Angry with these protests

[iceyspots 0]

Hmm.. Guest worker program.. What about all those people in these underdevelopped countries that WOULD have came to the U.S. to work, but there was no legal route for them... What if the ONLY reason they didn't come was because they didn't want to break the law... Ahh.. I see.. Let's grant amnesty to the ones who already broke the law, instead of allowing the ones who would have come, but didn't want to break the law.

Oh, bulls***! People come illegally to this country from all over the freaking world. The reason most illegal immigrants are Mexican is because it's a poorer country and we share a border. But I've known illegal immigrants from all over the Western Hemisphere,... yes, that includes Canadians here illegally!! And certainly there are illegal immigrants from all over the world here! There was a big sting in my town back in NJ and another one here in NM of people smuggling in illegal immigrants from China.

Know why people from the other side of the Atlantic don't sneak into the US as much as people from this side? Because there's a bloody big ocean in the middle!! That's why there's such a problem with illegal immigration in the UK and Spain and the Netherlands and France!! It's certainly not because "they didn't want to break the law."

The reason that so many people don't come to the US from other countries is because they can't. That's why they go to first-world countries that are closer to their home countries.

My point was that there are poor people who would have came if there was a legal route in the first place.

[terri o'neale 0]

Just for kicks

Let's say a guest worker program was passed into law and 10 million illegal immigrants then registered, went home and came back on these guest visas......would everyone be happy then? Would all of this aggression go away?

What if they came back and someone came up with a Spanish verison of the national anthem.....if businesses continued to offer their services in Spanish, if schools continued to offer courses taught in Spanish, if the current population rise in Latinos in this country continued.......would everyone be happy?

If the law was passed today, with no amnesty - meaning the illegal immigrants would have to register, leave the country and come back with these guest worker visas........the overall situation in America would not be that much different than it is today. The work they do would be the same, and wages would still be depressed in those sectors. So, even in this best case scenario, things don't really change that much. Makes me wonder if the issue is a fear of Latinos and their role in the changing America more than anything.

and most would find themselves out of a job i'm sure, as their employers would have a far higher cost of employing them (unemployment, ss taxes, etc)

This is something that needs to be addressed if we ever intend to take care of illegal immigration. The possible amnesty or guest worker programs are not being presented to show compassion for those who have worked and built lives here. Our government doesn't care about them or what they want, nor does it care about what we want. What our government DOES care about is keeping businesses happy. The 1986 IRCA made it against the law for companies to hire illegal workers and imposed fines and penalties for doing so, but did not put much effort in inforcing these laws, not much good if not enforced unless the only purpose was to keep the public opinion in check.

For all the focus on immigration reform, surely people have noticed that instead of holding companies that intentionally hire illegal immigrants to profit from the combination of cheap labor with little or no accountability (unemployment, workers comp) in violation of the law, our officals are almost portraying them as innocent victims, forced out of desperation to break the law because US Citizens are not willing to work in these jobs, this is the almost the only aspect of immigration that they are talking about, making sure they keep the illegal immigrant issue directly tied to business needs and not really addressing anything else. Neither are they taking into consideration what will happen when these people working illegally are given a legal status to work and the same rights as others enjoy. Those businesses who were hiring illegal workers to avoid the higher cost of US workers will continue to do so, because these guest workers will cause just as much as US workers.

They are doing a great job of convincing people of this too, when people started really speaking out against illegal immigration in recent times one of the biggest issues people were angry about was the idea that these people were taking jobs from American citizens, and by working for low wages, forcing the wages for Americans down so that companies not dependant on illegal labor could remain competitive.

Now more and more of the public is willing to accept a guest worker program, and would be fine just so long as these people were legal while working...bizarre thinking in my book..I tend to think...sheeeep.

It's almost as if, they are only when it's tied to the word illegal...very scary word that is...if they were really concerned about US Citizens losing jobs and forced to accept lowering wages, it wouldn't matter illegal or legal because the jobs would still be unavailable for US Citizens. Imagine if the public stood fast to their job and wage concerns, the government would have an even bigger problem on their hands if people refused to be swayed and looked farther into work related immigration and visa's and US companies outsourcing overseas for cheap labor. You KNOW the public would be outraged and probably insulted to find that companies are citing a need to hire foriegn workers because there are no US citizens with the skills necessary to fill the job. On one end we are being told we need a guest worker program to fill the jobs US Citizens won't do, and on the other side the legal side (where people aren't looking) we're allowing companies to hire foreign workers to fill jobs that supposedly US Citizens aren't skilled enough to do.

A lot of people probably think that based on my previous contributions to these topics I am all for amnisty, but I am not, I'm also not for farming out our own chances at the "American Dream" to keep corporations and their upper echelons happy and rolling in the dough while we give up more and more of our lives and our time with our children and families trying to make ends meet as companies outsource jobs overseas to avoid paying US Citizens wages that keep up with the cost of living or hire illegal immigrants for the same prupose, yet have no problem raising the cost of good and services sold to those very same US Citizens.

