If you all agree that the protests didn't amount to much?

DAR

I am not sure I understand the question.

First of all, I was impressed with the order and tact from the marchers I saw reflected in the major networks (although I've already spent more time here than watching the news.) I saw few Mexican flags, and was able to believe those weren't meant badly. In that sense, I think the protests were a success.

However, did anything else happen today that we weren't expecting? I think that is what people mean when they say 'it didn't change anything.' We expected to see massive marches, and we did. The areas that rely on low pay Hispanic workers (legal and illegal immigrants) were empty and many purportedly closed.

However, if you believe that had different, available workers from within the country been hired, the businesses would have stayed open, the only point that remains is that large numbers of people marched. And, deserving of respect, they kept it peaceful, and upbeat.

Not 12 million people marched, and we know there are 12 million illegal immigrants here, so, if people were surprised, they haven't been thinking.

Incorrectly Political

Because we have been living WITH illegal immigrants for decades, now. A day without immigrants is like a day without food. It can be uncomfortable, but you'll live. If they really wanted to make a point, they would have made it a YEAR without immigrants, and ONLY ILLEGALS WOULD HAVE PARTICIPATED. It defeats the point of showing what living without illegals is like if legal residents and citizens join in. A year without immigrants would also mean no illegal could use any public institution (medical care, education, welfare, etc.) so we could all see how much we can save by not providing free services to 11 million people.

P.S.- Why did my serious crime answer make you laugh? I was being serious, dammit!

bluefire

They lower prices at the supermarket!

Lucky

PANCHA you left out the operative word: "NEGATIVE"

Some of the negative impacts of illegal immigration follow.

* overcrowded and under-funded schools
* diseases
* increased health care costs
* degraded health care service
* higher auto insurance premiums
* poverty
* lawlessness
* social conflict
* over-population
* unemployment
* lowered wages
* vote fraud
* increased crime
* illegal drugs
* environmental degradation
* depletion of natural resources
* loss of common language and culture
* increased traffic congestion
* higher taxes

Congress has made the following findings:
(1) There are now more undocumented immigrants in this country than
documented immigrants.

(2) In 2004 it is estimated that at least 1.2 million undocumented persons entered this
country.

(3) The number of undocumented persons living in this country right now is at least 11 million, but could be as high as 20 million.

(4) At least 57% of undocumented persons are from Mexico.

(5) At least 80% of immigrants who come from Mexico are undocumented.

(6) In 2004 it was estimated that 29% of the 36% of the population that are foreign-born immigrants are undocumented.

(7) Illegal immigration costs this country billions of dollars a year, including
Costs in the state of California only at 10.5 billion annually.

(8) California spends over 1.4 billion annually just on the health care costs and imprisonment costs for undocumented persons.

david05693

Sorry but illegal is illegal.

drizztbabe

what news station are you watching? i watched channel 25 and they didn't mention any places being shutdown due to lack of employees.

Centurion

They don't impact me, they are just trying to turn the USA into another mexico.

sarahlove300

I didn't say they have a GREAT impact on MY life.....

or Huge for that matter.....

I think that this whole thing is to divert attention from the people that are protecting this country and DYING for what they believe... the soldiers...

BUT what does that matter to them since they aren't protecting THEIR country... they just want to live here.

tinikk

protests don't do much..they make their point.. but the officials don't do nething much about it neways..
i don't understand what you wrote after your question.

CindyLu

Sorry but illegal is illegal. They knew their status when the snuck into this country. They knew the risks, they tood their chances and now if caught they should be sent home. I don't think they should be rewarded for breaking the law.

hayleylov

i don't think they have a great impact on our lives other than disturbing the peace ,and cheap labor , and on the news right now they are talking how the boycott did not have the impact the pro illegals wanted

braveheart0714

well watch the news and talk to the business owners,by the way there were irish and muslims and africanamericans marching together

de rak

First off, I have to say I am not racist. this is due to uneducated people claiming racism. Now I will say that I had a great day today due to the day without an immigrant(which I find questionable because the claim is about "illegal immigration".) I live in the Los Angeles area. When I drove to school today, it was amazing. There was ZERO traffic! I also went shopping. I went to the Montclair Plaza Mall and bought a book. there was no store closures. I went to two different starbucks, no change. A day without an immigrant had if anything a nice impact on my life. And once again, to you ignorant people, I am NOT racist.

Jimbo.is.back

dude I had the best day! There was absolutely NO traffic on the way to work, and the parade went down the street where my office is, so we closed early! I got paid a full day for 2 hours of work! Hell I think they should protest EVERYDAY!!!

khukhu

it was the best day of my life to have them all far away from me.

knowmeansknow

Millions of people in the streets is a powerful message. I think Congress will think twice before doing anything too drastic.

Illegal immigrants have made a great impact on all of our lives! Agriculture is the most obvious way. How you would you like to spend $10 for an apple? If you like how cheap they are, thank illegal immigrants for picking them.

In general, they take the jobs that nobody wants. These jobs are necessary and low paying.

Many illegal immigrants also pay taxes. If they pay rent or buy anything in the store, then they contribute to property tax and sales tax. Many also pay income tax (though they don't have the right to file a tax return for a refund, which they would certainly be entitled to if they were a citizen).
----------------------
lucky2bealive - Your extensive list are all results of having more PEOPLE. Those things are not exclusive to illegal immigrants by any stretch of the imagination.

Indigo

I think amounting to much depends on where you live.

Jim_Morrison

It didn't do anything!! You see there are so many people that don't care. The Latinos need to combine and have a week long stand up, that might do something.

loveisnotinthecards

Who says that illegals impact the lives of everyday Americans at all?

Most Mexicans that come here do not assimilate to the American culture and DON'T EVEN WANT TO, most export their wages to the tune of $20 Billion a year, many go back to Mexico in the winter. They shop at hispanic markets and stores. They don't learn english.

Then they decide to show how hard working they are, BY TAKING A WORK DAY OFF. That's intelligent. Many carried the MEXICAN flag, not Old Glory. They want our support? They want amnesty? Let's give it to them.

Let's support them by never shopping in hispanic shops, let's support them by giving them a lift back to Mexico. Let's give them the freedom to rally, IN MEXICO. They want the right to vote? GO BACK TO MEXICO WHERE YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT. ILLEGAL aliens have NO RIGHTS. Shut up and do the job you stole from an American citizen.

tinydancer43

I for one never said illegal immigrants have a great impact on our lives but immigrants have a great impact.

paylessone

I say they didn't amount to much...except making all the people who went to a protest get all excited seeing other people who they feel they are bonded to because they are all or most RAZA. Whatever. I went to the post office and still had to stand in line...white, black and Hispanics in line and working there....just like any other day. Went to the grocery store...customers and employees...black, white and Hispanic....just like any other day.

Unless you're going to starve yourselves for a day or a week, no one will feel anything. If you eat one piece of bread every day, and you usually buy a fresh piece every day, do you think it affects the bakery if you just buy 7 pieces on one day instead of 1 piece each day? Except for the VERY FEW meat packing plants and neglected garden duties, etc...no one even would have noticed you were gone...if the news stations hadn't told us about it. Out of sight - Out of mind....although I saw plenty of Hispanics going on with their normal lives...so they weren't even out of sight.

Sorry to disappoint you.

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