Illegal immigration has been a problem for many ,many years,right?

Question

So, why is everybody making such a big deal now (and by now I mean in the last 4 years or so)?

Answer 1

I believe that it is a combination of:

* An unstable economy and the loss of middle class jobs and standard of living

* The attention from Bush trying to sell the guest worker idea and the reaction from politicians in depressed areas and in the Southwest US trying to get votes from people.

Illegals and legals don't vote of course!

* And a small part is the white power groups using the immigration issue to get attention and sympathizers.

I read history and I'm afraid that this thing could get Very Bad. :(

Edit: Yahoo is Still Stupid is talking about Operation Wet back. It was in 1954 and caused over 1.2 million people to go to Mexico either by catching them and deporting them or more often chasing then from the US.

It was facist and stupid and caused people who WERE US citizens to leave the US to Mexico. Most of the US citizens were children but some were adults. Many the wifes of the people who left were US citizens and they went too. I think about 400 children died.

How can anyone want anything like this and say they are proud to be an American?

Answer 2

You do understand Checks and Balances don't you? The kind that sways Economy vs Payouts? Real Collected Taxes vs Government program handouts?

Besides in 1986 there were only 3 million illegals that were granted a ONE TIME Amnesty. Not 12 to 20 million. And the biggest reason for the BIG DEAL as you call it... Is because of 9/11. Remember that day?

And at least Canada border agents don't take pay offs like the Mexican Border agents do to allow anyone into this country.

Again 2 whoopy doo points and a waste of my time for answering.

Answer 3

Because it was a gradual problem, like a cancer growing bit by bit. Every year more and more people felt the effects. When this last amnesty was put forth around the same time that illegals protested for their "rights" it brought everything into the spotlight, for all to see.

People in the border states have been trying to make everyone else pay attention to the growing problem, but other issues over shadowed things and many just didn't care until it affected them personally.

Even now there are those who defend the illegals being here, but those who do fall into a few groups.

1. they are naive (uninformed and fall for the propaganda from the illegal side)
2. they have a personal connection to illegals (family)
3. have a financial stake in cheap labor (the employers, advocates and politicians)

As time passes with nothing being done, more and more Americans are seeing the cancer for what it is, the polls are tipping more and more towards government intervention in this matter. (more ICE raids - more deportations - better border security)

Answer 4

Yes, I'd have to say so. When I heard about illegal immigration in the States, I almost fell on my butt. From then on, I've been doing my research about it, from both sides. Illegal immigration has been a problem in the U.S. for a long time but now it seems out of control. I'm against all illegal immigration by the way but for legal immigration. Our politicians don't want to secure our borders and would sell this country out in no time. Jobs that are available in the States should be for Americans and residents. Illegal immigration needs to be stopped and there are ways to do this. First, we must enforce all our laws that are on the books. Then, we shouldn't give illegal immigrants any jobs or entitlements. That would dry them up. This would encourage self-deportation. However, some people might ask how can we send them home? Well, I think we're available to pay for their trip home. Pay those that self-deported $200 so they can go home. There was a guy from Brazil living in MA and self-deported himself because he didn't want to live working for peanuts. The self-deportees should be given a second chance if they want to come into the States and they must be in line and wait longer than a normal immigrant (if a normal immigrant waits 5 years, the self-deportee would have to wait for 7 years for example) but if caught trying to cross the border illegally during the waiting time, that person should be deported. For illegal immigrants that didn't self-deport, time would be up and we should deport them; they wouldn't be given a second chance whatsoever. Also, all illegals that committed crimes would be automatically deported too. Amnesty is suicidal and massive deportation is too risky. Both these ideas have their supporters and opponents but we need to reach some common ground. The former comprehensive immigration reform plan was a sham for us and I think we need to encourage self-deportation and enforce our already written laws. I love our country so much, I don't want to see our identity be sold out to any more politicians or corporations. Thanks and God bless the USA!

