Why not just come here legally?

Question

Why is it such a big deal for Mexican immigrants to come here legally? I mean, if you want to come here to live and work, more power to you, but why do it illegally? Why not just do it the proper way like immigrants of yester-year did?

SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY! NO LAMEASS, "DEPORT ILLEGALS!" OR "LEAVE THEM ALONE!" ARGUEMENTS.

Answer 1

The posters above (especially Shawtee) list many different reasons they use to justify breaking our immigration laws in their mind so they feel better about it.

The fact is the U.S. accepts more legal immigrants than any other country in the world.
There are countries much poorer than Mexico, Being poor is no justification for breaking the law.

BTW, since people justify breaking immigration laws because it's "too hard" to do it the legal way, where do you draw the line on breaking the law?

How about stealing or using a false ID so you can work to feed your family?

How about stealing from a bread truck or a bag of oranges from a vendor to feed your family?

How about breaking into a vending machine to get food to feed your family?

How about breaking into a change machine to get money to buy food to feed your family?

How about purse snatching?

How about breaking into a car to steal a purse on the front seat?

How about robbing a bank?

I am sure there are people that would justify some of the above crimes to feed their family. The prisons are full of people that did just this.

We have laws (including immigration laws) for a reason. Laws are to be followed. There is ONE way to immigrate, and that is legally. Period.

Answer 2

It is nearly impossible for a Mexican to come here legally. The laws have changed since most of our ancestors arrived here. In order to come here you must have a specific skill in a field that does not include most jobs. For instance a trained chef with specific skills could apply for a green card if an employer is willing to prove no American, currently looking for work, is available. A simple cook would never qualify, nor would any non skilled person. The process to come here legally is very expensive and time consuming. If the laws that apply to immigration today were in effect throughout our history very few people would be here legally. I do not support illegal immigration, however people need to stop saying "why don't they just come here like our family did"

Answer 3

Well, why do applications get rejected? It's because these people have problems that would cause them to be rejected and they are not considered good citizen material. So, because the rules won't let them in, it's okay for them to come without the law? Our government has failed to enforce the laws and therefore it has been "easy" for them to cross the wrong way. If it's easier to just break the law what incentive do they have to come here legally? If we crack down on illegals and enforce our laws, they'll stop coming. It's time to ensure that our laws are enforced and that illegals are severaly punished for crossing illegally. Also, the government needs to get the backlog of applications caught up. They've been so busy collecting a paycheck and giving excuses for NOT doing their jobs that it will be a new deal for them to actually have to work to get paid.

Shawty, why should we worry about why they come? It doesn't matter. We have all these missionary organizations that go to these other countries. Why aren't these missionaries and pro-illegal immigrant organizations organizing people in Mexico and other countries and working for change and helping the people there? They could improve the situation there. They should not come here illegally, regardless of their reasons. If a person wants to feed his family and goes into a Jewel grocery store and steals just enough food to provide his/her family with a meal, does that mean he/she should not be punished for stealing? Whatever happened to going to Catholic Charities (which is big in Mexico and other places) and other charities to get help instead of deliberately breaking the laws of another country? If so many of them have enough courage to cross the border illegally, then why don't they have enough courage to storm the Mexican Capital or demonstrate in Mexico by the millions in front of Felipe Calderone's residence? The churches want to provide amnesty to criminals. Well, why don't they go to Mexico and other countries and provide "Sanctuary" to their people while they fight for change? No, they are not interested in doing things right. They have ulterior motives and we're not stupid. Deport them all. No excuses. No amnesty. No help.

Answer 4

When my ancestors came to America, there were no immigration quotas. Now there are. Furthermore, Mexico's quota is used up entirely by the relatives of Mexicans in the United States, so if you're a Mexican with no close relatives in the United States, there is no legal way. Even if you do have family to sponsor you, the waiting list is very long. Mexicans can't even use the Green Card lottery because their spaces are used up already.

