Protests against Illegal Immigration Reform

[cvrefugee]

So, what do you guys think?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189282,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/....ap/index.html

[Firecat]

I don't agree with building a fence. I also have a bit of a problem with penalizing employers (unless someone is going out looking for illegals, and paying them poor wages). For the most part, it's not the employers job to act as an immigration officer.

I really don't have any nationalistic reasons for my views on immigration. In general, countries should have more control over their borders. I don't think anybody who is in the country now should be kicked out, but definitely something should be done to cut down on the amount of people crossing (illegally).

On a side-note, it took about 10 years for my residency to come through. And by that time both my brother and sister aged out (reached 21), so they had to apply seperately. There are of course fasters ways i'm sure, but it's a tough process.

[zenkidori]

I think if you are here(or anywhere) illegally you are not entitled to any of the rights and freedoms of a citizen and probably should be booted out. This isn't to say someone should be denied basic human rights in the process, but I think it's dumb as hell to give driver's licenses and voting rights to illegal residents. If you are here illegally you are obviously breaking the law, so of course there are going to be laws against you, duh.

If an employer knowingly hires an illegal person, they should be penalized. But if the person is using fake documents then you may have your suspicions, but it would be pretty lame to question the papers of every employee with an accent.

A fence is a big waste of money IMO, and does nothing much for security, especially since there won't be one going up on the Canadian border.

I like the idea of temporary worker cards, it helps get rid of any excuse for crossing illegally.

I realize there are racists exploiting this issue in order to hopefully get rid of Mexicans, but the truth of the matter is that anyone who breaches border security illegally shouldn't be here, and we need to stop as many breaches as possible. In some places with high populations of illegal workers they can cause as many problems as they would potentially solve in others, but that isn't the issue. The issue isn't whether or not they serve a valid function, it's whether or not they should even be here in the first place, and the answer to that is no.

[Z Draci]

We never enforced our immigration laws so now we are left to deal with these problems. It's nothing but our own fault for not dealing with these issues all along. We allowed illegal immigration to occur for a long time without any kind of opposition. Why is it that people are taking notice now that it's a bit too late? Our local economy depends largely on the labour of these immigrants too. I honestly don't think we can be without these people now.

These Mexican immigrants all have jobs and many pay taxes--even voluntarily! They appreciate what America has to offer and love the country as much as any American. Americans should feel ashamed for denying these people the freedom to immigrate into our country. They only take illegal measures to come here because they are THAT desperate. We should welcome these people into the country with open arms and help them establish themselves here. Do you think any sane individual would risk their lives to cross the border? They come because they need to. They're just here to earn a good living. They are not here to destroy the livelihood of others.

I understand that they broke the law to come into the country. However, Americans are also at fault for not enforcing these laws and ignoring the breaches in the border. I think the blame has to be placed on both sides. Therefore a compromise should be made.

[Lusitano]

Are not the usa and canada countries founded and built by illegal immigrants?

I am finishing my two-week business/pleasure stay here in my home country Portugal. Let`s just say relations with Canada are not the best (first it was the fishing waters ordeal, not this deportation matter)...

[zenkidori]

If you want to get down to it, all countries are founded by immigrants, as man has spread across the globe. The US was founded a long time ago and we've long since passed the point of all being immigrants. Just because some europeans came over and established colonies doesn't mean we need an open border policy, that's BS.

The idea that the US cannot function without illegals is retarded. They make life easier in some ways, and harder in others. The same was said about slave labor.

So are we just supposed to let anyone for any reason enter our country? Even if some of the illegals pay taxes, they send most of thier money to mexico, so it's not going into our economy.

But like I said, the issue isn't whether or not they provide a useful function, it's whether or not they should be here in the first place, and the answer to that is no.

[jayhawk]

Heres a simple idea. Alot of illegal immigrants are so because to become a US citizen is relatively hard.

How about...making citizenship really easy, and being an illegal alien really hard? Because right now, the opposite is true! Insane!

[zenkidori]

How about...making citizenship really easy,

why?

[Firecat]

Question. When people talk about amnesty, what does that entail? I mean, would you become a citizen? Because that would suck for all the people that came here legally, became a permanent resident...and had to wait at least 5 years to be naturalized.

