Immigrants in America

[unojuno]

Such a HOT topic these days.  What is the consensus of opinion on this site??  Immigrants made this great nation, and though it seems with the passage of time (and especially since 9/11), they are less then welcomed.  I personally came to the States 37 yrs ago and I knew within a year that this would be my permanent home.  I did it the legal way, but unfortunately there thousands upon thousands who didn't and, because of their illegal status, are now facing deportation to their homeland, even though they may have children born here.  Should amnesty be granted to those hardworking, law-abiding folks whose only charge is seeking a better life for their family?  I  say lets' give them a chance to live in this land, and focus our attention on those illegals who are convicted felons who have nothing to offer but a burden on law enforcement and law-abiding taxpayers!!!

[animikokala]

Such a HOT topic these days.  What is the consensus of opinion on this site??  Immigrants made this great nation, and though it seems with the passage of time (and especially since 9/11), they are less then welcomed.  I personally came to the States 37 yrs ago and I knew within a year that this would be my permanent home.  I did it the legal way, but unfortunately there thousands upon thousands who didn't and, because of their illegal status, are now facing deportation to their homeland, even though they may have children born here.  Should amnesty be granted to those hardworking, law-abiding folks whose only charge is seeking a better life for their family?  I  say lets' give them a chance to live in this land, and focus our attention on those illegals who are convicted felons who have nothing to offer but a burden on law enforcement and law-abiding taxpayers!!!

If they are illegal immigrants, I wouldn't qualify them as law-abiding.  What's the point of having any laws at all if people are going to arbitrarily choose the laws they are going to follow?

[falcon9]

Such a HOT topic these days.  What is the consensus of opinion on this site??  Immigrants made this great nation, and though it seems with the passage of time (and especially since 9/11), they are less then welcomed.  I personally came to the States 37 yrs ago and I knew within a year that this would be my permanent home.  I did it the legal way, but unfortunately there thousands upon thousands who didn't and, because of their illegal status, are now facing deportation to their homeland, even though they may have children born here.  Should amnesty be granted to those hardworking, law-abiding folks whose only charge is seeking a better life for their family?  I  say lets' give them a chance to live in this land, and focus our attention on those illegals who are convicted felons who have nothing to offer but a burden on law enforcement and law-abiding taxpayers!!!

If they are illegal immigrants, I wouldn't qualify them as law-abiding.  What's the point of having any laws at all if people are going to arbitrarily choose the laws they are going to follow?

I fully agree, animikokola.  Especially if they arrived illegally just to have 'anchor babies' here in order to remain in the US, they are not "immigrants"; they're stowaways.  Recall what used to happen to stowaways back when.

[Abrupt]

I have found that those that cannot hold to the smaller rules/laws will likewise have no qualms about breaking the bigger ones when the opportunity presents itself.  As a general rule if I cannot trust someone with the small issues I can never trust them with the big issues.

[Darekatie]

I don't have an issue with the LEGAL immigrants who have chosen to move here in hopes of a better life. I do, however, have an issue with illegal immigrants coming into this country. Its hard enough for Americans who were born and raised in this country to find work and support their families without illegal immigrants (from any country) coming in and taking our jobs and houses.
 
I'm all for LEGAL immigrants chasing "The American Dream", just not the illegal ones.

[sigmapi1501]

I'm for amnesty.  Simply because the resources needed to hunt down people and deport them could be used better elsewhere. If you are for deporting non residents, then encourage your elected officials to go after the people giving them employment.

Nothing will stop them physically from coming here. No fence, no armed border guards.  The only way to stop them from coming here illegally is to go after the pople who hire them.  If a person faced serious fines/jail time for hiring an illegal and it was ACTUALLY ENFORCED that would be the end of the problem.

