Warning! Controvercial Subject

How do you feel about immigration?

My opinion is that we are ALL immigrants and we should not try to "kick people out" of our country when in fact they were here first. (mexicans are indians and the indians were here first) There is no such thing as an "American" because (as I stated before) we are ALL immigrants!! So if you wanna deport them back to their country then we ALL need to go back to our country.

I agree. I think all of us, at one point or another, were immigrants. I don't think we should build a wall. I DO think we should overhaul the immigation system somewhat and I DO think we should be deporting illegal immigrants, but allowing some sort of legal work permit, like we allow a student permit, for seasonal work.

Heck, I'd be satisfied with even a little bit of respect for the sovereignty of tribal governments ... you know, like we promised.

I dont think we are all immigrants...although deciding on a cut-off point is tough. My ancestors have been here since the 1600's, well over 100 years before this country was founded. Because of that I consider myself 100% American. I never say I am part-English or anything like that. I'm an American...and damn proud of it, too!

I agree we are ALL immigrants. I have ALWAYS said that whenever people have said certain ethic groups should "go back to their former country." However, when people are here ILLEGALLY and WORKING and NOT paying taxes, I have a problem with that.

Unless you are 100% Native American, you are an immigrant.

And, really, even the "Native Americans" are immigrants too and moved here from, we think, Europe via an ice bridge.

I have no problem with immigrants, legal ones that is.

It's the ones that come here illegally, work, don't pay taxes, and yet receive welfare and government assistance.  However the last is 100% our fault....why is that even allowed?  Why, when a person shows up in court for a speeding ticket, it illegal for the court to ask if the person is here legally?

Our system needs a total overhaul....it's too tempting and too easy for people to come here illegally.

The whole "who was here first?" argument doesn't really sit with me.  That was hundreds of years ago...times have changed a little since the mayflower landed.

Exactly what I was gonna say HK....

Why don't we all just agree we are citizens of Mother Earth...Don't define yourself by a border!

I don't agree.  I don't believe the problem with immigration has anything to do with what you mentioned either. 

I am of Mexican descent.  I was born here.  My grandmother did everything she could legally do to get her and her kids (my mom included) over here after my grandfather died so she could provide for her family better than she could've had she stayed in Mexico as a widow.  I completely applaud all the hard sacrifices she made for all of us.  When someone comes here and totally bypasses even trying to do it right, to me, it's like saying they are more important than everyone else.  Like the rules don't apply to them.  If those rules don't apply to them, then which will?  I'm not only talking about any specific race, I'm talking about all the people who are here illegally.  

BTW, my great grandmother on my father's side did the same thing.  She came here the RIGHT way.

I have more opinions on what you mentioned about the Indians  (personally being of Mexican/Aztec descent) as well, but like I said, I don't believe that has anything to do with the immigration debate. 

That said....thanks for the warning label on your thread!  :)  Also, I hope people are civil in this thread toward your/my opinions.

Immmigration is fine...wonderful in fact. I'm all for moving to different countries - I mean it's not like you got to pick the country you were born in. It is illegal immigration that I have a problem with. 

I hate it too when I hear these racist co-workers talking about how they all need to come back from where they came from I just wanna tell 'em why don't you come back from where you came from!! I read an article the other day about a cuban woman in california that was elected to office (not sure what seat) and when they found out she moved here when she was one yr old they wanted to deport her! Oh and get this, they didn't wanna deport her to Cuba, they wanted to deport her to Canada because that was the last place she and her family visited when she was a child!!! WTF? I mean can you imagine if somebody came to your house and decided to deport you back to wherever your family came from, and you've never even been there before? I hate this government I swear!

"Well, Americans:
What, nothin' better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too."

-The White Stripes

i <3 jack white

I'd have to agree with the majority.  I have no problem with immigration as long as they do it the right way.

But if you're here illegally, not paying taxes and receiving government assistance...then I can't agree with that.

My mom is a naturalized American and she went thru all kinds of hassle in order to become a legal American citizen.

So yes, the system needs an overhaul.

But if we aren't going to enforce our immigration laws, why enforce any laws?

We either agree to and live by the rule of law or we don't.

You don't selectively choose which laws you'll abide by and which you won't.

If you disagree with a law, it's your duty to get the law changed, by calling and writing your legislators, by campaigning for what you believe in, or by getting elected to public office.

A well run society isn't up to somebody else.. it's up to you too.

Added: I personally would not wish to have a free-for-all everybody-just-come-on-in-the-door-is-open immigration policy, if not to protect wages, at least for national security.  The Mexican government is corrupt (maybe it's not the only one - ha!) and incidentally, there is a fence on Mexico's border... on its southern border.  But really, if employers were fined for hiring illegal immigrants, there would be no huge influx of people.... 

While I have a problem with illegal immigration, I certainly don't think a fence or a wall is the solution.   Build a 50 ft fence, and I'll show you a someone with a 51 ft ladder...

Why is it that nobody asks WHY Mexicans are coming over here in the first place?   Where is the leadership pressure being put on the Mexican government to make things better so people won't feel like the US is the only way to improve their life or feed their family?

VERY true santonacci about the Mexican Government!

But didn't the Native Americans come here first? Didn't they lay "claim" to the land before any other human being? I figure they are the original "owners" of this land. ???

Nomo-If you disagree with a law, it's your duty to get the law changed, by calling and writing your legislators, by campaigning for what you believe in, or by getting elected to public office. I completely agree!  The funny thing is is normally, you have to be a citizen to exercise your right to vote in those legislators or be elected yourself.  Oooh, ooh...and then, once becoming a citizen to actually EXERCISE THAT RIGHT.  Key point! 

Hello my fellow Americans, I vote each and every chance I get!  :)

Well, I could probably find some Native Americans, or at least some environmentalist, that would argue whether or not human beings should "own" land at all.  (We don't own our mother, and all that...)

And while Native Americans were here first, and there are some lands being returned to some based on treaties, there's no way the US is going to give the entirety of their original claims back.

vk, if you're not a citizen, you don't get a say.  Same way I don't get a say in Canada or any other country that I might wish to move to.

Can anyone fathom a bunch of Americans going to France illegally and then demanding that they change their laws to accomodate us?

Or ANY other country... illegally... and then demanding their laws be changed because we refuse to abide by them...

Cannot fathom it a bit Nomo.  In fact, it was recently talked about in one of the papers that Mexico is hunkering down on the illegal border crossings they're enduring in their southern border.  Hmm, karma?  You mean those people didn't go through the legal process that's setup to enter Mexico?  The nerve!