i think the illegal immigrants should stay in america unless they are breaking the law.
1. they are the ones building our houses...do u see more white mens out in construction than mexicans....No!!!

if they are doing something good to the economy then they should stay otherwise deport them....

imigration rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Illegal immigrants should not be allowed into this country. This is evident from the fact of the illegal immigrant’s toll on the economy. In addition, they add to overpopulation are liable to become trouble-making delinquents in our society. For all these reasons, illegal immigrants should not be allowed into this country and live here.

The affirmative who are for illegal immigrants have said

We the constructive are completely against illegal immigration. This issue presses our weakening economy and is liable to contribute to overpopulation within the United States. In addition, it raises crime rates up. Lastly, education also faces problems with illegal immigration. The problem to all of these problems is to eliminate illegal immigration..

My best friend in the world is from Liberia, he was brought here when he was only four years old, his father faught to try to get citizenship for years, THEY COULD NOT GO BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR over there!!! They were denied and put on a deportation list, however, my best friend was so young, he did not know what was going on and could not stand for himself, Now, ten years later, he has been taken to a detention center and awaiting to be sent back to his home country with no family and no friends. He has never hidden from the government, he has always paid his taxes since he has had a job (past eight years) (he is 26 now). He graduated college with an animation degree and has been doing amazing art work all around Atlanta including talking to cartoon network about a few projects! He has always been raised as an American and knows no difference!

So for all of the Americans out there who think that they don't deserve to be here, or just because they are illegal, they shouldn't be here, or who can't carry a heart for anyone outside of their race, then do a little more research and open your minds, because some people never have a choice. And its not just the illegal immigrant that is hurt in all of this, its their families, their children, their friends and their loved ones. Not only that, but because people like you, want to rid our country of all of these people, you are taking some wonderfull people who are paying taxes and living without crime and paying thousands of tax dollars (that our country could use for better things, we all know we need it) to send them away or put them in a detention center to be treated badly.

Are you talking about illegal immigration in the USA or your philosphy on how things should be in the world? This is not the USA of Europe. Illegal is illegal. I work with so many illegal immigrants. They flock to Minnesota because the benefits Minnesota has to offer. You are right that illegal immigrants are from all over the world. I get a kick listening to people who are not citizens of the USA. What is your point of who can call themselves Americans? What does that have to do with illegal immigration? Should the USA change thier name because someone from Europe does not like it? If Canada and Mexico do not like it they can change thier names to Canada of America and Mexico of America. You offer nothing solid!