[vickysue]

I lived in a border town and let me tell you it is a major problem. They pay no medical, have babies get on welfare have more babies. The crime also goes way up and where ever they live starts too look like the county dump. If they want to live here do it the right way. Have no problems with it. here were time i would see as many as 20 trying to slip into the u.s at a time. Thank God for the border patrol, as i lived out in the country and could get scary at times.

[natashaspy]

i really have no problem with the legal immigrants.  the only ones i have problems with are the ones that come across the border illegally, then seem to get the govt. help that is declined to the people that are citizens and have worked for years paying into the system.  if they come over legally and pay the same taxes and follow the same laws as we do, then as far as i'm concerned they would be more than welcome

[plennis]

If you came here legally, then you want to be a law abiding citizen.  NO PROBLEM.  Every few years we give amnesty to everyone who has been here working and can prove it for a while.  I don't think that is right, the immigration system quotas were set up so that they could all be absorbed into the country without causing problems.  It is not right that a woman drags across the border illegally, has a child and then because the child is born here she gets to stay.  The child of illegals should not be given citizenship.  Most other countries they are NOT.  Most other countries you face very heavy fines and or imprisonment for coming in or staying past visa time limits.  I am a Notary Public, the illegal documentation   you can buy, are very hard to detect as false, and I do it for a living.  So the average person has a really tough time  with the paperwork.  Also, many illegals workers pay into the system but are afraid to access it.  I know of one company that hires illegal workers (sometimes several on one time card) and then every few months calls immigration when it is payroll time.  So many of them are getting taken advantage of too.

[tzs]

Immigrants just add to the flavor here in america, If there were no immigrants, don't ya think things would be a little boring? We need this. And don't talk to me about crime, because reguardless of who crosses that border, crime is always a constant.

[Thesaboteur]

Would be fine if we could actually help them.

[Snoozey]

i really have no problem with the legal immigrants.  the only ones i have problems with are the ones that come across the border illegally, then seem to get the govt. help that is declined to the people that are citizens and have worked for years paying into the system.  if they come over legally and pay the same taxes and follow the same laws as we do, then as far as i'm concerned they would be more than welcome

This is exactly right. There are many illegal immigrants who come here and receive money to go to school and get a degree, and who have children here so that they can get money from welfare. The current set up of the funding in the US is broken, and it needs to be reformed so that real citizens and legal immigrants are the only ones who receive the benefits which are supposed to be limited to the US citizens.

[Cuppycake]

Such a HOT topic these days.  What is the consensus of opinion on this site??  Immigrants made this great nation, and though it seems with the passage of time (and especially since 9/11), they are less then welcomed.  I personally came to the States 37 yrs ago and I knew within a year that this would be my permanent home.  I did it the legal way, but unfortunately there thousands upon thousands who didn't and, because of their illegal status, are now facing deportation to their homeland, even though they may have children born here.  Should amnesty be granted to those hardworking, law-abiding folks whose only charge is seeking a better life for their family?  I  say lets' give them a chance to live in this land, and focus our attention on those illegals who are convicted felons who have nothing to offer but a burden on law enforcement and law-abiding taxpayers!!!

If they are illegal immigrants, I wouldn't qualify them as law-abiding.  What's the point of having any laws at all if people are going to arbitrarily choose the laws they are going to follow?

Indeed. It constitutes unarmed invasion to be completely honest. I for one am sick to death of it and think war should be declared on our part as it already has on their end!

[Cuppycake]

Immigrants just add to the flavor here in america, If there were no immigrants, don't ya think things would be a little boring? We need this. And don't talk to me about crime, because reguardless of who crosses that border, crime is always a constant.

Says the person that probably got here illegally themselves...

[gamerpeeps]

Immigration amnesty is a sore subject with me! My parents came to this country in '49 from Ukraine, legally. America IS the melting pot and should welcome LEGAL immigrants. Every few years, the government decides to grant amnesty to those who are not here legally and it is wrong. If they keep giving amnesty, why should anyone try to be here legally when in a few years all will be forgiven. We have immegration laws and they should be followed! NO more amnesty!