why don't immigrants come to the united states legally?

Question

why don't immigrants come to the united states legally

thanks, post a source for your answer if you can/

Answer 1

Depending on which country they are coming from, it's really hard to nearly impossible to get in legally. In Mexico you need to have a certain amount of money in the bank to come here. But yet in most small towns the closest bank is more than 6 hours away. Not only that but you are put on a waiting list that is a joke. Once your on the waiting list you have at least a 10 year wait before you are even answered.

Answer 2

I suspect a lot of illegal immigrants don't understand how to come to the US legally.

I think the majority of illegal immigrants have heard from the grapevine how much it costs and how long it takes. The process is unreachable for many illegal immigrants and its easier for them to just cross the board without the necessary paperwork.

Try and think like they do... I have nothing here, I can't afford or wait for the legal process to make it possible to immigrate. I will cross the border on my own and take my changes. What is the US going to do? Send me back to Mexico. I will just cross the border again in a different state.

They may even be saying I have a right to live, like an American.

Mexico should be policing its own borders preventing illegal immigration. It is the ingorance of their own citizens that is causing the problems. Mexico, should take responsibility for its own actions.

We (The people of the United States) should send Mexico the bill for cleaning up this mess.

Answer 3

In order to come here LEGALLY, you must have a sponsor, who will help you get a job for when you come, help you find a place to live, and will basically be financially responsible for you once you get here if for whatever reason you fall on hard times, because LEGAL immigrants aren't allowed to get welfare benefits or other government handouts, including in-state tuition at colleges, federal or state financial aid, etc. Basically, LEGAL immigrants are expected to pay their own way. Many (no, not all, some actually do work hard) who come here illegally either can't or won't pay their own way, expecting the US to give them handouts instead.

Concerning limits on Green cards:
http://www.greencardplus.com/
Green Cards
There are several ways to obtain a green card. The few lucky selected in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (a.k.a. Green Card Lottery) just have to go through the application process. However, only 55,000 individuals are given this opportunity every year. Other ways of obtaining a green card can be through family in the United States or through an employer. Some categories have a limit of how many that can obtain a green card annually (e.g. family based immigration), while other categories have no limit of green cards that can be issued (e.g. fiancés of U.S. citizens). A green card gives an individual the right to legally live and work in the United States. Note that individuals with green cards still hold the citizenship of their country of birth, but green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship after certain amount of years as a green card holder. The United States allow individuals to hold dual or multiple citizenships.

* The current green card (United States Permanent Resident Card) is not actually "green". It got its name from the early version that was green.
* There is a difference between getting a green card and obtaining U.S. citizenship.
* A green card is normally issued for 10 years at the time and it must renewed upon expiration.
* Individuals that get married to a U.S. citizenship or a green card holder, or invest a substantial amount in the U.S. economy may apply for a green card with conditions that needs to be removed after 2 years.

Answer 4

The United States takes more immigrants in per year than any other country the problem is that everybody wants in. No intelligent country would fling open the doors and harm their own citizens in the process.

We have quota's JUST LIKE ALL OTHER COUNTRIES, unfortunately not everyone can immigrate here our infrastructure as well as social programs can only handle so much before they implode. Responsible immigration is important for any country.

Answer 5

Actually, the majority of illegal immigrants in the United States don't just run past the border, they come here legally and overstay their visit due to the lengthy process it takes to be able to apply for citizenship or to stay longer.

Answer 6

Immigrants do come to the United States legally.

Illegal aliens don't!!

Answer 7

there is no cap on the number of visas for immediate family of US citizens.

I came here legally thank you very much and I have a green card. I've been living here for 9 years, paying my taxes and all that jazz.

Not all immigrants come illegally.

FYI, someone who has overstayed is out of status..illegal usually refers to entering without being inspected at the border.

Answer 8

Why pay hundreds of dollars when they can either walk across the border, or apply to schools and then never go back. I think this will be changing now with all the employer crackdowns. It's about our government do the job they should have been doing for years and neglected. When they start seeing all their relatives being sent back with no hope of ever returning, I think immigrants will start to apply and take the american dream more seriously. I'm all for immigration, as long as it's legal!

Answer 9

Because we have limits on how many we will take, particularly of poorer immigrants who tend to take more in services than they pay in taxes. It is these more than anyone who want to come, of course.

We let in more than any other country in the world, legally, however, there are billions living in poverty who would rather live here. Unfortunately, their better life would be directly at our expense, and the life boat can only take so many until it doesn't serve its purpose for its own people.

Answer 10

A lot of them do. However, the reason some of them don't is because of the hassle it takes to get over. It is much easier for them to slip over the border unnotices than it is for them to do all the necessary things to get over legally.

Answer 11

the green card lottery allows 50,000 immigrants annually all over the world to come in legally so how can a million annually be coming in legally? usanumbers shows that 1.5 illegal immigrants want amnesty. if they are illegal that means they are already here.