture, and we SHOULD celebrate heritage and culture of our past, but we need to all embrace our common bond as Americans.  E Pluribus Unum means "Out of Many, One".  This is what we need to strive for, to be the nation that we were on September 12th 2001.  To be One!
413342
I totally agree. What most people seem to forget is that this country is made up of immigrants. Now, maybe some have already been here longer. But they still had immigrant grandparents, great grandparents, and so on, somewhere down the line.It's just that they forgot now. Or they act like they did. I mean look at what they did to the Native \nAmericans. They just took over like if it was their land. They drove them to the Reservations. I am a proud U.S. Born Citizen, daughter of Mexican immigrants. And I like thousands of others, went out to show my support yesterday in Houston. Because we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us !!!! And for all you others against us >>Remeber the Mayflower ? Maybe one of your ancestors was on it. Do the research.. And if immigrants have to go back, then send them all back. Including those ...
607018
because if they called them ILLEGAL immigrants they'd have to say that it was WRONG, because that is the very definition of illegal! it'd be stupid for them to say "hey! we're protesting because you don't treat BREAKERS OF THE LAW like we think you should!" it's called a scarecrow argument, they throw something else out there related enough to the real issue to distract you so you don't realize they're being stupid. like the protest today, a day without immigrants. well DUH we can't  go on like we do now without them we're all immigrants! so they win people over, but the REAL issue is people coming in to our country without getting proper documentation. they don't want you to think about that tho because it's obviously WRONG! so they solve this by taking out the negative implication: i.e. illegal. it's all just pretty dang stupid
58985
It is all said. No wall will stop illegal migration. But illegals don't just come from the south. They come from many other parts of the world. USA has received people from everywhere, the original settlers were inmigrants from England, and if you take a close look at your family tree, I'm sure you'll find an inmigrant among your close relatives. So why all this fuzz about. Everytime politicians want to distract the people's attention from critizicing their goofs, they take on illegal migration as a sure way of deviating the citizens opinion. So, what else is new?
452692
Uhhh hey smart one everybody who lives in America had descendants come from other countries. If you're not in America, oh well. I think modern day immigrants are the people who just got here and don't have green cards lol
417126
People make that assumption because they are the largest group of incoming illegal immigrants.  They aren't the only people who come to this country and stay without legal citizenship, but Mexicans do come and stay illegally in larger numbers than immigrants from any other single country.
798194
I'm sure that the native American Indians consider all of us illegal immigrants.\nJust because there was no such term or law back in those days really doesn't make it any different.\nThink about it.\nOpen your mind.
886824
yes there lots of hispanic americans remember the alamo where we took the land from mexico? lot of those people stayed when the new border was established so they were actually here before you were. so next time you call one of them a wet back just stop and think he just might be more of a citizen than i'm myself.
733891
When the German, Irish, Italians came in the 19th the native blame them for stealing jobs. Mexicans being accused is no different.  The difference now is that we have immigration rules, and laws back then thier was none.
457184
I agree with you - no illegal immigrant has the "right" to do anything but to be returned to his/her own country. It disgusts me when people compare our ancestors who immigrated here legally with these people who care nothing of our laws, and so have no problem breaking them to enter.  We have immigration policies (they need to be enforced), and people can enter this country through an already established procedure. We should not be made to feel ashamed because we ask others to obey the same laws that every American is asked to obey!
528785
Contrary to popular belief, our American laws are not the ultimate guide of morality. The laws are created by fallible human beings; thus, the laws are not always just. Simply because our laws say that someone is illegal does not mean that these "illegals" are bad people because they break the law by entering this country to find work. \n\nI keep hearing people say that "I don't mind immigrants. It's the *illegal* ones that I have a problem with." Well, if we handed out visas, then they wouldn't be illegal--would that change people's attitudes? Probably not. They would say that they have ignored the laws and don't deserve to be here. Well, most Americans have broken a law or two in their lives. \n\nI maintain the controversial position that xenophobia fuels the anti-illegal attitude (in most cases).
815818
Well, I think your facts are reversed.  As you know, many conservative Republicans are not in favor of making helping an illegal alien from another country, for example Mexico, a crime.  As you probably also know, in spring and summer of this year, there were nation-wide protests relating to this hot-button issue.  However, at his press conference the other morning, President Bush proclaimed that he could pass his agenda as far as immigration goes.  Therefore, Dem's are more likely to help President Bush pass a law making assisting illegal aliens a felony.  Therefore, I believe that you have your facts reversed. Wouldn't you want to help your own people?  Unless many of the Mexican-Americans were uninformed of the Dem's stand on this issue, then I would have to say that they would not vote Dem's into office because of their stand on this issue.
1086427
"You whine about how you can't do anything, because you are afraid to risk your own lives...So you run away from your problems."\n\n\nSo, if you think this about the immigrants that have come to the US, that includes the first ones from England, that includes your ancestors.\n\nEdit: And how do you know that every illegal immigrant has that reasons? Is it that difficult to think that some may have the same reasons that your ancestors?
502795
I am NOT against illegal immigration, and I get your point, the majority that are so gung ho about stopping it have never left the country, they live in a "America is the best" kind of bubble. They dont know, so their ignorance reigns.
972800
no way, they were born here so what makes that illegal?