What I do believe we should stop allowing our government to sacrifice the welfare of the people to keep businesses happy. I also believe that family immigration needs attention, the general public is completely clueless as to this process, thinking it's no different than what a USC marrying another USC in the US would go though. They have no idea how painful waiting for months sometimes years to be with your loved one can be, how costly and stressful. The have no concept what its like to have control over one of the most important things in your life taken away from you, and subject to the approval..or denial of some faceless, nameless entity, who they've never met, never spoken to, who has no idea who they are and only knows them by some sterile reports. Although the entire country is very focused right now on matters of immigration, they are completely blind to any and all aspects of family immigration and considering how upset people have been about illegal immigrants taking jobs from US citizens and forcing wages down by working cheaper, maybe our government should put the majority of work related immigration off to the side instead of creating more avenues to persue it and focus on families and people for awhile.

Yes...thank you. You said it so much better than I could.

[PsychoKat 0]

Yes...thank you. You said it so much better than I could.

Welcome, it took me awhile to get that out hehe

[Gina_Love 0]

Hmm, I'm actually stuck in the middle on this one. I am completely against "claiming rights" when you aren't supposed to be here, but my husband is an illegal himself. Funny thing, he's even against the illegal protests.

My husband was brought here by his parents when he was 5. His father did not apply for the whole family and only applied for my mother-in-law. They split up early, father disappeared, and mother left my husband with an aunt at 5 years old. Lucky enough, my husband was able to get a legit SS# (Not Valid For Employment) to attend public school here in the US.

Fast forward to now, almost 18 years later, my husband has never step foot in his country of origin, doesn't have family there, nor is he fluent in the language...but he is still ILLEGAL here in the US.

So what does he do...go back to a country he doesn't know? Or stay here even though he doesn't belong?

He's limited to the fact that he:

-Shouldn't be working

-Can't get a driver's license

-Can't continue his college education

He's been on his own since 17 and has even worked using his own SS number. He's filed taxes. He's opened his own bank accounts, credit cards and tries to have a normal life...but who's he kidding?

We got married last year and are trying to fix this situation now...

Do we agree with the "illegal protests" NO WAY. It's not fair, plain & simple. Sure, it would be a benefit to my husband to get amnesty, and what have you, but we are smart enough to know when something is just not right or fair to others.

I come from a multi-cultural family and have family from Europe, Australia, and Mexico with family waiting their turn in line to come here.

We, ourselves, are paying applications fees and hoping to find a lawyer soon to help us in our situation. And perhaps I am being selfish in not wanting him to go back to his country and have to deal with missing him as many of you have missed your loved ones.

There are certain things that happen as to why illegals are illegals. But what bugs me is when people abuse the system entirely. My husband and I want kids but are not having them because we want to fix this whole immigration thing first. When I see illegals coming here just to have a USC baby, that irks me, it's unfair.

As to what my solution would be? I really don't know. Maybe pay a fine, and still file for permission to be here and pay all applicable fees & wait your turn in line. I don't like the idea of deportation because then my husband would have to leave.

So maybe I'm being unfair too...but if deportation means a chance to come back legally, so be it.

This is a complicated situation and I have NO CLUE how to solve it. I definitely don't think amnesty should be granted at all...would just repeat itself over & over & encourage more illegals to come this way.

I do believe that there should be somthing in place to prove that people want to work and will not take advantage of the system, assimilate to the US culture, and pay their dues.

But what do I know...my husband is here illegaly too. Blah.

[PsychoKat 0]

There are certain things that happen as to why illegals are illegals.

I am sorry you are struggling with this, I know it can't be easy. This is something I feel they need to examine if they really want to try to fix the immigration system. Marriage and family immigration is not about money or business, it about life and love and happiness and based deeply in emotion. Although I don't like the idea of people coming to the US just to take advantage the country, I can sympathize with those who have hit insurmountable roadblocks in their journey and feel have run out of options.

[kc456 0]

If someone is angry because "illegals are demanding their rights" and "what about our rights going through the process legally" -- then take some action! Stand up for your rights -- write to your congressman and senator, organize protests, march on the streets!

[terri o'neale 0]

If someone is angry because "illegals are demanding their rights" and "what about our rights going through the process legally" -- then take some action! Stand up for your rights -- write to your congressman and senator, organize protests, march on the streets!

After I posted here...I sent emails to Senators and Congressperson too. I'm thinking about some sort of protest tomorrow too.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

This is an illegal-immigrant issue not an immigrant issue.

I WISH THE F#CKING MEDIA WOULD GET IT STRAIGHT!!!!!!!

i second that!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and not only the media, but some people as well who are not associated with the media at all.

