Immigration

[ItsZippy]

Immigration comes up a lot in the news and in debate. There are two main questions I have for you...

Is immigration fundamentally a good idea? If people arrive in the country legally, is it beneficial and is it right?

What should we do with illegal immigrants?

 

[David]

Is immigration fundamentally a good idea?

Yes. What really defines someone as an immigrant? It's just someone, anyone, who is in a new or different environment to their own habitat/country. But if you go one step further, we are no different from each other. We're both human, and should have equal human rights, so essentially, the term "immigration" has probably been a bit distorted over the last 50 years.

If people arrive in the country legally, is it beneficial and is it right?

Yes. Is it beneficial? If they are not harmful to the society they are new in, then we should be allowed to let another human being into our society. Is it right? Of course it is right to allow someone of the exact same form into the country. They may be limited in a few things, but that's where education and experience comes in. Why deny them these rights?

What should we do with illegal immigrants?

This will get political. They should be processed and understanding their reason would be vital. They may be seeking asylum from a war stricken country, or in need of change from a country of poverty.

 

[katy perry is hot]

I am a big supporter of an easy path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Government centers should be built for them to learn english and the fundamentals of the country, then they can take the citizenship test. If they fail, they can try again a few times, and if they fail, say 5 times, they are deported back to their home country, unless in cases of asylum or genocide. eg, we wouldn't send a chinese dissident back to China to be thrown into a labor camp because he still can't learn English and failed the test a few times. The centers should be free of charge for the immigrants. Once they pass the test and become citizens, they should have to pay back the costs of the immigration center via their taxes for the next 10 years or something like that. The government should do anything they can to try and get them jobs.

If any illegal immigrants commit (and are proven guilty) in any type of violent crime, they should be immediately deported back to their home country, no options for taking the classes.

 

[Dasher]

I don't believe that immigrants should be forced to speak our language, because America was founded on immigration anyways. We weren't here first. I'm perfectly fine with illegal immigrants as long as they're doing what they're supposed to, having a job, etc. If they're over here selling drugs, and whatnot, they don't need to be here.

 

[katy perry is hot]

I don't believe that immigrants should be forced to speak our language, because America was founded on immigration anyways. We weren't here first. I'm perfectly fine with illegal immigrants as long as they're doing what they're supposed to, having a job, etc. If they're over here selling drugs, and whatnot, they don't need to be here.

No they need to be forced to speak our language. I'm not going to cave on that. They need to have a basic understanding of English to live in this country effectively.

Also to note with the centers, the immigrants who come there would all be put on file, so we have a good idea of who is in our country, rather than how we have no idea who the hell millions of illegals are.

 

[ItsZippy]

Irviding, I agree that they do need to speak your language; however, as America prides itself with having no official language, how do you expect that to work?

Also, for once, I agree with you. I think allowing illegal immigrants to easily become citizens is beneficial to all. If they're willing to contribute to society, it means that they will stop damaging the country and can start giving to it.

 

[katy perry is hot]

Irviding, I agree that they do need to speak your language; however, as America prides itself with having no official language, how do you expect that to work?

Also, for once, I agree with you. I think allowing illegal immigrants to easily become citizens is beneficial to all. If they're willing to contribute to society, it means that they will stop damaging the country and can start giving to it.

Because, if we are going to make an effort to really help these people easily become citizens without serious issue, they need to be able to have at least a good understanding of the English language.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

Is immigration fundamentally a good idea?

Yes. What really defines someone as an immigrant? It's just someone, anyone, who is in a new or different environment to their own habitat/country. But if you go one step further, we are no different from each other. We're both human, and should have equal human rights, so essentially, the term "immigration" has probably been a bit distorted over the last 50 years.

In the United States, "immigrant" is defined as "anybody with a tan." There are people who come from Canada (read: "white people") who are technically immigrants, but nobody would ever call them that.

 

[katy perry is hot]

Is immigration fundamentally a good idea?

Yes. What really defines someone as an immigrant? It's just someone, anyone, who is in a new or different environment to their own habitat/country. But if you go one step further, we are no different from each other. We're both human, and should have equal human rights, so essentially, the term "immigration" has probably been a bit distorted over the last 50 years.

In the United States, "immigrant" is defined as "anybody with a tan." There are people who come from Canada (read: "white people") who are technically immigrants, but nobody would ever call them that.

Yeah and what's funny is Americans just very recently now need a passport to go to Canada.

 

[Antarctic]

Illegal immigrants who come on boats should be sent back, depending on who they are. Mothers and Children should be granted access to the country in a detention center until their needs are assessed, and fathers should be sent back.

I support immigration, but not illegal immigration, by all means come through the front door and get caught then plea your case, but don't try and f*ck us up the ass and sneak in and complain that we are inhumane, racist, just because we don't let you in and chuck you in a detention center.

