Illegal immigrants; What are your thoughts or your argument?
817494
I feel we should let them come over. However, they should have (if immigrated legally) a mandatory 2 years served in our military. If caught immigrating illegally, they should have a 10 year mandatory serve and sent back. If they are caught in the act of crossing a border (mainly hispanics, obviously) they should serve 15 years and sent back. My $0.02. American.
298480
Illegal immigrants don't steal jobs from Americans, they take the jobs that Americans tend to think are too menial to be worth the wage that the corporations are willing to pay (agriculture, hotels, and such mainly). Would you want to make sub-minimum wage for farm work? Or hotel room service work?\n\nI don't have a problem with people wanting to come here and make a living. Heck, that's how this country got started, how it grew, how it prospered. However, the way the world is now, I *DO* have a problem with illegal immigrants.\n\nI think that the borders should be strengthened. I think they should be walled, fenced, mined, guarded, patrolled by dogs, razor wired, electronically monitored, etc. I think anyone who tries to cross illegally should be consided a potential terrorist. I think those who try and sneak into this country should be punished. Those who come in legally, who want to work within the laws, who want to actually contribute... welcome to America. Come on in.
429608
Oh my god don't get me started on this subject.  I would love to start a group of people who rounded up illegal immigrants, tied them up, threw them into the back of a truck and then dropped them off in the middle of Mexico.  I don't mind immigrants.  But the ones who sneak in here illegally don't deserve to stay.  I'd love to go to a protest!
461091
Round 'em up and ship 'em out... back to their own countries!\nThey are draining, (no, bankrupting!), our country through our school system; our emergency care facilities, (and hospitals), our already over-crowded highways, (and most driving without insurance, thereby causing our rates to go up with all the payouts!); depressing home values in some areas where they have congregated; not paying into our tax base for wages earned in cash under the table; sending a large portion of what they do earn back to their families in whatever country they're from, (thereby draining our economy and growing theirs!); They're swelling our welfare roles - signing up for and receiving money they haven't paid into or aren't even eligible for; destroying public and private property where they're coming into our country through; demanding rights which they don't have and waving their country's flag in our faces; swelling an already bulging population with more children being born to them, (per family), than the average American family is!\nGEEEEEZ! What else do you need to know? How is it that this is even an issue being debated in this country when it should be a no-brainer? Are their really that many "STUPID" Americans here, or is it possible that the press and the rest of the media are falsly reporting the issues? And this argument about them doing jobs that Americans won't do... BULLSHIT!! There are so many options here that I'm not even going to dignify this propaganda with a response!\nHey... just because these "poor" people want a better life for themselves and their families is NO excuse for running the fenceline into our country illegally! Their poor life is NOT our problem! It's theirs and their country of origin! If they don't like the way their country is being run, "THEY" need to change it!!! Why should "THEY" be rewarded for crossing our borders illegally, instead of following our country's immigration laws and processes that all others must comply with for gaining entry into the U.S. legally? I have heard no one make a valid argument for these illegals... NOT ONE!!!\n\nThere now... I got that off my chest!\n(I feel much better now, thank you!)
185250
out if there illegal. Otherwise let them stay, but, illegal immigrants are costing us money, even if they do jobs nobody else will do. That's like saying illgeal immigrants are at the very very bottom of the totem pole.
