A common statement supporting illegal aliens and amnestying them is that "we" are all immigrants to this land, therefore should somehow not oppose illegal immigration. Why would someone consider this a valid defense?
2006-09-20 06:42:48 · 24 answers · asked by kingstubborn 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
You may be King for a reason. There is no validity to the "we are all immigrants" statements being made by supporters of amnesty. Illegal aliens hold that title for a reason, they are unlawfully in our nation. Good question.
2006-09-20 06:51:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
HELL NO! I'm not an immigrant. I was born here. I went to school here. I speak the language. I obey the rules. My most recent immigrant ancestors came here when immigration was unrestricted. I assume legally. None of my ancestors have been here less than 100 years, and some several hundred. This land was both fought and bought over 150 years ago. So really, the past means nothing in regards to the immigration debate. What matters is that America is a country recognized by all other countries and probably half of Mexico. It has well defined borders and laws. It has an unofficial but freakin' obvious language of English. All races are welcome and have the same rights and responsibilities. The race argument, we're all immigrants argument and the European invader arguments are nonsense.
2006-09-20 14:08:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We may all be immigrants, but some are legal, some are not.
Those that aren't need to either get right, or get out.
20 years ago, they had the big amnesty. That was supposed to be followed by much improved border security. Well, that never manifested itself. So now, we're catching up with what amounts to 20 years of negligence, and a Congress that can't tell if it's coming or going on the issue...
We need border enforcement. Mexico's got problems, Canada's got problems, whole world's got problems, and now there's over 6 billion people. Hard choices, uncertain futures, and no guarantees. One thing's for sure though, the more we load our tax system, the more likely it is to shed a wheel at an inconvenient time, and dump this apple cart on its' side. Time will tell...
2006-09-20 14:35:21 · answer #3 · answered by gokart121 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally speaking, the "we're all immigrants" argument doesn't fly with illegal immigrants. European immigrants followed the immigration laws that the Native Americans had. More accurately, there really were no immigration laws back then. And even in more recent times, most immigrants came here legally. Morally, it might not be a bad argument though.
2006-09-20 14:00:25 · answer #4 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not valid.
There have been many times in this nations history that immigration was encourage. The people came to the country, registered and became citizens legally. Also, when someones family has been here for a couple hundred years it's pretty dumb calling them immigrants.
2006-09-20 13:49:41 · answer #5 · answered by dlil 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hell Yeah! Just because you were born in the U.S doesn't make you a Native American. Native Americans were the first settlers in this country so they are the only true non-immigrants. Those people who criticize illegal immigration should take a long look at their family tree. I'm sure they'll find some "illegals" along the way.
Those people they say "well I came here legally so you should too" need to look at other situations and stop being so self centered.
2006-09-21 04:29:05 · answer #6 · answered by carey sanders 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In my opinion, no. We are not all immigrants. Obviously people immigrated to the US at one point, and they were immigrants. That excuse may have held up when America was first founded. My family has been in America for many generations. I cannot "go back to europe" because I was never there! I am not a native american in the sense that I am an "indian" but I am still native to america.
2006-09-20 13:51:07 · answer #7 · answered by asdfjkl; 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When "we were all immigrants" there weren't 20 million people filling into our country, straining our resources and over-burdening our welfare system. Today we're having a hard enough time taking care of our own senior citizens & retirees especially w/ big business getting the major pass by the gov't on the pensions we work for year after year. When no one has a pension then we'll all die in the streets as bums b/c we can't take care of ourselves financially. Big business needs to hold up their end of the bargain in honoring the pensions they promised, stop hiring illegals who dramatically bring the wage table down, and bring MORE business to America to build the nation. If you're illegal, you're outta here. Period.
2006-09-20 13:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by Dookiee 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they are ignorant. An immigrant is someone that was born in one country, then moves to another. I was born in the US, and so were my parents. So we are NOT immigrants. And as for my immigrant grandparents - they came here LEGALLY, got LEGAL jobs, PAID TAXES and they LEARNED THE LANGUAGE. Yes, even with working, sometimes over 60 hours a week (my grand dad took all the overtime he could get) they still found time to learn the language.
2006-09-20 13:45:54 · answer #9 · answered by Chickidee 2 · 10⤊ 0⤋
No it is not a valid defense, yes, we all immigrated to this country. Most of us White europeans legally through ELLIS Island, the decendents of african americans had no choice ( which was horrible ) , Most of them (25+ million mexicans & counting )are here Illegally.
Do you see the difference.
2006-09-20 13:50:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