 

[katy perry is hot]

Illegal immigrants who come on boats should be sent back, depending on who they are. Mothers and Children should be granted access to the country in a detention center until their needs are assessed, and fathers should be sent back.

I support immigration, but not illegal immigration, by all means come through the front door and get caught then plea your case, but don't try and f*ck us up the ass and sneak in and complain that we are inhumane, racist, just because we don't let you in and chuck you in a detention center.

But it's too hard for illegal immigrants to enter this country in the first place.

 

[carolynK]

Close the borders.

 

[Gimgak]

Close the borders.

what an intelligent, thought-provoking post.

 

[katy perry is hot]

Such a dumb argument... people act like there are no borders and you can just walk into the country.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/about/accomp ... al_day.xml

Over 50,000 employees, who are tasked with protecting borders. The largest federal law enforcement agency. Yet some still think we have no border. That's seriously the stupidest argument about immigration in the book.

 

[David]

Such a dumb argument... people act like there are no borders and you can just walk into the country.

That's illogical. How can you have a country (a geographical region requiring borders) with no borders? Something doesn't add up 😛

 

[katy perry is hot]

Such a dumb argument... people act like there are no borders and you can just walk into the country.

That's illogical. How can you have a country (a geographical region requiring borders) with no borders? Something doesn't add up 😛

Tell that to carolynk and the other not so educated people who somehow believe the US government does not have any type of security or border protection.

 

[Felicia]

First off, that whole no border thing is utter bs, I agree with David, it's impossible for a country not to have borders, ie. boundaries!

The government should do anything they can to try and get them jobs.

Uhhh, no they shouldn't? If the government isn't going to "find jobs" for our already unemployed citizens, why should they find jobs for illegal immigrants? How would you feel if you were unemployed, and then the government started finding jobs for people who are here illegally, and all on the LEGAL TAXPAYERS' dimes?

Illegal immigration pisses me off to no end. My mom and her family had to wait 8 years before they could leave Poland and LEGALLY immigrate to the United States. They came here for a better life too, so yes, somehow it is possible for people to do this legally. My dad couldn't even leave through Poland. He had to live with family in Austria and Belgium before being able to legally enter the United States.

Would they have liked the immigration process to be easier? Yes. Did they do it anyways? Yes.
If you really want something, you'll go after it.

Personally, I think we are becoming too accustomed to everything being handed to us, whether by the government or other means. We want the government to find our jobs, we want the government to tell us how to eat to combat obesity, we want the government to pay for our education (this one I don't oppose as strongly), we want the government to pay for our health care, we want the government to hand out citizenship, etc., etc.

 

[katy perry is hot]

Why should your family have to wait 8 years? It should be easier to become a citizen through legal processes. That simple.
About the tax thing, and I said, taxpayers would fund it first, then when these people become legal citizens and get a job, they will have whatever costs their time at these immigration centers were deducted from their taxes.

And you can keep making that argument about how they waited so everyone else should, but sorry, here's reality: People will still come here illegally. Those people who come here illegally can steal, murder, bring drugs back and fourth, and rape, without being in the system, without being found by the government, etc.
I applaud your family's following of the law. However, as I said, face reality. Most people are not going to do that, especially those who come up from Mexico or down from Canada. They can simply find areas of the border where they can easily enter, stow away in a car, etc. And if we don't make it so these people who come here illegally can easily become citizens, we will keep facing the consequences.

 

[Deleted member 1609]

We need to put in an easier system for illegal immigrants to gain citizenship and then offer amnesty to the illegals who are already here. That's the only way we can solve this "crisis."

I put "crisis" in quotes because illegal immigration isn't even a problem. Illegal immigrants pay taxes. I don't care about illegal immigration at all. Even if you care about illegal immigration, you shouldn't say that "they're trying to take over our country." That's stupid. It's the government's fault for sticking to this broken system. It's as though conservatives want the entire U.S. army to stand at the U.S.-Mexico border and shoot anybody who tries to cross.

Over 50,000 employees, who are tasked with protecting borders. The largest federal law enforcement agency. Yet some still think we have no border. That's seriously the stupidest argument about immigration in the book.

Also, aren't conservatives the ones who hate the federal government? I guess it's okay for the federal government to step in if it's keeping those dirty illegal immigrants out of our country, though, right?

 

[avguste]

For me the immigration issue is quite important and it boils down to two things:

1. legal immigrants should and need to be welcome with open arms.

2. illegal immigrants should be deported and banned from this country. No armistice, no deals.

I am myself an immigrant in the USA. Came legally from France in 1999, obtained a green card, had to go thru the whole immigration process. Waited till 2004-05 to apply for US Citizenship, which I obtained in 2005.

I don't see why should illegal immigrants be compensated for their illegal behaviors by armistice and obtaining legal status, before the legal immigrants.

I don't have a problem with immigration. My problem is illegal immigration.