Are there any legal or illegal immigrants that think May 1st did more harm that good?
537937
when people move to our country and tell us how great their country is seems crazy to me.one time I went to Mexico on\nvacation crossed the boarder and yelled I'm Mexican I'm Mexican\nbut in  reality I'm American. must have been the drugs
1173532
As you can see, illegals get more benefits than those trying to follow the law.  Change your name to "Gonzalez".
308643
I rather spent the money on illgela immigrants because look at the facts, immigrants contribute 7 billion in social security per year. they earn 240 billion, report 90 billion, and only are reimbursed 5 billion, "where are the 85 billion?"  They also  contribute to the U.S. economy 25 billion more than they receive in healthcare, etc., etc., etc.  According to the anti-immigrant politicians and hatemongers, "immigrants are a drain on society."  If this is true, then during the day on May 1st the stock market will surge, and the economy will boom.  If not, we prove them wrong once and for all.  We know what will happen!
665599
Statistics lie and liars use statistics.\n\nThe May Day boycott was "A Day Without Immigrants", not "A Day without Illegal Mexican Immigrants".  The people boycotting were both immigrants (legal and illegal) from all over the world and their supporters.  Their were many countries of origin represented, not just Mexico.\n\nNational retailers are not able to report on shoplifting stats in such a short amount of time: 10 days between the date of the boycott and the date of your posting is not enough time for individual retailers to perform inventory, file reports with their national office, and have the national offices report on their findings.  \n\nIf there was a 67.8% reduction in reported arrests for shoplifting on that day, then we should be thankful to our immigrants.  A reduction in arrests may be attributed to store security staff participating in the boycott.  So, the stores should be thankful for their immigrant supporting security staff that does such a wonderful job of catching shoplifters.  After all, when their immigrant supporting security staff are working, they catch 67.8% more shoplifters.\n\nAdditionally, by calling people "illegals" you are dehumanizing them.  This is similar to what has been done throughout history: people dehumanize groups of people to justify genocides.  The Germans, Austrians and Polish governments did it to the Jews; the Serbians did it to the Croations, the Tootsi's did it to the Hutus.  You are not the only one guilty of dehumanizing an entire group of people.  I just finally had to say something.  \n\nThe term "Illegals" is used to dehumanize immigrants to the United States of Mexican origin.  And, people will argue, "but they are illegal".  Many of them ARE legal, many are not.  But, we don't call Jaywalkers "illegals", even though they are doing something illegal.  Please refer to people who are here without proper paper work as "illegal immigrants" - this term is not dehumanizing.\n\n\n------------------\n\nAs for the other stats listed in the answers portion:\n\n1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County (L. A. County has 10 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. \n> Most eBay vendors don't pay taxes.  I didn't realize they were all in LA county.  Let's call all those eBayers who don't pay taxes "Illegals" too.  I love pulling statistical B.S. out of my tush.\n\n5. Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally. \n> That's because they are arrested for being here illegally.\n\n6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages. \n> So what?  Wait! I thought they were all on welfare and living in HUD housing. Which is it?\n\n7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border. \n> "Most likely"... now that's a good one to quote!\n\n8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal. \n> Boyfriends, girlfriends, ex-husbands, roommates and youth over 18, and cousins aren't allowed in HUD housing - they are all illegal.... though not necessarily illegal immigrants.\n\n10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak \nSpanish (10.2 million people in L. A. County). \n> This is such a silly stat: probably about 3M out of the 3.9M speak both English and Spanish, so do we have 4M people in LA who are deaf, dumb and mute and speak no language?  Your numbers don't add up.\n\nOver 70% of the United States annual population growth \n> If we didn't have immigration, the population of the US would actually be decreasing due to a low birth rate. Since the birth rate makes the population decrease, of course the increase is due to immigration (and people living longer) \n \n29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens. \n> Makes sense if illegal aliens are
245019
Well, I think we should show our full power to both sides of that question, even if it's contrary to popular opinion. And yeah... there are effects of illegal immigrants on residents of states, especially those bordering mexico... I live in Arizona, and I'm a carpenter, but I find it hard to get a job, because an Illegal Immigrant will take the job for a whole lot less money than I could go down to... It affects more than you think... and you wouldn't like to be dealing with the illegal immigrant thing personally like I have to every day.\n\nAnd well, about the war... if we WANTED to win, we could... but like I said, It's about popular opinion and people covering their own butts.\n\nAnd if you want to talk to me about why getting minimum wage doesn't affect them negatively, I have explanations for that, too.
362531
I tend to agree.  This crap is pissing people off...and it's squandering any good will many of us may have had in regard to the plight of illegals.
