Angry with these protests

[GaryC 7]

It seems that my stance has angered someone also. I understand that this is a hot button subject for some people. But facts are facts. If someone came here knowingly violating our immigration laws then they should not be allowed to stay.

No they shouldn't. But it's not one person is it - its several million people, the population of a good-sized american city.

I'm just saying that a sense of realism has to prevail here. Mass deportations will not happen under a democractically elected government - and the sort of government that would endorse it is not one that I think any of us would want.

The sheer financial costs of the deportation process (via the courts) would be prohibitive, not to mention civil unrest from breaking up families. It simply isn't realistic.

If you really want to solve this problem, it will involve significantly tightening laws and reforming law enforcement agencies to better enforce them. There's no 'quick fix' here unfortunately.

I understand there is no way to sweep through our cities and start rounding them up. However, this "catch and release" way of dealing with it is also not the answer. We need to remove the motivation for their coming here. Make it IMPOSSIBLE for them to work. Strictly enforce our labor laws. Arrest and jail anyone knowingly employing an illegal. Deport anyone caught without the legal right to be here. They will start going home when they relalize the free ride is over.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I should have rented a white van and put this on the side

made a jacket like this

and drove to some protests.

That would take some serious balls. And some good insurance on that rental.

[Fandango 1,439]

I'm sure there will be, but I know from watching other forums regarding this issue that there will also be people who have run into road blocks attempting to follow through legal immigration, and that they, and their legal spouses and familes will be joining hoping to show there is more to this than just a ppl coming here to work. Unfortunately what they are trying to say most likely will be drown by all the rest

I can't see why anyone with LEGAL immigration issues would want to be associated with this...

Furthermore, are you saying you don't think the illegals protesting today should be deported? Would you have a problem with ICE being there & rounding up ppl?

What you described before with the guy calling the station is a bit of vigilantism (is that even a word? lol), and I don't agree with that...but I do agree that illegals who have the absolute gall to show their faces & try to use our right to protest should be sent packing.

The people with legal immigration issues are associated with this because, due to the roadblocks concerning waivers and denials and trying to work through are trying to draw attention to the problems they are facing in trying ot keep their families together. While working through these issues their spouses are not in legal status.

I would have a problem with ICE being there and rounding them up mainly due to the humane side of things. It might sound effective until you consider the possiblity of some kid coming home from school to an empty house and no idea that mom and dad were deported at the rally they attended while he was in school. Or a small child left in daycare while their parents attended only to never come home.

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

[GaryC 7]

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

Right on!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I should have rented a white van and put this on the side

made a jacket like this

and drove to some protests.

That would take some serious balls. And some good insurance on that rental.

I know. I'm all 'talk'. I'll admit it

[river 0]

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

Right on!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

Right on!

[Jamber 0]

I'm really surprised more VJ-er's are supporting the opposite side. I haven't read all of the pages in this thread, nor have I watched every news piece explaining the issues. I'm going through the legal process, as we all are, to marry a Canadian nonetheless, so I suppose this really doesn't affect me directly.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process. The way things are going for me, it looks like it will be 9 months total before Adam gets his visa. We've been together two years, and only physically together a total of two months. Its hard, we all know that.

I have left work early today, and I won't be shopping. It isn't to intimidate our government by showing them what harm this could do to our economy, but a small amount of understanding for the families this will effect. I really wish all of the time, resources, and emotion being paid to addressing illegal immigrants was being given to reforming our system. Perhaps if the system wasn't as complicated and long as it is, so many people would avoid it.

Yes, I realize many people may skip the paperwork because they wouldn't be approved - due to criminal history etc. I don't know those statistics. I just wish there was more effort to help us, the people going by the book, and less attention on a long-existing problem we're never going to rightfully correct.

I respect all of you that were so deeply touched by this issue, whichever side you fall on.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Now I almost feel bad. All they could muster here in Cincinnati was a sorry crowd of maybe 50 people to march and protest downtown. Most of those were anything but illegals from what it looked like. More your retired bleeding hearts that had nothing better to do this Monday morning.

So, life goes on in Cincinnati.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process.

This is not about families skipping the process.

