Why do people differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants?

Question

I've noticed the on this site people seem to have a set of beliefs for illegal immigrants and ones that come here legally. Can a piece of paper mean that much difference? Is anyone prepared to just say they don't like immigrants PERIOD. Some have argued that an immigrant leaves their homeland and arrives in America to better their own circumstance NOT to help make America greater. The same people argue that because of this any immigrant is far more likely to TAKE than give (in respect to society). What do you think of this? I've heard many arguments for and against immigration.

Answer 1

Kind of like the difference between living together and marraige. That piece of paper makes a big deal in alot of instances. It makes you commit to some responsibilities and obligations...etc.

It seems too many of the illegals just want to ride the wave of the benefits without any real committment to be a part of things.

That piece of paper means something when you graduate from college vs someone who's just really smart but didn't want to make the committment or spend the money to get a degree. I sure wouldn't want a really smart person who never was tested or evaluated in some way operating on me.

Right now I would say we need to halt immigration till this mess is cleaned up. It's just throwing more fuel on the fire. We can't absorbe all these people legal and illegal in such a short time.

Answer 2

It's very important to differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants, to gloss over the glaring distinction is foolish. While some people are simply anti-immigration, like the rampant Nativism of the 19th century, many are completely open to legal, documented and regulated immigration.

There are many social problems brought through illegal immigration, affecting both the immigrant and society as a whole. Firstly, illegal immigrants, being by nature illegal, are completely vulnerable to exploitation. Hungry for any means of work, illegal immigrants will work in sub-legal conditions, working for a sub-legal pay. Having no protection under the law, and fearing deportation, these illegal immigrants are unable to seek legal justification to these social exploitations.

This creates an imbalance in our own economy, of those industrious company owners, who operate fairly and morally under the law, and those who unlawfully take advantage of the potential exploitation at hand. Secondly, for the working class, it creates an unlawful wage competition between the legal documented workers and the illegal class. Legal workers are forced to compete against unlawful wages and working conditions, further denigrating the working class as a whole.

Socially, illegal immigrants are not obligated to pay taxes, our contribute to society in any form. This causes a burden on the rest of the tax paying community, forced compensate for the services used by everyone illegal or not. Secondly, due to the health screening process involved in legal immigration, illegal immigrants freely bring into the United States preexisting communicable diseases. Tuberculosis which was virtually eradicated in the United States, has sprung up again due to illegal immigration. These illegal immigrants risk the health of the entire community, negatively affecting not only themselves, but everyone else as well.

Each social crisis presented is distinct to illegal immigration, and simply is not found in regulated legal immigration. From these examples, it is clear that the distinction between legal and illegal immigrants is not simply a piece of paper.

-Kerplunk288

Answer 3

The people who make the arguments you are speaking of are slightly illogical, but are most likely speaking ONLY of illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants pay income taxes therefore ARE giving back to America and not just sending their cash back to their own home country.

Answer 4

genuinely the different seems to be genuine. with the help of fixing 'unlawful alien' with 'undocumented worker', 'undocumented immigrant', or 'unlawful immigrant', the attempt is made to make those criminals look better useful. whilst there are some who do now no longer % any immigration, optimal human beings in user-friendly words % the guidelines to be stated and enforced. as a effect, 'continuously' is amazingly an exaggeration.

Answer 5

It isn't 'just a piece of paper' any more than a ticket on a cruise is 'just a piece of paper'. It stands for space in our schools and hospitals, and the number of poor people we are willing to subsidize, since poor people even when they pay taxes CAN'T pay enough to cover their education and other costs.

Those who are here above our limits are stealing our children's education, aid from our poor and health care from our sick.

The difference between legal and illegal is the difference between a guest and a thief.

Answer 6

people come to the US because they feel they will have better lives here. it matters a great deal whether an immigrant is legal or illegal. illegal immigrants dont pay taxes, they take jobs away from people here legally, and they are making our country overpopulated. if someone wants to come to the US, they need to do so legally. any other way is cheating other americans and causing them to pay money. i dont hate immigrants, but i think its not fair for someone to be here illegally not paying any taxes, when i have to pay for them to be here. its not fair to americans and we need to be more strict about it

Answer 7

Thank you,you have made it clear that the only difference is a piece of paper. People from third world countries cannot possibly add to a functioning society. If you disagree you've been smokin' the 'multicultural' peace pipe too much!