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[ronito]

This morning I had the misfortune to flick past faux news. They were discussing illegal immigration and the mexican border, and how illegal immigrants are bringing in TB and leperosy, and are committing murder and kidnappings, peddling drugs and could be terrorist threats.

As a hispanic and son of legal immigrants (and let me tell you, after dealing INS it's no wonder so many people do it illegally) I was more than a little offended with the tone of the story. It was like they were saying "OH NOES!!!111!!!! TEH BROWNIES R COMING!!! GET THEM!!!" Now I'd expect this out of faux news, but more and more this "get the brownies" tone is setting in, that's bordering on racism I fear. At times I think people are ok with legal immigrants because they're more likely to have been "whiteified".

Now I'm against illegal immigration. I figure if my family and I went through substantial pain to do it legally other people can as well. And as a tax payer I don't find it fair either. At the same time I do not put the blame entirely on the immigrants. If businesses would refuse to hire them, they would stop coming. I'm all for a migrant worker program and think that would satisfy a lot of people's issues. However, I feel that this issue is becoming more about race than about what's really at hand. Perhaps I'm being over sensitive though.

 

[Tuvoc]

Day Took Er JERBS!!!!!!

But in all seriousness, they should go through the legal process but some want it so bad and cant wait that they just hop on a raft and float over. Also, I have a friend that has illegal immigrants working under him and he said they are excellent workers. I guess they just take all the money they make and send it back to their family in Mexico.

 

[nVidiot_Whore]

It's a tricky topic.

I don't blame the immigrants for wanting to move out of their sh!thole of a country..

It is the businesses who illegally hire them who are laregly responsible; It makes sense that they would want to hire people who will work for pennies, but many of these businesses are also subsidized by the very same tax system their illegal workers aren't paying into.

Tricky situation..

I agree that Fox News is disturbing on just about EVERY topic they cover, this one is no exception.

 

[shuri]

I think that everybody has to have a chance in life. I really hate the people who take advantage of them; those who take advantages of these immigrants are the worst in this story. Those people are leaving their home country for a better life, and they end up being exploited where they thought things would be better.

and sometimes, by their own people at that. That's horrible.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

Didn't what is now known as Texas, used to be part of Mexico. :lol

I just laugh at this stuff. When people at work talk abuot immigrants taking all the jobs I just laugh. Right yeah, like you want that job picking produce or sweeoing floors. Excuse people for trying to better themselves via jobs that many snotty people deem as undersirable. Gimme a break...if we had the borders flooded with Blond Sweden women in bikini's everybody would be screaming, "Let Freedom Ring".

 

[radioheadrule83]

gulags.



...no, no. Just kidding. What I think is: in 99% of cases they should be forced to apply legitimately and be prepared to be ejected. Especially in terms of the UK. These people have to travel in or around a dozen or so European countries before they get here... why are they coming all the way to the UK and not stopping off elsewhere? I have to say - I think it's because those countries aren't as soft as we are. If they're seeking asylum, then they can expect to be evaluated and for governments to do what they can within reason.

I don't like the idea of people coming in and just disappearing amongst us. Half a million (and more) illegal immigrants in the UK. That's just downright stupid in todays global climate. Should their illegal entry be overlooked by default because they're from a marginally worse off place? Or because out of the people that are, they had the balls to break their way in through our borders illegally? I say no.

I think there should be some kind of amnesty for illegals who come foreward and identify themselves, a chance to legitimise themselves, work in earnest and contribute by tax like the rest of us. Anyone caught who was inresponsive to such a campaign would then, in my view, be legitimately ejectable from the country. A clamp down on our borders so we actually know whats going on wouldn't go amiss either.

As for those who apply: more power to them if they're filling the job of some asshole on benefits or filling a vital occupancy the state and its education services seems incapable of filling.

Basically, a working, integrated member of society is something I would never turn my nose up at. I only wish we could accept them on a swap and get rid of all the slobs and freeloading frauders.

