What do you think about the citizens that were undocumented workers and got their amnesty in the Reagan years?
609537
They got away with breaking the law and got rewarded for it as well.
519153
I don't agree with you, but Americans will suffer if these illegals are given amnesty. There will be more encouragement, not less, for more illegal immigration meaning less jobs for American citizens. There will be more social security and identification theft. There will be even more infringement on American rights as we are forced even more to cater to their demands. Our children will suffer even more as the nonEnglish speaking children slow down the class curriculum. This will basically say once again that our laws mean nothing. More and more Americans will be jobless or working poor and forced into poverty. We will continue on our path to becoming a 3rd world country.
1078702
They should be deported as soon as possible after discovery of their illegal status (within 1 week).  Actually, I wish the government would put a ban on all immigration for at least 2 years.  I, and many of my fellow citizens are beginning to feel like we are the foreigners!  THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE ALREADY!  The whole world can't live here.  I live in a senior building subsidized by HUD and we are slowly being overrrun by elderly Russian and Chinese people, with their rents being subsidized by the American taxpayers.  Then they go on Medicaid for cheap health care, also courtesy of the taxpayers.  These people contribute nothing but their presence.  They don't even shop in American stores; they have private buses to take them to their ethnic shops. The first thing they learn is how to milk the system.  Meanwhile older American taxpayers have to wait for years to get a rent-subsidized apartment.  Politicians don't care because most of them are very wealthy and don't have to live with or near them.
708043
I work with a guy who was about 4 years old when his parents immigrated legally. He was not born here so when he got old enough he started the process to become a legal citizen. He paid for it, he did it the legal way and he has been here seventeen years and is about to get his citizenship. He is adamantly against illegal immigration. I makes him mad to think he went through the proper, legal. tedious process and those people could end up getting their amnesty without doing what he had to do. \n\nI'm sick of people claiming those illegal immigrants just want 'work to feed their poor families'. That is such a CROCK!  I have yet to see anyone coming across that border looking emaciated or starving. I see people from Ethiopia and other countries where they are REALLY starving, their children are DYING from malnutrition  and they would LOVE to come to the USA. They are POOR. The USA sends aid to those countries but we cannot take in millions of poor people to be supported by our taxes. It's the same with those illegally entering from our border with Mexico. We cannot continue to support unlimited numbers of people who just 'want a better life'. I want a better life, too. I can't just go move in with a rich person and demand they take care of me and my family, provide us with medical care, food, clothing and let me have the run of his house. It don't work that way. You have to live according to what YOU, YOURSELF, can provide. If they want a better life, make it better in their own country. They shouldn't slither into the USA and demand WE take care of them. They're not starving! They are no more poor than some of our own citizens. They need to get a real life in their own country.
244242
Reagan started Amnesty for Mexicans. It has just gone out of control under Bush. \n\n"But he said Mexicans also remember Reagan fondly for backing a massive financial bailout of Mexico in 1982, and for pressing immigration legislation in 1986 that granted amnesty in the United States to 3 million Mexican immigrants.\n\n\nIt has been a belief that it is in the US's best interest to boost the Mexican economy. Bush knows exactlly what he is doing. Those immigrants pump millions into the Mexican economy.
110145
not too much......some are trying to justify illegal immigration with history.......-----it is funny how history repeats itself!!!!
486968
No, it did not change my mind. Most who protested are illegals (many were not) and by protesting and leaving the job for a day they thumbed their noses at the very people who gave them jobs (illegally or not, they were given jobs). Biting the hand that feeds you to use a cliche.  Also, they are here ILLEGALLY, that means they are in violation of our laws. I commend those who came here legally and fought long and hard for their citizenship, so we are now just to hand it over because they are protesting? What about all those people who have studied and worked hard to become citizens?  What a slap in their face.
1072630
You're right,most all the illegals could be deported,over time!! Amnesty should NEVER be given to people who FLAUNT our laws by breaking them!!!  amnesty NEVER works,all it does is ENCOURAGE even MORE lawbreakers to come here!This is not even fair to those who have waited for years to come here legally!! I think,that IF there is a "guest worker" program actually NEEDED,that it SHOULD NOT automatically lead to citizenship!! The United States of America does NOT need any more citizens! And, we can not AFFORD any more poverty level,uneducated,welfare people!
219587
and i'm grateful it happened. because my mother crossed the river illegally i was given the opportunity to be educated and give back to my community. we never received government aid of any kind growing up even when our cupboards were empty. we wore hand-me-downs and suffered the judgement of our peers for our accents and poverty. our parents slaved to provide just the basics and nary a government check passed through our hands. \ni accept that mexicans make a great scapegoat. the nation's ills have been diagnosed and it is far easier to treat the symptom than to make a diagnosis. perhaps if more people learned to question the business than blame the worker then maybe we could understand where the blame is better placed.
