Regarding immigration...doesn't it stand to reason...?

Question

...that if we help those who are ALREADY HERE, who are worthy/not criminals to gain their citizenship, they will:
make more money
get educated
no longer have to hide
their kids will be happier, healthier
our government will collect income tax on them
(therefore it would be good for the economy)
they could eventually afford insurance
they could attend college

I think Americans would be satisfied if the government would do something to stop the flow of MORE illegals. To me, the problem is not what to do about those who are here already. I feel we practically opened the door. Wouldn't you come too if the shoe were on the other foot?

Would you be happy if the 12 million stayed, but no more free lunch tickets were doled out to others from this point on and our laws began to be enforced? I think it's time we be realistic. We are NOT going to deport 12 million people! But we can close the flood gates, can't we?


Whatever you do, always let your conscience be your guide...

Comments so far in the discussion:
I am uneducated on what went on in the 80's, as many of you mention, so I shall brush up on it. That is intriguing, and I could change my mind after researching it. Thanks for the tip.

My head is not "in the sand." I think my proposal goes MUCH further than our elected officials even suggest. I suppose my feeling is that I would be willing to complormise if they would enfore something REAL from now on...excusing those already here.

This is an interesting post you all realize. There is no one here who wants them to go scot free. Everyone who commented wants to stop the insanity (including me) and I think we here are a decent cross section of American society. Thanks to all of you who took part politely in this discussion. Also typical of a "decent cross section of Americans" are a couple of rude commenters; ah what would we do without you??!! We've been expecting you; such behavior is typical. Tone it down a bit? We can play nicely you know...

Answer 1

well, I guess I could live with that, but I would have to see a border fence and more agents hired first before I want any sort of amnesty. I don't trust the govt to secure the borders, all amnesty right now means is that in 15 years there will be another 20 million who need "amnesty" again and we will do it again because we did it before and the process will repeat itself until this is a bilingual country with no self identity.

Answer 2

You start first by placing big fines on all businesses that have employed illegal immigrants. If they are found to still have illegal immigrants after a certain amount of time,close the business down no matter what type it is, the taxes lost will be less than were being paid. Another thing is that it's mandatory every immigrant has to speak, read, and write the English Language to receive any benefits from the United States. Put a limit on how many immigrants are allowed to enter the United States per year and that everyone of them have a sponsor. When it comes to all the criminal illegal immigrants that are found, set aside an area away from any city, town etc. and let them doing tasks involving hard labor. Yes, you'll have to feed them, but what are you doing now. Once that type of operation is known, might have less that want to become involved in entering the States. The United States needs to shut up these special interest group that want to give away and change the America way, and take back our land. There are immigrant that come into America and can start their new lifes without any problems or support from the American tax payers, that's what we should be supporting nothing else.

Answer 3

You do realize that this was done in the 1980's, and it was supposed to end there. The government was supposed to get tough on illegal immigration, and that it would decrease after giving amnesty to all of the illegal immigrants in the nation at that time.

How did that work?

Answer: IT DIDN'T!!!!

It has been proven that allowing amnesty to illegal immigrants will only encourage more illegal immigration - the message it sends is hold out - amnesty will come around when there are enough in the nation again. THAT IS THE WRONG MESSAGE. We need to be tough, and not allow any illegal immigration.

What is so very wrong with enforcing the laws already on the books? Have we stopped enforcing the laws and no one tell me about it? I mean, there is a nice BMW at the local dealer that I have my eye on. If I could get that baby for free with no ramifications. . .

Same thing. Criminal is criminal, and law breakers don't deserve any rewards for their criminal activity.

Answer 4

I think that you'll get the best answers from those people who are going through the legal immigration process, and have been on waiting lists for years. If I were waiting in a long line at the store, and 10 people cut in front of me, I wouldn't say, "let them go, they're already there". I'd tell them to get to the back of the line and wait their turn like everyone else.

Besides, we already tried amnesty once (1986), and look what happened...

Answer 5

theres alot of facts that people arent realy considering, your realy bordering on hitting something. its called a latino baby boom, beneficial to america. thats why they left the borders open while granting amnesty before knowing that there would be a huge flow of illegals. now that they have enough illegals here, they are closeing the borders, if they grant amnesty agian then the illegals will be able to pay taxes and would simply be a boom in the population, gee why would we need a boom in the population....dont we have enough people, dont we have too many people? actualy we have too many ageing baby boomers from before drawing too much from social security and other programs that they need and deserve, so a more youthful baby boomer population would actualy pay into all those govt programs revitelizeing america's govt care system. and they will definatly need that kind of monirtary increase if they were planning something like oh....i dont know.....a nationalized healthcare system.

Answer 6

Yes, it makes sense -- but the path doesn't have to go all the way to citizenship.

Providing an option that allows people -- with no other criminal record, who have a job, and who are already here -- to accept the consequences of their violation, plead to a misdemeanor (which is what the crime is now) -- and then become lawful resident aliens -- that gets them 90% of the way towards the solution you propose.

And the misdemeanor charge, plus a life-time prohibition on citizenship -- that's a good balance of punishment for having violated the law in the first place, but still allowing them to become legal productive members of society.

Answer 7

We already helped those that were here when Reagan was president,it was a disaster and only made it easier for millions more to come here illegal. And left more poor uneducated people get on our government assistance programs.NO MORE SHAMNESTY!

Answer 8

I think anyone willing to work should be allowed in here. As a former teacher I hate lazy people and my recent immigrant students were not lazy -- they worked a lot harder than many Americans!

Answer 9

No. We would be rewarding criminal behavior. Remember, they have committed a federal felony by entering this country illegally.

Answer 10

12 million (your number) are already here illegally, that makes them criminals.
wait until one of them starts using YOUR social security number and starts ruining your credit and turns your life into a nightmare... i wonder how loving towards them you will feel then!!!???
get your head out of the sand!!!!!!!!!!!!