As a Spanish person (who is here legally) I can tell you it is a very touchy subject. I do believe that the children that where brought her by their parents and not fault of their own, they have live here, grow here and many of them speak English better than Spanish and feel themselves Americans, they should be given some sort of pathway to permanent residence and after 5 years citizenship as long as they do not commit any crimes.
The other illegal people that shows up here trying to have a better life, as long as they work and pay taxes, and they have not and will not commit any type of crime, they could get some sort of registration for legal purposes, so they can get licenses, social security cards and work permits, pay taxes and after 5 years or so, if they proof that they are here for hard work and that they will not get in criminal actions, then they could get there resident papers and wait 5 more years to become citizen of the USA.
That should be a fair way to deal with all the illegals and make them work hard for their right to live in this country, you work hard, you proof that you will NOT be a burden to the states and that you can be here and not get in trouble, then you can stay, the minute you commit any type of felony you get sent back.
Reagan already did that in his years. Gave over 20,000 mexican's a pass. No one should go before the one's already in line. I am curious as to why so many people want to burden our economy and feel that they need to have a right to job's that is for us American's already here. If your not needed then why come. Do not say because of farming or other growth because we need to feed and clothe the Americans. We can only do so much. Our Welfare system is bombarded with such of this. How about the country they come from do something for they people and then wont want to come to America the land of the free. Not so much anymore because we have a influx of other's who have taken that from the American's. The low wage that mexican's will do have brought our country to a stand still. We do not even have a chance against that and the employer's who exploited it should be punished. 5 years is not gonna cut it. Go back home and apply like the rest do. You were here illeagally in first place and should not have a pass for disobeying the laws.
Just to make the point clear, I am no MEXICAN, Spanish people does not come only from Mexico there are over 10 counties south of Mexico that also speak Spanish, also I did say I am here legally, I am a product of an Spanish mother and an American Military father, when they divorce, my mother packed my up and took me back home with her, I moved back to the USA on my 20s, so I am legal, I have never used welfare and I do pay my taxes.
I agree that the system has to be fix and like I said something has to be done, I agree with you that they should not just welfare, but honestly welfare, stamps and others cannot be use by illegals, they need to proof that they are legal to get it. Reagan did it but did not fix the borders, the borders is the first thing that needs to be fix and like I said the ones that are here and not causing troubles and/or committing crimes should get something, I am not saying that they should not go to the end of the line, they should wait to get it and proof their worth before getting something, but I really do not feel that they kids that came here as a baby and this is the only country they know should be punish for their parents actions, deport the parents but if the kid has grown here, gone to school, finish and even gone to college and trying to be the best they can for USA then let them stay, the ones that have become a burden sent them back.