Do we have immigration problem?

[question everything]

1. Should we care about the presence of illegal immigrants? And by this I mean people who are in this country, working, buying (and paying sales tax) using utilities (and paying their taxes) paying rents but who never went through any of the paperwork to enter this country and who are not counted in the census. They do not contribute to Social Security and Medicare through payroll taxes.

Some people might want just open borders; some people hate any government paperwork. The problem that I see is that they do not pay taxes the way the rest of us do. Income and payroll taxes. Yet, if and when they become sick and old we will take care of them. So it is only fair that they pay. And, no, I do not accept a comment that none of us should pay taxes as long as... take your pick: wasting a lot of money in Iraq, giving tax breaks to the rich, etc. If this is your argument than I don't know what you are doing calling yourself a Democrat and a liberal.

Federal and government agencies need to know the number of people who: use utilities, travel the road, have kids who go to school, who may use the services of local hospitals, police and firefighters, and so on. Not having illegal being counted rob the rest of us from decent services for which we do pay taxes, robbing local agencies from getting funds from the Federal government that are bases on census.

2. If we do realize that illegal immigration is a problem should we, what? give them all amnesty so they can stay here and integrate into society? This may work, but then, what are we going to do in 10 years? Amnesty will not stem the rush of more illegal immigrants. Exactly the opposite as more came once that idea started floating. And if we do, why only Mexicans? Why not poor refugees in Darfur for whom working here like slaves would still be a life saving proposition?

3. For those who claim that "this was their country" what, then, do you suggest? Give CA, TX and NM to Mexico?

[porphyrian]

1. Yes.

People keep talking about it as if it were a real problem, knocking far more immediately important issues out of public conversation.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Excellent question

Just what is the problem? Americans getting a lot of cheap labor with minimum costs to them.

The biggest problem I have seen is apparently "conservatives" have tired of hating others and have to turn their attention to another easy target.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. Isn't Mexico a big part of the problem?

Shouldn't Mexico be able to provide a viable lifestyle by now for its citizens?

It just doesn't make sense that this country still has 99% of its citizens living
as peasants.

Looks corrupt.

Fences, amnesty, sending them back, none of this is going to solve the problem
that Mexican citizens can barely survive in their own country.

Our govt just takes advantage of these people to provide cheap labor for big
corporations.

[question everything]

9. Agree. And just think: if all the millions who are here

were there and formed grassroots organizations how they could have changed things there.

Perhaps, instead of marching here protesting American laws, they should march there?

[alarimer]

11. absolutely true

Another thing is that human history is all about migration. People always move to find something better for themselves. We can't really stop it; we might be able to slow it a little but ultimately, we just probably have to get used to it. But the realy solution is to help Mexico (and other, poorer countries) raise their standards of living for all.

[Avalux]

4. We have a corporation/employer problem.

First, let me say there has to be some sort of border regulation. Beyond that though, there must also be some sort of consequences for employers who think it's just fine to pay an "illegal" pennies for a day of hard work. They are the problem.

[goodhue]

5. You are right

It is not as big a problem as the intolerant believe

[Zorra]

6. Wait...CA, TX, GA?

Hey, we were here first!

[NorCalDem]

7. I posted something similar to this last night

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2563762

I agree, we have bigger fish to fry :D

[goodhue]

8. 2 minor corrections

1) Undocumented immigrants are in fact to be counted in the census (although they are not counted very well).
2) Many undocumented workers in fact do pay payroll taxes (usually via a false SSN).

[leftofthedial]

10. relatively minor problem for some sectors

but dwarfed by our real problems (repuke-destroyed economy, out-of-control corporations, out-of-control wealthy class, health care, middle-class unemployment, Iraq, destruction of our democracy . . .)