Im Fired Up!

I think if someone comes over legally, there should be a different process. If they could not afford their renewals, then they should be given a grace period and opportunity for renewal, before deportation. If they don't renew before the grace period is over, then they should be deported. BUT, how was it found out that their papers were not renewed? Did they commit a crime? If so, they should be deported. If it was applying for a job, assistance, those kinds of things...they should have an opportunity to renew. Also, if it's a simple traffic fine, and they once had legal identification, they should be allowed to renew. Other then that, no loopholes.

If someone is in this country illegally and break the law, there should be no loophole for that. They should be deported. YES, if someone is over here, they should learn English. I live in a heavily Hispanic community. I can't tell you how many times I see little kids being the translator for parents. If you live here, learn the freaking language. I'm sick of catering to people, who are too lazy and selfish to learn. I'm NOT going to cater to illegal immigrants, who think *I* should know Spanish. I was BORN here to LEGAL parents. I already know the language. I'm not going to learn theirs, to make their life easier. Maybe, they should be responsible and do that for themselves.

I'd bet if all of the illegals we have went back to their countries that they hate living in so much ( but celebrate so much when they get here) and actually tried to change them , they'd actually change them for the better instead of running away from them.

I really hate " for English press 1"
Every other country in the world has an "official language". Except us.
No one gets a free pass.

Dont even get me started on illegal immagration..I'm all for anyone coming to the U.S. to start over but do it the legal way! There is a HUGE problem with illegal immagration that the politicans that dont live in border states just dont get.
*Added*
Denise P. while I appericate your opinion, Have you ever had your ssn stolen so that someone who wasnt here legally could work and send the money back to mexico? Have you ever had a car accident with some one who not only didnt have insurance, but had no legal id because they were not a citizen and stuck you with 100% of the bills? I bet not. I invite you to live in a border state for a year...you will change your mind

Frankly im a little sick of illegal sympathizers. Yeah your country might be poverty stricken and our country might be the answer to all your problems but DO IT LEGALLY. There being so many people "off the books" is ruining our country. Before long we will be so overpopulated WE will be be third world country. Dont put our country in the position that you were escaping from, its not right.

Im just curious if anyone can tell me the name of something that arrives where they aren't wanted, stays there and leeches, and leaves it desecrated?

Twinmama, I have!, we were wrecked into a by a person who spoke no english, had no insurance and the car ended up not being registered....we were out over 5 k, that was a time in my life that 5k was the difference between my rent and being evicted.....not cool

All I'm going to say is . . . AMEN SISTER!

Gets me all fired up too.

I don't personally think there should another loop hole. We have far too many as it is. Language, well I am okay with not knowing English for some but I do think immigrants should at least try to learn English.

As for the "let's make it easier on immigrants to come to the US", I wholeheartedly disagree. I don't beleive that making it easy is the correct route either. I still don't believe everyone would use the paper work easy route.

I too married into a spanish family. Both my in-laws are immigrants (one from Switzerland, the other from Mexico). My FIL, who is from Mexico gets angry at how America is handling illegal immigrants. He jokes that in Mexico they'd just shoot you for not being legal but it's actually kind of true these days. My in-laws both worked hard and took the proper steps to become US citizens (although both have dual citizenships) and to see them angry, makes me know that our government is WAY to passive on these issues. I understand illegals want rights, but you have to EARN them like my in-laws and so many others have done. I really don't understand our government, it's way too big and a huge mess in all areas. Our laws are so screwed up. We have jobs in America, problem is, illegals have a lot of them and Americans feel they are now above doing manual labor, it's stupid. I'll stop here cause now my head is turning and I could go onto so many other issues with a vengeance, but I won't:)

EVERYONE should go through the proper channels whether expensive or lengthy is irrelevant. Too bad! We have laws Just like your last post now, you have some family who is living off welfare because of inadequate skills. Sorry not my problem. I think it's great for immigrants to hold on to their heritage and language and customs...fine...but this is America and we speak English. Going to any other country we would have to become bilingual period. I also don't agree with changing road names into Spanish and offering Spanish tests for driver's licenses etc.

I am sure your husband's family wants a better life and I trust that they are honest God fearing people but regardless of their good intentions makes it tough on our Economy and those who have been responsible in paying taxes. When are your relatives going to learn English so they can go get documentation and better themselves? How long will they be on welfare? Welfare should only be used temporarily and not as a permanent crutch.

Now I'm riled up because how dare States pass the Dream Act for Illegals to get instate tuition and the perks when natural citizens making an honest days wages and paying their taxes can't get a break for their own kids! Is that fair? Not!

Amen TwinMama. I handled auto claims in my past....You'd be amazed at the gazillion $$$ the ins company had to eat because of illegal drivers/illegal immigrants and no insurance causing accidents and then having to call a translator service because they can't communicate in English. Made Me Sick.

OH and English may be hard to learn..I get it..however hard doesn't make it impossible!

The language is my pet peeve. My grandparents all immigrated here over a hundred years ago. I still don't see Italian on any of the packaging here. :p

I think a good first step is to take away the incentives to come here illegally. A good start is if you are not a legal citizen the rest of the legal citizens should not be supporting you through the welfare system. I would still love for someone to sit down and explain to me how that happens cause it just shouldn't!

Then go from there.....

For Denise - here's the Immigration test - http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.d72b75bdf...

and YES - i passed it - 100%.

SpiderMonkey:

EVERYONE needs to be treated the same - too many people scream on here about EQUALITY - so it goes that EVERYONE should be treated the same.

There should be NO LOOP holes. Just like in our IRS/Tax system - the loop holes is what makes everyone crazy....

I've lived in Taiwan, Belgium and Germany - and while they were kind to me - they did NOTHING to change their ways for me...I had to learn the language or stick near American bases - what's the point of being in Europe if I stick to bases???

