When you hear the phrase "Illegal Immigrants" what do you think of?
478926
People who are trying to find a better way of life for their families and doing it by any means necessary.
407379
Oh, jeez.  I have neighbors who are illegals and you know what?  They don't hurt anyone and just live quietly and work hard.  I believe in deporting criminals and people who don't add anything to society, but to stir up trouble just for the sake of trouble seems mean.
775181
I speak for myself when I say that illegal is illegal - no matter where they are from.\n\nBut I think you must also understand two things on the Mexican people being "picked on":\n\n1.  The "pro-illegal" people have made them the posterchildren of the "poor illegal immigrants coming to this country for a better life for themselves and their children".  So for that, you can look in your own camp.\n\n2.  The majority of the offenders are from our southern borders.  So they are more of an offender than the other countries (combined - look at the numbers once).  So the Mexican people that are here illegally brought it all on themselves.\n\nSo I think that you really need to stop worrying about the way people think of others.  If they brought it on for themselves, then I have no sympathy for them.  Sorry if that offends you . . .  No wait, I'm not sorry.  Get over it, and realize that it isn't a race issue (Mexican isn't a race), it is a LEGAL issue.  Nothing more.
473159
The key word is "illegal" as in not legal, as in wrong, as in shouldn't do it, as in not right. America has many flaws but one of our strengths is the legal system. What I find incomprehensible is that you would want to base a society on illegal principles as in I will cross another countries border, take up residence and not abide by their laws. My question to you is which laws do you decide to follow and which laws do you ignore and how do you arrive at your decision ? Do you want a society like Mexico where you have to bribe public officials and the police? I have lived in my country 52 years and not once have I had to or wanted to bribe a public official or policeman. On the other hand it is routine to do so in Mexico. What is also routine is bad water, disease and poverty. Do I hate Mexicans? Absolutely not. I want as many of them over here as possible speaking Spanish among themselves but English in general society, just as my German and Irish ancestors had to.Most of all I want them to follow the same laws as my ancestors followed. I do not want a Mexican legal system or culture dominating my life and my country  . We fought a war over that once and I have no desire to fight another one.\n\nLet me repeat I do not hate Mexicans but I will love the Mexican without agreeing to have the poverty, disease and disregard for the law imposed on me. This is my country and it is yours too as long as you follow the law, pay your taxes and learn the language. You would expect no less of me if I wanted to be a citizen of Mexico and common courtesy decency and respect would demand it.\n\nThis is a serious matter and it does not seem wise to me to expect reconquista. It will not happen.\n\nI just read Recoba 01's post. You need to know that I am not intimidated by Mexicans and do not think you are going to take my job. The rules are clear . Get your education, work hard compete fairly and then if you "take" my job all power to you. Mexicans are certainly capable of competeing with the best. As a native born American I am willing to live and let live, treat everyone with respect but as a slogan on one of the early American Flags put it. "Don't tread on me"
374613
Gettin FIRED From Work...\nYeah... Sounds GRATEful\nGO FOR IT\n\nI SUPPORT BOYCOTT MAY 1st\n\nALL 15 Million Illegals Go To Boycott\nAll 300 Million Citizens Go About Our Business As Usual\n \nThere Is No Point \nBut YEAH Go Ahead And Boycott All You Want
505591
Yes, I think it's a common attitude. It's called ethnocentrism. One point you neglected to consider, however, is that illegal aliens are actually the ones doing the menial labor that you don't want to do and that you don't want your kids to do. If they leave, perhaps your kids will be the ones to take their place picking tomatoes in the field. Who knows?\n\nI think people have misconstrued what the protestors are trying to say. They are simply trying to raise awareness about the fact that they, too, contribute to our economy. They work at jobs most of us do not want, and they do it for pay we wouldn't accept. They may or may not pay income taxes, but they pay sales taxes on the American goods they purchase from American companies. Most of them obey the laws and mind their own business, which makes sense if you keep in mind that they have to keep their noses clean if they don't want to be caught and kicked out of the country. They're not asking for a helping hand; they're just asking for permission to continue contributing in a society that needs their work, whether we want to admit it or not.\n\nThat said, I don't think any of us wants to see illegal aliens given a free ride to citizenship. I don't have to hate Mexicans to want immigration reform. But the simple matter is that if I'm unhappy with the number of illegal immigrants in this country, then I should at the very least look at my own behavior and see if I'm contributing to the problem. If you're serious about wanting to keep illegal immigrants out, then stop wasting your time hating and start taking action. Write your state and national officials and tell them that you expect them to pass and FUND laws that will make it easier to catch illegal aliens and to fine companies and industries that hire them, and don't forget to add that you're willing to pay higher prices for your tomatoes, peaches, and clothing if that's what it takes.\n\nBest of luck.
