How do you think that the immigration problem should be solved by our government?

In what area of the USA do you live?
Are you for a total amnesty? Why or Why not?
Are you for the guest-worker idea?
Why do you think our government hasn't done anything about this in the past?
How do you feel we would fare if all illegals were deported at once? How would you feel if meat and produce doubled in price overnight due to the shortage of low-paid packers and harvesters?

How do you feel about Mexico's inability to create decent jobs for their own citizens?

When my father was a high-school student in mid-Ohio back in the 50's, there was a year when the mexican migrant workers couldn't get up there to harvest the annual tomato crop. All the American (white in that town) students had to take a week off of school to harvest the tomato crop. That was just for a week...how will we handle this in 2007 if it happens? Would the students still do it for free? Just a thought. I am also against any amnesties. They shouldn't be rewarded for coming here illegally.
Additional Details
Illegals have been paying into social security and federal income taxes for years, and never ask for that money back, because they never file tax returns.

They use WIC and public assistance, but our government knows that what they use is much less than what we have made off them in commerce, traffic tickets, and unclaimed tax returns.

I believe in a guest worker program, only and ONLY if our govt fingerprints every one of the immigrants, then monitors that information.

Right now, we have millions here with no identification. They get deported, then come back with a new name.

We have to let the police take illegals in and get them deported. Right now, police have no jurisdiction over illegals.

After everyone is fingerprinted, if they don't have documentation or fingerprint record, they have to go back home immediately.

My husband is a legal resident, and we paid lots of money and used years to get that. LEGALLY. People shouldn't be rewarded for breaking our laws.

shominyyuspa

I think we need to enforce the laws that already exist and have harsher penalties for employers who knowingly employ illegals.

Mango

I think businesses that hire Illiigals should be heavily fined.Illigals are criminals and so are businesses that hire them or rent to them.

sks317

i live in new york and there are alot of illigals it is sick. get them out of our country.

Michelle

kick em' out

Sparkles

By doing what the majority of the U.S. citizens want which is send them back if here illegally.

No, I am not for amesty for criminals. Why should we reward someone for breaking the law. It is ridiculous.

Yes, I am for the guest worker.

Good question, as now it is a drain on our economy.

This is why they are here anyway. Because companies want cheap labor. If there were no Americans companies to offer them jobs, they wouldn't be sneaking over the border. American companies found letting illegals work for them, should face stiff fines.

How should I feel about it? We are treated like 2nd class citizens here in America because of Mexico's inability to take care of their own people.

I am expected to bow over to change my language to suit them. It isn't right.

I live in the metro area of Houston, and my grandfather was a legal immigrant from Mexico. I totally agree with everything you say.

Clinton was letting this happen too. It isn't all Bush.

JessicaRabbit

I live in north San Diego county so there are lots of illegals here. It's obvious when you see Baja California plates on cars.

Mexican citizens should be Mexico's problem. They are not our responsibility! They say they come here for a "better life." Why should I have to pay for it?

I am so strongly against any amnesty, "guest worker disaster," or any form of legalization of the 20 to 30 million people that are breaking our laws (AKA criminals). You don't reward people when they are committing a crime.

We have to eliminate the illegal alien criminal problem now by deportation and/or jail. If families are split up it is THEIR fault by putting themselves in the position. The government is just enforcing our laws like they should.

I am so angry at the morons in Washington for not listening to what the people want. They don't want legalization of the illegal aliens!

Bush is a total idiot when it comes to this. He is a butt kisser with Mexico. PARDON RAMOS & COMPEON NOW!

We must save our country from economic ruin!

How_Would_I_Know

Let's address a few misconceptions here. First, if the criminal immigrant element was removed from the produce industry.. the price would NOT double or triple. Labor is only a small part of the costs involved. Doubling or tripling the pay rate ( such that a LEGAL American could survive on it ) would only cause a price increase of a few cents per unit.

We pay FAR more in taxes to support these criminals than we benefit from the slight decrease in the cost of lettuce. This is not even factoring in the way the criminal element has depressed the overall pay scale in the country.

As for Mexico's inability to create jobs.. that's Mexicos problem. Not ours. There are a lot of countries that are far worse off than Mexico, should we bring in 30 million of them too?

