Immigration- illegal aliens or human beings?
Immigration is a touchy subject to a majority of Americans; it seems all you here about these days is how all those illegal aliens are taking our jobs and money.
But does everyone get the facts?
Generally, when one brings up the topic of immigration it seems that the race targeted most is the hispanic race. This is extremely frustrating to me, especially because a majority of people claim that all hispanics who live here are mexicans. To clarify, mexicans come from mexico. Not guatemala, not honduras, not puerto rico. When speaking of all these races, they are Hispanic. Secondly, let me point out that the southern border isn't the only one crossed greatly by illegal immigrants. What about the Northern border?
Mexico, unfortunately, is greatly plagued by poverty and a sad excuse for a government. Really, the citizens there have nothing but their own families. I would know, my family comes from Mexico and all of them, except for a small handful, immigrated here to the US.
People who come here from Canada illegally and stay here illegally are much more prone to abuse the US' system than those from the southern border. Illegal residents from the North have free healthcare, a fairly effective government, and numerous other rights. The biggest complaint from them? A large amount of their money goes to the government because of all the benefits they receive from it. So, they come to the US on a work visa, keep the money they earn and when in need of healthcare or something they can get for free, they go back to Canada. How is this acceptable? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Canadians. I am simply arguing another side to the immigration debate instead of the broken record of "mexicans".
In reality, hispanic immigrants tend to struggle more for jobs and citizenship. English is not something that comes natural to them and the racism in this country towards hispanics is ridiculous. It took my aunt 16 years to get her citizenship. How can we complain about illegal immigrants when we make it this difficult to become legal? Instead of making people who wish to lead better lives memorize ten pages of random facts that a majority of Americans are uneducated about, why don't we simplify the legalization process so that there are less illegals? Would that not solve the problem?
Instead of having those who wish to live in the US know who the 17th president is, why dont we ask them to enroll in an English class? Instead of asking them to know the capitol of Vermont, why don't we ask them to know major felonies, drinking age, smoking age, etc? Things they will use. Things they need to know in their everyday lives in America. Not only that, but we also need to lower the time it takes to become a legal citizen. If it takes 5 years instead of 16, isn't it logical to conclude that more people would apply for legalization?
Instead of being a bunch of greedy Americans who want to horde their belongings, money, homes from those less fortunate we need to help them. If they have the drive, dedication, etc to come to the US, learn what they need to learn and apply for citizenship, we need to make it worth their while. We battled racism against blacks, we battled racism against asians and those of pacific islander decent. It is now the time to battle the racism against hispanics. Instead of chastising them, make it easier to become citizens and in reality, more would become legal rather than not.
The more legal citizens there are, no matter where they come from, the less chance there is of our system being abused.
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most of the comments are like essay
wow..! you love words..
Too much to read - comments and all O.O
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Usfocus/...
Just to clarify...if you are talking about dual citizens of Canada and the United States, and they are working in the United States, then they are paying taxes. If they are somehow getting out of paying taxes (not sure how) than that is tax fraud. If they are on a work visa, they have to pay U.S. taxes also.
Yes, it is extremely unfortunate. If McDonald's did not depend on illegal labor, perhaps they would pay people a living wage. McDonald's is just like Walmart in many ways, in terms of labor vioations and such. Unfortunately, these labor problems are largely unexposed because McDonald's does not allow unions (Walmart does) and the illegal immigrants are not going file lawsuits. McDonald's is not the only corporation guilty of this. It is quite prevalent and is not good for American workers.
To go off your point about Mexicans not being the only illegals, I totally agree. They are not the only ones, but they do make up a large portion. Canadians do not really have motivation to come here illegally. If they are legally and abuse the system, that is really Canada's problem, since they are taking advantage of Canada's system without paying Canada's taxes.
And yes, I have studied Spanish before. I took four years in high school. My grandma also came here from Panama when she was 25 and knew no English. She taught herself by watching American soap operas. It may difficult, but its definitely possible.
I agree with you that we should better the system. We do have a faulty system and this is partially to blame. Mandatory English classes would be a great idea. However, no matter how good the system is, there are always going to be people who do things illegally and we need to enforce laws so that people respect our system. If it is easy to come into our country illegally, why would anyone want to do it legally? Nothing should be done about those already in this country, but if we modify the system to make it better, we should also enforce laws to ensure people use the system.
To clarify, Candians still pay taxes in Canada, they just get to make more money than our own citizens and keep more of it than they would. Any many come here illegally. And also, hispanics don't make up the majority of immigrants. Yes, there seems to be a lot but you can't know if they're all illegals. There are a lot of people from Asian and Pacific Islander countries, Africa, Canada and Europe. The most prominant actually being Canada and Asia/Pacific Islands. Canadians do have a reason to come here illegally- money. And until recently, the Canadian border was protected very minimally. Actually, illegals from other countries used to enter the US through Canada. I do believe that we shouldn't allow people to live here illegally, but I think that a "weeding out" process of picking only superiour immigrants is ridiculous. We don't have the right to block anyone out if they are willing to become legalized.
