It isn't about people being from other countries, it is about people breaking the law. I have no problem with being born in America, but tons of problems with people being born in America and then commiting armed robbery. That doesn't have anything to do with where they are from, but everything to do with their actions.
The false assumption is that there is an equal playing field. If you can be a doctor or Ph.D, then it should be a cakewalk in America. This glaringly ignores language and cultural barriers, discrimination, and financial limitations. I agree with what was said that America should be a place of opportunity. That is the image will like our country to portray, but the reality of it is that it is grossly not. To just simply dismiss the difficulties talented and educated people face because fate gave them a different birthplace the rest of us are priviledged to enjoy is nothing short of nativist elitistism.
That's true, there are some Phd's driving cabs. Still, I think we don't need highly qualified people being waiters and cab drivers. They are taking jobs away from people who really need them.
I got my green card thru employment in 3.5 years. This was because I started the process in 2000. I heard that it now takes much longer to get green card through the same route. While I agree that people should become a citizen legally, I have to say that becoming a citizen is now getting much harder post-9/11. I think it will be hard to reverse this process because in a democratic country like US, immigrants have no political rights, so it is natural that no politicians would do anything to help them. Anyway, in the long term, difficulties of immigration will further America's decline.
By not crossing the border, illegal immigrants will be obeying immigration laws, however, they will continue to live in dearth and impoverished conditions that will not permit them to provide the necessities of life for themselves and their families. If illegal immigrants do decide to cross the border, they will be breaking the law. However, breaking the law gives them the opportunity to work in a prosperous country so that they can provide for their families the best that life has to offer- a stable supply of shelter, food, clothing, and many other necessities. A fundamental question is raised here-is it more important to support the survival of your family or is it more important to follow the law?
Are the inefficient immigration officers who are supposed to complete the process within 3 years be liable for "breaking the law"? Many foreign skilled professionals are promised residency when they join to work for US companies, and because of INS's bad system, they suffer from all these, being away from their families, or they end up working as waiters. Legally speaking, the people that we need to punish are those who come here via forced entry like people who cross the borders, and tourist who decide to stay and not to return to their respective countries. People who came here and via H1-B with the intention of staying but were only delayed due to the problems with INS ineffiecient system, should be give extra consideration, especially immediate family members of permanent residents. That should be the right path. But instead, law makers are focusing on the legalizing those people who came here illegally on the basis that we can't live without them to do the dirty works.
Well, the Republicans work for the wealthy people. Think about who needs these low wage illegals? Mostly the small business owners and then some super wealthy ones like the Wal-Mart owners. Since most of the jobs they do can't be outsourced anyway (e.g. cleaning restaurants, moving things around in supermarket, etc), if we deny these illegals the right to work, I am sure the wages will go up and then it will attract our unemployed citizens to take up those jobs. The end result to the general populace might be inflation but I suppose that's a fair price to pay for more employment among the citizens.
That is not an intellectually honest question. Obviously it is possible for families to survive in every country in the world, as there are no countries with zero population. In addition to that, there are ways to come to America legally, even if it is a big pain in the ass. So, instead of the choice being between breaking the law or the family not surviving, the choice becomes making the best of your life in your home country, going through the process to come to America legally, or breaking the law. Given that, I would say it is important to follow the law. Further, anyone who is found to be here illegally should be deported immediately. No. If they consistently fail to do their job for reasons not imposed on them from the outside, they should be fired though. If they lose their status with the company they are working for, they need to find another company and get the process going again. If they cannot remain legally, they need to go back, then decide if they want to try again or not. Just trying the legal way and failing is not enough, just like if you get fired, it isn't okay to become a bank robber, since you tried making money the legal way, but it didn't work out. You must keep obeying the law. Legally speaking, the people we need to punish are those that break the law, regardless of what brings about their breaking the law. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. Even if the right way is kicking your ass, it doesn't make it okay to do things the wrong way.
WTF? We're all not from this "country", including those of Native American descent. The land doesn't "belong" to us, we belond to it. As such, all this thread is discussing is the present: modern day illegal immegration policies and their rigtheousness. As with everything, perspective here is key. I guess I could see how someone could disagree, but I can't honestly say that if you are an immigrant, you HAVE to follow the current laws in place. In the meantime, it is up to current Americans (again, all of whom are descendants of non-Americans), the enact the necessary change to make immigration laws more competent.
