What is your opinion on the illegal immigrant situation in the US?
83728
The only way that America is growing is through immigration. If it weren't for immigration, we'd have a zero or negative population growth.  Our country is graying rapidly--many older people and fewer young.  Without more younger workers, this country will not be in good shape in a few years.  I believe that immigration is good, necessary and as a country we should be thankful that people choose to come here.  People bring labor, brains and so much more.  As far as "legal" goes, it is always preferred that people do things legally, however, rules & laws change according to society's needs.  Perhaps the best answer here is to welcome the immigrant and change the rules as to what is legal/illegal.
578104
i hadn't really heard alot about it, but my opinion is that the illegal immigrants should have to get legal or go home!! i mean we have to give the gov are info. such as SSI numbers,D.O.B,etc....... so why shouldn't they
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
1068201
I do not support illegal IMMIGRATION.\nI support AMNESTY for the illegals in the country right now.\nI want illegal immigration stopped for good.I can not believe they left the friggin borders open.
1027478
Yes, I love it!  I look on the internet news daily for more stories like the one about the mayor of Hazelton, PA, or Sheriff Joe in Arizona, or big unexpected roundups of illegals in different cities.  It does my heart proud to see the citizens of the USA standing up against this injustice that the government has allowed to occur and get out of hand - illegal immigration.  I believe the power of the American citizens is now snowballing against illegal immigration and whether the Federal Government wants to or not, they are going to have to listen to the people whom they work for, and act accordingly.  The days of the freebies and handouts for illegal immigrants are quickly coming to an end and the smart ones will start planning their own voluntary self-deportations now, rather than wait until they are found and shipped out, possibly leaving family members behind in the USA.  Better they start planning and get themselves organized for an orderly return to their home countries before they get caught by immigration officials or the police or their landlord or their employer.  This way, if they have lived cleanly in the USA so far, without committing further offences since they first illegally came over the border, they have a hope of returning legally one day, if they go home now and apply to immigrate to the USA through the proper procedures.  WAKE UP ILLEGALS!  Do yourselves and your families a favour and return yourselves in an orderly fashion now, while you still can.  Otherwise, don't cry and whine when you get caught and shipped out on a moment's notice, when you aren't ready.  The jig is up!  Amnesty is NOT coming!!  Wake up and smell the coffee!
120791
*Retrieving part of an earlier post of this nature*\n\nKK First I'd like to cut to the chase here, it is a wolf thing you know...\n\nI wanna say I have no prob with immigrants, after all most of the people we concider American's ancestors (and some of mine) were immigrants who came here by legal means. There is no problem there.\n\nThat said, let us define then the real problem...\nIllegal Immigration and what is wrong with that can be summed up in one word...\nILLEGAL!!!\nNothing more is needed to define that, but for those who need a definition between immigrants who apply to the US through proper channels and are here by set rules and permissions and those here by illegal means...\n\nOK, they are here not by following proper applicants and permissions, gaining entry by just crossing over into this country or outstaying visa's and never leaving.\n\nI do have a problem with the huge amount of money being shelled out by us tax payers to pay for welfare, education, medical ect to someone here illegally.\n\nNot only that, it is evident here in states on the borders that businesses are using low wage/under the table pay Illigals as their workers. And we are not just talking picking fruit in fields. All sectors are now affected by it, from construction, to manufacturing, to high tech trade jobs. Often using falsefied documents to obtain those positions.\nIt is wrong that Americans who wish to work cannot find work at a reasonable wage and must resort to accepting near minimum for positions that took years of educational expenses and experience to be able to do or to go on unemployment as they cannot find the work that pays a reasonable wage to meet living expenses or to move to areas not as affected by the situation...\n\nIt is past time our government here in the US starts representing the US people and stop accepting big business money to ignore the problem.
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!!!!
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.
241020
I hope someday happens. I think the US government should see both sides of the problem with illegal immigration and then decide what to do.\n\nI really have faith that the problem will someday be solve, soon or later it will be solved. I am just scared, because if it takes long time for this to happen, I am scared that a civil war will end this up. If is not a civil war, then it will be something worst.\n\nI hope both sides understnad the problem, but I am sure that people, immigrants, will let the government know that they don't like what they are doing.