[zenkidori]

it would be pretty shitty, yeah. Perhaps it means they won't deport you, but you still don't get to be a citizen?

[Firecat]

I think you're right. I just read a few articles, apparently the provision they take about would put illegals on a "track for citizenship"...and they have to meet certain qualifications (like being current on taxes, background check, pay some fines etc). So it could take a number of years. Nobody wants to classify that as "amnesty" (which is a bad word)...but it seems like it is.

[zenkidori]

That sounds good to me.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

If an employer knowingly hires an illegal person, they should be penalized. But if the person is using fake documents then you may have your suspicions, but it would be pretty lame to question the papers of every employee with an accent.

I was watching this interview with this dude that organized some of these protests. Obviously, his position was in favor of legalizing the immigrants that came here illegally. When asked about businesses that hire illegals, he said that they should be punished etc. And i've seen this same argument used several times. It's so hypocritcal, it's mind boggling.

It's like...the people that come here illegally and get a job etc should be given amnesty, but go after the business that gives them that job. Would these pro-illegal immigrant rights people prefer for illegal immigrants to not be hired at all?

Just had to get that off my chest...lol

anyway...this was the interview

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12268709/

MATTHEWS: What would be a good immigration bill?

RODRIGUEZ: Well, we strongly support the Kennedy-McCain. We think that‘s an excellent piece of legislation. We want legislation that is fair. We want to preserve, keep families here together and don‘t forget that we contribute an awful lot to the economy, and so we want a bill that will, over a period of time, have earned immigration status for all these folks.
...
MATTHEWS: You missed the second one. What about employers who hire people illegally?

RODRIGUEZ: Employers who hire people illegal need to be prosecuted. We have always felt very strongly that someone that knowingly employs an illegal immigrant needs to be prosecuted, that‘s the way that the system works.

[jeffy777]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

I think if you are here(or anywhere) illegally you are not entitled to any of the rights and freedoms of a citizen and probably should be booted out.

[zenkidori]

It's interesting to note that there were demonstrations in favor of reform in other areas of the country, some even larger than the protest in california.

[Firecat]

Here is an excerpt from Lou Dobbs (Mondays show with Nativo Lopez, President of the Mexican-American political association)...

DOBBS: And will you accept anything less than amnesty?

LOPEZ: Absolutely not. We're looking for full immediate, unconditional legalization for all persons currently in the United States. They've already paid their way, Dobbs. They paid their way more than enough, than anybody can expect of them, we don't need earned legalization, we need legalization right now of all our folks here.

Our country would be more secure with having everybody in our database, their photo, fingerprints, information, we would certainly know who the 12 million are, they would be here. And May 1st, you are going to feel the effects of nobody going to work, nobody going to school, shopping or selling, because we're calling it The Great American Boycott: A Day Without Immigrants. Marching in the street for full, immediate, unconditional legalization of all working people that are here currently without documents.

DOBBS: Nativo, you're talking about feeling the impact, you're talking about a boycott of all illegal aliens in this country?

LOPEZ: Well first off, I refute your terminology. You don't say kike, patty, WOP, OK, you don't say ******.

DOBBS: Partner, I don't even listen to that kind of language. You pollute the air.

LOPEZ: You're using language that's offensive to me and offensive to my people.

DOBBS: You are wrong.

LOPEZ: You pollute the air every day, Dobbs. You are absolutely wrong.

DOBBS: You have the distinction of using language that is never...

LOPEZ: That language is offensive, it's derogatory, it's denigrating, and don't use that terminology to me again, referring to my people.

[FATMOUSE]

Originally Posted by Firecat

Here is an excerpt from Lou Dobbs (Mondays show with Nativo Lopez, President of the Mexican-American political association)...

[cvrefugee]

What an ass. Can we deport Lopez?

[zenkidori]

LOL.

It was funny watching Carlos Mencia talk about why most people don't think immigrants should be allowed to jump ahead to citizenship, especially when he made the crack about the flags.

[Firecat]

A lot of people in the mall where I work are worried about this May 1st boycott that is planned. They don't think a lot of their employees will should up for work, despite their legal status (I guess just to show support)