My Business Plan

I really believe that they all should be deported to their home countrie. Once there, let them apply for visas, just like millions of others have done. Even when the immigrants came thru ellis island, they at least had a medical check, and they told the government who they were. crossing the border illegally is illegal. It has been illegal for for at least a century, probably longer. If they want to come here to work, then they need a visa, and we need a system that will keep track of them. Hey, UPS can track a box of cookies going to the other side of the planet, surely our government has some people who are smart enough to find a way to keep track of visitors in this country. Mid Ohio tomatos? Is that around Marietta? I grew up abouot two hours north of there. Had I known about a shortage of pickers, I would have gone to help, even for an illegal immigrant wage. There isn't a lot of work up there, since the steel melting mills are on the skids, as well as the coal mines. If meat and produce prices double, then I will eat half as much, we could all use a diet anyway, since everbody on the planet refers to us as lazy fat Americans!!! Really, I don't think produce from local growers would go up that much anyway. Also, where I am now, way down in Florida, all the veggies are imported from Mexico, chilie and other places. I remember when I could buy a whole watermelon for a buck-fifty, in the grocery store over the weekend, they were 5.99 and I saw a guy pushing a cart with six in it, so the higher price won't affect too many people.

Tinkerbell

When our ancestors came to this country, they had to learn about the constitution and learn the language. That should be the same for everyone no matter who they are or what part of the world they are from.It's a shame that other countries don't provide for their own but then does the U.S.of A.? No! Look at the poverty here in the States. Look at how our government helps other countries. Sad but true. We need to help others as well but charity begins at home. On the other hand, If it wasn't for the Mexicans coming to the states to do the farming and such were would we get the help from? Our own citizens won't work the fields. But, yet they complain that they can't find work because the Mexicans or other nationalities are taking their jobs. Ha! They are just lazy and would rather live on welfare or join a gang and rob people to get a dollar. Get the point.? I don't have the answers to solve the problem because it will take the whole nation to wake up and see what is happening and then stop talking about it and start doing something about it. I blame it mostly on the generation gaps rather totally on the government. Parents are too busy with their own lives to care about the future of the next generation and their ability to work. Children used to be taught to work hard for a living. Not anymore! It would be nice to have our nation back to the way it was during our grandparents days. It will take more than the kind of presidents we have had in the recent past and present to make those changes. Stand up America and support your country. Your country needs you.

RoHo

its all very simple, do you obey our laws? do you expect anyone else to also?

blondissima622

I live in Brooklyn, New York, in a heavily hispanic community with legal and illlegal immigrants.
I'm not for total amnesty- because I think that creates a lot of issues.
I do firmly believe that we need a guest-worker program. That way, people can come here, with a full background check, work, pay taxes like anyone else, satisfy the labor need (and YES, there is a need from them right now because our economy is strong and unemployment is low), and then return to their country or follow a legal path to citizenship.
It's not reasonable to think that we could just mass deport everyone without a huge humanitarian crisis on our hands.

I sincerely hope that Mexico and other countries can put an end to the corruption that plagues their people.

xyz

If someone wants to live in the U.S. let them apply for residency, if they want to work in the U.S. let them get a work permit for one year...anyone else and they are illegal and deported...

Zapata

Hold ICE accountable.

crazymonkey

i totally agree with you, very valid points!

Alex B

cautiously... acknowledging we need the labor while screening for any terrorists... 99% of immigrants are NOT terrorists.

Shyla B

Well, I live in central Illinois. In recent years our hispanic population has doubled, our middle eastern immigrants.. tripled. I am not for total amnesty because we don't know who we would be pardoning and why...some illegal immigrants are just as criminal as their actions..some are not. I think amnesty should be granted on a case by case basis. I wouldn't want my parents imprisoned for trying to provide a better life for me..if in fact that is the motive for immigration. On the other hand, I do not support the guest worker idea as I understand it. I believe we have far too many unemployed as it is that are natural citizens. The government is based in a capitalist society, so solving the problem means eliminating cheap labor. No business owner wants to increase their costs in any field, especially not labor. Our government, being riddled with lobbyists, has no intentions of forcing businesses to do so. That is why I think they didn't touch this problem decades ago. The same companies that line the politicians pockets for campaigns are also benefitting directly or indirectly from cheap labor and therefore immigration. If we can find a solution to our labor and immigration issues, or at least begin the dialogue, then why can't we send a team of bilingual advisors to help Mexico with theirs..?
Interesting story about your father. Unfortunately...the problem would be that companies would not be willing to pay a living wage to an american (white, black or blue.) No one should be asked to do free labor if they are expected to pay bills!! If we as a society would decide to take care of home first... i am all for talking about how to help out immigrants...but until then....I say everyone for themselves!!

latina

All illegals should become citizens... or at least guess workers, because they only come here to work.. and have a better life..

Evan B

This is a very complicated problem which is made orders of magnitude more complicated by the fact that those pulling the strings of the polliticians in Washington are satisfied with the status quo.

blackadder

Good work there. Kudos to you.

Jess

If we closed all our border, housing prices would triple because the only people that will work for 10 dollars an hour in the hot sun for 10 hours a day are the hard working mexicans. And probably half the restaurants would close down due to lack of available workers.

Like it or not, they provide for our economy and help keep prices down

handr_bloch

Boring. Please ask an interesting question.

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