I don’t know how to start… I just read most of the posts here, and I feel kind of … disappointed. I have been living in the US for almost 5 years, I was born in Spain (my parents are Mexicans) and I think this is a great country, full of opportunities not just for immigrants but also for citizens.
What I want to say or clarify is that “illegal immigrants” who came here aren’t just Mexicans. This is something that I have been reading since I started reading the posts, which also makes me a little bit upset. It looks like you forgot they are a lot of people from Guatemala, Salvador, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Bosnia, China and many other countries living in the US as undocumented. So as far as it goes, I think it’s very unfair to just blame, judge and mention Mexicans.
Also, I noticed that someone said something about schools teaching in Spanish… Well I don’t mean to offend anyone but being opposed to that is just nourishing ignorance. I assume that many white kids attend these schools too, not just illegal immigrant’s children. I will like give you an update, learning a second language, (whether it is Spanish, French, Chinese or other) is what is going to open the door of the world for future generations. And Spanish is especially important in the US. Yeah… again due to immigration, but not just to illegal immigration, there are a lot of people from Hispanic parents who keep their language and traditions.
Just don’t think that just because you speak English the world is going to be wide open. Time is changing as well as people!
Another huge mistake here (and I have heard this once and again), even though it has nothing to do with the subject, someone refers to US as “America” well… bad news for all the people who do this –once and again- America= American Continent! Not just US. So, for this instance it should include MEXICO, central and south America. Therefore, Mexicans, Salvadorians, Cubans, and anyone born in this continent becomes AMERICAN, not just white people.
Regarding the Wall being constructed in the border with Mexico… I think that’s just a waste of money, time and energy! I don’t really see the point of it. I mean… illegal immigrants will cross over anyways!! If US build a 12-foot wall… immigrants will build a 13-foot ladder… come on let just get real with that! It really surprised me how could the US gov. be so stupid and approve that “project” !!! Now, if we focus on economy, who do you think is paying for a wall that is going to be useless? Do you really think it’s going to stop illegal immigration?
I can only see two solutions to this:
1) Being in part of the humanitarian thing, just giving an AMNESTY. Which I personally think is not going to help that much! If the case of amnesty to all undocumented people, then it will encourage more undocumented immigrants to cross the borders- which is what you are trying to avoid. I think that if this is given, it should be given to a certain number of people, with good and clean record. These people should get used to US “culture”. Along with this I think you shouldn’t try to instill US culture but just expect respect to your culture as well as you respect their culture.
2) The other option that I can see as a solution is to penalize employers if they hire undocumented people. BAD way… I know… and also with a sense of inhuman, since this will give them no money or income to subsist.
By the way I recently assisted to a conference of the pros and cons of immigration. I found really interesting that the speaker said “For every 5 babies born in CA, 1 is from immigrants, and if it’s a boy is named Jose, if it’s a girl is named Maria. We need to understand that those José’s and Marias are part of the future of this country.” As well as a part of the population of citizens!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WITH WHAT MOST OF US HAVE TO GO THRUOGH FOR LAND.
AGAIN THANK YOU

They can get a visa if they try to. As long as they submit their paperwork and wait for a reply they can get one. We should give the illegals who are currently here amnesty. but after we close the border. On September 29, 2006, by a vote of 80 to 19 the U.S. Senate confirmed H.R. 6061 authorizing, and partially funding the "possible" construction of 700 miles (1,125 km) of physical fence/barriers along the border. although they voted on this the u.s has only built a few miles within 1 year.

If they wanted to be legal they would have entered the country legally. by coming illegally they are just making it harder on themselves and saying they have no regard for our laws. the u.s is like the only country that allows people to enter illegally. even Mexico protects their borders (except for the ones bordering the u.s) if someone from Guatemala or Belize or any of the countries bordering Mexico's southern border tries to enter illegally they are immediately arrested and deported.

the government is dumb they don't care if people come illegally. a few months ago some border patrol guys were arrested because they shot at an illegal crossing the border who was carrying drugs in. the men tampered with some of the evidence but that should have earned them a couple of years not 12. the court took the drug lord's word over the officers and now they're stuck in jail.

If the parents are going to be deported they should have thought of it sooner because when they came here illegally they knew that they were risking their family. If an American were to enter Mexico and to have baby there the baby and its parents would be directed to the U.S Embassy where the baby would be made a citizen of the u.s and not Mexico even thoughit was born there. the u.s should be doing this every other country does this. my dad and my mom were both born in Mexico and my dad and his mom could have come illegally and been reunited with his dad (and my dad would have been born in the u.s) but they waited a few years so they could get green card and they came legally. so illegals do have a choice.

Finally some one has brains!!!

To jaylarson:

First of all, I'm tired of all this ignorance.
Second NOT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE FROM MEXICO OR HISPANICS as you folks call them, you talked about school, I don't see much of it in you! If you just read American history, just a bit! you'll know that there's always been hatred and racism in this country, and this problem is NOT ABOUT LAW! is about racism!.
Take Germans for example, when they first arrived here they couldn't speak English and were discriminated. Irish, most of them couldn't write nor read English, a great deal of them spoke Gaelic and were Roman Catholics. Now because of this, they suffered a lot and were discriminated too. Italians and Asians more of the same!, and let's not forget about African Americans they didn't come here illegally!, they were brought illegally, enslaved and abused in any possible way!