I agree, making the process simpler will not get rid of all illegals, but it will definately lower the number. And if we have better protection against illegals taking advantage of our system combined with a simplified legalization process it will dramatically reduce those numbers. I'm not saying that you necessarily use this thought process, but many Americans use the thought process of "this wont eliminate crime, so why bother." Murder is illegal, there are still murderers. Robbery as well. But we still try to fight it. Illegal immigration is wrong and the fact that there are so many illegals tells us something about our legalization process.
And yes, it is possible to learn English. I never said it wasn't, I was just stating how big of a difference there is between English and Spanish. English classes would help greatly I think.
Yes, McDonald's does hire illegal immigrants, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. A McDonald's franchise in Nevada was fined $1 million when they were caught in July of this year (you can google it if you'd like). They not only hired the illegal immigrants but also aided them by offering them names and social security numbers that belonged to other people. My first store manager, an immigrant from Nigeria, was eventually fired when they found out she was using a social security number that belonged to a deceased person. A McDonald's franchise (we were corporate at the time) then hired her. I actually have a friend whose brothers come here and work using his name and social security number. This kind of stuff happens quite frequently. There are many tricks and loopholes in the system, and many illegal immigrants are quite adept at using them. Also, McDonald's depends on the labor of illega immigrants so it is their best interest to keep them employed.
its rather unfortunate that large profit-making companies like McDonalds has to rely on the help of illegal immigrants to make an even bigger buck.
its an interesting story i havent heard of before. But an idea would be to expose the corporations that are using these people so that they cant make an even bigger buck at other people's expense.
I worked at McDonald's for three and half years and was a manager for the last year and a half. At least half of my co-workers came here illegally from Mexico. I talked to them everyday and developed relationships with some of them. Although I do agree with you on many points, nearly all of the Mexicans I worked with were working here to make money and bring it back with them to Mexico. Some people I worked with were sending their money back to Mexico so that there family could use it to build a house, and then as soon as the house was built, they would move back to Mexico. Also, there were many Mexicans I worked with who had literally been in this country for 15 years, and still could not say a single word of English. I know that learning English can be difficult for many, but to be in this country for 15 years and not be able to say "Hello" is just ridiculous. If I went to another country I would learn the language, at least to the best of my ability. While there are some hispanic immigrants who come here to become Americans (my grandma was one of them) many unfortunately do not. Because it is so easy for Mexicans to illegally enter our country, as opposed to people who live on other continents, I think that many of them take advantage of our country. I am not saying that there aren't any hispanics who come here to be American, as I also know many who do (my best friend's boyfriend), but there are still many people who come to America for the wrong reasons. Also, it is not that difficult to become legal. It takes time and patience (yes, for some it can take 16 years), but immigrants from other countries wait their turn. I also personally know plenty of people who have immigrated from other countries, and they understand that becoming an American citizen is a privelege, not a right inherent to every human being, and they need to take their turn. Unfortunately we cannot allow everyone to come in our country whenever they want. There must be rules. That does not mean that we just should treat them inhumanely, but we should enforce the laws set in place.
Although I do agree with many of your points, I would like to first of all point out that just because some come here to send money home, doesn't mean they haven't tried to become legal. No, its not a right inherent on every human being to become an american. But we shouldn't make it as difficult as we do. Other countries don't make it that difficult for us to become citizens, and I don't believe we have the right to call ourselves superiour to anyone else. I am not condoning the act of illegal immigration by any means. It is true that illegal immigrants can easily abuse our system and mess up the economy. What I am saying is that we need to better the legalization process because the knowledge we require them to know is USELESS. And if it wasn't so difficult to become a citizen, more would do so thereby creating less illegals.
Also what I was trying to state initially in my blog is that it's very tiring to hear everyone speak of only Mexicans as illegal immigrants. Many come from South America (not mexicans) and even more come from Canada. Its much easier to abuse our system from Canada. And its much easier for a Canadian to become a legal US citizen because they already speak English. I'm not sure if you've ever studied Spanish before, but English is completely opposite from it. Learning English for a hispanic can be very difficult, but I do think it's something that should be required. I think instead of asking them the 23rd president, we should ask them to learn English, enroll in a class or something. I want to better the system so we have more legals and less illegals. Of EVERY race, not just those of hispanic decent.
And just to clarify- McDonalds hires illegal immigrants??
