If you are an American read my letter to the President! Let's debate with respect!?

Question

Illegal in America

Memorial Day is an important moment in remembrance of those brave and women who have died for the preservation of freedom that we cherish in America. Many Americans visited memorials set fourth throughout the nation. From New York to Los Angeles walls are engraved with last names like Johnson, Mitchell, Jackson, Nguyen. In this wall you will also find names that end with Ramirez, Lopez, Jimenez, Ruiz. All these names are symbols of pride for us. These names of these heroes have given the ultimate sacrifice fighting the Global war on Terror. It’s very probable that some of the people who have died in combat have parents or relatives who are here illegally. Are we going to send John and Ken to knock on the door and have to say the following, “We regret to inform you that your son or daughter died in combat, we are very sorry. Now we have to deport you back to you’re nation of origin.”
The debate for Immigration reform has been heated up by racist entities like John and Ken from KFI radio in Los Angeles. These shock jocks like to dehumanize the Hispanic people just like the Nazi’s dehumanized countless Jews before executing them. John and Ken, want America to think that Hispanics don’t value education, which is simply irresponsible and hateful. This rhetoric is exactly what we don’t need in this tenuous debate. The only way the Immigration issue will be solved by comprehensive Immigration reform PERIOD!

Remember, that a hero is a hero no matter if they were born under the Rio Grand!

I am all in favor of building a wall, therefore keeping out Terrorists and criminals from our shores. However, I am not in favor of persecuting and verbally lynching these people like KFI Radio constantly advocates on it’s airwaves in order to gain ratings. Thank you to President Bush for his leadership in this divisive issue. And Thank you to all Americans for supporting those people who are in fact Americans!!

Tony Ruiz
U.S. Citizen and US ARMY VETERAN!

Answer 1

IM VERY PROUD OF YOU TONY, FINALLY SOMEONE HERE SPEAKS WITH SOME SENSE & RESPECT. I RESPECT YOU & THE POINT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYIN ALL ALONG IS THAT NOT ALL ILLEGALS ARE MEXICANS & NOT ALL THAT ARE IN THE U.S COMMIT CRIMES! ITS NOT FAIR TO JUDGE ALL THE "MEXICANS" FOR CRIMES & THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS. HOW WOULD THE WHITES, BLACKS, ASIANS ETC... REACT IF THEY GET BLAMED OR SEEN DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THEIR PPL COMMIT?
OH WAIT BUT ITS OK FOR A WHITE MAN TO COMMIT CRIMES..BECAUSE HE'S IN HIS HOMELAND & WHITE PPL PAY TAXES?!

Answer 2

I agree that unfortunately the debate over illegal immigration has brought out the worst bias against hispanics in general, whether here legally or not. It is an injustice that I frequently clarify to anyone I am discussing the topic with. I also agree that we do need to reform the current process to become an American Citizen. That being said, I feel that ILLEGAL immigration is the equivalent to someone breaking into my home and camping out there because they are poor and my home is nicer, meanwhile I have no say to remove them and must provide them meals and a pillow. If you ask to come in and I say no or you must wait, you should respect my sovereignty over my own home. As far as sending family members of legal citizens back to their country of origin because they are here legally - separating families - it would be no different if I broke the law (which is what they are doing) and was sent to jail - would I too not be separated from my family? I'm sorry, but that is what happens when you break the law. I do believe we should reform immigration and make it easier for people to come here legally, but cheating the system just because it doesn't work the way you want is not the answer. I do want to thank you for your service to our country.

Answer 3

I don`t think a majority of Americans want to dehumanize or degrade Mexicans. I`m all for immigration, it`s what this country was built on.Building the wall is a very good idea & it should keep out the terrorists and criminals. I think your assertion is that there`s nothing wrong with average Mexican workers coming here, because they`re not criminals. They`re certainly not, until they cross that border without documentation. Then they`ve broken the law. There are procedures that will allow them to come here, and be accounted for. This country doesn`t ask for any form of higher education as a stipulation for entry.( unlike other countries, Mexico included ) Let them come here, the more the merrier. We just ask who you are, where you are, & why you are here. P.S. feel free to bring your culture with you, but do not try to force it on the rest of us.

Answer 4

Thank you for your service. As the son of an immigrant, I have a problem with the illegal immigrants here. The operative word is "illegal." My mother immigrated here legally. She waited in line, and followed the rules. To grant amnesty to people who snuck in ahead of the people who play by the rules is an insult to my mother. Many of the people coming from Mexico are hard working, and many have the potential to be heroes, but we are all supposed to be treated equally, as per the 14th Amendment. To grant one group of people, based upon their country of origin, one get out of jail free card, and not give the same priviledge to all of us is unconsionable. Hou about amnesty for all first time drug dealers, or embezzlers? Maybe the people at Enron deserve a second chance to become normalized? Where does it stop?