Another thing, I don't know where you've got those numbers from, but I'm pretty sure that Texas is not doing that good!
Most ILLEGALS here pay taxes and yet don't have any kinds of benefits whatsoever, if ya don't believe me ask IRS and SSA for that information , is your right!.

To steiger:

Dude if America is turning into a third world country is not because of immigration!, is because government and corporations are making 'the land of the free and home of the brave' that way.

No, I'm not Mexican!!
Are you in the army?
are you human?
Do you go to Church?
Do you belive in God?
Do you have kids?
If you belive in God you should not talk the way you talk about people who comes here!!
you should thank God for what you have!!
did you see the way you attacked me?
so see for your own self what americans are!!

After reading some of the posts, such as "there aren't enough visas, or we're a nation of immigrants", I feel complelled to respond.

Fact #1: Legal immigration is at the highest and unprecedented level in the history of the United States, with 1 immigrant being added every 31 seconds. We've added more immigrants in the last 20 years than the last 180 years.

In the last 39 years, we've added 100 million people (mostly immigrants and their dependents) to the total U.S. population - that's a third of the total US population.

I would guess that of the world's 6 billion or so souls -- most of them would like to live in America. The world's population includes billions of poor people who live in abject poverty. Some of the posts on this site infer that the whole world should be able to cross our borders at will (otherwise, as you say "he has just two options: (a) Enter illegally, or (b) stay out forever."), and that we should give them all a thank you note and a box of doughnuts just for showing up. To do any less would be racist.

There is no way that we can absorb even a fraction of these people without turning the United States into a Third World Country. The situation that drives millions of illegal aliens from their home countries needs to be addressed by the international community. Our government needs to apply pressure to the leaders of the countries that traditionally send our nation the majority of illegal aliens who live and work in our country in violation of our laws.

With no change in law as it is now, census projections show the US population to reach 336 million in 2020 and 420 million by 2050.

There are no studies that show how this massive government- mandated population growth affects our local communities, from our schools, hospital, sprawl, environment, public services and transportation, even though all around us we witness overcrowded schools, congested highways, environmental stresses, paving over wilderness, strained public services, etc.

Fact #2: We are not a nation of immigrants. This is both a factual error and a warm-and-fuzzy non sequitur. Eighty-five percent of the residents currently in the United States were born here. Sure, we are almost all descendants of immigrants. But we are not a "nation of immigrants."

Even if we were a "nation of immigrants," it does not explain why we should be against sensible immigration control.

And if the open-borders advocates would actually read American history instead of revising it, they would see that the Founding Fathers were emphatically insistent on protecting the country against indiscriminate mass immigration. They insisted on assimilation as a pre-condition, not an afterthought. Historian John Fonte assembled their wisdom:

* George Washington, in a letter to John Adams, stated that immigrants should be absorbed into American life so that "by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures, laws: in a word soon become one people."

In a 1790 speech to Congress on the naturalization of immigrants, James Madison stated that America should welcome the immigrant who could assimilate, but exclude the immigrant who could not readily "incorporate himself into our society."

* In 1802, Alexander Hamilton wrote: "The safety of a republic depends essentially on the energy of a common national sentiment; on a uniformity of principles and habits; on the exemption of the citizens from foreign bias and prejudice; and on that love of country which will almost invariably be found to be closely connected with birth, education and family."

* Hamilton further warned that "The United States have already felt the evils of incorporating a large number of foreigners into their national mass; by promoting in different classes different predilections in favor of particular foreign nations, and antipathies against others, it has served very much to divide the community and to distract our councils. It has been often likely to compromise the interests of our own country in favor of another.

"The permanent effect of such a policy will be, that in times of great public danger there will be always a numerous body of men, of whom there may be just grounds of distrust; the suspicion alone will weaken the strength of the nation, but their force may be actually employed in assisting an invader."