Immigration is not the problem, its illegal immigration that people don't like, and for good reason. Illegal immigrants drive down wages in jobs like construction that used to provide enough wages to raise a good sized family. Not anymore, and that is a major problem for our economy. Not to mention that we have a huge trade deficit because so much money is sent back to Mexico and S. American countries. That's why they come here. They don't come to be American, they don't come to learn English, they come to benefit from our great society without adding anything to it.
And please, how is it "greedy" of Americans to ask that people follow our laws when they want to come here? America is THE MOST generous nation on earth, its not greed that drives some of us to want our borders closed and tougher enforcement of immigration laws. Its the effects that we see on a daily basis, the crime, the fact that jails are loaded with illegals, that hospitals have been shut down because of the illegals that get treatment and don't pay.
There are good reasons to oppose illegal immigration, it does not make one inhumane.
First of all, I'd like to ask you how you know that illegals don't come here to be American? But just to be greedy, system abusive criminals who clog up our prisons? Because from PERSONAL experience, I've seen otherwise. This is the view that so many people who are prejudiced against hispanics have. Have you taken the time to talk to someone who came here illegally? Did you ask them why? It's because our process of becoming a LEGAL citizen SUCKS. Sixteen years to become a citizen? And to know a bunch of random, useless facts? Tell me, who and how does it help to know the 23rd president of the US? Why don't you take the Citizenship test and tell me how it really helps you be a good citizen.
People come to America for BETTER LIVES. Isn't that why America began? Because we wanted freedoms? Weren't we all immigrants at one point? So what gives us the right to build a giant wall around our country and act superiour to everyone else? Nothing does.
Yes, illegal immigration is wrong. But if it wasn't so difficult to become legal, it wouldn't be this big of a problem. Instead of blocking out everyone, simplify the legalization process so there are more LEGAL immigrants. Its much more logical.
On the note that opposing immigrants doesnt make on inhumane, how can denying someone the opportunity to lead a better live be good? How can denying someone attention in an ER in a life or death situation be humane? They are still human beings Mr. S. It is greedy, and rather uneducated, of us to simply block off all borders because "we're so much more superiour." And as a side note, illegal immigrants aren't the only ones in prison. Maybe if we tried to get them to learn the felony laws instead of the presidents in chronological order we could lower that? Other countries' laws are far more different than ours.
I urge you Mr. S to look up statistics on how many Canadians have dual citizenship, therefore taking more advantage of our system, and to research more. Please don't be another citizen who merely listens to the conservative propaganda against the hispanic race. Many successful people have been hispanic immigrants.
A few issues here:
1) This is about illegal immigration, not immigration in general. Nobody is for putting a stop to legal immigration. The idea that stopping illegal immigration has anything to do with a superiority complex is ridiculous. There are valid reasons why illegal immigrants are bad for this country, and its not our responsibility to make sure every human south of the border has a good life.
2) Race is not in any way involved in this and being against illegal immigration does not make one racist. Immigrating here from any nation illegally is wrong.
3) Canadians having LEGAL dual citizenship is an entirely differnet issue. If they are legal, who cares? It has no bearing on illegal immigrants from our southern border.
4) How would teaching illegals about our felony laws lower the crime rates? Everyone knows that rape, murdery, burglary, drugs, etc. are illegal.
If we want to help the people south of our border, there are better ways to do it than to just let them all come here. Its the "Teach a man to fish" theory. Help them fix their own corrupt governments, help them create good jobs, help them take advantage of the natural resources they have.
I have been speaking of illegal immigration, I'm not sure where you're getting at? What i'm saying is that instead of putting up giant walls and locking out people, we should better our system of legalization. And actually no, not everyone knows about our felonies. Age of consent doesn't exist in a lot of other countries. Drugs aren't illegal in a lot of other countries. You have to take into account what people need to be educated about. And i'm not so sure why you keep bringing up only those to the south of us? They aren't the only illegal immigrants we have.
What are the chances of us bettering another country? Look at Iraq- we thought we could bring them a successful democracy and instead we are in a pointless war spending billions of dollars and killing hundreds of thousands. Its unrealistic. Its illogical.
My point in bringing up Canadians is that they abuse the system by making money here, keeping it, and instead of paying for things that the rest of us do, they go to Canada to get it for free. How is that ok? They are abusing the system. And instead we antagonize those who want to make a living.
I'm not saying lets be a charitable country to the Mexicans. I'm saying we should look at illegal immigration as a WHOLE- all countries all races. And that we should simplify the process so that less people (of any race) would take advantage of our system.
You did not make it clear that you were talking about illegal immigration, the canadians you are speaking of afterall are legal.