The only exception is if you're very highly skilled and can get in on a National Interest waiver or a skilled labor work visa. If you had those skills, you'd have a good life in Mexico, and would be less likely to want to leave to make a better life for your family.

Answer 5

You have to first earn a visa to come to the United States legally. I'm not sure about how the whole Green Card process works, but they certainly don't give it out to everyone who sends in an application (whenever my family from Europe comes to visit, we have to send them an "invitation", through which they may or may not get a visa). Only a certain number of people are allowed to immigrate from each country to the U.S. every year, and if you're not chosen, well you're out of luck. These things cost hundreds of dollars as well (file citizenship-i think they are bringing it up to $600).

Answer 6

It is expensive and takes a long time. Sadly, many illegal immigrants find it to be a better deal to pay a coyote (a guy who leads them across the border) to point them towards the border and let them walk blindly for days on end without food and supplies. There are cartoon pamphlets distributed in Mexico about how easy it is to cross the border and make tons of money to send back to your family. It takes patience, money, and education to immigrate legally. None of that is required to come illegally.

Answer 7

Because the process to enter the states is a long and expensive one done the legal way. It took right under two years for my husband to get his green card. He was born and raised in Mexico City comes from a very wealthy family, is educated and fluent in English. All of this was true BEFORE I met him, we still ended up living apart and I lived in Mexico for a time. When my daughter was born he was granted a two week visa and had to go back. The day he was granted resident alien status was one of the happiest days of our lives together.

Answer 8

There are standards to pass, education ,speak English,a sponsor,money, health check,criminal back ground check>etc So if they can't pass 1 of them why not sneak in> They all thought get here have children have a fake ID & SS# to work live off the tax payers social services till they get Amnesty. Will there is a large flaw the USA citizens said no way jose your not welcome so leave you cost us to much for what you do>?An don't honor our laws,Not cost efficent

Answer 9

First of all ............... It is way too expensive (they come here illegaly because they don't have the money to do it legally) Second, it takes too long. Try waiting 10 years when your family needs to be fed.(That's not our fault but what will they say to their children who have no food or clothes?)

Visas are granted according to how many people from that country are currently in the united states. Mexico has not been able to legally come here for several years. It is simply not a possibility



Ok, let me open your eyes. You probably haven't looked at the list of all the requisites needed for them to come here:
To come legally to the US you need the following easy things:

birth certificate
CURP (clave unica de registo de poblacion = unique number of population registry)
passport
proof of studies
proof of military service
proof that you can vote
must be at least 18 years or older
certificate of vaccination
IF YOU HAVE AIDS YOU CAN'T COME TO THE USA (no matter what, I'm sorry You just CAN'T!)
and you need a bunch of other papers that say if you're allergic to anything
if you've been sick, more papers
if you've had medical surgery, more papers

There's a 350 USD fee for taking you photos and adding them to your passport
You also have to go to the US embassy to take the legal forms to come to the US, which will cost you about 600 pesos (60 USD)

Major requirements that cost money:
You need to have at the very least 72,000 USD in a bank account and have it checked by the US embassy.
You will also need a destination to go, and someone of your family to receive you (has to have your last name, and a home to receive you, that cost money, no brainer, a home is over 150,000 USD).
You will also need all of your working wages and forms from the previous 5 years, this gives proof that once you get here you're not asking for money to the gov't

that's all I know... you need a ton of paperwork, notes signed by the major of your hometown (to be officially validated) and alot, lots of money!

So, tell me. If someone who's single and currently lives in Mexico with a bank about 70,000 USD (700,000 pesos, enough to retire at 40) decides to come here to the US, why in the world he like to be illegal?

Turns out that's not the case. Most people who come here illegaly don't have any penny in their pockets. Thay come here looking to new jobs, better ways of life.

Answer 10

Exactly! Good question. The place where I work hires 6 housekeepers with Visa's. Every October they go back to renew there Visa's and it only takes 2 months to complete it. The only reason I can think of is they don't have the money to pay to come here legally and most of them will probably be denied due to there records. Makes me so angry. I wish they would just stay where they belong.