* The survival of the American republic, Hamilton maintained, depends upon "the preservation of a national spirit and a national character." "To admit foreigners indiscriminately to the rights of citizens the moment they put foot in our country would be nothing less than to admit the Grecian horse into the citadel of our liberty and sovereignty."

We are not a nation of immigrants. We are first and foremost a nation of laws. The U.S. Constitution does not say that the paramount duty of government is to "celebrate diversity" or to "embrace multiculturalism" or to give "every willing worker" in the world a job. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution says the Constitution was established "to provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty."

As our Founding Fathers recognized, fulfilling these fundamental duties is impossible without an orderly immigration and entrance system that discriminates in favor of those willing, as George Washington put it, to "get assimilated to our customs, measures [and] laws."

Normal countries have arguments about their national identity and immigration's effect on it. In normal countries, it's not illegitimate to suggest that too many immigrants, or too many immigrants of a specific origin, may upset the social peace or do damage to the national culture.

In America, however, to raise such concerns is to open yourself to charges of racism, bigotry, nativism and all-around hate.

I work with people from all around the world. At my company, there are people from India, Mexico, and Africa, just to name a few. They ALL came here legally. And I'm good friends with them all. We eat lunch together, get together on weekends, we get along quite well.

So how am I a racist exactly? Because I don't want millions of people illegally immigrating here from Mexico?

You don't go to someone's house and start making demands. In our culture this is considered rude. If someone came to my house demanding a room and a bed, I'd kick them out. Especially if they make these demands in a language I can't speak.

Now, it looks to me as if you are threatening myself and my fellow citizens. You say you are going to do to us what the pilgrims did to the indians? How dare you. Judging by your horrible English, I imagine you are from Mexico? This is the kind of attitude that has Americans upset with illegal immigrants.

How dare you come to MY house, reap the benefits, and then threaten my people.

All I will say about your threat, is we are ready.

Make up a number and get a job... and you will see how much money this ILLEGAL, people are paying... you will know
that even you know that number that is fake!!! pays taxes!!! and then Call your nearest IRS office, and ask them were is your phantom number, money is going, and multiply that in 12 million, that will anser your question and you will see that... that number will pay more that what you pay as a Citizen, why do you think is not convinient for the politics to not get this people of the shadows? Because acording to the IRS law, they will have to pay all the taxes colected by them and they never return...because some one was paying (12 MILLION) and they did not claim it back!! and our deficit right now?
is better for them to call them illegal, and keep them as illegal too.

We came here, to try to reach a dream...we though AMERICA THE GREAT!!were everbody has rights...
But no. We did not knew that americans are racist, have no sense of humanity...they are willing to take parents away from they children!! and then they show to the world they are caring...but I live here... and they are not.
they hate any one whom is not White... any one whom dont speak the languaje...they say they belive in God...But if you remember not even JOHN PAUL II came here, he knew in here is no mercy for no one, they like to humillate the one whom can not defend them self, and you americans enjoy to see our children cry, every time ICE takes their parents away!!
Way to go AMERICA, when are you going to start to shut us for been from another country? or should we start to do what the PILGRIMS did to the INDIANS????

There seems to be some confusion as to why people are against the mass invasion of my country. I'd like to try and clear it up a bit.

First, we as United States Citizens are the ones paying for ALL government programs. It is not some faceless organization, our government only has money because US citizens work hard and pay for it out of our pockets. 25% or more of our money goes straight to the government, some are left with plenty, but for many it can be difficult to make ends meet.

Now, we have millions (and be honest, the number is WELL over 12 million) of uninvited (no, I did not invite them) people spilling into our country using OUR money and OUR infrastructure. Sure, there was a time that we needed immigrants, and certainly immigrants made this nation what it is, but we no longer have that need. Our country is not in any way hurting for population.