498572
Truthfully, I feel that Illegal immigrants especially the ones who have been here many years. Have families, jobs (As bad s some may be.) These illegal immigrants HAVE ALREADY PAID THEIR DUES!!! \n\nYes, they came here illegally and that is wrong. But our country wasn't exactly founded on Honesty. In fact in alot of ways, we play CUT-THROAT!!! \n\nThe illegal immigrants are a great part of this country and I do not believe this country could survive without them, because they do the crap jobs that AMERICAN's don't want. \n\nI am talking jobs well below, "Would You Like Fries With That?" Most American's Stick up their Noses at, Mcdonalds. Why are you fighing for the job to become a migrant farm worker or clean someone's toliet. \n\n\nif we took the illegal immigrants out of our country and I DO MEAN ALL OF THEM....This country could not run!!!! \n\nThe Arabs own 6percent of America. If you took them out of the picture, this country could not run.....\n\nBecause, those berries you may love won't be picked, those green bell peppers won't be eaten, because they won't be picked and so on......\n\nSo we couldn't meet the supply in demand. \n\nThat is why I say that these people have paid their dues and continue to everyday......\n\nI think deportation should be reserved for people who come here and can't adapt to the way of life here. If you've been here ten years and the only eglish word you know and understand is, HI!!! You should go home.....\n\n\nWhich alot of people do cross our borders with preconcieved thoughts and realize our way of life isn't so great afterall. They feel that they can't go back. These people should be deported...\n\n\nTroublemakers should be deported. \n\nAlot who cross the borders do just fine in America and those who contribute to our broad land whether it'd be picking berries or cleaning toliets should be given citizenship, because they are productive members of society.  \n\nEven more on the up and up alot of these, "illegal" immigrants who have older children that were bornin this country, run resturants, Bodegas and much more. Some make a very livable wage or better with family effort. \n\nSo "Illegal" immigrants if they can adapt to American life should be made citizens and should be allowed to stay. \n\nOne of my neighbor's here in Hawaii was an "Illegal" immigrant in 1962 (I think she crossed the boarder.) I should would miss her Mexian home-cooking and Hot Tamales. If they deported her, after 40 something years of living in America. She speaks english, she's married now so I don't think she is illegal anymore. She has children and has built a life here. It'd be a disappointment to see people like her go!\n\nOnce they are citizens, they pay, TAXES!!!!
1040134
That's tough to answer since my ancestors were, in part, \n\n1) traced back within one generation of the Mayflower \n  (the original illegal immigrants and the first "boat people")\n2) Irish immigrants\n3) Native Americans\n\nI wonder what most Americans would do if their family was living in poverty and the best way to care for their children - provide better clothes, good food every day, adequate medical attention, better education, etc was to slip across a border and do menial work.  If I felt that was my only viable choice, I think I'd break the law.\n\nHow many people break the law on a daily basis just driving to work by speeding or driving recklessly or failing to follow basic traffic signals and signs?  What's the justification?  They're late .. everyone else does it .. it's not that important .. and so on.  What's the risk?  Injuring or killing someone else .. someone else's father, mother .... and for what?\n\nWhat's the justification for illegal immigrants coming here?  They want a better life, they want to provide for their families and children.  They want adequate food, education, health care.  A better standard of living, and so on.  What's the risk?  Hmm ... fewer people cleaning your houses, fewer janitors, fewer people gathering food in fields ... is that really a risk?\n\nI think we Americans need to show a little human compassion and understanding on this issue.   Just because we're a few generations further removed from our own illegal immigrant roots doesn't give us the right to be so quick and harsh in our judgment today.\n\nI don't endorse all of the latitude being suggested for illegal immigrants, but I do think they should be given the chance to work, become citizens, become tax payers, and earn the benefits that citizens deserve.  Wholesale deportation is not feasible, nor is it compassionate.\n\n"Give me your tired, your poor, \nYour huddled masses yearning to breathe free, \nThe wretched refuse of your teeming shore. \nSend these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, \nI lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
400631
Honestly, my opinion is that the illegal immigrants should be forced to leave. The operative word in the whole situation is illegal. It's against the law. They have no right nor standpoint to enter the country and attempt to change our laws to accomodate them. No, I really don't care if their only child is a legal citizen of this country and they're not. The child can go into state custody and the parents can be kicked back across the border. The entire situation is out of hand. Over 14million illegal immigrants are currently in the US. That is 14 million jobs that could go to legal US citizens who are desperatly in need of work. The strongest opposition to doing any sort of serious reform to the whole issue is the immigrants themselves and companies. Companies get to hire them dirt cheap, usually for under the table wages, half of which they send back to Mexico an is never spent here which just hurts our economy. \n\nSend 'em all back to Mexico. Use whatever means neccessary. We are not the world's free handout.\n\nEdit: Yes, all of our families were immigrants at one time. The point, however, is missed with this particular arguement for pro-immigration. Quite a few of those familes and their offshoots were colonists prior to the founding of the country. Therefore if there was no country it was not an illegal immigration. They weren't immigrants, but founders and colonists. Next, if you're in reference to those of african descent they weren't immigrants either, they were slaves brought against their will. Thirdly, if you can complain that your country is a country of squalor why would you want to come here to spread it? Here's a suggestion, make changes and reforms in your own government and improve your standard of life, not lower ours. It doesn't help your situation when your own government is encouraging people to cross our borders illegally. There is no excuse for any sort of amnesty in this situation. The only resolution is one of no tolerance and simple removal of the problem, by political or forceful means. \n\nAnd, as it has been mentioned, yes other immigrants from other countries other then Mexico are illegally moving into the US. And in my opinion they shouldn't be here either. But, statisically speaking, they are a far smaller problem then the Mexicans. When you can show me 14million illegal Cubans or Haitans in the U.S. then I'll lay off the illegal Mexicans. They should be removed as well, but we need to deal with the bigger problem at hand first. If we get rid of the larger problem, the smaller ones will be easier to remove. \n\nAs for fairness or equality in the situation you get none. Again, you're illegally here, deal with it. You want to improve you way of life, get a green card and naturalize. You're just hurting your own countrymen who have gone through the legal process to be here by making them look bad. I have no sympathy for you. Get in line with the others, you're not special just because your government happens to be physically connected to the U.S.
