Is America at fault for the millions of illegal immigrants?

Question

Simply stated, if America had taken the initiative to enforce the immigration laws in the past instead of litterally allowing the illegal immigrant workers to line the pockets of unscroupolous employers, we wouldn't have this concern today.
Note: I am not anti-american and I never bash this country - but this is one case when I believe that America is as guilty as the people who freely entered this country illegally only to be exploited by greedy employers at the expense of American workers. It is quite obvious to me that America turned a blind eye to the border problem until it simply grew out of control and started to bite us on the azz. The attitude seemed to welcome the cheap labor to get our crops out of the fields and perform other low skilled tasks. Now we see all of the unintended consequences and want to deport them all - how hypocritical is that?
That's my opinion, what's yours?

Here to help: I seldom give thumbs down - I asked for your opinion, and if it isn't rated XXX, I'll read and consider it.
However, I don't agree with you, I think the vast majority of Americans, as well as the government, payed little or no attention to this issue untill it grew out of control.

Answer 1

I do think America is at fault. I think America is at fault for having an economy where the lowest, most menial jobs provide enough for a person to survive and still send money back to their families. I think America is at fault for having a system so full of opportunity that people are willing to risk their very lives to be a part of it. I think America is at fault for looking at a person's ability to do a job and THAT'S IT. I also think America is at fault for caring so much about everyone within her borders that even illegals can get assistance with food and medical care. And I think it's America's fault for legislating such a massive beauracracy that the hardworking and law abiding have no other option for entrace other than breaking the law. I couldn't honestly care less that illegals broke the law in coming here, If I had to sneak across the Canadian border to feed my family I'd do it in a heartbeat. Immigration should be a simple, easy process, not the Byzantine maze that is currently in place. The Statue of Liberty says,

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Take a look at how easy immigration used to be. Then look at it today. Look at who built America. And then tell me that the wretched refuse of the teeming shores should be held out.

Answer 2

I blame 1) the government for not enforcing the laws and 2) the people breaking the laws. If they didnt break the laws, then the laws wouldnt have to be enforced. When people come to America illegally, they arw not paying property tax, etc. all citizens should contribute equally to the country they live in and the illegals are not contributing! Sure they pay sales taxes, but there are so many other things that citizens pay $ for, like public education and public everything. The money has to come from somewhere. And is it coming from illegal immigrants? No. Not to mention, a lot of crime is done by them because they need money and some of them will steal, sell drugs, etc. Im not saying they are all bad people, but numbers are numbers.

Answer 3

There is more than one causal factor at work here; it' just that most people have their mental filters on to show the facts that support their favorite gripe

Liberal, fuzzy 'humanitarian' thinking is a large part of the problem.

Short-sighted capitalism (greed) is also partially to blame for the current mess.

BUT it is *not at all* hypocritical to change your mind when the situation changes and things go to crap.

Change 1: illegal immigration rates skyrocketed and social services are suffering
Change 2: criminals immigrated illegally and certain crimes (and violent gangs) have increased
Change 3: international terrorism increased and struck home - and potential terrorists are crossing the border everyday (Arabs pay 10 to 20 times more for a border crossing than do illegals seeking employment and they find *many* prayer rugs along the border)

BTW, as I have said elsewhen, I was a foreign worker and if I had overstayed my visa by *one day* my name would have been published in the newspaper and I would have been arrested and fined on sight.

If some third-world countries can keep track of foreign workers, can't the hi-tech USA do as well???

Finally, yes, they *can* all be deported fairly easily and *no* they aren't all bad or all nice and *no* having a baby born in the US isn't sufficient to automatically become a citizen.

Answer 4

As in American political leadership, yes. They bear the blame of not doing their jobs. This does not absolve the criminal of his/her crimes.

As for cheap labor, I never had anyone work for me for cheap labor. Therefore, as with many others, I should not have to suffer the consequences of those who did exploit the illegal aliens.

I didn't ask criminals to break into the country. I didn't ask corrupt businesses to take advantage of them. I did pay, taxes to be protected from this crime and demand my right as a tax payer to be protected from every form of crime to include breaking and entering into the country and ID fraud.

My nieces and nephews should not suffer a poor education due to illegal aliens swamping the already poorly run schools. I will gladly pay the extra 15 cents for produce to be rid of all illegal aliens. Why reward people with the very goal that their crimes were designed to obtain?

!!! RONALD AMNESTY REAGAN STARTED THIS MESS !!!

Answer 5

American government,yes. America and Americans,no. Now thumb me down.

Answer 6

If you are correct, and we Americans are all guilty, I'd say it is because of our openness to the plight of the less fortunate that is biting us in the proverbial buttocks.

So, we do need a humane solution, but one which comes with an Americans first outlook.

Answer 7

I pretty much agree with you, but the thing is, we can't deport them all. We've actually come to rely on some of them.

For those that say that 'Americans can take the jobs,' then stop forcing public school on all children so we can have Americans take those jobs. I highly doubt that a high school grad would want to spend the rest of their career floating around a state picking peaches.

Answer 8

Dog eat dog capitalism is at least partly to blame. For attracting illegals and then for relying on them. When profit is societies guiding principle... then you have to live with the sacrifices that Mammon requires.

Answer 9

She is a disgrace exploiting that child,


Plain and simple if your here in our country Illegally you broke our laws and your A@@ needs to be deported back to what ever third world Sh!t hole you came from

Plain and simple if you went through the proper channels and are here legally than welcome, I hope it works out for you.

Answer 10

American citizens are against illegals, its the politicians who are ignoring the voters----why do you think the 08 election is a complete joke.....nobody is willing to stand up against illegals.