Illegal immigrants in US

I am totally against ILLEGAL immigrants. If a person wants to come live in this country, they should go about it via the proper channels.

Illegals are a drain on the society, IMO. The first thing they do, is sign up for Welfare, and start collecting. It really burns me. Why should I have to work and pay taxes to support a bunch of people who want to have everything this country has to offer, without putting something in to it themselves.

Exactly Hope !!! Theres way to many of them. But this is not a problem that just started either they have been coming in here for years. I doubt that ANYTHING will ever be done about it either. I'm starting to really hate California big time.
I would like to see Older folks get more help then to give it away to people who are not here legally, The older folks are doing without stuff they need. And there's other more important things the money could be used for .. IMO

Most Illegal immigrants are getting jobs under the table. That way they don't have to pay taxes and they don't get documented. As far as getting Welfare and Social Services, they have ways of getting Social Security cards. They're not LEGAL Social Security Cards. There are places that can give you identity for a fee. There are places here in Los Angeles where it's done all of the time.

They need to start with employers for one thing, they couldn't get jobs if they had laws about hireing them, and make it a law that they can't. Why would employers want to have to pay someone even minium wage if they don't have to. That's all you see at the fast food places. I understand that they want a better life that's understandable but not at the expence of this country.
There own goverment does nothing for them. We sure can't go to there country's without the proper papers. It's way out of hand and a fence isnt going to fix anything. But anything is better then what they have done. All these rally's and protests is not going to get us anywhere. The Goverment here is going to do whatever it can to get votes from whoever it has to please IMO

move to memphis for a week and ya'll will see why i'm COMPLTELY against illegal immigration! it's gotten sooooo bad here that people have started to call it "mexico memphis" I hate it- illegals are everywhere - and the gangs and crime have followed- this is why i moved out of my mom and i's duplex and into colin's house. our neighborhood got overrun by illegal immigrants - they sit in their trucks all night and drink beer with the trucks running and their music playing full blast...then they toss beer bottles into the street. when we call the cops they never do anything (many memphis cops are kinda lousy- BUT because INS won't deport them- the cops really can't do much.) they also shoot guns!!!! i live in the city!!!! Sooo illegal! It got soo bad that i wouldn't even walk our wolf mix, Ginger out in the front yard or go outside to take the trash out without my mom watching- there were always strange men. The gangs have tagged all of the neighborhood- it's rediculious. I am all for deporting illegal immigrants back to where they came from. I have NO problems whatsoever with people who want to come to this country LEGALLY and go through the right processes just like everyone else- but those who choose to do so illegaly- need to be deported. I could go on and on but i'll stop there. And for those who think illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay- i urge you to come visit memphis for one weekend and see if you don't change your mind- it's aweful I felt sooo unsafe that i moved into Colin's house in a different city (bartlett,tn- right outside of memphis)

I've been thinking about this alot. We've had this conversation quite a few times, here. I think we should 1) Get RID of Nafta, immediately. and 2) Go after the enablers of illegal immigration, not the immigrants.

I do believe that illegal immigration is a problem because it does cause problems for areas with a high population of illegal immigrants and also it causes a lot of problems for the people who are doing it. Please, for a minute, consider what it is like. People die crossing the border. What must they be escaping? I know many of us have been to Mexico... but have you been to the places that the illegal immigrants are coming from?

Here are some pictures, sorry about the quality.


No, I don't expect pictures to change anyones mind. We all know what Mexico is like in many of the border barrios. But let me explain the pictures anyway. #1 I took a few miles from the border. It's blurry, but yes, those houses really are made out of scrap metal and cardboard. Being there felt like being in a refugee camp in Darfur. I spent a full week there, which was longer than I would wish on my worst enemy. you could see the things swimming in the drinking water. #2 was taken on the NAFTA tour... that pile is a pile of pollution the likes of which we have never seen in America. The picture stinks, but the factory there imports things directly into America with the tags not sewn on them, we sew the tags on them, and they are labeled "Made in America". Yet that company actually makes them here. That pile may look like sand or salt, but it is actually leftover carcinogens from products made for export here. And that pond? Feeds directly into the "drinking" water supply.