In the UK for example, immigrants help our hospitals and our public services all the time. Obviously thats legal immigration in every single case if they're on a medical register or something... And in those cases, some would argue we should be able to support ourselves. They might argue that we're poaching these people from somewhere.... Don't their countries of origin need talented doctors? None the less I welcome that boost to our way of life. If potential illegal immigrants would be of a use for our society I would welcome them too.

I guess I think that whether it's because their quality of life is too low, or whether they have something great to offer -- foreign nationals should be made to feel as though they can apply to come here and be treated fairly.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Alot of the immigrants don't want to live here, they just want to make a decent wage for a few months and then return home and provide for thier families. It's a shame some of them die in railcars or get grifted out of money from shady people promising them safe passage.


It's actually one of the few issues where GW Bush is 100% correct. The current system has to change and allow immigrants easier access to get green cards.

 

[Talas]

Didn't what is now known as Texas, used to be part of Mexico. :lol

And California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and part of Colorado.

Personally, I have a lot of friends who decided to go to the US, I don't blame them, things are shitty around here. Some of them are doing well, the others are worst than here, bad luck I guess.

Another thing I dislike a lot is the hypocrisy of my own government, I mean, we demand a fair treat from the US while we treat the illegal centro-americans in Mexico like shit.

A better regulation is needed in the border, I mean, I have to wait 4 or 5 hours there to cross while the illegals cross under the bridge without problems.

 

[djtiesto]

It's a really tricky situation to get into. Recently, about 10 miles away in Farmingville (my ex's hometown), there was a house with 60+ illegal immigrants (mostly Mexican and El Salvadorian) living there. Neighbors complained at all the cars parked and all the noise, and the place was a total fire hazard and totally illegal with all those people living there. So all the immigrants basically got booted from the house, and last I heard they were living in the woods in makeshift huts from discarded cardboard and sheetrock. There's really no low-income areas around here for them to stay and be able to afford shelter under anything less than being packed in like animals. You can see the migrant workers all lined up outside the Farmingville 7-11 on a Saturday morning, waiting for work. It's really sad but on the upside at least its easy to get someone to do the lawn or help move stuff

We really need to stop illegal immigration, they drain taxpayer's resources and it's really not fair to those who immigrated here legally (such as my best friend's family and many other of my friends). But how to do this in a sane and civil manner? Nobody knows...

 

[Ninja Scooter]

i think its a matter of too little too late. There is really nothing significant they can do to curb this problem anymore. The best thing would be to try to work around it.

 

[Phoenix]

I'm a huge fan of immigration, but not a fan of 'illegal immigration'. I think we should welcome people who want to become citizens of the US - but they have to go through the process of becoming a citizen, not just cross the border. I'm all for grandfathering folks who have been here for years dodging INS and giving them a chance to get their work visa or similar, but I am not a big fan of transparent/fully open borders.

 

[DarienA]

I'm a huge fan of immigration, but not a fan of 'illegal immigration'. I think we should welcome people who want to become citizens of the US - but they have to go through the process of becoming a citizen, not just cross the border. I'm all for grandfathering folks who have been here for years dodging INS and giving them a chance to get their work visa or similar, but I am not a big fan of transparent/fully open borders.

Thanks Phoenix, I didn't feel like typing all the above, that's pretty much how I feel as well.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Thanks Phoenix, I didn't feel like typing all the above, that's pretty much how I feel as well.

No need to thank him I just simply channeled my word for word response unbenounced to him via mental telepathy.

 

[909er]

Legal immigration, yes.

Illegal immigration pisses me off though. I hate all of it. Democrats tacitly support it for the "latino vote" and Republicans put on a act about how they're all against it, when they're back door supporters due to money from big business.

There are a lot of negatives. Jobs, alot of it that used to be taken up by teenage and college aged workers, are no where near as numerous anymore. So a 16 yr old can't buy a Xbox, big deal. How ever, I know of 5 ppl, including myself, who have to pay for our own college. And it took me 3 monthes to find a job. One blatant racist experience I had was when I turned in my application to a Mcdonalds(so sad, I know), and didn't get a call. Okay, they don't need workers. But my friend who speaks fluent Spanish turned it in the day after me, got a call the same day. I was like, wtf.

