Is the Undocumented Immigrant issue a head versus heart issue?

Question

There are 12-20 million undocumented living in this country. Something needs to be done to assure that we know who is here and what they are doing. Both sides have valid points, but, for seemingly different reasons.

I understand the impact of having this many people here with a completely foreign culture & customs can have on our society socially, and, the economic impact that we are being faced with- especially if the rate of growth increases with the undocumented. These are all concerns.

However, when I read the posts by "pros" they are typically more related to emotion- the plight of the immigrants, their intentions, their work habits, the condition of their old country, etc. These are all, obviously, emotions.

Is this an issue where your position is simply decided by which rules- your head or your heart?

Answer 1

that's what been had been told since the fight started however even when some may fall in what u speak of not all of us do . of course using our emotions is important too when making judgment however emotions is not all which should be taken into the mix to make this judgment . i would also like to make clear that in all this time from my experience what i have seen is actually the antis behaving the way u speak of , they see the complications of doing it right and they think it is fair that everyone goes through the same complications , of course that would seen fair if the system actually was fair to those who wait but it isn't , the system is unfair and the fact that it is this way is is not related at all to the undocumented , but to the bureaucracy behind it .

i also would like to mention that many of us pros have presented real facts about the current situation and that most of those facts had been completely ignored by those who say to fallow all logic . facts as Alan green span saying to congress the undocumented are positive to the economy , studies such as the one made by the state of Texas which concluded that with out the undocumented the state would had received 17 billion less in taxes , the fact that the IRS receives 7 billions every year which nobody claims back and which of course do come from the undocumented immigrants , the fact that those are not all the taxes they pay and that there is a lot more than that which surpasses what its actually spend in them , so my question would be does any of what i mentioned seems to be emotionally based ??? my sources are the IRS , Alan Green Span , RAND , the state of Texas , there is nothing emotional about that but yet the unemotional people will not admit that . by the way the USA is becoming richer not poorer so if anyone is having a difficult time maybe that person should make its goal a better education or to make those American which are getting all the money share what they are receiving with the rest .

Answer 2

Both. Logical reasons can be divided into deterrence, practicality and reciprocity. The emotional ones are fairness and the golden rule.

Deterrence: People can be controlled by government if they are treated harshly. I have arrested and fined people for immigration and tax violations in the US. In Africa I segregated housing on the basis of race, tribal affiliation, and had the right to arrest, or even shoot people who opposed the government.

Practically: we do not have the resources to deport everyone who is deportable under current law. It makes more sense to concentrate on terrorists and criminals than to waste time on maids and busboys. Nor do we want to impose that kind of damage on our economy, on the employers who rely on immigrant labor, or on the US citizens and LAPRs who are related to illegals.

Reciprocity: I have been an American living overseas and have had experience with foreign immigration departments who do not like Americans. Our embassy does not permit those governments to act arbitrarily against its citizens and I suspect that foreign governments feel the same way about theirs.

Fairness: Would you want your children arrested because they missed a flight and their visa expired? Would you want to be separated from your spouse because it takes US immigration takes 3 years to process her green card? What would you do if you were in a car accident and had to stay here until the case is settled, but needed to earn a living? What if you were raised in the US from age 5, would you want to be deported to a country whose language you don't speak? What if staying in your country meant certain death and you became a refugee? Finally, what if you had no work in your own country (because the neighboring country bought all the land and industry under NAFTA) but there was plenty of demand for you to work in that country?

Answer 3

To a limited extent yes, I say limited because not all of the illegal immigrants fall into a category of people I would ever fell sorry for. I doubt that even half of them do.

Poverty alone isn't enough of a reason to invade the US, coming here isn't always going to change that. Just look at all the illegals living in poverty here, the only difference is that not only are they living in poverty but they are separated from their families and hiding from the law. What an improvement that was.

Then there are the illegals who come here to distribute drugs and pimp out little girls, and commit other heinous crimes.

