In light of the fact that there are over 10 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., don't the numbers speak for themselves--that to get any kind of work visa for an immigrant is nearly impossible? Otherwise, why would there be so many people in this situation--especially when so many people label illegal immigrants as lazy, pig criminals who should just go home? Do you think if it were just as easy to survive in their home countries, they would not be there, rather than to be called lazy, pig, criminals here?
2006-09-27 20:24:00 · 23 answers · asked by retorik75 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Grey_Wolf has kind of hit on the answer, without trying to, I think. The idea of "needing" an immigrant population of laborers is exactly why they do not open the flood gates. All of those immigrants would get paid what they are worth (instead of substandard wages as illegals), and some rich folks would stand to lose some money (and THAT is a cardinal sin in the good ole' USA)
2006-09-27 20:30:25 · update #1
Because most of them have never tried or had any reason to experience the process.
My husband and I adopted a child from another country and even without the remote possibility that she would be working illegally or engaging in seditious acts against the US government, she was 3 years old before she was eligible to receive her citizenship. The majority of us citizens have no idea what they have and how hard it is for others to get it.
2006-09-27 20:34:24 · answer #1 · answered by surlygurl 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No economy NEEDS immigrants. It is a matter of greed and stupidity when people say they do work no one else wants to.
Go to Canada or almost ANY other country in the world .. do you think they have to ship Mexicans or illegals over to do their laundry?
Most people know the process is NOT simple. And there is a good reason as to why it is not. You will be VERY hard pressed to find ANY country with open borders. Not just the USA. Countries want to keep a sense of social and economic balance with the tides of immigrants.
By opening the floodgates you will have a surge of talented and untalented work force (usually the later) with no place to go and no taxes paid into the system. To many at once causes hardships on local/state/and federal government.
So .. the better question would be ... what countries allow new immigrants readily?
And when you research that .. you will probably find out that the USA actually is one of the easier countries to get into legally.
2006-09-27 20:38:32 · answer #2 · answered by Ken s 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because people are naive. However, just because something is difficult to do legally does not mean that it is morally appropriate to do it illegally. Your point is well taken that we need to reform immigration policies, but simply redefining a person's illegal actions as legal (or as "a pathway" towards being legal) does not change the fact that the actions were illegal.
As a less emotional example consider the impossibly difficult physics exam you may have had in college. (I remember one where the class average was 60%!) The fact that you failed at a score of 63% (when passing was 65%) means that you failed the exam. Just because most other students did, too, doesn't mean that you can just change your grade. It may mean that the next exam should be rewritten at a more appropriate level of difficulty, but that doesn't mean that everybody who failed should automatically be considered for a passing grade in the course. You still need to study and more-than-pass the next exams or you will fail.
In the same way, we should amend our current immigration laws, but anybody who has broken, is breaking, or does break the law should face the consequences of breaking that law. Otherwise there will be no incentive to follow whatever new and better laws we pass.
2006-09-27 20:40:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a reason it is not so simple to get in. The US Congress, duly elected to represent our interests, passed laws regulating the number of work visas and legal immigrants allowed to enter the country each year. This is a law.
Now I don't have anything against folks wanting a better life, but coming here illegally does indeed make them a criminal. If we all decided to only follow the laws that suited us, then where would we be? Charlie Manson doesn't think there is anything wrong with murder, so should that law not apply to him?
And most of the 10 million illegals didn't even attempt to get legal papers....they just crossed the border, perhaps because they felt they couldn't get papers, or for some other reason. If these same people worked to fix the problems in their own countries, maybe they would be better places to live! Hey 10 million people are hard to ignore. Think about it.....fix your own house, don't just leave because it is better here!
2006-09-27 20:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by Star G 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Why do you think it is just the rich that is losing money? I am paying for illegal people to have babies, get free health care (when I can't get any myself because I can't afford the high costs), and free homes (when I pay for mine).
My kids are losing money because the school's are stretched to the limit paying for the education of those that do not support the schools. We are losing programs like art and music for extra ESL classes for people that don't speak english and those that mock Americans calling us stupid, fat and lazy. We are paying for people that call us names (I love that)
You are right... the process of immigration is hard. It should be. I don't want rapists and murders being brought into my country. We as a country have a right to screen who comes in here. Other countries do it... why can't we? The people that sneak in here illegally make all the work that the legal immigrants do obsolete.
What you are saying is that if I want want a better home for my family, I should just sneak into a newer bigger house and take it for my own instead of going through the harder buying process. That is not right. We have laws for a reason. People that don't follow the laws are criminals.
I have seen illegal immigration compared to speeding. That is just stupid. Illegal immigration hurts even the smallest person. It has to stop! We have to draw a line (like other countries) and say that is enough. It is wonderful to want to help everyone in the world, but don't you think it would be better to help our own citizens first. We have over 9 million LEGAL Americans going to bed hungry and yet we spend billions helping illegal immigrants feed themselves. How is that right?
Amnesty won't work!! Read your history books!!
2006-09-28 02:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by mommato4boys 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No it isn't easy but its the only legal way of doing it and that must make it all the more important to the immigrant.To not have to worry and be constantly looking over ones shoulder.And not being cheated out of pay by unscrupulous people that sometime hire and then not pay illegals for work done for them..
Feeling empathy for someones plight does not equate to wanting illegals marching in the streets ,desecration our country's flag,and demanding rights that are reserved for legal citizens.That certainly cast a bright light on arrogance to this Arizonian.
And no matter what you say, if you break the law and continue to do so,then you are a criminal,no matter what the crime is.
2006-09-28 01:34:34 · answer #6 · answered by Yakuza 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It took my sister in law about 10 years to become a citizen. Anyone who looks into it knows it's not easy but that sure doesn't justify illigal's from sneaking in here. I just can't use the term illigal immigrant it just doesn't work for me. Illigal alien does. Well I've never called any of them pigs but when I used to be forman of a peach ranch in Ca. they sure never cleaned up their messes after lunch. Some are lazy just like any othe group of people. And criminals? Well I just read the latest nimbers on inmates in our prisons and it said that 29% of all inmates in the US are illigal hispanics. So you do the math that's a pretty good size chunk of the prison population. But I would never paint the whole culture as criminals. I just think they should focus all the energy they use to get here into fixing their own country/countries. We simply can't afford them.
2006-09-27 20:39:42 · answer #7 · answered by crusinthru 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The immigration system is not simple or easy for a reason. It is meant to LIMIT the number of immigrants and to accept QUALITY people. Immigrants are and have been welcomed to the USA and still are but we, as a country reserve the right to choose who gets in. I have high regard for those people from ANY country who have chosen to give up their country of birth and join us. (They DO have to join us and not expect us to learn their language or cultures) I have nothing but distain for those who break our laws and enter illegally. These are NOT people we want. They are criminals and cheaters and we have PLENTY of those already.
2006-09-28 02:22:28 · answer #8 · answered by Michael 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My husband is an immigrant from the U.K. He followed the proper procedures to stay here. He has worked and paid into the system for thirty years. He feels like an American and he loves this country.
Edit: BTW it was NOT easy but he feels well worth the effort.
2006-09-28 03:42:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard anyone voice the idea that legal immigration is simple? or that every country had the same opportunities available. The issue is that illegal immigration is illegal, and crime shouldn't pay. People who commit crimes are considered criminals by definition.
2006-09-27 20:36:41 · answer #10 · answered by happymom 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