It's difficult for Americans to understand what illegal immigrants might be escaping. Some have said they should stay in their own country and change it. No offense, but the elections there are still fixed. I was there during Vincente Fox's campaign, and there was never any doubt who would win. Vote early and often, all that. The people who come here illegally are so bad off I consider them refugees. Because they are. What is worse is that NAFTA, which wholly benefits the US, created some of the problem. So there is this large company X here, and X makes a lot of its products in Mexico, paying so little, and imports them here, labels them as made in the US after importing them with NO border taxes paid to Mexico because they were unfinished... and then employs thousands upon thousands of illegal immigrants in America who left their homes because conditions were so bad because of Company X's policies there below wages. And we wonder why?

Many many many reforms need to be made, but ill will towards the immigrants is counterproductive. They are trying to survive. Survive. A level of the hierarchy most of us have never even had to worry about. The application just to try to get here legally is 200$.

I know most of you won't change your opinions, but I sincerely hope people will consider the human aspect of it. We consider ourselves such dogooders elsewhere in the world, we're outraged at unfair elections and obscenely low wages, we are still known as one of the most generous nations. So why, when the problems of the third world come home, are we so resentful? Most parts of Mexico are doing quite well, it really is mainly border areas and indigenous peoples who are so bad off.

As for speaking English... I really don't understand this argument. What is there to be mad about? Did you receive your order correctly, on time, etc? It's understandable to be mad about poor customer service but why not chalk it up to just that? Why does it become a larger issue about millions of people in this country?

As for your friend who helps illegals across the border... she will get caught. Eventually. And probably will be in jail, at least for a while.

I don't think we should just open up the borders, or give citizenship to anyone here... but what, really, is the huge problem that any of us face in our lives? High taxes? My city taxes are way higher than my federal taxes too, even in little old Columbus, even making minimum wage. I have yet to hear of a problem caused by illegal immigrants that isn't caused in general by poverty. They aren't the only uninsured people who use emergency rooms, or have a higher crime rate, etc.

yep a agree with that,
the goverment should be going after the people that give them jobs, then after the illegals, and better control on the border.

I too, have been to Mexico. The conditions are deplorable, I'll agree, and I do understand why they would want to immigrate to a richer country. The problem is, that the majority of illegals really don't change their lifestyle all that much when they come here. They still live several families to one small apartment, in an area that is totally and completely run down. They hear about how generous our welfare system is here, and they can't wait to get here to sign up for it. They still live in poverty and squaller here in the US, at least in here in Southern California. The MAJORITY don't really try to change it. The majority of Illegals don't show a great deal of interest in becoming a part of the American culture or the American way of life. They don't bother to learn English, and even if it isn't the "Official" language of the US, it would certainly HELP them to get better jobs, which would take them off of the Social Services situation. I've seen halfway decent neighborhoods destroyed by the immigrant population that settled in them. I've seen immigrants change their baby's diapers and leave the soiled diaper's on a bus seat or in the produce section in the grocery store. Where as, someone who took the time and effort to come here legally, take pride in the fact that they have earned the right to come here and live, and they work at bettering their lives, and I've seen those people have a better work ethic than most Americans have.

Take on the companies. Quite a few of them large corporation like walmart, the meat packing/rendenring industries and any employer that hires them.

Otherwise it is a supply and demand issues. The employer want to pay as little as possible. Often victimizing the immigrants, and would rather pay someone slave wages than hire an legal immigrant or an american for a living wage.

If there are no jobs handed out, there will be no illigal immigrants.

I agree with that to some degree, but I also say, NO WELFARE, will also prevent Illegal Immigrants. Here in Los Angeles, you can go to any Welfare office in the city and you will find that they are almost entirely full of Illegal Immigrants signing up.

Mind if I butt in? I don`t know about america but in the uk it`s a big problem and the system set up by the government is a farse.