Finally there are the ones that REALLY aggravate the majority of Americans, the ones that scream they have a RIGHT to be here because the US stole land from Mexico and their ancestors, the ones that call us racists while they spout of their own racist comments. Groups like La Raza and supporters of "Aztalan" who what to re-write history to suit their own twisted viewpoint.

No I don't feel a bit sorry for them.

Answer 4

It is not a head or heart issue. It is a illegal vs. legal issue. They are criminals breaking into our country, stealing services, and making the U.S. taxpayer pay the bill. If you took a survey of the world about 90% of the world would want to live in the U.S. It would be standing room only. This has got to stop.

Answer 5

I've been saying that, but to be honest we can't live with out both. I seen so much death in my life that I can turn off my emotional side far more easily. I found that the Pro's do have some logical arguements, but they get so emotional that they forget them and start screaming the first thing that they come in their heads. As for my demons, I look at immigration as numbers and try to figure out the maximum number to help people. Unfortunately I'm more willing to see peopel die to prevent a greater number of deaths, but in my head it's all a gamble that may not payoff. Psycology is not an exact science, and we can't predict peoples reaction, much less an entire community.

Answer 6

I use my head when ever possible....lol....Seriously, I agree with you. I does seem that one side thinks with their head while the other side does not think, they feel.

I feel for the people who want to come to this country legally, but cannot. I feel for the carpenter who had a good paying job before some illegal alian came along that will do it for next to nothing. I feel for college student that can't get part time work to help pay their way because because an illegal alian is doing it. I feel for our nations parks, and schools that are overcrowded beyond discription.

So what do I do about it???? I use my head!

Answer 7

This is a touchy issue on both sides. If you ever notice people are emotional and vote down the opponent's side even when they have a good point rathen than actually read and reflect on the contrasting viewpoints.

Answer 8

For some people, yes. But what it truly boils down to is whether we want to live in a place where people can pick and choose which laws they obey or whether we will be a society of laws. We have a system which enables us to change unjust laws and update our legal system as needed. When people take the law into their own hands, for whatever reason, they do society an injustice.

Bettering themselves and their families at the expense of society as a whole should can't be allowed to be tolerated. It's a very slippery slope when a large group is allowed to ignore laws -- for whatever reason. Expediency is not a legitimate reason for failure to enforce laws. We tried amnesty for illegals once and it backfired horribly. Illegal immigration increased significantly. The attitude became "just wait...we'll get another one." We can't afford this kind of immigration. It's not fair for us and it's not fair for those who follow the laws.

There are many reasons why illegal immigration is bad for our nation --- economically, legally, morally and in consideration for a future as a nation. However, the most important is that it just isn't fair.

Answer 9

I don't see it as an either/or thing at all..i think it would be a mistake.

Immigration and how to deal with illegal immigrants is an issue that must be viewed with reason. And I don't think that it is unreasonable to be concerned for the people involved in it or unreasonable to think of what is good for you or your country.

If you are a bleeding heart liberal or a cold hearted conservative than you maybe are not seeing things totally realistic and not being reasonable.

You can look for facts and use reason and still care about what is happening.

And there is the saying that reasonable minds can differ. I try to remember that.

Answer 10

No, not really. Its both. My heart is in it because I don't want my children to be denied the education that I pay taxes for because of overcrowded schools, and because I have to pay for illegal aliens to get an education. My heart was in it the day that my children's pediatrician told me that thanks to the influx of people without proper medical screenings, my children would have to get the Hep A shots - 2 of them. My heart is in it when teens and college kids I know can't get summer jobs, because the jobs are given to people willing to be paid under the table for less. My heart is in it because I care about my country, and hate to see the people wanting to come the right way are being snubbed by illegal aliens that are filling our country, which results in our government not being able to increase the number of immigrants allowed in annually.

My mind is in it because I was educated to respect the law, and to know the difference between right and wrong.