Patters

Although liberals and conservatives have their differences on such issues as human rights abuses and the rights of illegal immigrants, by and large I think it's incorrect to see immigration as a liberal/conservative issue.

The fact is among those who favor the current immigration policies are many Republicans, including nonunion contractors, farmers, and immigrant populations themselves. Although immigrants vote Democratic, they don't vote that way by huge margins. So, among those Republicans who favor the current immigration policies are many Cubans and other Latinos, Asians, and Arabs. At the same time many labor unions want stricter policies because cheap illegal labor constitutes a threat to them. And among the states that are notorious for looking the other way with regard to illegal immigrants are conservative states like Texas, where righties would rather underpay an illegal immigrant than pay someone a working wage.

Harry Boy

Immigration into any country should be through the legal process, those that come otherwise are criminals and should be deported.

Come through the front door as our ancestors did, you will feel better, we will welcome you.

Illegal Aliens Go Home (no excuses)

ELOrocks17

Its not illegal immigration, per se. It is all the problems that are caused because of it. I.E. Welfare, not paying taxes, not learning English.

Chevy

Immigrants - Protected by our laws

Illegal Immigrants - They have one right - the right to a free bus ride to the border.

No free medical care, no driver's licenses, no sympathy.

Oh, and no immigrants, in any way, shape or form, from any arabic or otherwise predominantly Islamic nation. Period. No exchange students, no visiting busines leaders. They don't deserve the privilege.

OhExaulted1

Does this mean we have to kick Senator John Sununu out, fire General Tommy Franks and never utter the name Casey Kasem again?

Chevy

Funny ... aren't they citizens?

You can go back and find a way to label anyone an illegal. The rest of us are more concerned with today, however.

PatsWickedPissah

What is disgusting is that social security pays the freight for over 65 immigrants and their parents yet my wife, a citizen, will barely qualify for the minimum because she exited the workforce to raise a family. Unfortunately, she is not one of the 'special people' that pols love to pander to.

BlueTalon

I think I have to agree with you, Patters. The current bi-partisan pandering and bloviating when it comes to this subject just sickens me. This is a country built on immigration, and we should forever welcome new migrants. But we need to seal up the southern boarder completely, except for legitimate crossing points. It's futile to talk about who gets what benefits and how they should be managed when the neverending influx of people never ends. (Northern border too.)

gomezcat

Can I just take this opportunity to welcome you to the board, Blue Talon? I have read your posts and think you have a lot to contribute. I am more liberal than you, but I respect the way you make your points in a reasoned manner and don't resort to name calling. I was also gutted (extremely disappointed) that the Steelers won. I take it that the Hawks will be looking at Receivers and pass CATCHING TEs this offseason? I am the token Brit on here (my girlfriend, Miss Gomezcat, posts occasionally as well), so apologies if my humour is obscure and my spelling is better than you are normally used to seeing.

The issue of immigration to any country in the West is one of realism. We in the UK, as with you in the US, have ageing populations whose pensions need to be paid for. There is also the issue of the willingness, or lack of it, of indigenous people to do the lowly paid jobs. We also have a chronic skills shortage. I would put that down to an education system that has failed people by patronising them and not pushing them to their full potential. I work in the poorest part of the country (Hackney in London) and see it all the time. I also feel that society allows people to make too many bad choices. Too many people are growing up without being taught that we have a responsibility to society as a whole, as well as ourselves. It isn't all about "my rights". Slightly OT, but I remember one of the suspects of the failed 20th July London bombings being told to come out of his apartment in his underwear. He said to the Police Officer pointing an MP5 at him, "I have rights". That made me furious. His first thought was for himself, not the people he had attempted to kill. He also forgot that this country had given him asylum, free education, free housing, medical care and so on. He is lucky not to have emigrated to a country where armed police would simply shoot you rather than bother to arrest you.
I don't think it is possible to shut the doors to illegal immigration. Too many businesses rely on paying illegal immigrant workers to do low-paid jobs. As much as I would like this to stop, our prices would rise to reflect the cost in higher wages.
It should be pointed out that illegal immigrants are not a burden on the state. If you are here illegally, you can't get social security benefits and can't get social housing.
There IS an issue of integration. Far too many groups live in their own communities and don't mix. That hurts them as much as us. They don't get the access to good schools, jobs, housing and so on. That creates the resentment that leads to extremism etc etc. It is also the case that immigrants should understand and respect a country's values. Coming here and preaching extremism is absolutely unacceptable.
The other issue that needs to be addressed is the sickness culture. Far too many undeserving people claim sickness benefits when they should be working. They are white and, in our case, British. Ironically, one such person I know is one of the most racist people I have met. She is the first to complain about immigrants. As I have said before, rights and responsibilities work both ways.

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DarrylS

The problem with immigration is that there is a situational response, dependent on what is going on. Many pols talk tough and say close the borders, however immigrants are the main rebuilders of NOLA. Many men have come from Central America to work there, and in the absence of good tracking many will stay. While we collectively turn our head in this situation, the drum will bang on the Mexican Border. The issue is consistent policy that has consensus amongst all of the Fed agencies and state gov't.

Look at RI we had a Syrian immigrant who came here about 20 years ago, did all he was supposed to do, opened a pizza place and now sits in a federal detention awaiting deportation. This goes on while we ignore thousands of illegals who clean mansions or run in gangs..

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