I have worked in 2 factories where english workers were in the minority. When the home office did a spot check at one of them our superviser warned them that anyone without papers better stay away the next day or they`d get caught.

At the moment here especially on the south coast, there is a huge number of east european workers coming in. They aren`t illegal but they are getting tax benefits, free hospital treatment etc that we brits have trouble getting. My boss employes quite a few as they are cheap labour and will work all the hours he wants. There is alot of trouble because british labourours on building sites are losing work because the bossess want to pay the least money they can.

I was really pissed at my boss because he was interviewed on the tv about why he employed european labour and he slated the brits, but I think it`s all wrong.

The thing that really makes me mad is I have a friend I`ve known for a year. He is an assylum seeker from Cameroon and I know him because he lived upstairs and I worked with him. He has fled his counrty because he was scared for his life. He has the scars on his arms and legs where he was attacked with a machette and has pins in his arm and leg from where they were broken. He was attacked by the police because he spoke out against their corrupt government

Now, he was sent to live further up north so I only speak to him on the phone and he has been waiting for his appeal to be decided about if he can stay or not. He knows he will be killed if they send him back there and now the solicitor says he may be refused!

He is a sweet kind person who stood up for what he believes in and they are threatening to send him back even though they know what his fate will be, yet if you are from eastern europe and you just want to make money and benefit from the system even though you haven`t paid anything into it, fine! Go ahead!

It is ridiculous! I will hide my friend if I have to but I`m hoping something can be done to help him.

If they want into this country bad enough they can follow the proper procedures to get here. I am so sick and tired of paying taxes for welfare programs that don't benefit the people in our country. I know that we have our own problems with welfare abusers here too. I live 30 miles away from one of the biggest offending companies that employs them and that is Tyson foods. That company should be shut down till they abide by our laws. They are a nasty nasty place. There is a good book out about them and it's called "Fast food america". I get so mad about this immigration thing. They have no rights here. They are illegal. We take away the rights of felons in this country, who were born here, why should an illegal immigrant have rights???

Also I think it is in part mythology that illegals get benefits and the lot. I think it has been researched and proven that actually illegal immigrants do pay a good chunk of taxes and don't really get that many "benefits".
What is bad is that they keep the wages low. What is worse, is that the rich people in power pit workers against workers and poor peopel against poor people.
Very much like in the early history of the US in NY. First the Irish were the labor force, then the italians, getting pitted against each other, Then the blacks were cheaper. And the poors were fighting and killing each other struglling for a living wage.

Right now. the corporations, business that hire illegals are not held accountalbe. As long as they get away w/it. This will always go on. If you wanted real results we gotta target them and the laws that punish the weakest rather than the ones that are actually gaining from cheap labor.

And lastly one of the negatives is that violence and racisim is being helped here as well. By pitting americans against the II.

New law, if a business or corpration, i.e. tyson, walmart is caught hiring illegals. Humanely detain the II, send them back to their country.

The CEOs and higher up including the rich stock holders have to take and do the job the II was doing and survive on that wage for two to three years.

And for freak sake repeal nafta and cafta. Let's get some of our jobs back home.

They can collect welfare if they are not a legal citizen? You can't collect it here unless you have a SIN number and are a citizen That seems weird that anyone can collect welfare there without proof of citizenship.

The first thing they do is go get themselves an illegal Social Security card. You can get all kinds of things illegally here, if you have the money to pay the crooks that deal in that sort of thing.

Interesting that you start this thread on the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Denver now has the largest celebration of it in the US (probably North America, because it isn't a big celebration in Mexico - September 16th is their big Independence Day). This year the numbers of celebrants (both in "cruising" Federal Blvd and the official celebration in Civic Center Park) is down significantly. Is that because of the fear of ICE or because it's been grey and rainy?

I completely agree that we need to do more cracking down on companies that hire illegal immigrants. Sad thing is that when they do (i.e. Swift meat packing plants, including the one in Greeley, CO), there are all kinds of protests saying it's cruel.