Aside from a personal snub, ER's are shutting down in LA because they can't afford illegal immigrants. I don't know if you guys know this, but you don't have to pay ER bills. Hospitals and ambulances and doctors, nurses and medics cannot turn away someone in need of medical aid. And that person does not need to identify themselves or provide any documents for treatment at the ER. In LA, this has been abused to an extreme, with many going in as John Does and leaving without signing any forms (because hospitals cannot hold anyone against their will). This has turned into a huge problems with hospitals operating at massive losses, forcing their closure. This is also a problem near the border, where Mexican ambulance could cross into the US and use American facilities and leave.

Basically, I have no problem with immigrants, as long as they do it legally and pay into the system that we all use. But the current flow of illegal immigrants is ridiculous. It's like a tidal wave, and my particular state, California, is having a hell of a time trying to put up with hundreds of thousands of new people every year, and millions using social services that don't pay into it.

And now I wait, for the inevitable "racista" comments I get when I make my views on this topic public. Because apparently being against millions of people who break our law and come into this country, regardless of whether they're Chinese, Mexican, African, Russian or whatever, makes me a bona fide racist.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

One blatant racist experience I had was when I turned in my application to a Mcdonalds(so sad, I know), and didn't get a call. Okay, they don't need workers. But my friend who speaks fluent Spanish turned it in the day after me, got a call the same day. I was like, wtf.

you know, knowing spanish isn't exclusive to mexicans or latinos. Its just another qualification. Your friend was more qualified to that McDonalds. Its got nothing to do with racism.

 

[SKluck]

My honest opinion? Kill them all.

I don't want millions upon millions of dirty illegals in my country. Get them the fuck out by any means necessary. Stop 90% of all other illegal and legal immigration while you are at it. This country needs much stricter laws for immigration, like every other civilized country already has.

 

[909er]

you know, knowing spanish isn't exclusive to mexicans or latinos. Its just another qualification. Your friend was more qualified to that McDonalds. Its got nothing to do with racism.

It's McDonalds, and I live in America. I wasn't aware I had to know Spanish just to get a entry level minimum wage crap summer job. I stand by my assertion.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

It's McDonalds, and I live in America. I wasn't aware I had to know Spanish just to get a entry level minimum wage crap summer job. I stand by my assertion.

Does he speak fluent english? He's bilingual, an asset, in what is apparently a hispanic heavy area, right?



He's more qualified....deal with it.

 

[Lil' Dice]

I think we should immigrate out of the US.

Seriously, you people aren't ready for an open discussion on immigration. The last time i spoke my mind about the subject i was banned.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

It's McDonalds, and I live in America. I wasn't aware I had to know Spanish just to get a entry level minimum wage crap summer job. I stand by my assertion.

America has no "official language", so i don't see why you bring that up. If you live in an area heavily populated by spanish speakers, knowing spanish is going to be a plus when you're looking for a job. Same would go for chinese, laotian, portugeuse, or any other lauguage that is spoken heavily in parts of this country. Language is not tied to race, so saying you suffered from "racism" is fairly retarded.

 

[909er]

Does he speak fluent english? He's bilingual, an asset, in what is apparently a hispanic heavy area, right?



He's more qualified....deal with it.

Unfortunately, that's not entirely the case. I go home to my Orange County beach city home during the summer. This is, in fact, a very white, upper middle income area close to to the beach. I can't see why I was any less qualified to take burger orders than my bilingual friend.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Unfortunately, that's not entirely the case. I go home to my Orange County beach city home during the summer. This is, in fact, a very white, upper middle income area close to to the beach. I can't see why I was any less qualified to take burger orders than my bilingual friend.

McDonalds obviously thought so.

 

[Phoenix]

I think we should immigrate out of the US.

Seriously, you people aren't ready for an open discussion on immigration. The last time i spoke my mind about the subject i was banned.

