Why not legalize all the immigrants who are already here, and then worry about closing the borders?

Question

They're here now, so why not go ahead and make taxpaying citizens out of them?

Answer 1

Yeah, and just how fair do you think the LEGAL immigrants will find that to be after they went through the time, trouble, and financial costs of doing it the right way? BTW, it's no surprise to me that polls of legal immigrants shows them strongly against an amnesty program for illegals.

While I think it is unrealistic to believe that we can send everyone back, we need to get a handle on who is here and why. Remember why this issue is coming to a head right now is terrorism. If illegals got here that easily, it's naive to think that there aren't terrorists that crossed over with them. We need to weed them out. If the illegals that are here just to earn a living want to stay, they need to go through the process that the legals have done for years.

Answer 2

I agree, however, closing the borders isn't as easy as it sounds. Illegal immigrants have many ways to get her. It has been too time consuming to the border patrol to round them up and send them all back. Will companies be fined for hiring illegals. They should be as that is a big part of the problem. They say that this country needs the labor that the illegals provide. I ask you, how are they allowed to work.

I see the illegal problem sort of like I see the drug problem. The government know about, secretly supports it, and turns a blind eye to it. I have no problem with immigrants in America. I just wish that the government would stop all their talking and do something one way or another.

Answer 3

There are too many, and the laws cannot be so lenient. What we can do now is legalize a small portion of them, secure the border. Open an eye and close the other. Deporting them is detrimental to our economy, and we don't want our economy to go down right after a recession. As long as the immigrants are not found, we should assume they are not here. Most people are good anyway.

Answer 4

I would like to see a CONDITIONAL amnesty given to all the illegals here now. (Assuming we are stopping more from coming in). The conditions ...

They must learn basic English.
They must learn some American history and culture.
They must be financially dependent, i.e., either employed or have a financial sponsor.
They must swear their allegiance to America and be signed up for the draft. (Within the draft eligibility guidelines)
They will have a FELONY conviction on their records so they can never posses a gun or vote, even if they become citizens.

They must do this within a time frame, such as 1 year. If they don't, or at least show effort after the time frame, they will be deported.

This will only work if we protect our borders. If we keep allowing them in, it's just a waste of time!

Answer 5

It is a never ending problem. It is not a "new" issue. Look at the Irish in the 1800's someone will always want to come to the US this the best country in the world. If you do not believe me go to another for a while you will agree. We are all immigrants from somewhere else. Even native Americans they just got here first.

Answer 6

It isn't fair to the people who waited in line and went through the process to come here legally.

Answer 7

We should make them build a great wall with all the free healthcare and tax money they've been stealing.

Remember that you would go to jail if you didn't pay taxes. Why should it be different for them?

Answer 8

Didn't they already offer this option to illegal immigrants in the form of a lump sum tax, and then offer them citizenship?

Answer 9

well, its kinda like dumping on the people who took years and lots of $ to come to US legally. What they should do is make it easier to immigrate.

Answer 10

We do that every several years. Once they are legal... they won't need to work the jobs they are working now...and more illegals will come to fill those jobs.