1169451
Good question.  I'd like to hear some good reasons why they think it is acceptable too. Personally I don't think there is ANY valid argument that will fly for coming here illegally.  I'll check back.  Thanks for asking.
1107389
I am against illegal immigration and think we need to stop it. I think we need strong border security and enforceable penalties for the employers. If I had that, except for the gang/nasties, though, I'd legalize those here but NOT allow an additional preference to bring in family.  Family would have to come in under existing quotas. Partly I'd do this because we did let these folks get unreasonably settled, and partly I just couldn't face the kind of human tragedy that I am sure would result with mass deportations.  And yes, I think the adults amongst them bought it.  But even so...\n\nHowever, total numbers are key.  I would kill any forward increase in immigration until the border were secure and employer databases were up so that employer sanctions could be enforced. Even then I would want the employers of the new guest workers to pay impact fees for local schools and health care, and would want the numbers of all (including dependents) to be carefully thought through in terms of how they would impact education and health care for our own citizens.
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.
392724
I have no problem with legal immigrants, they make America well...America. However, illegal immigrants are clearly breaking the laws and should be treated as such. But, what makes me most upset is that they break the law and are given benefits that citizens are not even given. This is not fair, they are stealing from America.
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!
680603
hmmm.....don't see many of the regulars answering this question/statement do you.\n\nanother aspect of this immigration topic we have yet to pick the scab off.\n\nI love it.\n\nOh but I have to add....they are all going to post quickly with "illegal".....though that had nothing to do with the question.....that is going to be your basic answer.\n\nLMAO\n\ngood post!
207580
No matter how you spin it, they're here illegally. Our government shouldn't have ever let that happen. I don't think most americans have any problems with legal immigrants and lots don't with even illegals, but what about our nation's security? All terrorists & drug dealers  have to do is pay the mexican police and they can come right on in. The key to national security is at the ports, airports and the borders.  I think it's time americans against illegal immigration come together on this issue. Write, e-mail or call your local politicians and make you voices heard. I did. My husband is an immigrant who had to do it legally, so why shouldn't everybody else? Please, it's nothing to do with racism. It's concern for our country and the american way of life.
477552
I agree. \nTo thebeautiful...Almost all of us had ancestors who were from other countries, and yes, most of them were illegal. That was then, this is now. We now have FEDERAL LAWS regarding illegal entry, it's a FELONY.Illegally crossing the border is a FEDERAL offense, a felony. - The issue is ILLEGAL immigrants, not LEGAL immigrants -They are hired by businesses in our country, the businesses should be prosecuted for hiring illegals \n-They pay lower wages to the illegal immigrants than they once paid the American worker, thus American worker wages fall -Americans would do the jobs at the fair wage the businesses formerly paid them. -There is no job they do that Americans won't do. When they say they work harder than Americans, that is a racist remark. Plus, Americans worked to build and keep this land, we didn't run to another country crying with our hand held out. We have stamina and PRIDE. -Illegal immigrants abuse our govrnment assistance programs that were meant for the citizens of the USA when they fall on hard times, not illegal immigrants\n-They can't afford doctors so they glut the ER of hospitals to seek medical care -Our forefathers built this country. Some were illegal, that was then, this is now. We now have immigration laws that are to be abided by, we didn't then\n-Our country fought the Mexican-American war and WON, then paid $15 million dollars for that land and for the privilege of whooping the Mexicans a$$e$ -The illegal immigrant worker is only a tip of the iceberg of problems to come, brought by the illegals coming across the border. They want "reconquista" (reconquor), they'll tell you that. They want that land we whooped their butts for, they can't accept defeat. -They flew their flags in protest of the USA, the very country that has been putting food on their tables. -They disrespect the people of the USA and our leaders. \nThey should be deported and the sooner the better. Our borders should be tightened up and patrolled with armed guards. America needs to wake up.