Is the issue of illegal immigration balkanizing the U.S.A?
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!
992998
I think immigration's out-of-control. I think that a lot of our politicians have some bright ideas about 'one world' etc., and some of those don't quite work out the way they planned, and then there's those gosh-darn unintended consequences etc.\nIf people keep it civil, immigration's no problem, but we're well beyond 'civil' in some cases, and policies need to be improved and amended to slow this stuff down quite a bit....bum's rush doesn't cut it...
367816
No of course not.\n\nIf you have even a reasonable education you are in little danger of losing your job to an illegal.  It's just blatant conservative scare tactics at work.\n\nOutsourcing is a totally different issue.  Guess that's what "globalization" means, though ...
1126303
Another division or so and we might actually become effective at stopping both the human traffic and drugs. I think people or underestimating the positive effect this could have against the drug insurgency. Mexico has always been a major player and the drugs have contributed to the immigration problem.
657173
Never!  Americans by our very nature are immigrants.  I think that illegal immigration is a problem, and there are solutions.  But to deport every person who is an immigrant is not only impossible, it is wrong.  All of us are immigrants.  I think the question should be about illegal immigrants and what we can do to solve the problem.
257664
Illegal immigrants, No, because it has a negative impact on many things. \n\nTo name a few: welfare system, court system (tying up the court systems with things such as drinking and driving. I watch the news on a daily basis and suprise it's not the white or even black people killing others in d&D accidents but the illegal mexicans), economy (they make money here but send it back to where-ever their family is), and jobs (why would an employer want to hire someone thats here "legally" when they can hire an illegal immigrant that will work under the table for minimum wage?).
506374
ILLEGAL immigration is the issue at hand. Prefixes before words change the meaning of the word. LEGAL immigration is a whole different subject, one I support. \n\nI think the ILLEGAL immigration situation is out of control.
363148
Problem #1: Population \n\nThe first problem I see with the current state of the immigration laws is the significant rise in population that has, and will, continue to occur over the next fifty years. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an estimated 1.1 million immigrants, both legal and illegal, enter the United States every year. 700,000 of these are legal immigrants; 120,000 are refugees, and between 250,000 to 300,000 are undocumented or illegal “aliens” ( Baldwin, 1995). The United States population at the moment is roughly 288 million people. If this trend of aliens is not decreased, the population will reach 400 million by 2050. How many people can America hold? \n\nProblem #2: Benefits Illegal Aliens Recieve \n\nCurrently, under federal law, undocumented foreign citizens are eligible for emergency healthcare, free schooling from kindergarten through high school, and W.I.C. or Woman, Infants, and Children nutritional program ( Baldwin, 1995). This is important to note because there are currently between eight and ten million aliens currently living illegally in the United States. An estimated 2.5 million of these illegal aliens currently reside in the state of California alone, due to the agricultural jobs that are readily available for cheap labor (Kadetsky, 102). It should not be surprising then that the residents of California were outraged over the amount of money that they were being forced to spend, and the amount of resources that were being used to support aliens that are not “allowed” to be in the United States in the first place. \n\n \n\nProblem #3: Homeland Security\n\nIn the Fiscal year of 2002, which runs October 1 through September 30, the United States Coast Guard, which is the country’s primary maritime, or sea going, law enforcement agency, intercepted 4104 immigrants from various South American countries (USCG, Para 2). Since then, the numbers of immigrants intercepted by the Coast Guard, has continued to climb at an alarming rate; jumping to almost 11,000 in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, and currently with less than two months into the 2006 physical year, there have already been 1,000 migrants accounted for and processed through the Coast Guard (USCG, Para 1). Illegal immigration can potentially cost American tax payers billions of dollars a year. The United States Coast Guard, whose primary obligation is to prevent the loss of life at sea, can not stop this problem by its self, it is mearly the first line of defense. It is up to the rest of America to join the fight and help put an end to this awful practice.\n\n\nthanks cherokee rose i put my signature on  petition you rock
437560
Love the link! The people getting upset by this are the ones it's referring to. It is not the duty of the United States to unconditionally open up its borders and let in all comers. It's foolish and is getting out of control. Look at what's been happening in France with all of the Muslim immigrants that have been coming in unchecked all these years. Open riots in the streets of Paris! This is what America is becoming at a high rate of speed. Legal immigration = OK. Illegal immigration = NO MAS!
682507
If you think the illegals are eating into the welfare state resources, perhaps we should eliminate the welfare state. That would solve many problems beyond the subject at hand.
498998
yes...I agree with the decision.It is important that we show force in this. It is also an opportunity for the president to regain some prestige and actually do something that a huge majority of Americans want done which is stop illegal immigration.
505173
Definitely.  The issue seemed to arise from nowhere and suddenly the government is devoting 100% of their media time to it.  Bush has been criticized for his domestic policies and focusing too much on Iraq, so illegal immigration gives him a "worthy" cause at home... I imagine that he'll run his mouth for a few more weeks and then just drop the issue completely.
314961
It´s a lovely idea, but doesn´t sound like anything the current US administration would go for.  After all, while hyping the immigration issue in the media and, frankly, whipping up racism, they are also quite happy to turn a blind eye to US businesses using cheap illegal labour. It´s happening in all western countries at the moment.  The media, backed by the government, incites its citizens to be worried about illegal immigration, while the economy actually benefits from the black market economy working with it. I´m in Mexico now on holiday, but staying with family.  It´s a hard place, with a bad atmosphere.  It definitely needs some help, but everyone here says the corruption is so far reaching, there is no hope.  Your idea is nice but too socialist for anyone in today´s political arena and, like Iraq, would require serious investment, commitment and integrity..... never forget it´s all about the money.
924277
No....\n\nBut deporting 11-20 MM illegals is darn near impossible.  And, at this point, it may cause some serious harm if we do get rid of illegals.  There is a place in PA (I think) that has enacted laws prohibiting illegals from renting or getting jobs.  They have largely left the city- now businesses are failing in that town.\n\nAmesty is not a solution but neither is total deportation-  It is next to impossible to accomplish.  there has to be some way for them to stay, become legal, no to citizenship and pay steep fines.\n\nSecure the borders.\n\nLet's not place this all on the Dems-- Bush has advocated some form of Amnesty as well.  And Reagan DID grant amnesty in the 80's.
655997
no but we won't be talking about it after the elections because this issue which has been around since 1849 seems to come up when politicians need distractions from the real issues affecting America such as:   corporate welfare, millions of Americans uninsured, the working poor, minimum wage increases!!, war in Iraq, WMD's, Katrina, CIA leaks, diminishing civil rights, disparity between rich and poor, using God's name for political gain, and many other issues that truly affect Americans everyday..... and not this crap about illegal immigrants being the cause of all of America's problems!!!!!
892977
I think I like this kind of talk\nBottom line: The issue may come down to what one veteran pollster called "sequencing" -- where voters want the government to demonstrate that it's serious about reducing illegal immigration before legalizing 12 million people. That would mean first controlling the border and creating a tamper-proof citizenship card so that employers who hire illegal workers can be prosecuted then assembling a legalization plan.  \n\nI could definitely live with this.Thanks for the great information\nIn the words of that great sage Yogi Berra(not sure of the spelling)\n"It ain't over till its over"
993596
I think you mean "whats the problem with the government closing the border.".I think thats one think almost all agree on.