To all you anti immigrant people: how do you know a person is "illegal"?

Question

There is no real answer except their skin color, people get deported why? Because of their skin color. It's as simple as that. It IS a race thing. Racism has many forms and severities.

How else do you know someone is "illegal"? If a working class white man is put next to a working class hispanic man, who are you going to think is "illegal"? Honestly.

Ever heard of St. Patrick's day? Cinco de Mayo isn't the only day celebrating a people's heritage.

I agree with DAR, you would have to ask.


But how does Border Patrol find the people? Racial Profiling.

I could go on and on about why anti "illegals" are wrong, but this particular question is about the racial profiling that border patrol obviously does.

You guys mention drivers license, social security, etc. Let me rephrase the question: How can you tell which people to approach and ask about their legal status from afar?

to mickchick: Your comment REALLY disproves my statement that anti everyone-who-is-different-from-us people are racist. Keep up the good work.

Answer 1

Does it really matter if we can tell or not? We already know how many illegal Mexicans are in our country so I don't see how it really matters. They're EVERYWHERE!

Answer 2

**But how does Border Patrol find the people? Racial Profiling.**

Yes, racial profiling is a good thing. It should be done at ALL the airports. Racial profiling isn't bad if it is used correctly.

There is no way to tell if a person is illegal. Some good hints are if they are standing in front of Home Depot or Lowe's looking for work. Other than that there is no way to tell.

Most people who have white collar jobs go through a thorough back ground check. It would be hard for somebody who is illegal holding a white collar job to get it in the first place, unless they have some amazingly good fake Id's and a stolen identity.

Answer 3

I kinda agree with you and disagree with you in some parts. Of course, people do racially profile a Hispanic person by saying they're "illegal", but it may be because the majority of illegal immigrants in the US are Hispanic, coming from Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, etc. They're also illegal immigrants from Haiti and Canada, but do they ever try to do something about them? NO!
I think racial profiling at the Mexican-American border is necessary, obviously. Since all of the people crossing the border illegally are going to be Hispanic, you should get the Hispanics, does that make sense?
There is noooo way of telling someone is an illegal immigrant just by looking at them. Even if they don't speak good English, they could be legal immigrants, you never know.

Answer 4

You write in your comments about "racial profiling". I live in Texas. We have a real problem within my state and surrounding states with illegals coming up from south America, from Mexico into the United States. ANYONE that comes thru the border into the United States should be searched and questioned. Just because a majority of them have a similar look doesn't make it "racial profiling". Even Americans that are coming back thru from Mexico into the United States go thru the same thing. My son-in-law had to go thru it when he drove down to do some computer work for a company within Mexico - and he is not dark skinned nor looks anywhere close to anything hispanic.

It isn't about color of skin. I has to do with people coming into the United States illegally, breaking federal immigration laws. No matter what the skin color - it's illegal.

I hope that they are doing the very same thing on the northern, eastern, and western borders. Actually, I wished that they were doing the same thing that they are doing in Del Rio when they catch illegals - but then that would mean that the government would have to enforce the laws - which would prove that enforcement 'won't work'.

Many people within the United States have come to understand the problem. More still need to become aware. With more and more people becoming aware of the real problems that the illegal invasion of the United States is causing - I see the reality of it being addressed and soon.

But considering people that say things like "mickchick831" did in their reply - is it any wonder that many might?

Answer 5

first off anti-immigrant people are people who are against immigration...you are looking for the phrase illegal aliens .... they are 2 different things... second we do not deport because of color because if we did half the people who live in this country would be deported. the people we suspect as illegals are the people who move to this country and don't even bother to learn English ... it is the fact that they don't even try that makes us believe they are illegal. I do have to agree racism has many forms like the way you say "white" ...my skin color is "white" but i am not ...I am indian. The term "white" refers back to WW2 when hitler said the the supreme race is "white" which were people with blonde hair and blue eyes..... you calling peolple "white" is like calling a korean man a chinese man ... two different things.... so before you stereotype people get the facts straight.

Answer 6

There is no way to tell except to see someone's documentation. As you suggest, immigrants, both legal and illegal come from all sorts of countries. The white guy from Canada may be illegal while the hispanic guy from Panama may be legal - you don't know until you check their documentation. And yes, the hispanic person is probably far more likely to be asked for that documentation than the white guy. Is it right, not really, but it's also not right to be here illegally no matter what race you are. None of us get to choose which laws we are going to follow and which ones we think don't or shouldn't apply to us.

Answer 7

I've read your comments...bantering back and forth..seems the "ask them" pretty much says it all.

Here is what I know to be true with this issue.

#1 They ask EVERYONE coming through a "legal" border crossing....period. Regardless of skin color. This is a fact...I have crossed the border at least 15 times this year so far...I am very much white, I am asked, plus my ID is run EVERY TIME.

#2 Much of the land at the border is private property...except that narrow strip (varies in width depending on where you are located)... If a property owner calls the Border Patrol and ask for increased patrols due to suspected traffic on his property...you can bet it's not done to harrass his Hispanic neighbors in Del Norte nor his Hispanic descent workers. Nothing racist about that either.

#3 I have sat at the local barber shop in El Paso, TX, Calexico, CA, Laredo, TX ... listening too Hispanics, of all people....complaining about the "illegals" Is this to be considered self hatred/self racism???

I have a deep respect for the Mexican nationals. Hell my neighbor is illegal....admits it...but I haven't turned him in. What would be the point...I sure as hell don't want his job, I got one....Just like his.

Besides....who are they trying to keep out??? Little old white ladies from Scandinavia??? Call in racism, call it what you want. If my white @$$ crosses that border, at ANY point other than a legal border crossing, I go to jail and pay one &^$ of a fine. The others...get deported/sent home with a slap on the wrist.

Answer 8

No, that isn't true. Language and mannerisms are biggees.

However, let's go at it from your end. When 75% of illegal immigrants are from Latin America and 57% are Mexican, making it 50% of our Mexican national population in the US being illegally here (per the govt) should it realistically be IRRELEVANT if they are non English speaking and Mexican and can't show US legal ID?

However, from looking, no I can't tell. Some things people would have little reason to do (bike in work clothes on non-bike friendly streets) that can be taken with other factors, though.

Answer 9

When 3 out of 4 illegal aliens are Hispanic,and more than half of all Mexicans are here illegally,it's a pretty safe bet that the person you work with is illegal.

And ICE doesn't need to do racial profiling.They know who the majority of illegals are.

Answer 10

First off, I am not anti-immigrant. You know a person is an illegal immigrant when they cross through our border with out going through the proper legal channels. I.e. don't bring a passport, don't go through customs, or overstay a visa. Just for your knowledge, one of my friend's relatives was deported a few days ago. He was white. Do you understand? He was British!!!!!! He was deported not because of his race, but because he overstayed his visa. Racism has many forms, you are correct. So do lies. What you just said is a lie. Illegal immigration is not a "race thing". As you put it. Crawl from the rock where you live and just go vote for Ted Kennedy and George Bush because those two hold your opinions about illegal immigration.

Answer 11

Honestly why do people keep bringing race into this whole illegal immigration issue... like we don't have Hispanic citizens and Hispanic legal immigrants. It's not a race thing, it's the fact that they are here illegally, breaking the law and violating our security and our borders.. the real racist are the people that keep bringing race into the issue, and creating racism claiming racism on an issue that isn't even a race issue...