Is the "possibility" of banning going to silence your voice? If you have an opinion, share it. If you get banned, so be it. Don't let the possibility of something bad happening stop you from sharing your opinions though - and I say that having the feeling that I will likely be on the polar opposite from your opinion

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

I live in a meat packing plant (cow and chicken) town. Only thing to say to this is like there are two towns: the white town and mexican town. Yes, most of the Hispanics there are indeed from Mexico.

The Mexican side is pretty interesting. Of course its pretty poor and if you go into a business there (fast food, retail, etc.), they know just the English necessary to do their jobs. However, the subculture is interesting. Its very much ghetto. Lots of beater cars with Old English print, lots of guys just standing around and talking (I never see whitey do this, well, outside), and walking the streets at night. Of course that means lots of latina cuties The white side is very much different and very opposite. Its a fairly conservative part so of course the consensus is that the part of town (the south side) is complete shit. I had a female friend whose father wouldn't even allow her to go anywhere near it.

At my school, we all hated the other school, which happened to be poorer, higher crime, and of course, was there for most of the kids. Very high drop out rates; so bad that if you drop out, your licence is suspended for six months. It was a school rivalry thing but it was pretty rooted in racism. I joined in like some dumbass but didn't know why there was a rivalry until I found out who lived at the other school.

My thoughts on illegal immigration? I think its wrong. Wrong on both ends. Wrong on how people come across without taking the proper tests and all that to come to America. I don't think its that hard. Its also wrong for corporations to take advantage of them. Its a chicken and the egg thing when it comes to which started which.

I am in favor of militarizing the border and against illegal immigrants going to exploited workforces.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

I can't see why I was any less qualified to take burger orders than my bilingual friend.

If you can't see what the plus side of being bilingual, while taking order is, I'm sorry I can't help you.



:lol

 

[Talas]

And now I wait, for the inevitable "racista" comments I get when I make my views on this topic public. Because apparently being against millions of people who break our law and come into this country, regardless of whether they're Chinese, Mexican, African, Russian or whatever, makes me a bona fide racist.

That's not racist, that's common sense, if you are breaking the law, deal with it.

 

[etiolate]

The INS needs a rehaul. I understand the fact we have laws and a way to earn citizenship, but the INS bloooooows. It's amazing how terrorists got in so easily, meanwhile some adopted kid in malasia doesn't ever see it's new family.

Plus, we explot the illegal immigrants for cheap labour anyways. Do you all want to replace them at their jobs?

 

[DDayton]

Hmm.

I think we need to allow more lega immigration while working to prevent the illegal immigration currently taking place...

As far as the whole language thing goes -- it's been my experience that while many immigrants fail to learn English, their children always do. Within a generation, an immigrant family is fully working within the "standard" American culture. What's the big deal? I'm ignoring the whole "WE WANTZ ENGLISH / THERE IS NO OFFICIAL LANGUAGE" arguement...

 

[Lil' Dice]

Is the "possibility" of banning going to silence your voice? If you have an opinion, share it. If you get banned, so be it. Don't let the possibility of something bad happening stop you from sharing your opinions though - and I say that having the feeling that I will likely be on the polar opposite from your opinion

I think our borders should be closed, or strictly monitored. Immigrants should be afforded limited Visas and benefits, then forced to apply for citizenship like in other countries. Either we incorporate socialist health care, or make it harder for them to freeload off of us working stiffs.
I know people who work 40 hours and are college grads that have basically the same health benefits of illegal aliens.....

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

drop kick the ass back across Mr.Perfect style, or shoot em.


:hulkrock

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I think our borders should be closed, or strictly monitored. Immigrants should be afforded limited Visas and benefits, then forced to apply for citizenship like in other countries. Either we incorporate socialist health care, or make it harder for them to freeload off of us working stiffs.
I know people who work 40 hours and are college grads that have basically the same health benefits of illegal aliens.....

Damn this is some bannable shit. Man you are a monster.

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Your thoughts were so bad I had to post twice.