As another point, I think there would be far less backlash, in fact, I think illegal immigration wouldn't even be an issue in America, if the illegal immigrants currently coming to America at least made an attempt at assimilation. Again, I am clearly not talking about all illegal immigrants. But most Americans are growing tired of "Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish." Only one group of immigrants came in to America in large numbers only looking for economic opportunity with no interest in becoming American. That group was the Chinese of the 19th century. They came here with no intention of becoming American, and they worked building railroads, all the while sending money back home to their families. When they were done, they went home. This became so resented, it resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act, which ended immigration from China for awhile.

Assimilation is very important to Americans. If the current wave of Mexican immigrants acted more like the other previous groups and less like the 19th century Chinese, we probably woundn't even be having this discussion.

Of course, we could just copy Mexico's immigration rules. Then we would have no problems with illegal immigration at all!

Answer 5

We have laws. As a citizen and veteran you should appreciate that we are a land governed by laws. When someone breaks a law he must pay the price for doing so.

I have no problem with people coming legally but when they come illegally they are breaking our laws and should have to pay the consequences.

Those people, I realize, just want a better life and while I can feel sorry for them, I also know there are legal ways to enter this country and illegal ways. Anyone entering legally should be welcomed with open arms. Those entering illegally should be fined, deported, or shot. The recently proposed law treats law breakers more than fairly. But so many don't like it for some reason or another and so we will get some watered down version or something much more harsh on the aliens.

My ancestors came here legally based on the laws at the times they arrived. People today need to do the same thing. I believe it is very generous of the country to offer them a chance to stay, possibly become citizens and only have to pay a fine. Most countries would have them shot as spies.

Answer 6

Thank you. I'm not for rewarding illegal immigrants but at the same time I think it's extremely IGNORANT to compare them to a felon that kills people. That's just plain stupid. Someone who jaywalks is also breaking the law but are they considered felons? No. Again, stupid analogy from stupid people. I'm sick of shock jocks altogether. They are a bunch of p*ssies hiding behind a mic. They talk the talk and that's it. It's easy to be opinionated behind a mic in a studio. I would love to see these 2 idiots go to East LA and say that crap in person........

Answer 7

With respect, you are comparing apples and oranges here. The issue at hand right now has NOTHING to do with immigration. True immigrants would try to assimilate into American culture, not come here and try to force us all to bend to their wants/needs. True immigrants would learn our language and our history, not try to make everything 'multicultural'. if these people want to retain their culture, they can stay home. Militant 'pro-immigrant' organizations want Americans to give them more rights than we have ourselves, and power-hungry politicians from both parties are eager to sign on, with idiotic proposals such as free tuition, driver's licences, and automatic transfer payments (welfare). Both parties will feel a huge backlash from the public, as the overwhelming majority of us do not want these things granted to illegal aliens on our soil. Most of america knows what the pandering politicians do not understand: If we cease to be a nation of laws, then we cease to be a nation. Unfortunately, for all too many in power, that's OK with them.

Answer 8

I don't disagree at all, but I do have a counterpoint. With respect of course. If a soldier died in combat, and his father was a serial killer in hiding. Should we, out of respect for his son, not bring him to the courts for his previous crimes? Killer, rapist, parking violator, mattress tag remover, illegal alien. These are all crimes, and if the authorities are at your door, even if for an unrelated reason, they will take you in for whatever it is. It's horrible that people are dying over there, and I for one don't care who lives in this country: papers or not. But, if you are to be deported by law, then that's what's going to happen irregardless of what else is happening in the world

Answer 9

One good deed does not redeem your family from their crimes. If I went and saved the entire world from a giant meteor and died in the process, but my mom went and robbed a bank, she'd better go to jail. I hope you send that letter to the president and I hope he laughs and puts it in his paper shredder. Better yet, I hope his scotty dog Barney pees on it. This letter is ignorant, based loosely in fact, and just plain bad. Who says Hispanics don't value education? Maybe if they applied for a citizenship they could find better jobs and afford better educations. Did you fall and hit your head?

Answer 10

Why is it that mexicans think they are great and we should let them all in? If they are so great why are they leaving a country full of them?

They don't respect our country or they would not have come here illegally, they would learn ENGLISH as soon as possible. It just gets to me that I have to pay taxes to teach their kids in Spanish and not English. Then the parents talk Spanish at home and in public making no attempt to speak English. Ever try to talk to a landscaper before? You can't even ask them about the work the perform.

Build the wall and keep them out. If Mexicans are so great they can stay in Mexico, there is no need to come here. Oh that's right, there is nothing but poverty and corruption there.

Answer 11

Illegals won't fight to make their own country better ! How am I to believe that they would fight for a country that MOST of them criticize and trash. 99.99% of illegals have no respect for America so 100% of them need to be sent home and billed for the cost .Bush has the leadership equivalent to a jar of mustard and to the dozen or so illegals who loved this country enough to serve in the military good for you but the other 20,000,000 need to get out!