When a friend of mine was recently in jail (BS technicality charge), he told me that a very large majority of those in were on ICE holds. In other words, they were caught committing other crimes (not just traffic violations, either) and were found to be illegally here. They all said that even if they were deported, they would be back within a few weeks, untraceable.

Julie, I agree with you completely. NAFTA has been a monumental failure and needs to be rescinded.

I've been to Chihuahua, in a very poor neighborhood (years ago, I went with a church group to get a church in this neighborhood up to code - including adding a running toilet that would be accessible to the residents, something most didn't have in their homes). It's pathetic the conditions that these people live in. So they come to America and even the worst conditions that we have are luxurious accommodations to them. Living on welfare and/or minimum wage (or less) may seem deplorable to us, may seem like that's not enough to live on, but comparatively it is more than enough for them.

Remember - the 2nd largest source of revenue for the whole of Mexico is money sent back from the US. The Mexican government wants to send more of their problems (mouths to feed) here so they are less responsible to their own people. As long as they are putting pressure on the US to allow this to continue, they can claim they are doing what they can to help their people without actually doing anything.

What gets me is that we have 300,000,000 people recorded as living in the U.S. Yet 1,000,000 of those people (or maybe not included ) the government is paying attention to.

No1, they are not citizens or legally established here. Why is our government even paying attention to them???

Secondly, have you received a SS card? they are so easy to print off from your home computer. Why is that the states are investing money to produce unreproducible drivers licenses and state ids, but the U.S. government hasn't invested much into preventing fakes soc cards? Thirdly if we can produce "keys" for software that must match a certain scheme - actually think more the routing number on your checks...thats a number scheme, then why aren't social security cards that way??

Building a wall won't help...they'll just learn to dig under it or jump over it.

I totally agree with what you said. I don't mind people coming here, but at least do it legally. My mom is an alien, but she did it legally, got a job, etc. Contributed to society and never once depended on any outside programs for help.
Here in Texas it is getting really bad. I'm only in central texas, but I know that it is bad in San Antonio and cities closer to the border. They really need to have better border control before we are overun with illegal immigrants. It seems like every other race, nationality, ethnicity, etc gets special treatment, but what do I get for being a citizen and paying taxes??? Sometimes I wonder who is getting the better end of the deal.


That is true. There are jobs that an American will not do because the pay is too little or the job is beneath them. So they hire illegal immigrants because they are hard workers and will work for very little. There are a lot of them working in roofing companies especially around our area.

Yep and they are trying to make the US look just like that.

Did you read my explanations? The second picture is caused by AMERICAN companies exploiting nafta... Do you really think anybody wants to live like that? That they come here thinking, oh, lets tear down these roofs and put up cardboard instead. The second largest group of immigrants in Ohio are Somali. Do you look at pictures of Somalia and say they come here to make it look like that?

As for welfare, according to every law I could find, you have to prove that you are legal to get anything. If people are commiting identity theft or what have you to get it, yes, they should be prosecuted for that, and also they need to enforce their laws.

The mexican government is ridiculously corrupt. The fact that a government would encourage people to leave and send back money would be unfathomable if it wasn't happening. Despite that, though, they do have a growing middle class in all the areas that aren't being taken over by American companies using NAFTA.

The people who are willling to hire illegal immigrants because they can give them obscenely low wages are doubly at fault. Maybe those companies that import their products from Mexico, claim they're made in the US, and then hire thousands of illegal immigrants because it's just another way to slash their budget are at fault here more than the people who come here and take that job. Did someone say Walmart?

of course i did.

but have you seen lorain?, elyria? they are starting to get that same look.
and part of that reason is nafta when i left here years ago. They are doing well.
high paying jobs, etc I come back a few years ago,and the signs of provity is everywhere. THat has the same look no matter where you go. That why i moved back out to the country, the cities here are starting to look like that.
cities are dying, no good paying jobs, no tax base, and all those problems that come with it.

that why i am saying people are trying there best to make us look like that.