43757
Sometime in the 1960's when they were granted the right to vote and considered "people"
430609
Are you married?  If so, do you have children?  You should have an opinion to this Immigration Reform, if not for yourself, for the future of your children and their children.  In 1985, I believe, Reagan had a similar bill pass congress allowing those illegal immigrants to stay and become citizens.  Since then, the flood gates of illegals have opened wider, 11 plus million have crossed from 1990s to 2004.  Now, we are facing yet another immigration reform, why?  Because the government didn't step up to the plate when it was time to do so and enforce the illegals from crossing over.  They allowed it, day after day, month after month, year after year.  Now they must face the music on this and do something about it.  But at who's expense?  Not the illegals, but the true Americans that struggle making ends meet.  If the American people don't step up and stop our government doing this, we might as well open the border completely and let any and all who want to come here from Mexico, Canada, and all over the world in.  It's not just Mexicans from Mexico that are here illegal.  Watch the news, they are interviewing many from all regions of the world that are here and have been here for years illegally.  I know we all come from immigrant backgrounds, unless you are a true blooded Indian from North America.  But, our forefathers before us come the legal way.  That's how these illegals should have to do.  Send them home and let them come through the proper channels.  If they had children here, send the children with them.  Just because they were born in the USA should NOT constitute them to be classified as an American citizen if in fact their parents are illegal aliens.  There's a lot to the topic that needs to be addressed and resolved for the betterment of the American people, not the American government.
641404
Ya'know, I keep thinking...what's gonna assure us that these illegals are actually going to comply with the "guest worker/path to citizenship program?"  I can bet that they would rather remain invisible and not have to pay taxes and pay for education and healthcare.  If they didn't respect our laws initially, what's going to make them want to respect these laws?  I hope I'm wrong, but this is what I think.
332354
No one has ever been punished for Illegal immigration? Good Lord wake up.... Once upon a time they most certainly were. After 1986 amnesty is when everything began to go to hell.\n\nRefinement unfortunately. Wasn't enough the way it was introuduced.\n\nNo to amnesty.....No to healthcare....No to social services....No to Illegal employers.....No to anchor babies.....No to Social service help...No to drivers licences....No to temp workers programs....No to free education....No to manditory Spanish classes in our schools....no to spanish on labeling government documents.... Yes to boarder security priority.....Yes to enforcement of immigration limits.....Yes to Illegal employers fined and jailed.....Yes to Harboring Illegal immigrants being fined and jailed being enforced\n\n\n\nA DAY WITHOUT AMERICANS ! April 17, 2006! \n\nIn response to the recent mass national rallies fearlessly staged by the illegal alien lobby, The Dustin Inman Society is suggesting that Americans nationwide stay home from work and not spend any money on April 17. 2006 - income tax day. \n\n\nAPRIL 17, 2006 LEGAL Americans are being asked to stay home from work and not spend any money that day! Protest ILLEGAL aliens, their boycotts and marches, their taking of jobs, resources, welfare, healthcare, disobediance and defiance of American laws. Show congress that they may ignore our emails and phone calls, but we won't remain ignored! \n\nSupported by Americans for Legal Immigration \n\nhttp://alipac.us/ftopict-20151.html
749083
my father owns a few farms in california and he would not make it without his contractors (it's a known fact the contractors hire out illegals). My dad used to make his kids work out in the fields for the summers  from the age 9 to about the summer before we went to college and it was horrid, I had heat stroke and bones ached like never before and since. I honestly would never want to go back to doing it and that is why I got my college education. I don't understand why illegals want to come out here, just to do that, it's long hours, hard work and it SUCKS! Honestly, would you go out there, I somehow doubt that Lou Dobbs or other critics of illegals would do that type of work or subject their kids to do it.\n\n\nOh and the person above me, the ecoli was started by wild pigs that roam in  Salinas, I am from that area and know for a fact they exist. You should get your facts straight or at least read a newspaper before you comment on something you know nothing about.
681858
I feel like it's a slap in the face to every person who has immigrated here legally. What really frosts me is that this is also an amnesty for the employers who have enjoyed the unfair competitive advantage of hiring illegals over the past years. How can an honest business person stay in business when your competitor's payroll expenses are 50% less than yours?
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.
660852
It can't be illegal to fire them when it's illegal to hire them. I totally agree with you, wow, I don't think I've ever agreed with an old Leftist from the 60's LOL, but they're going to end up dragging everyone's wages down if a general amnesty is given.