Why did it take so long for America to care about illegal immigration from the south?

Question

We know that the illegal immigration has been happening for a long time, so why did it take so long for America to try to do somehting about it? I the US didn't do something to stop the illegal immigration via Mexican/American border, then why didn't they at least make it easier to do it the right way? Or maybe let more people in per year. They would ALL be paying taxes that way.
I'm not wanting to start any fights here, I just want to discuss this issue in order to better understand and educate myself and others upon the points of view of everyone. Thank you! :)

Answer 1

i also dont want to start a fight, and i do feel that the immigration issue is one of importance, typically, these types of issues are only brought up when things are going badly for whoever is in the whitehouse. lately, gay marriage and illegal immigration have been the big ones. "dont pay attn to iraq right now, THERES GAYS TRYING TO MARRY, AND MEXICANS CROSSING THE BORDER!!!!!"

and its not just this cabinet that has done this, these tactics have been around for a long time.

they've also used the terror alert level (that color code thing that means nothing to anyone).

Answer 2

It was convenient for both sides.
For the Mexicans it meant a job, money, a better standard of life.
For the Americans it meant cheap temporary labor, and no side effects.

The Bracero program began back in the forties, supposedly migrant workers entered legally and worked in the USA in the fields, but then they had to return. There was a big problem a few years back by which the braceros, now old men, kept demanding the retirement fund they had in the USA be handed over to them. After a long time the USA government told them they had handed it over to the Mexican Government that somehow made it disappear. That is common here.

They keep going into the USA because they can make a better life for themselves and their families, something the Mexican government has been unable to do for decades. Even if they work as janitors or dishwashers and earn a pittance it is far more than they could ever earn in Mexico. That is why they keep migrating.

Many illegal immigrants do pay taxes, these get taken out of their paycheck before it is handed over to them, what they do not get many times are the services that go with paying taxes.

Why it took so long for America to do something about it, well, if you had a live in maid, or a gardener, or a plumber who happened to be Mexican and one day they were not there any more, try getting an American to take over their jobs.
Both Mexico and the USA turned a blind eye until it was just too obvious and probably too late. It looks like they kept putting it off and leaving the issue for whoever got elected President.

As to why the USA did not make anything to stop the immigration, well, try patrolling the entire Mexican-American Border, its not simple. Try they did, but immigrants kept coming, and the USA needed them, so... endless circle isn't it?

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

There has been a WALL between San Diego and Tijuana since the 1960's. It stretches for miles.

Amnesty was first granted in 1986, now it has been suggested again, how will it work this time? Besides, immigrants should either want to be US citizens or get a work visa. Most if not all illegal immigrants come to America for a better life or better job, because where they came from couldn't come close to providing the same thing. So why in God's name would you want, as an illegal, to create the same type of "crap" society that you left???

Listen, we are doing something about it now. Don't try to say that because it's been going on, that we have no right as a Nation to deal with it, even if it's overdue.

We set up the immigration laws because the US population was getting big. The Gov. calculated for a steady growth of immigrants (220,000) and the growth of families living here (that includes prior years of immigrants having kids also).

Now we have 2-4 million people coming undocumented every year. This has created a shitt load of "new" problems. Our economy cannot keep up, it cannot create 2-4 million "new" jobs every year. Look at what happened in China, over 1 billion people. We are headed in that direction, but illegal immigrants are leading the way.

The population growth needs to have some controls, otherwise, there will be no more immigration and we might have to put restrictions on how many kids you can have.

How many jobs are taken by illegals(a lot), how many jobs are created by illegals starting businesses and hiring employees(not many, by legal means).

Soon we won't be able to provide help to others, we won't be able to take care of ourselves either. What do you think happens next???

Answer 4

Americans have always cared, and the last two amnesty bills were because we allowed our president, and the criminals to tug on America's heart strings. You know the old saying, once bitten twice shy, well it fits here, almost. Americans are so strong willed that even after illegal aliens betrayed us the first time we gave them a second chance. But, in my book, 3 strikes your out.
And, as soon as the illegal immigration situation is under control, Americans are going to deal with the neglegence of our government, and remind them who they work for.
Since illegal aliens thought that they had rights to this country just because they crossed the border, and as I discovered they were right. I've decided to become an advocate for Americans, and when I am done our borders will be protected, the American people will be protected, not stalked by the cities and states police.