I do not want to pay for MY schools to teach Mexican children IN SPANISH! This is happening right now, in fact, there are entire school districts like this in Texas. Our own children are already not getting a good enough education. Teachers who can speak Spanish can make $5000 more per year! It is as if our priorities have shifted from teaching our own children to teaching those of other nations. I should not have to pay for day care for ILLEGAL immigrants. And yet, I am forced to. And STILL, these people cry as if they haven't taken enough already.

I should not have to pay for the medical care of illegal immigrants. Texas alone has received almost 50 million dollars from the federal government to pay for the health care of illegal immigrants. This money comes directly from American taxpayers... I'm paying for this. And it still doesn't cover the cost. Hospitals have had to raise rates for PAYING AMERICAN citizens. At least 20% of our own people do not have medical insurance. And many that do have inadequate coverage. How can anyone say that we shouldn't take care of our own people before those from other countries?

I refuse to bow down to these people invading my country. I have had these people outright insult me to my face for not speaking THEIR language! In my previous place of residence, these people had a complete disregard for my family, or any others which understood common courtesy. They drove up and down the streets waving Mexican flags, blaring their music, keeping up the neighborhood at night. Graffiti marked peoples fences, and daily I was greeted by piles of trash in my yard. If these people loved Mexico so much, why don't they just go back? Perhaps they did the same to Mexico that they did to my neighborhood?

These people need to leave. They have no interest in becoming Americans. They want only to milk our systems for their own benefit. And frankly, I don't care if they have families to feed. SO DO I! If they can't make it in Mexico, or wherever they've come from, they need to have a revolution there! They are having the revolution IN THE WRONG COUNTRY!

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
There are only about 300 million americans
80% are non-hispanic Whites
14.4% are hipanic
There are about 100 million mexican citizens.
which means.
If mexico was to become the next State.
35% of the US would be Hispanic. If you say that all mexican citizens are hispanic.

But Since 35% of mexico is not hispanic then the number drops.

Hispanics from mexico have more native american blood in them than the White Ameicans

but they are not desendents of the Native americans from the US for the most part.

My Wife says (She is 75% Cherokee Indian)
My ansestors came from Asia, or atleast thats what the scientist say. So Truely by the send them home school of taught, North america would be A deselent place.

So here is my oppinion, Make mexico the next State. Over ten years or so. These would stop jobs from going to mexico, Solve the imagration problem. Stop the Drug war and probaly give us enough people to stop the draft from being needed, and increase the state of well being for the mexican people.

But sence that want happen, If you can't fill out the paper work to enter the country legally, Stay home or go to prison. I know that mexico is a so call waist land but, Its only that way because the people there thinks its easier to come here to make money, than to stay home and fix there country. Our for farther paid the price for us, and my family came here on the mayflower from england and trust me they paid the price.

Well, whoever you heard it from was incredibly wrong. Mexicans/ Hispanics (Mexicans are Hispanics) will NOT make up 90% of our nation's population by 2010!

The first thing is:
Mexicans and other people who want to come legally in the US cannot have any visa!It's impossible!

They have no choice. We do not have any more right than those people. We are immigrant too. But we forget about that..

For Our grand parents, it was easy to come here in the US. Today, they cannot even get a tourist visa.

Why are we so afraid. They are here and they will stay here!

And more we wait the problem will get worse. So, we need to make an Amnesty for people with a clear background if we want to know who is in this country.

So far, we do not know who they are .WE do not even know if terrorists are in the US, I am sure they are.

And we do nothing smart to know who is in this county.

They all want to be legal ! But the US do not want them to be legal. It's another big mistake!

This is the problem why we have illegals in the US.

Those people must eat like you and me. They work hard. And nobody care ! This is not fair.

The immigration deport parents of US citizen children.

The US really do not care about those children and their parents.

Where is the family reunification? Is this a democracy or a police state.

We are loosing our right everyday. And nobody move!

So, we like to be under attack by terrorist groups and do not deal with immigration...Too bad!

