So can a US Citizen move to South or Central America and start landscaping work? How many hours would I last before the local police rounded me up and sent me to jail? Be honest now. This is my continent too.

But this isn't the United States of the American Continent. If anyone wants to be here then they MUST follow the rules or we are no longer a sovern nation!

The people with legal immigration issues are associated with this because, due to the roadblocks concerning waivers and denials and trying to work through are trying to draw attention to the problems they are facing in trying ot keep their families together. While working through these issues their spouses are not in legal status.

I would have a problem with ICE being there and rounding them up mainly due to the humane side of things. It might sound effective until you consider the possiblity of some kid coming home from school to an empty house and no idea that mom and dad were deported at the rally they attended while he was in school. Or a small child left in daycare while their parents attended only to never come home.

No they shouldn't. But it's not one person is it - its several million people, the population of a good-sized american city.

I'm just saying that a sense of realism has to prevail here. Mass deportations will not happen under a democractically elected government - and the sort of government that would endorse it is not one that I think any of us would want.

The sheer financial costs of the deportation process (via the courts) would be prohibitive, not to mention civil unrest from breaking up families. It simply isn't realistic.

If you really want to solve this problem, it will involve significantly tightening laws and reforming law enforcement agencies to better enforce them. There's no 'quick fix' here unfortunately.

Definitely well said. It is so good to know others feel the same as I do about this situation!

I understand there is no way to sweep through our cities and start rounding them up. However, this "catch and release" way of dealing with it is also not the answer. We need to remove the motivation for their coming here. Make it IMPOSSIBLE for them to work. Strictly enforce our labor laws. Arrest and jail anyone knowingly employing an illegal. Deport anyone caught without the legal right to be here. They will start going home when they relalize the free ride is over.

That would take some serious balls. And some good insurance on that rental.

Since when does everyone have to have his/her cake and eat it too????? A person is illegal, then wants to protest..and *we* have to worry about his/her children? does the parent not have any responsibility to the child to not engage in activities that might result in a legal deportation?

Right on!

I know. I'm all 'talk'. I'll admit it

I'm really surprised more VJ-er's are supporting the opposite side. I haven't read all of the pages in this thread, nor have I watched every news piece explaining the issues. I'm going through the legal process, as we all are, to marry a Canadian nonetheless, so I suppose this really doesn't affect me directly.

I just hurt for these families because I can understand the temptation to skip the process. The way things are going for me, it looks like it will be 9 months total before Adam gets his visa. We've been together two years, and only physically together a total of two months. Its hard, we all know that.

I have left work early today, and I won't be shopping. It isn't to intimidate our government by showing them what harm this could do to our economy, but a small amount of understanding for the families this will effect. I really wish all of the time, resources, and emotion being paid to addressing illegal immigrants was being given to reforming our system. Perhaps if the system wasn't as complicated and long as it is, so many people would avoid it.

Yes, I realize many people may skip the paperwork because they wouldn't be approved - due to criminal history etc. I don't know those statistics. I just wish there was more effort to help us, the people going by the book, and less attention on a long-existing problem we're never going to rightfully correct.

I respect all of you that were so deeply touched by this issue, whichever side you fall on.

Now I almost feel bad. All they could muster here in Cincinnati was a sorry crowd of maybe 50 people to march and protest downtown. Most of those were anything but illegals from what it looked like. More your retired bleeding hearts that had nothing better to do this Monday morning.

So, life goes on in Cincinnati.




This is not about families skipping the process.

It might be worth pointing out that a lot of the folks who post here angry that "we did it the hard way and illegals did it the easy way" are comparing apples and oranges. Not many of the non-USCs on VJ came here seeking a "better life"; many, if not most, of them had perfectly fine lives in their home countries, had educations and jobs and families and friends. They came here because a loved one was here and because two people decided together that the non-USC coming to the States was the best option for them both.

Meanwhile, illegal aliens who come here to work are generally here to make better lives for their families. Quite a different story. For many if not most of them, the legal channels to come here and work are quite limited, at least as it stands now.

Anyone familiar with my posts knows that I am no fan of illegal immigration or the greedy employers who perpetuate the system. But I am opposed to allowing undocumented workers continue in their present situation not because I love a "legal immigrant" and we "did things the hard way," but because I believe it perpetuates a harmful and exploitative economy. I would feel this way even if Ewen were American instead of British and I'd never heard of an I-129F.