 

[Fuzzy]

As a son of legal immigrants to Canada (my two uncles and their wives are also legal) I think illegal immigrants should be given two choices.

1) Apply to stay legally
2) Go home

 

[acidviper]

I think our borders should be closed, or strictly monitored. Immigrants should be afforded limited Visas and benefits, then forced to apply for citizenship like in other countries. Either we incorporate socialist health care, or make it harder for them to freeload off of us working stiffs.
I know people who work 40 hours and are college grads that have basically the same health benefits of illegal aliens.....

Well it should be fair. I mean if they can get in they should be able to stay. You should just make it really, really hard to get in. Like Running Man or something.

Its funny how the US-Mexican border is so heavily guarded and the US-Canadian border is mostly undefended grass fields (there are checkpoints on the roads) with old houses right on the border(wake up in the US, have breakfast in Canada). You can just walk across back and forth all you want.

 

[way more]

This issue is not as easy as saying we should close the borders and send them back. That is like saying international trade hurts America so we should end all trade. Despite the problems we incur we probably benefit more from immigration. These people work for incredibly low wages doing seasonal work with little rights or privileges. As Americans we benefit from cheap produce and food. Unless you want to be paying 5 bucks a pound for apples or are ready to say goodbye to your dollar menu simply closing all borders would be a bad idea since illegal immigrants have become a major force of our economy.

 

[RevenantKioku]

Immigration is cool. My mother came here from Germany, and my girlfriend is from Hong Kong. I'm proud of my mixed heritage, and if I have kids with my girl, I hope they'll be proud of theirs.
Illegal immigrants can be a serious problem. Lets not even begin to talk about the effects on labor but how about these situations that have happened in my home town.
My mother's shop had its main display window shattered by a drunk driving, illegal immigrant. Guess who had to pay ever dime to replace it?
My friend was hit by a drunk driving, illegal immigrant, and was killed. People saw it happen. Guy just ran off. Now what could they do? The tags on his car weren't registered to anything or anyone. Guy ran into some fields and was never seen again.
A family driving in a van is smashed in on the side, crushing a child. Driver is as above. Runs off.
Sure, drunk driving plays a heavy role into these situations, and could have averted the whole situation. No doubt. But when your child is killed, the murderer runs off, leaving the car right there, and all the police can tell you is "There's nothing we can do." I'm not saying that there aren't illegal immigrants who come here and work harder than some of our so to speak "natives" but there are inherent problems with illegal immigrants, and they can be painful.

 

[acidviper]

simply closing all borders would be a bad idea since illegal immigrants have become a major force of our economy.

I can't wait till you get a Mexican president. Its going to be so funny.

Senator Clinton: They took er jerbs!
George W: They took muh jerb!!!

 

[MC Safety]

Newsday (covering New York and Long Island) has been doing some interesting reporting on the illegal immigration problem in Suffolk County.

Houses containing illegal migrant workers were recently raided in Farmingville. These houses were packed well past capacity, and authorities report the living conditions were horrible. Beyond the health issues involved, the houses were also fire hazards and had exposed wiring, no smoke detectors, etc.

Neighbors who'd purchased houses reported being woken up by trucks in the early morning, assaulted by foul odors (some of the tenants took to urinating and defecating outside), and forced to endure the loud celebrations that occurred whenever the tenants got ahold of alcohol.

When the authorities raided the place, a lot of the workers simply went to ground. Newsday reported a lot of workers simply began sleeping in wooded areas, living a homeless existence. The landlords in question, of course, stated they had no idea what was going on.

Newsday, of course, has its own inclinations. It did, however, do a good job of relating the local residents' fear and concern about the matter. They'd worked hard to purchase their houses, and saw their neighborhoods almost wrecked by these landlords.

It seems that only a few people profit from a situation of this sort: the people who get cheap labor and the landlords who can stuff people into a house to make a profit. Everybody else -- the authorities, the workers, the residents of Farmingville -- lost out.