I seen a study about that so leave me alone about that talk to the people who did it ok!? and the goverment is not the issue it's the people who want to be in america so bad they are willing to break the law and they should either be put in jail or sent back for that and they should do something about the illegal people in this country they should bulid a bigger wall and whatever else is nessceary to keep illgeal people out of the US. I support the goverment on that 100% and it should have never gotten this out of control in the first place.

Um excuse me last i had heard in the winter is that it was hispancis will be 90% of america in 2010! and there was nothing offensive what i said! The website said HISPANICS! nothing else! there maybe plenty of good mexicans here but they need to be legal so flag me i really dont care! they can support and make a living in mexico where they belong if there not legal and that is not our fault! that there not legal! so i stand by what i said and if you dont i could really care less!

First of all,I would like to say check your facts. The correct statistic is...."By the year 2050 Hispanics will make up 24% of the American population."(That's an estimation,of course) Second, what you said about Mexicans is offensive. I am going to flag you because it's racist. Like MediaMindz said, there are plenty of good people from Mexico just trying to make a living and support their families. Visit www.infoplease.com for correct statistics and then share your opinion.

First off, please review your numbers. In 3 years, (your quote says) 95% of people in the US will be from Mexico?
Think about the numbers and get back to us on your thoughts. There are over 500 million US citizens. I don't think Mexico has 400 million people there, (and that number would only be about half the US would be Mexican).

As for the real issue here, until the US government holds the governments of Mexico, Guatemala and other countries accountable for their human rights and poverty issues, no wall will the high enough, no law will be stern enough and no number of forces under arms will be big enough to tackle this issue.
Until people are able to afford food, shelter and medical care for their families, the immigration issue will be with us. Until education and meaningful employment are available to people in Latin America, nothing will change.

Here's an exercise I'd like you to try:
Think about putting your family's house and land up as collateral for a loan. The loan will be used to pay people to move you to another country.
You are going to that country to earn money to go to college. There are NO jobs in the town or state where your family lives.
You are leaving everything you have ever known.
You are leaving every one you have ever known.
You are going into a country that you know very little about and don't speak the language.
You are going to this country that does not want you there, to find a job to pay back the loan, (that often runs 100% interest or more) so your family will not end up homeless.

Do you think you would want to do this?

This is what it is like for many undocumented workers. They leave their family and friends so they can find work.

This is an humanitarian issue.
Most undocumented workers I've known just want to earn enough money to buy some land, build a house and go back home.

I don't think we should dismiss the rights of "illegal" immigrants simply based on the idea that we have to always obey law and order without question. After all, it was required by law not too long ago that Black Americans attend separate schools from whites and, in short, be resigned to being unequal under the "rule of law and order" of the country. It was only through social movements of resistance, actions that were "illegal," that people were able to change our society for the better. So I think we should reconsider. After all, our country does rely on the labor of immigrants whom have been defined as "illegal," and by continuing to define them as such, they are made vulnerable to exploitation.

I thought the big deal about illegal immigration was the illegal part, not the immigration. If people want illegal immigration, then these people should change the laws. After all, this is a "rule of law" country. Rule of law and order is what makes this country great, which is why people want to come here illegally. Ironic huh?

This is in response to:

8 Facts About Immigration

Talk the Talk: Key Immigration Terms to Know

What’s the big deal? : Immigration FAQ

Its a well known fact today that non-immigrants specially on H1B visas form an important part of the socio-economic scenario in the United States.But litte is known or it will better to say that the situation of the spouse of the H1B visa who has a H4 visa status is being neglected.

Why is it that the individual in the H4 visa status treated as if he or she (most cases its a she) has no personality, no identity apart from the total economic and social dependence on the H1 B spouse?

In a country known for its Independence and self esteem and equal opportunity why is the H4 visa holder deemed to live such inconsequential lifestyle,living such hopeless days and watching all of one's dreams jsut fade away day by day?
I sincerely hope that someone would take action about this situation and try to restore the dignity of the individual even though he or she might belong in a H4 visa category.After all they live and breathe too.