We do not have a politician who has stood up and said ENOUGH...we have not had any politician fight long and hard to make English our national language.

My Father in Law escaped from Dachau Concentration camp with his brother and parents. They made it across Europe and to France - where even after escaping they were able to obtain LEGAL access to the United States...after arriving here - NO RUSSIAN was ever spoken again....which is VERY sad - they felt VERY grateful to be able to come here and adapted to OUR ways and not scream and shout "pity pour me" DO FOR ME!!! Change your ways for me...they adapted...

What gets me is that if you are caught illegally coming INTO Mexico (from the south) Korea, etc. you you are shot on the spot...while it's an extreme way...it works...

But the reality is that an illegal can pay for their documentation - whether it be false or not....and they can get welfare, education, money, food and housing at OUR cost...that would NOT happen for me or you should we try going to their country....

NO blanket amnesty. Sorry - that's wrong.

Sorry to say, but I'd be willing to bet that 99% of the women (and men) on this board would be able to pass the immigration tests.

As for the language, while I would certainly agree that knowing the most common language for ANY country would make living there and navigating daily life a whole lot easier, I really don't care. If someone wants to struggle through their life in America not knowing English--who am I to "force" them to learn it?

Don't forget how Americans are hated in Europe for "assuming" most of the free world speaks and understands English!

I think we have enough "loopholes" already--tax breaks for the ultra wealthy which places the brunt of the tax donations to the gov squarely on the shoulders of the middle and lower classes, which is where the wealthy want it.

Do I think that illegal immigrants are living the "high" life? Overall, not a chance. Crowded into houses & apartments with little privacy. Wages lower than the USA minimum which they gladly accept. Fear of calling the police when they are victims of crime because they are afraid of being discovered....SO many things to consider.

I just can't help put the people screaming about immigration in the same camp as the people that view welfare recipients as living high on the hog! It's all about education and tolerance and acceptance.

This country's "stew" recipe isn't the same as it was 100 years ago, and it's certainly not going to be the same as today 100 years from now.

I actually do see your points, and I agree that everyone should be given the chance at a good life! To me, it is all about what you do once you are here. Are you working and making a life for yourself? Is your goal to become a law abiding citizen? Are you getting your children into school?

A very good friend from my teenage years was murdered (stabbed to death) by an illegal immigrant. He worked for the Cincinnati Reds, and was out with friends playing pool minding his own business. This was 3 years ago, and the suspect has never been found. You know why? He has fled back to the safety and anonymity of Mexico, his home. Even if they were able to arrest him, legally, there is nothing they can do. They have to turn them loose, hoping they will show up for their court date. OF COURSE, they're going to be leaving the US. 95% of all outstanding warrants for homicide in the US are for those who are here illegally.

If you are willing to swim, walk, sneak into the US, then you should be willing to do whatever it takes to become a US citizen. Undocumented people = no responsibly for their actions.

I think the legal process is ridiculously long, complicated, expensive, unrealistic for many. We spend so much energy arguing about whether or not illegals should be able to stay, what the consequences should be, etc. How much time and effort is spent talking about how to make the process easier and realistic.

Too many people brag about how their ancestors came over hear legally and so should everyone else. But they forget that while their ancestors might have faced a challenge actually getting to the country, they basically landed and said, "Ok, I'm here. Sign me up," and they were Americans. Not really fair to compare that to illegals now that have a huge mountain to climb to become legal! It's just not that simple.

Edited to Add:
Laura U's response is far superior to mine. Way to go!!!!!

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Obviously it's ideal to immigrate to ANY country legally. It's not easy to do, and in fact in the U.S. as difficult as it is, it's still easier than in several other developed countries.

However, the picture being portrayed by so many here of immigrants is the poor desperate. They're not all, or even the majority, like that. They're not poor, pitiful, dirty souls looking to steal what rightfully belongs to us. "They" don't all try to "live off us." These are PEOPLE you're talking about, people with individual situations that do matter and that INS/Immigration actually does take account in applications and requests for asylum. Situations are different so yes, those things need to be taken into account.

These are people, and this country was founded on immigrants. This country has filled itself up with immigrants. We are all descendents of immigrants. Some of us more recently than others, and some of us with Native blood in our veins to boot. So I guess some of us have more right to be here than others if you want to get nitpicky.

Because I was raped, I think everyone else should be... never made much sense to me as an argument.

((In our state you have to be disabled to go to public preK... preK's aren't legally required, so they aren't funded with public money. They only public versions of "extras" like early childhood intervention; whether it be for disabilities or language, are to combat specific problems. Granted, anyone below a certain income level can apply for subsidies for daycare, and preschool counts as daycare, but the only free preschools are for special needs children in our area)). K is free as a "bonus", because K is also not required. 1st is. It boggles my mind, though. Used to be; schools started at 1st grade. In order to ease the transition to first, K was created. Now we're trying to ease the transition into K. I'm wondering if our kids will be trying to ease the transition into preschool?

You have some very good points. Its not about fairness in humanity and "give me your poor, your dying, your weak"...its about breaking the law.

My entire family had to be naturalized and earn our citizenship. If we came here for any reason before that, be it visiting or working, we had to PAY to enter the country. I think we only had to pay b/c we went through the proper LEGAL channels. Those who aren't paying are breaking the law. Those who aren't paying and know better are breaking the law.

I am all for keeping this country speaking English however, there is no higher education than learning another language b/c the world and its economy doesn't revolve around the USA.

My family had to work to come and live in this country. I believe all foreigners should do the same. It kills me to see illegals freeloading on my tax dollars knowing how hard my immigrant family worked to get and stay here. I'm sorry they are from a poor country full of corruption and injustice. So was my family. But we made it - legally. So other foreigners can do the same.