Couldn't agree more....that's what I thought when I read the post about Illegal Immigration the other day(the one where she got jumped for starting a new thread...and NO offense to her if she's reading this at ALL...just trying to illustrate a point here) In the beginning of the thread, after she got 'jumped' she said this is an immigration site, if you don't want to read posts about immigration maybe you shouldn't be here..or something to the effect. I thought...well....I was NEVER here for anything to do with ILLEGAL immigration!...but, that was just a technicality, so I didn't post it! Anyway, everyone calmed down later in the thread, so that was good. M.

[GaryC 7]

You know what I wish we could see? I wish that when these illegals protest tomorrow the INS shows up with a few hundred buses and start rounding up the ones without green cards. Then just drive them to the border and kick them out. I think we would see a lot less protesting then.

[jilanik 0]

these poeple who are taking a protest tomorrow, are nothing but crooks. they are all illegal. they have broken the law and now they want to be rewarded? it disgusts me to even think that the govt is caving in. how absurd is this? i am a legal resident. like more of the people who memebers on this online forum, know how hard it was for us to get our green cards. and these illegal people come here, don't pay tax, don't have drivers licence and yet they make good money, get virtually free health insurance and incase of a car accident, run from the scene. i hope they all get deported.

[gwenneh 7]

I don't think the people in question should be allowed to stay here at all...but I do think that the legal channels for getting to the US as a worker should be expanded. Unfortunately from what I gather that wouldn't be an acceptable solution; it's too nice living and working in the US illegally. That is what annoys me. They're not petitioning for immigration reform, they're petitioning for the right to remain criminals, and that is annoying!

[Cali Gal CPA 0]

there are many countries that are much poorer than Mexico. We should allow them all to break the law too.

Exactly. I was watching an interview of an illegal immigrant who said that he has the right to an American Dream, he has the right to choose which country he wants to settle in and give his family a better future.

I was so appalled by the audacity

So people from other poor countries can say that too? So they can just all immigrate to the US and claim these so-called rights?

Oh please.

Edited May 1, 2006 by nakedice

[PsychoKat 0]

You know what I wish we could see? I wish that when these illegals protest tomorrow the INS shows up with a few hundred buses and start rounding up the ones without green cards. Then just drive them to the border and kick them out. I think we would see a lot less protesting then.

Rounding up everyone without green cards would not be appropriate. Those that enter the country on the K-3 visa adjust status after they arrive and have to wait for their green cards. If they did what you feel they should do, they could be shipping people out of the country that are here legally and have struggled through this process as we all are. Not everyone here legally has a green card.

these poeple who are taking a protest tomorrow, are nothing but crooks. they are all illegal. they have broken the law and now they want to be rewarded? it disgusts me to even think that the govt is caving in. how absurd is this? i am a legal resident. like more of the people who memebers on this online forum, know how hard it was for us to get our green cards. and these illegal people come here, don't pay tax, don't have drivers licence and yet they make good money, get virtually free health insurance and incase of a car accident, run from the scene. i hope they all get deported.

Not all people protesting are crooks nor are they all illegal. I don' agree with people entering the country illegally just to benefit from the jobs and such here. On the other hand, our immigration system allows people to file for adjustment of status if they marry within the coutry so long as they don't leave afterwards, and did't arrive with the intent to marry. There are some that are protesting hoping to draw attention to the issues that those working through the family immigration process can be confronted with in hopes of change that way. These are people who have tried and are trying to do things legally but have found themselves up against a brick wall because of some aspect of this, be it insufficent finances, past overstays or illegal entries, past mistakes in their youth that are reasons for excslusion etc.

You realize that something we would think anything of such as a bar brawl, could delay ones ability to get through this process and increase the fees and leave the subject to denial?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Couldn't agree more....that's what I thought when I read the post about Illegal Immigration the other day(the one where she got jumped for starting a new thread...and NO offense to her if she's reading this at ALL...just trying to illustrate a point here) In the beginning of the thread, after she got 'jumped' she said this is an immigration site, if you don't want to read posts about immigration maybe you shouldn't be here..or something to the effect. I thought...well....I was NEVER here for anything to do with ILLEGAL immigration!...but, that was just a technicality, so I didn't post it! Anyway, everyone calmed down later in the thread, so that was good. M.

I'm sure there is a message board just for illegal US immigration. In Spanish of course. There are message boards for ANYTHING it seems.

[Ban Hammer 13,283]

there are many countries that are much poorer than Mexico. We should allow them all to break the law too.

Exactly. I was watching an interview of an illegal immigrant who said that he has the right to an American Dream, he has the right to choose which country he wants to settle in and give his family a better future.

I was so appalled by the audacity

So people from other poor countries can say that too? So they can just all immigrate to the US and claim these so-called rights?

Oh please.

gotta love arrogance like that