"How illegal" do you have to be to be considered illegal? Americans...please answer!?

Question

Picture this:
Mr. and Mrs. Doe, they:
1.Are not from Mexico
3.Entered the US with a tourist VISA
4.Their I-94 document said they could stay for 6 month
5.They never left the country, it's been 6 years, therefore, their time here has legally expired (I guess)
6.They applied for a social security, they now have one
7.They have driver's licenses and speak English
8.They don't have a work authorizaton card, so they do stuff such as...clean our houses, cut our grasses, build our homes, baby-sit our children. (and get paid in cash or personal check weekly)
9.They have bank accounts and credit cards
10.They bought a house a few years ago
11.They had American children meanwhile
But:
1.Their driver's license will expire in 2007 and the State law requires that they show green cards (which they don't have) in order to renew their driver's license.
2. There is no hope that they can stay in this country if they can't drive. They feel they must leave.

"How illegal are they"?

Please note that not all "illegals" are a Mexican guy that crossed the border without a single document in his pocket. There are many people in the situation above mentioned. These people will leave behind their "American costumers" with their grass to be mowed, their dirty homes to be cleaned and their babies to be taken care of...so that another illegal (perhaps one driving without a drivers lisence) may take over.
They will sell their home and take their American kids away from the culture where they were born because soon they won't be able to drive anymore.
Shouldn't America think about a fair immigration law to allow them to stay?

SURPRISINGLY THEY PAID TAXES AND RECEIVED TAX REFUNDS! THIS IS AMAZING!

Answer 1

Good they should leave, no matter how you dress it up with all the bells and whistles of living the American dream, illegal is still illegal

Answer 2

Are you here without the proper documentation that allows you to stay. No? YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL AND A CRIMINAL FROM BREAKING OUR LAWS! End of discussion!

This is a black and white question. How can you be only a little illegal. That's like saying you are only a little pregnant. You are either pregnant or you are not. You are either illegal or you aren't!

HOWEVER, based on your points:
1: It doesn't matter where they are from. Mexico is not the only country where they come from!
3 - 5: If they overstayed a VISA, that's illegal.
6: Illegals should not have received a SS#.
7: Many states don't allow illegals to get a DL (e.g., California). Big deal if they speak English (there are Canadians that are illegal).
8: If they don't have a work authorization and they work, that's illegal.
9: Illegals should not get bank accounts & credit cards since they don't have a SS#. That's why BofA should be nailed!
10: Again, this should not have happened since without a SS# they can't have an account.
11: Big deal if they have anchor babies since that has no effect on the status of the illegal parents.

They are CRIMINALS because they are illegally here. They have broken numerous laws and should be deported. If they citizen kids want to return when they are 18, fine but the parent should not be here!!!!

Answer 3

Beautiful attempt to cloud the subject and show us all as Anti-Mexican racists.
What part of ILLEGAL are you having a problem with exactly?
It doesn't matter how someone comes here, or what their race is, if they are not here legally they are illegal criminals.
There is actually a valid reason why your illegal Mexicans get so much grief and hatred on here. The other illegals are hiding and hoping they don't get caught, they want to take advantage of our country and are OK with being sleazy lawbreakers while they try to blend in.
Your Mexican illegals on the other hand are holding rallies, burning our flag, threatening us and our future and are right out in the open demanding attention; I see no reason not to give it to them, drive them out by force if necessary, and then get the rest of the illegals out. They are all illegal, if there is more hatred for the Mexican illegals, they have asked for and even demanded it.
In the scenario you present, I assume you want us to feel bad for the kids, and say, "Oh, the parents are pretty decent, taxpaying people." Right?
Wrong, they are illegal.

Answer 4

They are Illegal for knowingly overstaying their visa and therefore should be deported.

Apparently they knew the I-94 well enough that they could stay for only 6 months. If they love America enough they would respect the laws and immigrated here on a permanent basis after returning to their home countries after their tourist visa expired.

Answer 5

I'm sorry about Mr. and Mr's does situation and i do have sympathy for them, however

They are committing a crime, and that's the problem, if they want to become legal citizens then they should get busy making that happen when they have 5 months and 29 days left on their I-94 paper work, if they don't then how is it our fault when immigration kicks in the door and deports them leaving their children parent-less, their properties up for auction, and there jobs open to independent contractors that are legal U.S. citizens ????

the reason a person is given 6 months is so the can decide. Decide what they truly want.Decide where they want to be and what they want to do.

That being said, can you honestly argue that these people were not given fair and reasonable time to make that choice and take the needed actions to secure their future as legal American citizens ??? Were they not given opportunity to do things in the correct way to prove they wish to be law abiding citizens ???

Answer 6

How illegal are they? How do they pay taxes if they are performing jobs and get paid in cash? How did they receive a SS card without a work authorization form? Anyone who has not followed protocol is illegal. No matter where they originate from. But Mexico is a main target for illegal crackdowns. Is anyone else scared of a terrorist attack sneaking in through Mexico?

Answer 7

They're just as illegal as a Mexican who came over the border illegally. Just because you entered legally but chose to BREAK THE LAW by overstaying doesn't make you any better than the Mexican or South American who didn't apply at all to be here. Both instances are criminal. Illegal is Illegal.

Answer 8

They are 100% illegal (like there is anything else, you either are or you'r not)
They made the wrong decision when they stayed and an even bigger wrong decision when they had children here. The different things that make you or other people feel bad for them are problems that they chose to create for themselves. In every circumstance they had the chance to do the right thing and chose to be selfish instead. What is happening is called karma. When you make BAD decisions you will pay for them, either now or later.

Answer 9

How did you guys get a driver's license in the first place if you're illegal then? Google search for what the requirements are for people from your country...and you'll find out if you are or not. I am not sure what country(ies), but I've heard there are certain people from certain countries that become residents or U.S. citizens the moment they step on U.S. land...they're usually countries in war...but you'll have to find out. I can't remember well.

Answer 10

All the STUFF you say happened don't mean squat. If they did not follow the law, they are here illegally, PERIOD. No matter if they are from Mex, Swed, Germany, France or Bockwana. Send em home if they don't have the energy to follow the rules. You know if there is a murder, makes no diff if it a stabbing, a shooting, or a hand grenade, it's still murder. There is no HOW MUCH ILLEGAL ARE THEY.

Answer 11

To answer your question, they're 100% illegal starting on the day their stay on the I-94 expired.

I'd like to add something else. This is exactly the reason a tourist visa is so hard to get. People come here, promising the US consular officer they'll return home, and then simply decide to stay. It makes it twice as hard for the next guy who wants a tourist visa.

I mow my own lawn. We clean our own home. We raised our 6 kids from start to where they are now. We cook our own meals. When I hire a contrator I insist on bonded employees who are all covered by both workman's comp insurance and liability insurance. You won't find illegal aliens in that catagory.