1054732
My parents were not legal Immigrants, but I am. For myself it wasn't that difficult, to get here from Scotland. It took effort and a lot of paper work, and a sponser, to guarantee, my welfare, for the first six months.\n I got a job early, and put no burden on my sponser. But I was covered by his generosity.\nOther legal immigrants from other nations, had the same problems as I did, some worse, due to the old quota systems. But they too all waited in lines, saw Doctors, got X-rays, filled reams of paper work, and did the right thing.\nIt angers me to see those illegals, sneak, or really, openly cross our borders.  They seem to think they are entitiled to do so. They see no crime being committed, and other latinos who were born here, or whos parents, got here, illegally or legally, try to help them out, and can't see what they are doing to our health system and schools.\nI think the politicians are working hand in glove with businesses, to supply this latest form of cheap labor.It lowers all our standard of living. See how expensive health care is now, if it's even available, and out pension plans, going down the tube. All of this isn't all due to illegal immigration, but it certainly isn't helped by it.\nWe need to control our borders and immigration. What other country would allow over twelve million illegals amongst them. \nI have no bias, against those people who are just trying to better their lives, for them and their families. But how much better would it be, if they did that in there own Country.\nMexico, could easily be a first world country, given its natural resources, and the skill and hard work of their natives. But their Government is too corrupt, and so few own the majority of the wealth of their nation, and aren't willing to share, it with the less fortunate amongst their people.
620109
I'd go for the corporations and businesses, they are the next in this pyramid of breaking the law, the last would be the illegals who have been getting away with coming here, getting jobs and staying without any contemplation whatsoever. The top of this pyramid is the government that doesn't enforce Immigration laws. Lately, we have many "real problems" that our President is just not equipped to solve, they just seem to get worse.
257664
Illegal immigrants, No, because it has a negative impact on many things. \n\nTo name a few: welfare system, court system (tying up the court systems with things such as drinking and driving. I watch the news on a daily basis and suprise it's not the white or even black people killing others in d&D accidents but the illegal mexicans), economy (they make money here but send it back to where-ever their family is), and jobs (why would an employer want to hire someone thats here "legally" when they can hire an illegal immigrant that will work under the table for minimum wage?).
871826
What an informative article...but I am already against illegals in our country so this only reinforces not changes my stance.\n\nthanks!
780890
If they come illegally, having a child will complicate their deportation.  It's also much more affordable in America, because all of the freebies as far as health care goes.
866458
I think fines for the first offense are permissible. If it happens a second time, then it's jail time. I think shutting down businesses are good becaue if they hired illegals, then they've broken the law. I think if we get tougher on illegal immigration and enforce these rules then we would deter illegals from coming here.
663726
immigration is good, ILLEGAL immigration is not good!
733239
Please do not oversimplify the matter. There is a huge difference between legal and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
559026
Ok....let's get one thing straight.  When my (and many others) ancestors came here long ago IT WASN"T ILLEGAL!!!  Most of them came here not for money or a better life but for life itself (jews, scots, irish).  They had people actually killing them, I mean gun to the head, knife to the heart.  And they came to this country and FOUGHT for this country, losing whole families along the way.  I live in the south and am a proud southerner (that does not mean racist), my family were poor dirt farmers from Tennessee who scraped by with what they could grow or what they could buy with the little money my father (who had to drop out of school at the age of 12 to get a job - only boy out of 11 children - and fought in Vietnam) made doing odd jobs.  Today we have laws in place to stop the over population of our country.  My husband is an immigrant who went through the proper channels.  Yes, it cost money that we didn't have but we STILL went through the proper channels.  They will let you in unless you have something to hide, all you have to do is fill out the paper work and wait.  I know that today time is money and one day can mean the life and death of someone you love but AMERICA is NOT to blame for the state of your home country.  I am all for immigration if it is done legally!  As far as I am concerned, whether you come from Mexico, China, England, France, or Tim-buck-too, if you come here illegally you should be prepared to face the repercussions of doing so.  Breaking the law is breaking the law, period.  No one is above it (with the exception of the Bosh family - or so they wish us to believe).
658248
It was not considered illegal when the European and Asian Americans came here, more like they thought they discovered this land.  It is shameless what they did to the Native Americans still.
484071
I agree with you... it seems like the media likes to turn it into something more controversial than it already is.  You are right, we are not targeting Mexicans... we are targeting all ILLEGAL immigrants.  I don't get it.  Now, the Senate has reopened a bill that will allow this "guest worker program" that will grant all illegal immigrants citizenship.  It's a slap in the face for those who seek citizenship LEGALLY and had to wait in line.  \n\nCALL or email your congressman... or even the White House.  Looks like they want to pass this bill by Memorial Day.  What a tragedy for America.  This is going to lead to more illegal people coming over and eventually DEMANDING citizenship - why make laws if they are not enforced particularly ones that are meant to keep us safe?  We might as well make it a free for all and open our doors to anyone, regardless of who they are or what they have done.  I mean that is what we are doing now...