I am against illegal immigration because it makes a mockery of the very system that we are trying to respect with our sacrifice of being apart.

Your suprise actuall is indicative of the overall confusion of illegal immigration with legal immigration. there's a world of difference.

I could turn your statemet around: 'I can understand the temptation to .......................................'
Yes, there's temptation. But there's also temptation for me not to steal a dress from the store cos poor me doesn't wanna pay for it.....or the temptation to rob a bank. Get my drift? There's temptation everywhere...but there's also something called personal responsibility, and as adults - and law abiding citizens, we need to keep temptation in check.

I could say 'I'm going to skip paying for something because I can't afford it' but that doesn't make it any less wrong....or would it?

I think i saw 2 people in my city starting to protest so now its clear to go downtown and SHOP
oh and get some of that orange chicken
I wonder if i can get tomorrow off if i protest USPS and Cingular

[font=Arial]

st louis is the same...

Agree!

I was wondering how downtown was today, dean. We plan on going shopping tonight... why? because we need food and I want to go get more baby stuff And to show our intent that ILLEGAL (notice I did not say Undocumented like most of them say) is WRONG.

Wrong wrong wrong. It's illegal. That's the point that I don't understand why people can't get it. There was a girl on the news last night babbling about "undocumented immigrants" and that "they have rights too." My husband (the immigrant) looked at me and said "Yeah they have the right to a 6 x 9 cell until they are deported. They broke the law, what's so hard to understand about that?" I have to say I agree with him.

almaty2004 Are you from St. Louis? Up until a year ago I lived in Alton. IL. I really miss home but I moved to Peoria for a really good job.
It's good to hear that the protest fell on it's face there. Maybe they will give it a rest now.

I think Dean lives up Alton way.... I live down in Belleville

Well, I think if Mexico were replaced with any other country, ie, the Phillipines, UK, etc, your wife/husband or SO would be crossing those borders just as well for a chance at a better life rather than marrying someone/you to get a free ticket here.

And why are your SOs coming here? Because they're in love? YEAH, MAYBE, but they're living in 3rd world countries that are far worse than Mexico and they want OUT too. If you were living in Mexico or any 3rd world country, you would want out TOO by any means possible.

You'd be amazed at how many first generation latinos are not what you see on tv...a lot HAVE accomplished their goals, etc and don't take being here for granted.

And what is the US??? NOTHING but a melting pot. Where are your ancestors from? How did they get here?

"And why are your SOs coming here? Because they're in love? YEAH, MAYBE, but they're living in 3rd world countries that are far worse than Mexico and they want OUT too. If you were living in Mexico or any 3rd world country, you would want out TOO by any means possible. "


maybe YOURS!!! But i dont think its up to you to decide if our loved ones are here because they love us or just want to live here.


As far as if it was another country bordering us and crossing the border: well, what other nationalities do you see on the news all pissy about amnesty? uhm mexicans, i think i saw TWO italians! So until i see MORE nationalities jumping into a protest, flying THEIR flags, it will be pointed to the mexicans, who do make up 78% of the illegal immigration here, and that number was posted on CNN TODAY, so im not just blowing smoke out my a$$!!!

CRY cry cry is that all what the illegal mexicans do if they dent like it here all they have to do is march back home to mexico lol. Its not fair to us tax payers and the people from other countries and loved ones who had done it the legal way paying high visa fees, paper work and some not getting approved still at lest tried the legal way just makes me sick.

fight fight fight

My husband would never cross a border illegally even to get a "better life". And how could you compare the UK or your etc. to some third world countries. Don't you even have the slightest clue that not EVERYONE wants to come to America? Most Europeans do not, unless it's for marriage or family. (and I'm not speaking of the refugees from Bosnia or other places).

Why did my SO (husband) come here? For LOVE. Your little "yeah maybe" comment was meant to inflame people wasn't it? How dare you suggest the "yeah maybe" to a bunch of people going thru a family based petition. I feel sorry for you if you feel that your relationship is a "yeah maybe" situation.