The American Government will not sponsor, house, feed, or encourage, one more criminal to cross our borders, and I'll give my last breath to assure that it happens.
I love America, and all that she stands for. America is my ancestor, and no other nation will ever come before her.

America must be restored, then and only then can we even consider allowing more immigrants in than we do now, and that must be slowed.
Americans, of all colors, and from all nations stand together, we have defeated bigger issues than this in the past. And we will defeat this. Join the "Close Your Wallet" campaign to illegal aliens, and their sponsors.
Join the "Just Vote No!" Campaign to send the message to our country that the American people not just trying to make a change. We are going to. Vote "No, to every canidate on your local levels, and send emails and letters demanding that each of the Mayor's and his councel members that there will be no more canidates elected until, all of the current members come forth publically with indepth background checks, going back to their juvenile record. You want a hair folical drug test that shows results over the last 3 years. This is nothing more than the American people are asked to do when applying for a job, not to mention, it gives companies another excuse to say Americans are to expensive to employ. Keep faith my friends, that is going to change as well. American's built our industrialist nation, and it made us wealthy, however, corporate monsters, have destroyed our faith in our economy and that has to change.
I don't mean to preach, but I have lost so much, I can't lose my country too.

Angel Reder
Tenth Generation American

Answer 5

Poor immigrants are limited because even if they pay all taxes their education and health care, etc., is subsidized by the middle class and wealthier income brackets. While the subsidies make it a good deal for the poor immigrants, it is a cost to us, and we can't take on the poor of the world. In fact the excess illegal immigration has already overburdened our schools in border states to the point where they cannot educate our own people. Our prisons are way disproportionately hit by illegal immigrants, as well.

It costs $18,000 to educate a child for one year in California, more if it is ESL education. Meanwhile California schools are now failing our own children. Poor immigrants only pay the smallest fraction of that cost even if they pay taxes. And the degradation of school services means that our children are paying with their futures.

We need a limited immigration policy, or at minimum need the employers to be responsible for educating and providing health care to their workers, since they are the only ones who benefit from the cheap labor.

Answer 6

Because Texas used to be theirs along with California, Nevada and New Mexico!!

One issue that has all the repubs going crazy is they have to find a way to get them here to work for almost nothing, a lot less than minimum wage!

This has been going on forever! If employers wouldn't hire them they probably would not come!

And as far as Mexicans, I hope you that answer this don't make any nasty remarks because PFC Kristian Menchaca, 101st Airborne that they found today in Iraq was of Mexican descent!!

Answer 7

Because our pot of gold is running low-and is causing problems. Dar is right (like it or not) and he didn't even get half of the programs hurt.
We can't feed the world--we haven't been able to feed all our own. And probably could not if we wanted too. IN fact so many people are being hurt one way or another here we need to listen.

We are not loaded with money. We have assets which are very costly but not sellable ones. Chicago, New York, Hollywood, ect. They are big impressive cities but its not cash.

The money pit is low--who can we help and at what cost and how many will be hurt?
And floods of people are coming and we have No order to protect the ones here.
THAT"S WHY!

Answer 8

My bro lives in California and was complaining about the blaintant immigration problems there for quite some time. It seems to me it has been an ignored subject. But then, if you call 911, and there are other issues going on, unless it is a REAL emergency, you will not be the first one to be attended to... duh!! I suppose that immigration is not a priority in the US compared to all the other issues... say, for example, IRAQ? And Iraq comes with so many issues that it almost makes illegal immigration seem miniscule.

Answer 9

Easy answer: It has happened for many many years (Think the Elian Gonzalez deal a few years back), but because we needed to take the heat off of the Iraq war, the spin masters needed a new rally call. Enter immigration.

Answer 10

Honestly, the US government doesn't really want to close the border, they prefer the status quo!

Think about it, if we closed the border, prices on goods and services would go through the roof! Who is going to pick your corn and get it to the grocery store? Who is going to do your landscaping? Who is going to build your homes? I could go on and on, thats just the tip of the iceburg...

You think Americans are going to be working in the hot sun picking corn? I don't think so.....Sorry to say, but illegals do the dirty work that Americans refuse to do and they do it much cheaper! Its called cheap labor and it makes the economy work.....

So please understand the government and the peoples BENEFIT from illegals, even though you would NEVER admit it!