I really don't care about illegal immigration... OKAY now flame me.

[liberalitch]

Unless you are 100% native American, I don't see how may other Americans can have such a problem either.

two of my grandparents came here illegally in the early 1900's from scotland.

.... they had no money and no "connections" to get them here any other way. wouldn't it be nice if every Mexican person "knew" the right people or had the means to get here legally

Besides one of the things that I STILL DO love about my nation (something the repugs haven't changed YET) is the fact that every night before they shut their eyes and as soon as they open them in the morning their last and first thoughts are "One day I (or my children) will live in America." I don't EVER want that to change... I don't ever want that golden door to shut.

[goodhue]

1. There was no such thing as an "illegal" immigrant until 1929.

http://www.nfg.org/reports/83paperchase.htm

Once Upon a Legal Time

It hasn't always been a crime to enter the U.S. without documents. Longtime immigrant activist María Jiménez points out that "it wasn't until 1929 that the U.S. government introduced concepts designating immigrants as 'legal' or 'illegal.' Previously, laws had excluded individuals based on nationality, illness, political beliefs or criminal records, but not simply for moving across borders without documents."

[liberalitch]

3. Shall I say then that they came as "stowaways"

[goodhue]

8. However they got here, they were free to stay.

The absurd practice of labelling humans in the U.S. as "illegal" did not start until 1929.

[ixion]

2. no flame from me

people ought to be able to move around. nationalism and borders only make for unhappy neighbors. ;-)

In ANY case, it shouldn't be a criminal act, IMO.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. My family got here legally.

And I have family still in Italy still trying to get here legally because they respect our laws. It'd be really easy for them to just visit and never leave. There'd be enough places for them to find work too. But they choose to do it the right way for the right reasons. Sorry, but I don't buy the "golden door" rhetoric. We are not a nation of infinite land and resources. Times have changed, and so too must our immigration laws.

[liberalitch]

10. Congrats.... and I hope that they all are in country soon

And no, we are not a land of infinite resources and space...
But I (personally) do not feel that I am in a position to say someone who finds a way to get into this country illegally should not be offered the chance to stay as a productive citizens.

What about more amnesty programs for illegals.... let 'em become legals.

[republicansareevil]

5. You don't care because you don't understand it.

You think that illegal immigration issues are all about villifying the illegal immigrants. You fail to see the issues related to reducing exploitation of workers.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. Exactly.

Illegal immigrants are nothing more than indentured servants here in the United States. Being that these people are here illegally, they are entirely at the whim of the people who employ them. In many cases, they are imported into the country on the condition that they work for these slave drivers. It's a complex human rights issue, and making blanket statements one way or another really doesn't help the situation.

[liberalitch]

12. eh, NO that's not what I think.....

I KNOW that illegals are villified and I also KNOW that corperations like Walmart victimize them (locking in cleaning crews and such)... and that is not their fault either. The ass holes who do it know that they can because of the negative image of illegals... no law enforcement will protect them.

Most illegals (no matter if they are from Mexico or Saudi Arabia) are only concerned with putting a roof over their heads and food on their tables (oh, yea and higher ed. for their kids) and not about taking our jobs or hurting our citizenry. We need to worry more about the white collar criminals in this nation, we should trade every one of them for THREE productive illegals.

THAT is what I think.

[Hugin]

6. After all this "minute-man" junk...

All I'm thinking is wouldn't it have been nice if
the Native Americans had had stricter immigration
policies?

[liberalitch]

13. Can we start deporting them?

[solinvictus]

9. You're flamed!

;) Seriously, though, I view the issue as exploitation and a depressing affect on earnings. If the government would penalize the hell out of employers while deporting illegals, that would be a good start.

[Darranar]

11. And so what should the immigrants do?

Stay in their countries - and depress earnings there because they are desperate to find jobs?

Let their families starve?

What are your alternatives?

[liberalitch]

14. Let them starve, let them practice Kakia on all the women....

as now the bushies have limited the access of those woment to asylum

[cynatnite]

15. People come here for a better life

I can understand that. My grandmother and my father immigrated here after WWII. She married a soldier and my father was smuggled into the country because of TB.

After living here for so many years he was told that if he left the country to visit family still living overseas, he wouldn't be allowed to return.

Either way, I can understand the desire and the desperation some would feel to have a better life for themselves and their families. The US used to stand for that. It's this very attitude which has promoted immigration to this country.

It's a complex issue, but I do think the US needs to take responsibility at some point and I don't want to lose the idea that this is a great enough country which makes people desire to live here exceeding the desire to remain in theirs.

[zippy890]

16. I agree with you

I don't care about it.

But I am amazed at the intensity of the people who do, who want to stop them at all cost. Its scary how much some people hate the illegals, their faces get so ugly when they talk about them

:scared:

[donheld]

17. The statue of liberty should be destroyed

If we can't live by this motto on it.

Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

[Bridget Burke]

19. Oh, but that's "rhetoric"

Another poster here already said so.

[Dookus]

18. No flames from me

the overwhelming majority of them are here to work hard and improve their lives. They contribute much to our society, and I just can't find it in myself to get worked up over them.