Answer 5

Because the numbers have skyrocketed.

The system is so backlogged that it now takes 6 years to review simple applications (like spouses of US citizens) that used to take 6 months.

Legal applicants can wait 9 years for an interview and up to 22 years for a visa, so they come illegally.

The 1996 laws have created millions of illegals (many honest marriages are deemed fraudulent, judges no longer have authority to decide cases on merits, asylum cases do not even appear in court),

Employers can't hire the workers our economy needs and the lack of a guest worker program causes them to look the other way.

Improved border fencing does not prevent illegal entry, but keeps Mexican migrants from returning to Mexico at the end of the season.

Despite quadrupling the number of Detention and Removal officers, only 50,000 illegals are caught each year and 200,000 removed (while a million more come).

There is no agreement on how to reform the system and both parties are deadlocked on making any improvement what-so-ever since they are worried about their constituencies opinions which are sharply divided.

Answer 6

For most people here, illegal immigration became an issue when they saw them marching on our streets. A hispanic rights advocate who was against illegal immigrant (Name Forgotten) stated that he was against the march. He said it's one thing to say there are 12 million people who are here illegally, it's another to see them in the streets.

Illegal immigration was a big issue for some long before that though. THere was an outrage about 10 years ago when Loretta Sanchez ran against Bob Dornan. He claimed illegal immigrants was voting and was going to sway that election. When the election was over, Loretta Sanchez won by under 200 votes. The courts did find illegal immigrants were voting but decided not to overturn the election. By what I saw, Loretta Snachez atleast passively encourage this illegal behavior, and that this illegal activity seemed to be organized like in the movie Gangs of New York, although it probably didn't go that far.

Answer 7

didnt have time to read the others. so this may be repetative.

its out of control know have you ever been to east LA or some parts of san diego any town near the border is over run with illegals Im all for leagal immigration

Answer 8

ANALOGY: My father started with an occasional cough. He didn't deal with it. Over time in turned into a hacking cough. He still didn't see a doctor.
Then it turned into inability to breathe. Finally he goes to the doctor. Too late. Lung Cancer. Death in 3 months.

ANSWER: Most people don't see things until the impact becomes large although in hind sight the warnings signs were there, just not recgonizable if you werent looking for them.

Answer 9

You'e either too young to remember, or you haven't been paying attention.

7 amnesty bills passed since 1986, and every one of them just encouraged MORE illegal immigration .. we can't afford it anymore!!

Dwight Eisenhower was able to get rid odf more than a million illegal aliens in 1954, in less than 9 months, with only 700 border patrol agents.

It's time we try this Ike's way.

Deport them NOW!!

EDIT: From second link below: "After the 1986 amnesty, illegal immigration increased significantly. Census Bureau 2000 data indicate that 700,000 to 800,000 illegal aliens settle in the U.S. each year, with approximately 8-11 million illegal aliens now currently living in the United States (up to 12 million, according to Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge).

Yet an amnesty benefits neither our society nor those being amnestied. An Immigration and Naturalization Service study found that after living in the United States for 10 years, the average amnestied illegal alien had only a seventh grade education and earned less than $9,000 a year. Amnestied illegal aliens have no sponsor to support them financially. Instead, by enacting an amnesty, Congress places a staggering financial burden on American taxpayers to support those amnestied. ... President Bush's January, 2004 guest worker plan announcement - really an amnesty for illegal aliens - directly caused at least a 15% to 25% increase in illegals entering the United States.

Polls show that nearly 70% of Americans oppose amnesty for all illegal aliens and that Hispanics are less likely to reelect President Bush if he supports amnesty."

No thanks.

Answer 10

The problem is that they keep multiplying. we tried to give a hand so they took the foot & now they want the body,all because we didn't make deal of it in the begaining. Now that we are making a big deal you guys start whining like a bunch of babies. So prepare your selves America is comming out of slumber.