566754
Is Hispanic friends supposed to mean illegal immigrant friends?  I have a bunch of Hispanic friends. However, most Hispanics are here legally and most Hispanics are opposed to illegal immigration.\n\nIf I have any illegal immigrant friends, I am unaware of it.  \n\nI support legalization of qualified illegal immigrants who have real roots here.  I don't think it is fair to those who have been waiting.  However, after so many years of not enforcing the law and letting them get their roots so deep into this country, I would just feel bad deporting them.  \n\nI am not so sure about the way the guest worker program for future immigrants is shaping up on the Senate floor however.  They are billed by Bush as temporary, but the Senate is saying they (the ones yet to come under an increase in legal immigration rate) can become permanent residents with a path to citizenship.  I don't think that is good for anyone here, including most particularly the Hispanics or others performing low wage jobs.  There will be a perpetual 'race to the bottom' for wage levels, in my opinion.
1068359
I asked  two questions recently along those same lines and got practically NO responses from illegal immigrants or their supporters, they don't want to face the truth:\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AolkQSa5gg8z6H7yAx9bnJTsy6IX?qid=20060624152340AAc8ZtD
771666
I'm against; but i do realize that a small portion should be given amnesty,(Speaking of only thousands, not millions) The rest should be deported back to their native land and some should be given a temporary VISA on probation to see if it would work for them to be citizens, If not, they go back too, But only people who honestly turn themselves in should be given such opportunities.\n\nAn idealist view would be to say " they're all illegal. GET THEM OUT". But in reality, that wouldn't happen.\nI just think we should stop anymore from coming but deal with the people we already have.\n\nSometimes you just have to meet in the middle.
1100235
I have no problem with immigrants, in fact, they are welcomed with open arms....As long as they come here LEGALLY.\nI do, on the other hand, have a serious problem with illegals coming here to make a new life by stealing social security numbers and ID's....and living off of our welfare system, that MY tax dollars pay for.\nThink about it...if someone is willing to break the law to get here..do you really think it will bother them to continue doing it after they arrive? \n\nBe Legal = Be Welcomed
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.
356553
Are you American?  If not, your opinion is like an arsehole we all have one.  If you are NOT American, how would you feel if the did it to yours?  \n\nI will not ever support the illegal aliens of any country that is trying to get a free ride into my country.  You shouldn't either!!!
725451
I am an illegal immigrant...i work hard like anyone else..i deserve a better life like anyone else in U.S.. i get hurt emotionaly when i hear people talking bad about us(illegal immigrants) we are humans. I have been here for 10 years..never been to jail or been reported..i am a hard worker and i am happy.but some people are just NOT GOOD. so please...for those of you that hate illegal immigrants..;please think about our families that we work hard for thme...THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL  !
652183
Agree with Terry, we need to make a statement.  The people who protested against the immigration laws, some were illegal foreigners, some were legal and some were US Citizens. The political parties making the decisions on this are adding up the votes! I don't think we can kick out all working illegal immigrates, it could hurt America and it is really not human.  We can close the borders though and we can make the ones here pay for the process to make them legal and also we can make them pay taxes as we do. If they choose to send what they make back to Mexico or wherever their home country is, they have that right. Many people seem to be so one sided. Have you stopped to think what tax benefits the US would gain by taxing ten million plus immigrates that are currently not paying taxes?
617594
wow - that's an overgeneralized statement, don't ya think?\n\nHate is a very strong word...\n\nI believe it's the ILLEGAL part of immigration that most people have a problem with - not the immigration itself.\n\nLast time I checked the US was a FREE, Democratic society - you can't just throw someone out - unless they are here ILLEGALLY that is... \n\nThank God for that!