 

[Lil' Dice]

My mom is an immigrant, but she went about it the right way all along. She was never on welfare, and has been a tax paying citizen throughout her stay in America.

Some of you would probably meet these illegals at the border with gift baskets if you had the free time to do so....

 

[olimario]

Illegal immigration is wrong. Immigration is wonderful.
If you want to come into the country, do it legally.

 

[Rorschach]

If you can't see what the plus side of being bilingual, while taking order is, I'm sorry I can't help you.



:lol

In a predominantly hispanic area, no less...909er indeed.

 

[Deku]

Illigal Immigration is just going to be a reality when you juxtapose the world's largest econony and put it next to several developing economies.

I'd say that legal or not, immigration benefits the host country far more than the immigrants take from it. Mainly, these immigrants fill menial positions most Americans would rather not work.

I'm all for being strict with rules, but the rule itself has to be enforceable to make any sense of enforcement. I'm actually quite interested in seeing the US government moving towards the position of recognizing illigal immigraiton as a feature of its economy and move towards granting the illegal immigrants some form of status.

 

[Nerevar]

I'm all for being strict with rules, but the rule itself has to be enforceable to make any sense of enforcement. I'm actually quite interested in seeing the US government moving towards the position of recognizing illigal immigraiton as a feature of its economy and move towards granting the illegal immigrants some form of status.

most states more or less do grant illegal immigrants a status in a "gray area" between true citizens and visiting foreigners.

 

[teh_pwn]

Pro legal immigration.
Against illegal immigration.

 

[sans_pants]

I can't wait till you get a Mexican president. Its going to be so funny.

Senator Clinton: They took er jerbs!
George W: They took muh jerb!!!

considering thats impossible?

 

[sans_pants]

My mom is an immigrant, but she went about it the right way all along. She was never on welfare, and has been a tax paying citizen throughout her stay in America.

Some of you would probably meet these illegals at the border with gift baskets if you had the free time to do so....

you mean like when they set up the water tower in the desert so the illegals could get a drink.


what a joke.

 

[909er]

In a predominantly hispanic area, no less...909er indeed.

Nice reading. That's where I go to school, not my home town.

 

[909er]

McDonalds obviously thought so.

McDonalds franchise. Look, the manager is latino, everyone who works there is latino, and all the workers speak poor English(proven by numerous visits by me and many other people I know). I put in an application, don't get shit. My latino friend who speaks both languages, gets the job the next day. I'm sorry, but I will see racism in that. I wasn't latino and couldn't speak Spanish (even though the vast majority of ppl in the area are white English speakers), so I didn't get the job. Shit job it may be, but if a similar situation happened to any of you, you'd feel the same.

BTW, I can take a Combination Number 3 down just as good as a Combinacion Tres.

 

[The Faceless Master]

i'm a legal immigrant and i think legal immigration is great...

illegal immigration.. not so great...

but there is only so much you can do without looking like an asshole when you are a have and someone elseis a have not...

 

[Flynn]

There are some forms of illegal immigration that I believe should be made legal.

For example: Those escaping extreme poverty and/or polical problems.

A good example would be those escaping from the dire situation in Haiti. I've been there, and I'd try to get out any way I could if I were in their situation. Our country doesn't seem to have any desire to help fix their situation, so we should at least welcome those with the will, ingenuity and fortitude to make it here.

Same goes for Cubans.

My father emigrated here legally from Cuba, but I don't have a problem with people attempting escapes from there as well.

As far as undocumented workers go, I'd like to see their citizenship streamlined, if that's what they want.

If they don't want citizenship, just jobs, so be it, but there should be some system in place to register them as foreign workers and collect taxes from their wages.

I guess that defeats the purpose of an undocmented work force, but at this point our economy depends on them.

It's a tricky situation to be sure, but my overall standing is that if you want to come here and become an American, it should be relatively easy to do, no matter where you are from or who you are.

Our country was founded on immigration, it has grown to be one of the most diverse nations on the planet thanks to our relatively open doors. Those who want to slam the door shut now are poor Americans.