With all the debate in the news, what are your opinions on illegal immigration, and immigration reform. With an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in our country and thousands more coming in every day, what is the United States to do about the huge drain on social services and health care, and the demands for rights and more access to federal and state social programs from illegals who are here to stay. While the influx of the younger workers is beneficial to our economy in some states, is the increase in crime, poverty, and increased burden on the services those people require equitable.
Discuss...

if they want to stay, stay legally. pay taxes, better yourself "be american"

I heard, not from a very trustworthy source, but I thought it was hilarious so I will pass it on, that the second biggest factor in the Mexican economy is money from the U.S. Like I said, I don't think whereever I heard this from was a great source, but I thought it was pretty funny non-the-less. (Oh, and fyi, they said the biggest factor was oil...)

Most would LOVE to be legal citiczens but it usually isnt as easy as just "paying taxes"

My old boss was applying for citizenship from S. Korea and he said he had to hire a lawyer b/c there is so much paperwork, and he is a Phd and fluent. I think they should charge them a certain amount, and that should go to appointing them a sponsor (or whatever it would be called) that would help them with the application process. I think they should be forced to play by some fairly strict rules (ie learning english, paying taxes whatever) but that it should atleast be POSSIBLE for someone of average intelligence to apply successfully. Furthermore, I think legal penalties, both finacial and deportation/emprisonment (sp) for those that don't try to become legal. On top of that, I think companies that hire illegals should be smacked down wih a big stick when caught. I am not talking about a few grand, or even tens of thousands of dollars, I am talking about hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars. Make the penalty so steep that hiring illegals can't even be an option...

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,93118,00.html

Just for thought.

-Legal immigrants are furious over this. They've worked so hard to get into this country when all an illegal has to do is walk right over. To add injury to insult, some of the most intelligent, specialized foreigners (doctors, etc.) return to their country to remain in compliance with the law of their visas. The illegals don't usually have near the skills of most of the legal ones, so basically we are kicking out the good and letting in the bad.

-Each political party wants votes, and legalizing the illegal will instantly get 11,000,000 more votes. If you recall the last few elections, 11,000,000 would be enough to sway the vote. The politicians are in a race to the bottom, looking out only for themselves and not caring about the American citizenry.

-Mexico isn't exactly a nice place to live. America doesn't exactly have infinite land space. Since Mexicans seem to dislike the Mexican government, why don't we take it over? No more worrying about drug shipments from the South and Cancun would become an American city? Best part of all would be that all illegal immigrants would instantly become legal by annexation. To save American soldiers the trouble of fighting the government of Mexico, stop all illegals at the border, hand them a nice big rifle with good ammo, turn them right around, and tell them to have a nice revolution. A revolution did wonders back during the American Revolution. They should give it a shot.

-An illegal immigrant has committed a crime. Hence the name, "illegal." The government is standing by doing absolutely nothing about it, even when they bring signs on the capital lawn stating that they are illegal. Funny how blatent disrespect for the law gets no attention at all while the government goes way way out of the way to catch the smallest amount of drugs. "I know it is illegal, but they've been through so much" is as good of an argument as "I know it's illegal to kill her officer, but you don't know what I've been through"

-Alternatively, we don't have to kick out any of them at all. We could let them stay free of charge. Just do a few things, like remove tax-payer funded services, such as hospitalization. While tax payers are waiting in the waiting room, illegals are taking up space in line. Discontinue social security to them. It doesn't just go to old people. It also goes to children who were born to parents that hopped over the border, had a child, went back, and now collect social security checks, in Mexico. Forbid any government ID; they can have one when they become a citizen. Enforce labor laws as they were written. If you are going to bother writting laws, what is the point of not enforcing them. That will at least bump up all wages to minimum wage and allow equal competition besides who is the cheapest. Then watch how quickly the problem of illegal immigration sticks around.

-If you really want to be bold, enter Mexico illegally. Never mind immigration quotas, visas, international law, or any of that nonsense. Once there, demand that the local government provide free medical care for you and your entire family. Demand bilingual nurses and doctors. Demand free bilingual local government forms, bulletins, etc. Procreate abundantly. Deflect any criticism of this allegedly irresponsible reproductive behavior with, "It is a cultural USA thing. You would not understand, pal." Keep your American identity strong. Fly Old Glory from your rooftop, or proudly display it in your front window or on your car bumper. Speak only English at home and in public and insist that your children do likewise. Demand classes on American culture in the Mexican school system. Demand a local Mexican driver license. This will afford other legal rights and will go far to legitimize your unauthorized, illegal presence in Mexico. Drive around with no liability insurance and ignore local traffic laws. Insist that local Mexican law enforcement teach English to all its officers. Good luck! You'll be demanding for the rest of time or soon dead.Because it will never happen. It will not happen in Mexico or any other country in the world except right here in the United States, Land of the naive and stupid, idiotic politically correct politicians.

I just don't understand this whole "we can't find them so we have to live with it" mentality. There were a whole bunch of them at protests. That would have been a prime time to round up and deport a bunch of them. What is the point of having laws on the books that aren't enforced.

I strongly support building a wall along the boarder. With razor wire and landmines. I'll even throw them a bone and put signs up in both English and Spanish.

At the same time I think we need to cut some of the crap out of becoming a legal immigrant. All it really needs to be is a simple form: who are you, where are you going, who is supporting you, what skills do you have to offer. I'm all about letting in people from other countries who want to be a part of the American society, who want to come in and make better lives for themselves. If they are playing by the rules. Every illegal is a felon and should be treated as such.

Like speeding laws?

Have you never gotten a speeding ticket?

I havent


I'm all for amnesity, as long as they learn English, pay taxes and don't commit any crimes. We would be screwed without them....who would cut our grass and be janitors? And I'm not saying that as a joke. They happily do the crappy jobs that no Americans want to do

Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket for going 1-10 over? It's kind of ignored.

Every janitor in every school that I've been in has been American, and so has everyone I've even seen cutting grass.

I think that is because (or atleast at 1-5 over) car companies get some leeway (sp) in calibrating their speedometers. Anyway, I don't think so, I thought I had, but I think I was going 68, not 63. Bt I hear the highway patrol will give you a ticket for going anything over during memorial day weekend (again, this is hearsay, I don't know for a fact).

Sure there are alot of illegals that come accross the border, but a good portion of the illegals that manage to stay in the country are the ones that enter legally, and then stay in america when their green card expires. I understand there's a problem with illegals crossing the border, but at the same time the only thing razor wire and landmines are going to do is just irritate the situation. "building a wall" is just a temporary solution to a long term problem.