We arent "putting up walls" to keep everyone out, we are putting up walls to protect us from criminals. We need to know, for our own safety, who is here legally and who isnt. If we made it simpler to enter our country legally, I would not be against that. But immigration into our country is supposed to be mutually benefitial. It does not benefit us when unskilled, non-english speaking workers come here and depress wages and create a huge trade deficit. People that we do want are educated and skilled workers that intend to assimilate and become American. People from Mexico DO NOT want to be American, the only evidence you need is their refusal to learn our language and the fact that they send billions home.
And we CAN help other countries become independent and wealthy. Without the USA, Israel would not exist and neither would other middle eastern countries. Japan and Germany are two other fine examples of this. Iraq is on its way to becoming a strong, independent, and wealthy nation itself. If you have not noticed, the surge was a success and we are winning. Mexico just needs to clean up its government which is run by mobsters and drug dealers, then they need to develop their natural resources and create high wage jobs. The fact that college educated (not sure the quality of a Mexican college education) people come here from Mexico to make $8/hr is very telling.
Canadians with dual citizenship that abuse the Canadian system are not really our concern. They are not hurting US, they are hurting CANADA. If they work here and pay taxes to the US federal government and whatever state they live in, why do we care if they go back to Canada and use the healthcare system without paying into it? That is Canadas problem.
First of all, how can you say that being prejudiced has nothing to do with your opinion when many of the points you just made were VERY racial. Not sure the quality of a Mexican education? No Mexicans want to become American? They are all criminals?
Your generalizations and stereotyping is frustrating and goes to show why so many Americans have a bad name. Stereotyping and generalizing everything isnt the educated way to go about things. When I brought up Canadians, I never stated that they were paying taxes- many of them dont. They get a good education in Canada, come to the US make good money, and use the free things in Canada when needed. Its abuse no matter how you look at it.
And we're winning in Iraq? Thats news to me. Nice to know the countless innocents have died for something.
And I didnt know that we had the right to act like a Neo-Nazi Germany society and selectively choose who becomes a US citizen because we would benefit from them more. If that kind of society is ideal for you, I wouldn't want to be a US citizen.
And let me ask you something else- since when has immigration been about the US' benefit? When the US was first created it was for freedoms, liberty and respect. We've seen throughout history that blocking off races and immigration doesnt work. Do you remember when we blocked off the Chinese?
Again, I'm not condoning illegal immigration. I'm just saying that we should simplify the legalization process so that less illegals would take advantage of our systems. And again, Mexicans aren't the only immigrants. Ever been in a nail salon? Tell me how many of them speak understandable english.
And just a side note, many of the jobs you speak of that the "mexicans are stealing from us Americans" are jobs that no one else would want to work. Be realistic.
Its not racist at all, race has nothing to do with it. I honestly do not know the worth of a Mexican college education, I'm pleading ignorance not racism. I'm decently sure that colleges in Mexico are mostly Catholic instutitions, and I myself am Catholic. Am I insulting my own church? no, and I'm not insulting anyones race either. Most Mexicans DO NOT want to become American, they just don't. Why else would they refuse to speak english? Why do they send billions of dollars home? They are here to help themselves and their families, you cannot fault them for it, but detrimental to us econimically and socially. We have every right to stop it.
Generalizations and stereotypes are often times based in truth. Otherwise, why would there be spanish language EVERYWHERE? Why do I have to press 1 for english every time I call an automated number? It is because there is a huge population of people in America that do not and will not learn english. It's not a stereotype, it's not racist, its a fact.
About the Canadians, if they are here legally which you stated before that they were, they are paying taxes. If they are paying taxes into our system, returning to Canada to abuse their system, why is that our problem? That is something that Canada needs to deal with. It seems to me you brought that into the conversation so that you could throw around accusations of racism.
And yes, we are winning in Iraq. Violence is way down, our troop levels are down, and their government is coming together. Things are dramatically better there. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7lROml502U
Immigration has always been about the US benefitting, unless the immigrants are refugees. Even when we took any and all immigrants, it was because we NEEDED them. Our country grew and expanded because of immigration, but at this point we do not need just any immigrants. We have to pick and choose, we cannot just open the flood gates and allow in every single person from Russia, China, Europe, Mexico, Guatemala, etc.
The jobs that Hispanic immigrants are taking ARE NOT jobs that nobody will do. The immigrants simply make it not worthwhile for American workers. For instance, construction jobs used to pay $40/hour or better. Now that most of them are taken by illegal immigrants, they make half that much. Its a myth that they take jobs Americans won't do, and in fact Americans would be better off if they were getting paid higher wages to do those jobs. Part of the reason why so many jobs are paid minimum wage, like McDonalds which was mentioned by someone else, is because of how many illegals they hire. If there were no illegals to hire, they would have to pay people more, most of those people would probably be around your age too.