Where are my ancestors from? Italy. They came here in 1908. LEGALLY! They went through Ellis Island, they left some family members behind until they could have a good enough life to bring them here. They did not sneak in across a border, they were documented. You can go look them up on the Ellis Island website, along with the ship manifest and entry documents. You can not begin to compare our ancestors with the illegals sneaking across our borders like they are today.

Thanks for the poo slinging though... it gave me something to reply to

The debate is over illegal immigrants not immigrants in general. Did you get the memo?

Alot of people still havent realised that

Still talking about the topic I was told everyone is so tired of, eh? Oh well, nevermind.....



Yeah...maybe? sheesh!




Similar story...ancestors travelled for days on cramped nasty boats, were herded through Ellis Island to become LEGAL citizens.

Speak for yourself, please...

http://projectusa.org/arguments/index.php

My ancestors came legally as well, from Russia, through Elis Island, i have they papers even from when they arrived here.

The truth hurts, I guess.

I do feel for those who are honest and sincere people and for their SOs who do want to come here for real love and I hope they will be here soon.

Why not deport all Cubans? Canadians? Not ALL are her legally. People only talk about the US/Mexico border, but not the US/Canada border. People from other countries get smuggled in through Mexico as well, not just Mexicans.

just don't deport the pizza delivery person...i depend on them!

Well, how would you know? Seems to me that you wouldn't know the truth if it hit you with a stick. Just because you and/or your SO are from a third world country quite obviously in the process of scamming one's way into the US doesn't make that so for everyone else.

First, no one here is suggesting that all Mexicans be deported.

Second, most illegal immigrants are Mexican. That is why the debate is Mexico-centric.

vanillabean has either no read this thread or has comprehension issues...

or just wants to be a poo slinger

What's up with your implications that not everyone's SO came for love??

An illegal immigrant is an illegal immigrant. I don't care where they are from. They are equally illegal if they came into the country undocumented despite their country of origin.

'vanillabean' The truth hurts, I guess.




you seem to have serious personal issues!!!

unless, of course, they are from a country that has a respectable percentage of population in the usa already that can march and make noise for their benefit....

Vanillabean I usually don't sink to personal attacks but for you I will make and exception. You are a @#$# idiot. First of all my SO would have rather had me move there with her. It's only my job is here is why we are doing this way. Second, my ancestors came here before there was even an America!!! I can trace my roots in this country to the 1600's. So until you learn to form an opinion please leave it to others to comment.

hmmm, yeah.... I guess it's only the Europeans, Asians, Africans & Canadians who are illegal....damn Canadians...they are ALWAYS up to something!

you didn't see ANYTHING.....

why is anyone responding to such nonsense... obviously someone wanted to set us all off and its working... but .. FYI.. my hubby just couldnt wait to get out of his third world country ... that why he cooked up this amazing scheme to hunt me down on the internet, make friends with me, got me to fall in love with him, proposed to me and married me JUST so he could escape the hell that he is living in his horrible horrible backwards country...

erm yea...

It is all part of our secret plot to quietly, and politely, take over the world.

mwahahahahahahah!</sinister laughter>

I sensed that about him....

Well done ET!!! kudo's to you!



I agree!! this is NOT an immigration issue... it is an ILLEGAL immigration issue...
And I for one resent the fact that someone wants to lump me into the column LAZY AMERICAN...
I grew up on farms... and I have done my share. I also work 3 jobs to do what I need to do for my family... and to finish expenses for my mother's death.
I know of a few ILLEGAL mexican families here where the husband is working in any job for CASH... and the wife sits home with the babies... while the school-age children are at school. The husbands make MORE MONEY than I do in a week's time... and yet, this family still gets WIC, food stamps and help with their rent.

I believe that each human being born into this world has the right to pursue happiness, but not at the expense of someone else...
I pay into medicaid/medicare each week... but have never used it...
I think that the only way we will reach a better solution is if American Citizens utilize their voting abilities... become more AWARE of issues within their communities... their State... the country as a whole...
I don't mind someone coming to America... what I do mind is that they do it ILLEGALLY...
Do I have a solution? No... but, I do try to make myself aware of what is happening... to better form an opinion...
I do NOT believe that someone should be awarded citizenship rights when everything that they have done has been ILLEGALLY.
Just my opinion...
*prepares to be flamed*
Lynne