550085
I agree, illegal is the word, if they are here illegally they need to go back to their home country's and try to get here legally. We should have no tolerance for people that think that our laws do not count. There are many hard working people that want to come to the United States that are doing it the right way, and they should be honored.
193862
The number one thing that pisses me off on this issue is that they are here illegally, but to call them illegal aliens is not politically correct, so we have to call them undocumented. ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL! \n\nThe second thing that pisses me off is that anytime a citizen who happens not to be hispanic calls for our borders to be secure and keep illegals out, we are called racist! I'm not racist...my husband was born in Mexico, our children are now a mixed breed...and I don't know of any White Supremicist that wouldn't beat me over that fact alone.\n\nThirdly, we are told 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, 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\nAnother thing that really pisses me off is OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS acting like these ILLEGALS are their concern insead of being concerned about middle class America...who are the ones who suffer from these people being here. At the protest downtown....MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA betrayed the city that just elected him by speaking to the crowd as if they were heroes instead of LAWBREAKERS!!! And Calif. Assemblyman FABIAN NUNEZ was right in there, too! Speaking so proudly that he was going to represent these people....THEY ARE NOT HERE LEGALLY. THEY ARE CRIMINALS. THEY ARE DEAD WEIGHT!\n\nI DO NOT NEED THEM! I mow my own grass, take care of my own kids, clean my own house, cook my own food, wash my own car, paint my own house. 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\nGo Ahead, call me racist...I know you want to.
398482
How Do I Feel About The Protests??\nIll TELL You How I Feel\n\nThe media estimates that almost ONE MILLION ILLEGAL FOREIGN MIGRANTS and their advocates Militantly Marched in the streets of America UNDER THE FLAG OF MEXICO. Their agenda is for our FEDERAL LAWS TO BE IGNORED , and their Criminal Trespass into these sovereign United States to be rewarded with unlimited benefits that include the rights of American Citizenship! \n\nAs these large mobs of foreigners marched proudly UNDER THE FLAG OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY to demand the right to live and prosper in the United States, they claimed that the issue is immigration. But their own actions reveal what is in fact a determined effort to FORCE Americans to ACCEPT LARGE FOREIGN COLONIES in our midst, and to pay handsomely for the privilege of doing so. We have both the RIGHT and the moral MORAL OBLIGATION to DEFEND AMERICA , and JUST SAY NO !!!\n\nIt REALLY BURNS My *** That A Large Portion Of The Latin Community (Citizens And ILLEGAL ALIENS ALIKE) Are MARCHING On Our Cities Carrying The FLAG Of ANOTHER NATION , And DEMANDING The Rights Of AMERICAN Citizens... THAT Is The ICING On The Cake \n\nFolks .. You WANT To Be Treated Like AMERICANS Yet You Will Protest Under A FOREIGN FLAG ... And You Expect ME To RALLY With You??? And SUPPORT Your Cause??? \n\nI Think NOT.. Perhaps You Should Realize Exactly What It Is That You Are Trying To Accomplish... Because To ME It Looks Like An INVASION From A Foreign Army .. \n\nWe cannot allow illegals to remain in this country because it sends the very clear message to anyone from any country: Go ahead and enter the U.S. illegally. Nothing will be done to you. The stupid Americans will pay to feed you, clothe you, educate your kids and pay for your medical care while they themselves are forced to go without because they can't afford health insurance because their tax dollars are paying for you! Ha, Ha! Go ahead and enter the U.S. illegally If you're a terrorist, no problem, go ahead and build your cells, blow up buildings and schools. Nothing will happen because American politicians are too cowardly to repel this invasion and deport the millions of illegals aready here while the illegals rub their lawlessness in our faces.\n\nYou Wish To Become AMERICANS With The RIGHTS Of AMERICANS .. \nYet Many Of You REFUSE To SPEAK My/Our LANGUAGE \nAnd REFUSE To Honor My/Our Flag \nWell I REFUSE To Let YOU Continue To Burden My Pocket \nAnd The Pockets Of My "PROUD TO BE AMERICAN" BROTHERS \nOf ANY DESCENT\n\nYou Call It INTOLERANCE???Call It What YOU Wanna Call It-\nIf It Makes YOU Feel Better-\nCall It RACISM,\nIf It Makes YOU Feel Better\nCall Me A NAZI\nIf It Makes YOU Feel Better\nCall It WHATHEF**KEVERYOU Wanna Call It-\nAs Long As It Makes YOU Feel Better\n\nWhats Gonna Make ME Feel Better???\n\nI Pledge ALLEGIENCE To The FLAG\nOf The UNITED STATES Of AMERICA\n\nI KNOW Im Not A Racist\nI KNOW Im Not A Nazi\nI KNOW Im A PROUD AMERICAN CITIZEN \nAnd A HARDWORKING TAXPAYER\nAnd A MILITARY VETERAN\nAnd NOTHING YOU Call ME Is Gonna Change That\n\nYou DISGRACE My NATION???-\nYou DISGRACE My FLAG???-\nNO SOUP FOR YOU!!!\n\nThe LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY Brought This Upon Themselves\n\nPUSH HR 4437 AS IS-NO AMNESTY\n\nDEPORT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UPON DISCOVERY\n\nHasta La Vista BAYBEE--LeEmigre Is ON THE WAY