[pax 0]

It might be worth pointing out that a lot of the folks who post here angry that "we did it the hard way and illegals did it the easy way" are comparing apples and oranges. Not many of the non-USCs on VJ came here seeking a "better life"; many, if not most, of them had perfectly fine lives in their home countries, had educations and jobs and families and friends. They came here because a loved one was here and because two people decided together that the non-USC coming to the States was the best option for them both.

Meanwhile, illegal aliens who come here to work are generally here to make better lives for their families. Quite a different story. For many if not most of them, the legal channels to come here and work are quite limited, at least as it stands now.

Anyone familiar with my posts knows that I am no fan of illegal immigration or the greedy employers who perpetuate the system. But I am opposed to allowing undocumented workers continue in their present situation not because I love a "legal immigrant" and we "did things the hard way," but because I believe it perpetuates a harmful and exploitative economy. I would feel this way even if Ewen were American instead of British and I'd never heard of an I-129F.

[Fandango 1,439]

I'm really surprised more VJ-er's are supporting the opposite side. I haven't read all of the pages in this thread, nor have I watched every news piece explaining the issues. I'm going through the legal process, as we all are, to marry a Canadian nonetheless, so I suppose this really doesn't affect me directly.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process. The way things are going for me, it looks like it will be 9 months total before Adam gets his visa. We've been together two years, and only physically together a total of two months. Its hard, we all know that.

I have left work early today, and I won't be shopping. It isn't to intimidate our government by showing them what harm this could do to our economy, but a small amount of understanding for the families this will effect. I really wish all of the time, resources, and emotion being paid to addressing illegal immigrants was being given to reforming our system. Perhaps if the system wasn't as complicated and long as it is, so many people would avoid it.

Yes, I realize many people may skip the paperwork because they wouldn't be approved - due to criminal history etc. I don't know those statistics. I just wish there was more effort to help us, the people going by the book, and less attention on a long-existing problem we're never going to rightfully correct.

I respect all of you that were so deeply touched by this issue, whichever side you fall on.

I am against illegal immigration because it makes a mockery of the very system that we are trying to respect with our sacrifice of being apart.

Your suprise actuall is indicative of the overall confusion of illegal immigration with legal immigration. there's a world of difference.

I could turn your statemet around: 'I can understand the temptation to .......................................'

Yes, there's temptation. But there's also temptation for me not to steal a dress from the store cos poor me doesn't wanna pay for it.....or the temptation to rob a bank. Get my drift? There's temptation everywhere...but there's also something called personal responsibility, and as adults - and law abiding citizens, we need to keep temptation in check.

I could say 'I'm going to skip paying for something because I can't afford it' but that doesn't make it any less wrong....or would it?

[Sinergy 3]

Now I almost feel bad. All they could muster here in Cincinnati was a sorry crowd of maybe 50 people to march and protest downtown. Most of those were anything but illegals from what it looked like. More your retired bleeding hearts that had nothing better to do this Monday morning.

So, life goes on in Cincinnati.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process.

This is not about families skipping the process.

I think i saw 2 people in my city starting to protest so now its clear to go downtown and SHOP

oh and get some of that orange chicken

I wonder if i can get tomorrow off if i protest USPS and Cingular

[almaty 19]

Now I almost feel bad. All they could muster here in Cincinnati was a sorry crowd of maybe 50 people to march and protest downtown. Most of those were anything but illegals from what it looked like. More your retired bleeding hearts that had nothing better to do this Monday morning.

So, life goes on in Cincinnati.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process.

This is not about families skipping the process.

st louis is the same...

[jen&darcy 0]

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

Agree!

[faith 0]

Now I almost feel bad. All they could muster here in Cincinnati was a sorry crowd of maybe 50 people to march and protest downtown. Most of those were anything but illegals from what it looked like. More your retired bleeding hearts that had nothing better to do this Monday morning.

So, life goes on in Cincinnati.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process.

This is not about families skipping the process.

st louis is the same...

I was wondering how downtown was today, dean. We plan on going shopping tonight... why? because we need food and I want to go get more baby stuff And to show our intent that ILLEGAL (notice I did not say Undocumented like most of them say) is WRONG.

Wrong wrong wrong. It's illegal. That's the point that I don't understand why people can't get it. There was a girl on the news last night babbling about "undocumented immigrants" and that "they have rights too." My husband (the immigrant) looked at me and said "Yeah they have the right to a 6 x 9 cell until they are deported. They broke the law, what's so hard to understand about that?" I have to say I agree with him.