How can Liberals rationally make the argument that illegal immigrants have not committed a crime?

Question

It is pretty clear in our immigration laws that you have to enter this country, whether it is permanently or for a vacation, in an authorized manner. At that time you will be issued either an immigrant visa which is for long term stays in this country, and can eventually lead to citizenship, or a non-immigrant visas which is used for tourists staying a short period.

Nostradamus02012 - President Bush was in favor of amnesty which by definition admits that there was a crime committed.

Anon - My definition of a crime is any action that is contrary to the laws of the federal government.

Fundamentalist1981 - I didn't realize that there are normal and abnormal crimes. Something is either a crime or it isn't. Even if they enter the country legally, as soon as their visa expires they become an illegal alien and at that point are committing a crime.

Anon - Sorry I have been trying to repress any memories of the Clintons for a long time.

Answer 1

Everybody knows that illegal entry is a crime, how do certain people make the argument for it rationally? Rationale does not enter into the equation, its an emotional response to an issue.

In the opinion of some, the need for a better life outweighs the law. It does not help the situation that our own government has in the past looked the other way for the sake of cheap labor for companies.

Answer 2

Technically they aren't lying. Entering the USA without documents is only a Federal violation.
It becomes a crime when they obtain documents illegally like false ID "and" use them to benefit from. That also pertains to US citizens too.
Now an visa overstay has committed a crime because a visa is a contract spelling out the conditions and how long they can stay so when they violate the visa they have committed a crime.
The problem we have is neither side Democrats or Republicans enforce the laws they passed.

Answer 3

It IS a crime. PERIOD. (to fundamentalist) If I break into someones house because I am homeless and have nowhere else to go and no way to feed my kids, does that make it an abnormal crime? Does that mean that the persons house I broke into MUST let me stay in their house because I am less fortunate than they are? Does this mean that they have to give me healthcare and opportunity because I have committed this 'abnormal' crime? NO There are no abnormal and normal crimes.

They are CRIMES and they should be prosecuted. They should be sent back to their own country whether or not their children were born in OUR hospitals or not. Illegals think they can hop over the border, demand civil rights and suck up the healthcare so they can mass produce and fill up our schools with non-english speaking kids. Something needs to be done. These ARE crimes and they are affecting the citizens of the United States more than anything. If they want a better life for themselves they should have respect enough to do it legally - Obtain the correct documentation AND LEARN ENGLISH!

Answer 4

I don't think the debate is the legality of entry. Most people will agree that the person is in fact breaking immigration laws. It's the reason they decided to enter that's important to me. This is the area of the debate that I feel conservatives have absolutely no compassion. The law is the law I always hear, but to the illegal immigrant who is starving in their country, I have compassion on them. I suppose most people would just be happy if they stayed in Mexico and starved to death. Is that a viable alternative? We decide to put up a 200 mile, 50 foot tall fence that is going to cost $1500 per foot. This won't fix the problem. Juan will just start selling 51 foot tall ladders in Mexico. One thing about immigration that is never addressed is, there are push factors enticing people to want to leave, and pull factors that lure the people to come. Why doesn't our government make incentives to stay in Mexico? Maybe instead of spending hundreds of millions of a fence, the money could go to American or Mexican non-profit companies that specialize in creating economic opportunities in under-developed nations, or provide micro-loans to Mexicans. Illegal immigration will only stop when we deal with the source instead of always dealing with the symptoms.

Answer 5

You basically answered your own question -- they can't. The United States has laws governing entry into this country, how long a person from another country can stay in this country, and the process involved in becoming a citizen of this country if you came from another country. If you are on U.S. soil, you are not a citizen, and you do not have permission to be in this country in the form of a visa, then it logically follows that you entered the country illegally and you are present in this country illegally. Scotty didn't just beam these people up. Any argument about how these people came to this country is irrelevent -- if you're not a citizen and don't have a visa then you're not legally allowed to be here, regardless of how you got here.

The liberals are looking for an excuse to keep the illegal immigrants here because they're trying to develop another voter base that they can put under their collective thumbs (like the impoverished people on welfare -- has their situation gotten any better?)

Answer 6

It's very naive to not look in both directions on this issue. I can understand where the right-wing politicians are coming from when they mention the drug trafficking, gangs, and crime that comes across the border.
However, are we automatically labeling every immigrant a horrible person? That's like saying that Americans are perfect in every which way. No way.
People will never look at the other side until they have met someone who has risked their life to make their life better for themselves in order to support themselves or a family. Would you want to stay in a poverty stricken country and try to support yourself?
Then why not come in the legal way, right? I have met many who have gone through the correct process and it's a *****. You have no idea how many hoops you have to go through just to be considered a citizen or even getting a visa.
A close friend's mother came from England and it has taken her over six years to do things correctly and she's a genuine citizen.
Another point is our own citizens who benefit off of us and are not willing to go out and do the work that the immigrants have been doing. I could go on all day with this issue.

Answer 7

I don't necessarily think that liberals suggest there is no crime committed. This issue is not black and white. I don't think you can lump these human beings in with crazed murderers, pedophiles and rapists. I think that there are different levels of "crimes" and yes, being in this country without authorization is against the laws of this nation. However, I believe our government should spend its (our) resources on more important issues. If someone is here illegally and commits a more heinous crime, then yes, deport immediately. BUT for the majority of the people here that work hard at jobs I sure as hell don't want to do, leave them alone. They are just trying to exist, like you and me.

I'm all for a North American Union. heehee...

Answer 8

It's actually easy. An attempt to make illegal entry a crime failed to pass Congress. Therefore, it is not a crime under federal law.

So, when states try to enforce immigrant legislation, the courts have ruled that only the Federal government can do that. Some states are trying to enforce the provisions of the law that forbid companies from hiring illegals...we'll see how the courts deal with that.

Answer 9

The biggest problem is not the crime of entering illegally but the crimes that many of them commit once they are here. There are an alarming number of violent sex crimes being committed by illegal aliens in addition to gang related drug and murder crimes. If you search crime statistics in LA county you'll be shocked. Southern California has a huge problem with violent crime from illegals.

Answer 10

Blatant lying has become an integral part of our country's political fabric. Hitler said, "The great masses of the people . . . will more easily fall victims to a great lie than to a small one."

Someone crossing the border illegally usually must continue the "crime spree" by obtaining countefeit documents. If they go beyond that and commit felonies, wouldn't the illegal border crossing have been their "gateway" to crime?

But enablers continue to shriek "racism" at those of us who ask only that they enter the country LEGALLY and assimilate. While I sit here in a state that prints its ballots in 9 different languages...