940077
UR ABS0LUTLEY RiTE.\n\nPERS0NALLY i D0 N0T BELiEVE THERE SHULD BE A SUCH THiNG AS iLLEGAL iMMiGRANTS AT ALL BECUZ U N0E WAT?...\nG0D PUT US ALL HERE 0N THiS LAND AND WE SHULD ALL SHARE iT BECUZ iT BEL0NGS T0 N0E 0NE...iF ANY RACE AT ALL...iT BEL0NGS T0 THE >>HUMAN<< RACE AND iT BREAKS MY HEART T0 SEE PPL BEiN S0 RACiST AGAiNST ANY iMMiGRANTS WHETHER THEY ARE ASiAN,AFRiCAN AMERiCAN, 0R LATiN0 BECUZ THEY HAVE ABSULUTELY N0 RiTE T0 D0 THAT iN MY B00K.\n\nTHiS LAND iS MY LAND. THiS LAND iS Y0UR LAND.\nTHiS LAND iS ((0UR)) LAND. :]
540821
I agree with your point of view on illegal immigrants. My parents came to Canada 15 years ago, and to this day, only my mother is a citizen. When they first came to Canada they had to work in low-paying jobs even though they had both completed post-secondary education back in their country. Currently, through years of saving, they were able to buy a home and lead a middle-class life, but compared to the types of jobs they would have had back home, their jobs don't even compare. \n\nMy parents didn't come here to sell drugs or commit illicit activities, they came here to leave a country which was changing from communism to capitalism, and in the process having many problems. I believe that illegal immigrants such as drug dealers should be punished for their crimes and most certainly not allowed into another country. However, many illegal immigrants are trying to get away from persecution, war or other problems in their country. Also, it is hard enough for immigrants to start a new life, and we should try to be more open-minded towards them because they are not horrible people. As for illegal immigrants taking jobs, I believe that most of the jobs these people are taking are so under-payed that a citizen shouldn't even be thinking of it. Furthermore, if an employer feels that an immigrant is better suited for a job than a citizen then it is up to the employer to chose who they would like to hire. Everyone has a right to a better life.
923542
it doesnt to me, illegal refers to anyone that isnt here legally, since most of the people that are here illegally are mexicans, then they are easily combined
175685
I LOVE IT!\n\nWTF. (if someone reports me, you're a dumbass, because this is an opinion, and im not threatening anyone.)\n\nMexicans come to United States. Steal our jobs, bring crime, and end up in our jails. 400 illegals were taken off the street in a recent operation. We pay for jails through taxes. Jails must board and feed immates, so that's our money. They also take our school districts for granite. We pay for schools. We pay for public health, which some take that away. Sure America maybe the "promise" land, but only for the legal aliens.\n\nIf your direction to this comment is about illegal aliens, than I strongly back it. If tis about legal aliens, I firmly disapprove of it.
334193
Of course, and I feel that way. It hurts me how some people in the u.s. think about immigrants.It also gets me mad, they should understand that we are humans and that we all should be treated the same way.Illegal or not legal. Each day some in yahoo answers has to say something bad about immigrants and how we take way the Americans jobs. And this makes  mad, this is not even the true. I'm proud of being what I'm. I'm proud that I left my country to start a new life in here. And although it hurts me how some people think about us immigrants I'm proud of being Mexican, and no one is going to make me change my mind.When ever some one insult us, it makes me feel bad, but it also makes me to stand up for what I'm and said something about what they have said. I'm a legal immigrant, but I think that we ALL should be treated in the same way, Immigrant or not, Legal or not.
549880
I saw a sign on the way in this morning that said:\n"Illegals want the same rights as citizens"  That is want they think they are going to get.  By the way, I saw at least 50 day laborers in front of our local Home Depot.\nMaybe they think a boycott is something a young male child sleeps on.
334111
Illegal=wrong\n\nNot a hard concept to understand...
1126045
I hope it's a very long tunnel .... :(  I'm sorry, but with all this shouting racist by most people who either are illegal immigrants, or for some mysterious reason pro illegal immigration, one can't but help feeling a bit peeved ... to say the least ... I mean, since when did it become racist to want to protect the borders and uphold the law of the land?