2007-03-10 10:02:05 · 13 answers · asked by Zoe 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
President Teddy Roosevelt on Being an American - 1907
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
2007-03-10 10:18:56 · answer #1 · answered by Peach 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Let's not use the word "rights" since it tends to confuse lots of people.
Everyone in the US has certain protections, guaranteed by the Constitution. See the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendments. This is independent of immigration status. Everyone in the US, or in US custody, is protected by the Bill of Rights. See the hundreds of Supreme Court cases that have addressed this issue over the past century.
Citizens of the US have certain additional protections, and certain "privileges and immunities" (like voting). See Article IV, et al. This is based on immigration status. Permanent legal residents have some extras. Citizens (born or naturalized) have more.
People who are illegal immigrants, or undocumented aliens (not the same, but for our purposes, we're talking about both) have violated one or more specific federal laws regarding immigration and registration. Thus, they are in the same category as someone who has committed theft or assault -- they broke law, which may be a misdemeanor or a felony depending upon the specific situation.
People who have broken the law still have all the same Constitutional protections as anyone else. But they are also subject to criminal penalties for having broken the law, which may include loss of some of the 'privileges and immunities' (like voting).
2007-03-10 18:09:04 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I can't think of a single right or protection they should be entitled to. The very fact that they are here in the first place means they have violated the laws of our country. Yet liberals think their "rights" extend into areas that even we Americans don't have. The right to a home loan, credit cards, business loans, welfare, and subsidized education. Try sending one of your kids to college out of state, and see if the school will be so quick to offer you in-state tuition.
2007-03-10 18:18:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
they have only humane rights, like the right not to be abused, since they are not citizens. they cannot vote, file taxes, and should not until they become a legal citizen!
any migrant worker without legal papers to work here is who they are talking about, like 1.5million people
2007-03-10 18:06:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are talking about the rights that U.S. citizens enjoy. And the illegal immigrants have every right to demand those rights................as long as they're doing it in Mexico!
2007-03-10 21:16:46 · answer #5 · answered by Huero 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Illegal aliens have no rights in America. Ignore the other answers that say they have rights.
Legally, they the same as terrorists who are labelled as enemy combatants. They don't have the same rights as Americans.
Before a 1942 Supreme Court ruling, criminal aliens had no rights. Today, they only have the right for habeas review.
2007-03-10 18:10:32 · answer #6 · answered by a bush family member 7 · 5⤊ 4⤋
Because they are the ones screaming and now we are sick of it! We are screaming back since they have no rights!
2007-03-10 18:36:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since they're not citizens, they're not covered by the Bill of Rights.
(Hint to liberals: that's that thingy in the constitution.)
2007-03-10 18:05:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 2⤋
Majority rules.
2007-03-10 18:19:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
"Since they're not citizens, they're not covered by the Bill of Rights."
WHERE exactly in The U.S. Constitution or The Bill of Rights did you read that?!!
2007-03-10 18:22:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