Giving illegals the rights of citizens?

Question

To begin this question I support a law to be passed that will give illegals a chance to gain citizenship after they pay fines, have no warrants and commited no crimes and learn english. I would prefer to ship them all back to Mexico but since there are so many it would be impossible. These immigrants who have broken a law want the rights of a U.S. citizen who has commited no crimes. When I hear this it makes me mad because they are being selfish. I understand they need money and want a better life. Hell I do but I do not break the law in order to do it. What is your opinion on the whole immigration issue and do illegals deserve the rights we enjoy without paying some kind of retribution to our government for the money we have spent on them?

Answer 1

If 8 million Illegal immigrants or more a year put as much effort into their country as they do getting into (and working in) ours then they wouldn't need come here at all.

8+million over many years at 40 or more hours a week would make Mexico a huge international power.

probably way to simplistic but hey!

Answer 2

I think violation of immigration paperwork rules should be treated like someone driving without a license and insurance.

They pay the fine, the fill out the proper paperwork, and as long as nothing else happened, that's the end of the story. They go on with their lives from there.

As applied to immigration, that also means paying back taxes. And the option should only apply to those who have already been in the US, already have a job and have no other convictions. It's not a policy for future violations of the law.

It's not amnesty when you say someone is guilty and they pay a fine. It's just treating the crime as minor, rather than making it a felony. And I would still limit the option of turning yourself in only to past illegal entries, and not future ones.

That's the easiest to enforce, the least disruptive on t he country, and doesn't run into problems with the ex post facto clause of the Constitution.

Answer 3

"To begin this question I support a law to be passed that will give illegals a chance to gain citizenship after they pay fines, have no warrants and committed no crimes and learn English"

The solution you stated has some merit and is reasonable...many of these illegals can't get legal, because the way the laws are construed it is close to impossible to come here legally. The truth is many do come here with trepidation and fear, they don't really want to break the law, but they have no choice, its a question of survival.

I don't condone this, I feel the law should be respected, but I also understand why they come here. I think you nailed it as far as finding a compromise that would help both our country and also help the true illegal, who only comes here for work, to this complicated issue.

If they have committed no felonies, agree to pay the fines, and agree to learn English, they should be given a chance to come and participate in our country and help our economy, as well as helping themselves...

Answer 4

For generations we have broken our own laws by employing illegal immigrants. We did so because they were a source of cheap labor. We have collected millions in social security which we will never have to give the workers because they had to use phony names and SS numbers.
Are you ready to go into the fields in Imperial Valley and pick that lettuce yourself?
I don't think the current situation is right. I really wish the conditions were good enough in Mexico or Haiti or PR so people do not risk their lives coming here. But we are all the children of immigrants. Read some of the posting here and you'll really wonder about who needs to learn English.

Answer 5

Undocumented workers have broken the law by coming into the country without the proper documents. Thats it. Why not give them a fine and make them do 2 years of community service?
Dont forget about all the laws that are broken when people hire them and fail to withhold taxes! You might complain about "all the money that we have spent on them", but look at how they have helped our economy. These people have been here for years, some of them were actually brought here to pick your lettuce and fruit. Its only when they started asking for healthcare and the right to be treated like a human being, and not be treated like a criminal, thats when people started having a problem with them.

Answer 6

In order for an illegal to work in America they would have either had to steal someones S.S.N or work for cash, thereby not pay income taxes. Both of which are serious crimes. How can we expect those who paid their dues by entering legally to accept the prospect of amnesty? It is not fair to any one in America that has been punished by the courts for even the slightest thing. what ever happened to the old American saying "It's not whether you win or lose ,it's how you play the game"? well many many Americans do their best to play the game the right way...that saying was made to teach Americans right from wrong...The focus of illegals seems to be "how can I get the greatest amount of something that isn't mine for the least amount of something that isn't mine"...America isn't a shoppers warehouse of free passes. It is a place that rewards good behavior and punishes bad behavior. I am very uncomfortable lowering the bar of civil expectations for people who could care less what they are in the first place.

Answer 7

if you refer the history, most of the Americans are immigrants, and they have enough growth because of Americans own nature. Which has attracted all poor and developing country citizens to move to there. Illegal migration is violent to the court of law but they were migrated and do not have the right to send back until they found a living place or back to their own nation (UN human right law). Your nation could provide citizenship based on their possible contribution / contributed to American society. We believe that America is a very strong country, illegal immigration is not at all a problem to them and their growing economy.

Answer 8

Most people referred to as illegals obtain jobs with false Identification. They submit this I.D. to their employer and begin to perform their jobs. Social security, federal and state taxes are taken from these people's paychecks. But because of their "illegal" status they get no benefit of Social Security or income tax returns. Our government, which is currently demanding reform has probably millions of questionable social security numbers and W4 forms from "illegal" workers. Our government has and continues to accept these workers social Security taxes and income taxes each year.

Has anyone realized that this issue came about as a smokescreen for the war in Iraq? Sure there should be reform. But realize that these people are already paying for it.

Do you guys believe these people are getting CEO jobs at major corporations? They are getting jobs that most Americans scoff at and wouldn't take. Housekeepers, landscape workers, picking crops for God's sake. Why is no one attacking the people who employ these workers and pay them crap? That's a violation worse than coming here from another country illegally and scrubbing floors. For people who say that these folks are getting assistance, I really doubt that. The criteria needed for even just food stamps is extensive and almost impossible to cheat.

Answer 9

Don't know why we can't get rid of them? Ike did, in the fifties ... with fewer people than we have now ... where there's a will there's a way ... Ike had the will ... our present administration don't ... they walk hand in hand with big business, who want cheap labor and want to create a permanent underclass ... is that what the pro illegals want for their beloved illegals? Because believe me, that's all that's on offer ...

Answer 10

No amnesty period. That is reward for breaking the law. Not very cool to the people waiting and who have waited in line. I don't care how much in fines they pay, amnesty is still not an option.