What Part of Illegal Don't You Understand?

[SteveLaura 0]

I understand it's an impractical solution to round up every illegal and send him/her home, but at the end of the day, there should be no reward for breaking the law.

I agree in principle. But the options are limited. We can ignore it, we can try to round everyone up and deport them or we can start afresh - implement the ideas I've already gone on about and fine those already here. My old boss back in the UK used to have a phrase I liked whenever the local council would have fits about what to do with our clients (drug users). We need a "Grown-up solution."

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

I understand it's an impractical solution to round up every illegal and send him/her home, but at the end of the day, there should be no reward for breaking the law.

I agree in principle. But the options are limited. We can ignore it, we can try to round everyone up and deport them or we can start afresh - implement the ideas I've already gone on about and fine those already here. My old boss back in the UK used to have a phrase I liked whenever the local council would have fits about what to do with our clients (drug users). We need a "Grown-up solution."

of course, we could always have them self deport if we have a decent system in place to verify they are able to be employed. and back that up with severe financial penalties for the employer if they are caught employing illegals. but i guess that's not to the liking of some.

[Marc and Olga 0]

I understand it's an impractical solution to round up every illegal and send him/her home, but at the end of the day, there should be no reward for breaking the law.

I agree in principle. But the options are limited. We can ignore it, we can try to round everyone up and deport them or we can start afresh - implement the ideas I've already gone on about and fine those already here. My old boss back in the UK used to have a phrase I liked whenever the local council would have fits about what to do with our clients (drug users). We need a "Grown-up solution."

Did you miss the part where this has been done in the past? (1986 and a few times since then), did it work to deter future illegals from coming? (I'll tell you the answer, H-E-L-L NO...in fact it inspired more to come to wait their turn.)

Also, early in this thread someone pointed out how our SOs became out of status, thus "illegal" however that isn't accurate. Arizona voters decided that people who could not prove they were here legally could not recieve state funded benefits, such as adult education. Olga was in an ESL class while she was "out of status" but her AOS NOA was sufficient to allow her to continue in her English class!

Charles, AZ is implementing such a program. Basic Pilot (immigration) for employment authorization and should a business be found knowingly hiring an someone without work authozation, temporary suspension of their business license...subsequent violations = perm suspension of said license.

[Raspect 0]

I, myself, just love haters, that is all. Not even going to weigh in on this debate. I will start and stop only by saying I love people who hate!!!

[SteveLaura 0]

Did you miss the part where this has been done in the past? (1986 and a few times since then), did it work to deter future illegals from coming? (I'll tell you the answer, H-E-L-L NO...in fact it inspired more to come to wait their turn.)

How 'secure' was the border when this was tried before? And I believe (I don't have time to check the figures) that the number of firms that have been fined for hiring illegal immigrants has significantly decreased since the beginning of this administration.

I don't doubt that the system, whichever is implemented, will be imperfect in some way. All are. I'd be very surprised to learn that on a cold Monday morning I alone am blessed with all the answers. But the seemingly constant blathering of "But, but, they're illegal..." isn't providing any answers either. Like I say, it's gonna take a grown-up solution. And you know what? It's probably not gonna be fair for everyone. Sucks being a human, eh?

[SteveLaura 0]

I'd be very surprised to learn that on a cold Monday morning I alone am blessed with all the answers.

Although, saying that, if The Washington Post are reading this and looking for columnists, my rates are very reasonable.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The piece has no credibility as it seeks to stand on a foundation that doesn't even support itself.

Good thing I am not an illegal immigrant. There is no way out of that trap. It’s the crime you can’t make amends for. Nothing short of deportation will free you from it...

I said it earlier and I will say it again: There is a way out of that trap and it doesn't involve deportation. Just pack and go home. That's all it takes. That's how you make amends for this offense. You simply put it in reverse and you'll be home free.

Some people have been here for years. They have family here. Friends here. Work here. It's easy to say, "Go home." But 'home' is here.

No, it isn't and you know it. One cannot just take up residence in someone else's "dwelling" and call it home because one happens to like the furnishings of someone else's home better than what one has in one's own place. There's a difference with wishing this was hiome and it actually, legitimately being home.

And to pre-empt this bit: It matters little if that dwelling is one that someone else hasn't checked on regularly. No residence right is established by just managing to stay in some place long enough.

[SteveLaura 0]

The piece has no credibility as it seeks to stand on a foundation that doesn't even support itself.

Good thing I am not an illegal immigrant. There is no way out of that trap. It’s the crime you can’t make amends for. Nothing short of deportation will free you from it...

I said it earlier and I will say it again: There is a way out of that trap and it doesn't involve deportation. Just pack and go home. That's all it takes. That's how you make amends for this offense. You simply put it in reverse and you'll be home free.

Some people have been here for years. They have family here. Friends here. Work here. It's easy to say, "Go home." But 'home' is here.

No, it isn't and you know it. One cannot just take up residence in someone else's "dwelling" and call it home because one happens to like the furnishings of someone else's home better than what one has in one's own place. There's a difference with wishing this was hiome and it actually, legitimately being home.

And to pre-empt this bit: It matters little if that dwelling is one that someone else hasn't checked on regularly. No residence right is established by just managing to stay in some place long enough.

Where is my home? Where is your's? I'm originally from the UK, but I haven't been there for over two years. When does the UK stop being my home? My life is here. My immediate family is here. Deporting me, if anything caused that to happen, won't change that fact.

[NavarreMan 10]

Some murderers are yet to be caught. Does this mean we should let them off if they have not been caught after x years. The law is the law.

Nobody should be allowed to stay in a nation who has no respect for a nation's sovereignty, laws or its citizens..

Stretching the argument a tad, I would say. Violent criminals need to be locked up and justice seen to be served. I don't think anyone would argue against that. Could justice still be seen to have been served by a fine for illegal immigrants? If not, why not?

Well, hell, if it's only a fine and a slap on the wrist, I'mma tell D to book his flight now....save all this 'legal way' bollocks.

If the 'legal way' involved a guest worker program, would you be in favour of it?

Depending on how you set it up, yes.

[Fandango 1,439]

If the 'grown up' solution involves the present illegals to get some form of amnesty...then that's not creating a deterrent for future generations of illegals. Which cannot be ignored, or wished away.

As said before, amnesty didn't work then, and it's not going to work now.

I'm going to go house hunting in the same fashion....enter without permission, then b!tch because I'm not asked to weigh in on what's for dinner.

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

If the 'grown up' solution involves the present illegals to get some form of amnesty...then that's not creating a deterrent for future generations of illegals. Which cannot be ignored, or wished away.

As said before, amnesty didn't work then, and it's not going to work now.

I'm going to go house hunting in the same fashion....enter without permission, then b!tch because I'm not asked to weigh in on what's for dinner.

you're a woman, it's whatever you are cooking.

*runs off and hides*

[NavarreMan 10]

The piece has no credibility as it seeks to stand on a foundation that doesn't even support itself.

Good thing I am not an illegal immigrant. There is no way out of that trap. It’s the crime you can’t make amends for. Nothing short of deportation will free you from it...

I said it earlier and I will say it again: There is a way out of that trap and it doesn't involve deportation. Just pack and go home. That's all it takes. That's how you make amends for this offense. You simply put it in reverse and you'll be home free.

Some people have been here for years. They have family here. Friends here. Work here. It's easy to say, "Go home." But 'home' is here.

No, it isn't and you know it. One cannot just take up residence in someone else's "dwelling" and call it home because one happens to like the furnishings of someone else's home better than what one has in one's own place. There's a difference with wishing this was hiome and it actually, legitimately being home.

And to pre-empt this bit: It matters little if that dwelling is one that someone else hasn't checked on regularly. No residence right is established by just managing to stay in some place long enough.

Excellent point. It goes to what I said earlier. You can't break the law a "little bit". You either do or don't. Jaywalking or murder, they are both laws and you can't do it a little bit!

How would you folks that defend this writer feel if these immigrants set up home on your lawn? Are they still welcome? It is OK as long as it is in someone else's yard, just not yours. Illegal is illegal. Law is law. If you cannot figure that out then there is little point in continuing the discussion because it has lost the foundation of creditbility. Legal v. illegal, good v. evil. There is no gray area. They either obey the laws or they break them.

You can call them illegal or whatever PC term suits you but the fact remains that the laws were broken. I will be the first to DEMAND that if amnesty is granted to someone who entered/remained in this country illegally that my fiancee, who was invited by a natural born citizen and veteran of 3 wars and a law biding residident of my community, be granted an immediate visa to enter this country and remain as my wife and I would also demand a refund of all fees charged for attempting to do navigate the immigration system legally.

I said the same thing for Mr. Zapeta. He broke the rules. Punish him IAW the laws of the State and and the Federal Government then send him on his way. It was humane and the right thing to do. But he too was here illegally and it is ridiculous to ask that he be granted any convenience or consideration not available to an upstanding citizen of this country.

And while some of this is my OPINION, most of it is LAW.

[Fandango 1,439]

If the 'grown up' solution involves the present illegals to get some form of amnesty...then that's not creating a deterrent for future generations of illegals. Which cannot be ignored, or wished away.

As said before, amnesty didn't work then, and it's not going to work now.

I'm going to go house hunting in the same fashion....enter without permission, then b!tch because I'm not asked to weigh in on what's for dinner.

you're a woman, it's whatever you are cooking.

*runs off and hides*

doesn't that club you're carrying get heavy after a while?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The piece has no credibility as it seeks to stand on a foundation that doesn't even support itself.

Good thing I am not an illegal immigrant. There is no way out of that trap. It’s the crime you can’t make amends for. Nothing short of deportation will free you from it...

I said it earlier and I will say it again: There is a way out of that trap and it doesn't involve deportation. Just pack and go home. That's all it takes. That's how you make amends for this offense. You simply put it in reverse and you'll be home free.

Some people have been here for years. They have family here. Friends here. Work here. It's easy to say, "Go home." But 'home' is here.

No, it isn't and you know it. One cannot just take up residence in someone else's "dwelling" and call it home because one happens to like the furnishings of someone else's home better than what one has in one's own place. There's a difference with wishing this was hiome and it actually, legitimately being home.

And to pre-empt this bit: It matters little if that dwelling is one that someone else hasn't checked on regularly. No residence right is established by just managing to stay in some place long enough.

Where is my home? Where is your's? I'm originally from the UK, but I haven't been there for over two years. When does the UK stop being my home? My life is here. My immediate family is here. Deporting me, if anything caused that to happen, won't change that fact.

Your home is here because you established residency here. My home is here because I did the same. To stay within my analogy, we both applied for a lease, were approved and entered into it. That lease is what makes this legitimately your home and mine. Had we not applied for and been granted the lease, such claim would be questionable. But don't take my word for it. Just move into the nicest house in your neighborhood without the landlord's approval and see what happens...

[SteveLaura 0]

If the 'grown up' solution involves the present illegals to get some form of amnesty...then that's not creating a deterrent for future generations of illegals. Which cannot be ignored, or wished away.

As said before, amnesty didn't work then, and it's not going to work now.

An amnesty shouldn't happen in a vacuum. It's not a solution in and of itself. A guest worker program would deter many to come here illegally. Stronger-patrolled borders are a deterrent. The fact that firms would be punished legally & financially for employing illegal immigrants would lessen those numbers too. It's a combination drug. Gotta be taken together to be effective.