Do illegal aliens have rights to basic services? Will local regulation herd them all into massive “sanctuary cities?
I am aware we all have basic human and constitutional rights regardless of our immigration status. To what extent however can local government alter those rights based on that status?
While not the first to try it, the Dallas suburb of Farmer’s Branch,Texas is the latest to test the Constitutionally perilous waters of limiting the right of those not in this country legally to rent housing and obtain other basic services. This is primarily a Hispanic issue in this part of the country but the ban would of course apply to any person in this country illegally.
The controversy started back in May of 2007 when Farmer’s Branch passed a law targeting illegal immigrants by barring them from renting apartments. Ordinance 2903 would require apartment management to obtain proof of citizenship or legal immigration status before entering into or renewing leases or rental agreements.
The only exception to the ban would be that mixed-status families could stay if they were already living in the apartment, the spouse or head of household is a citizen or here legally, and the household includes the head of household and spouse and their minor children or parents. You can read about more about the ban here.
The ordinance was modeled after an similar ordinance passed in Hazleton, Pa. which also made national headlines. It is important to note that in July 2007 a federal judge struck down Hazleton ordinance as unconstitutional . The city’s appeal is pending. You can read that story here.
While the Farmer’s Branch statute has not worked its way that far up the federal court ladder, a permanent injunction has been granted by Federal Judge Sam Lindsey blocking the enforcement of the ordinance pending a full trial. You can read that story here. The important connection between the two cases is that both judges focused on the same issue which was Federal Preemption and the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. What does that tell you?
So there you have it. Battle lines formed. Swords drawn. Troops storming the field on both ends bent on destruction with those in this country illegally standing right in the middle wondering if they will survive the carnage.
Once such an ordinance passes constitutional muster ,anyone who thinks it will stop there is delusional. After rentals, come education, after education comes medical care, etc etc. The goal is seems to be to make it so miserable for illegals to be in this country that they become of the mindset that there is a better quality of life where they are from and head on back home.
Is it even that complicated? Just get the hell out of our city! Flock to some sanctuary city! Just not here! That may be what many want.
After all, why should those here illegally reap the benefit of services that they are not paying the taxes that are designed to subsidize these services. I am no tax attorney but isn’t it a crime to intentionally not file a tax return to avoid paying taxes? While I do not necessarily agree, I certainly understand the mindset. I don’t like the idea of anyone getting a free ride off my tax payments regardless of whether they are here legally or unless they have been accounted for and and a legitimate determination made that they don’t have to pay.
Of course the counter-argument is that the vast majority illegals don’t file tax returns to avoid detection as illegals and not because they are trying to avoid paying taxes. You say tomato I say…….. Makes perfect sense to me… or does it?
Does it even matter?
It really does not matter.
Whether you agree or disagree with the basic premise, it simply is not a local or state issue. The Federal Government has already spoken on this issue and when the Federal Government speaks the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution listens and shouts back.
The Supremacy Clause is shouting that we already have the Immigration and Nationality Act in place speaking loud and clear for all. No arm chair legislation needed or wanted.
If municipalities like Farmer’s Branch want to arrest every illegal alien within their borders, call INS and have them deported I have no issue with that. Whether I agree or disagree that is within the framework of Federal Law. If that is simply not feasible, write your Congressman, cast your vote for someone with a constitutional fix. Don’t make up crap as you go along and pour perfume on it….. It is still going to stink.
Local municipalities like Farmer’s Branch and Hazleton have lawyers. They have very good lawyers. It is a safe assumption that these good lawyers knew all about the Supremacy Clause when they drafted these statutes It is also a safe bet that they are very familiar with federal court disdain for pre-text bullshit disguised as lofty motives…..
So what does a good lawyer do when faced such an obstacle? A good lawyer tries to find any and every perceived pinhole that will allow them to squeeze that statute right on through…… The pinholes these lawyers try to find is every little fact or situation that the Immigration Act does not mention. If it is not mentioned it must have been the intent to leave it to the states right?
“We are not regulating illegal immigration, we are protecting our tax base and the ability to provide basic services to our tax paying constituents”
“We are not engaging in housing discrimination since we ask for proof of citizenship from everyone.”
There you go! Problem solved! States Rights! 10th Amendment! Equal Protection as well! In other words…
Get the hell out and don’t touch the “Not Welcome” sign as you go!
What does that sound like to me? Take form and call it substance. Take a tomato and call it an orange. It is all hogwash.
It is not where you start, it is where you finish. At this finish you are still regulating illegal immigration regardless of your motives and definitions. You are venturing into an area that Congress has already decided only the Federal Government has the power to regulate.
So why do cities, local governments,etc waste time and money on such futile attempts? The answer is so simple that you don’t have to be smarter than a Fifth Grader to figure it out.
What does every elected official serving a first term want? They want a second term. Constituency trumps futility every time. These statutes have no chance. But hey, people get re-elected, lawyers get paid big bucks and maybe get to argue before the Supreme Court. People find a reason to protest and more people vote. In the end those affected the most, sit in the middle and suck on it. So what, they should not be here anyways right?
So what do you think? Should local government be allowed to regulate illegal immigration even to the extent of denying housing and other basic services? If the answer is yes, what is the legal authority to do so? What is the rational legal argument? I have yet to see one….
May 27th, 2008 at 3:46 am
“Hogwash”, Brian? Really? How do ya figure?
Articles like yours tend to throw the term “illegal immigrant” around gallantly and speak of their violated civil liberties, evil governments and how they and they and their poor families are caught in the middle. What undermines these statements however is usualy the same…the lack of acknowledgement that the subject is an ILLEGAL immigrant. It is not an immigration issue, it is not a family issue, it is not a race issue (though the illegal immigrant commuinity would SO like to make it such)…it is a legal issue. If they were not in violation of our laws, they would not be illegal and this would be a non-starter. We ALL are immigrants afterall.
12 million people illegally suck the tete of American and send remittances back to Mexico totalling over $45 Billion dollars (Mexico’s largest source of foreign aid). No surprise then that 1 out of every 2 new immigrants to the US is ILLEGAL. Anybody with a modicum of sense – financial, legal or moral – should be a) pissed and b) opposed to anything that allows more illegals from coming in to our country.
At least Tim O’Hare in Farmers Branch is trying to do something. I live in DFW too and the effects of ILLEGAL immigration are everywhere…and increasing.
I have seen ILLEGAL immigration from many angles and I have yet to hear a sensible argument to support why they should be allowed to stay here. I will be publishing an article called “Root Rot” shortly that will address this issue more thoroughly, more factually and will debunk the asinine arguments for being complacent about ILLEGAL immigration.
You say it matters, yet your article did little more than stir the pot of tired complaints, race-baiting rhetoric and political hot potato, er I mean tomato.
Michael M.s last blog post..Memorialize Your Day
May 27th, 2008 at 11:24 am
By the enactnents at issue, local governments are not regulating immigration and do not purport to establish any separate criteria to determine the legality of an alien’s presence in the US, but accept the federal government’s standards for who are lawful immigrants. The legislation says in effect, federal law having determined that someone’s presence in this country is illegal (whether in a civil or criminal sense), we will not aid and abet the continuing violation of federal law, as for example, providing the person financial aid which encourages the alien to remain in thr country, but, by our regulations we will encourage the illegal alien to obey federal law by leaving the country. The local regulations are not at odds with fedral law but in harmony with it. They cede to the federal government determining which aliens are lawfully present in the US and attach adverse consequences only to those who have violated the federal law. Nothing in the local law prevents the alien’s establishing lawful presence in the country, which might by done by a green card, unexpired visa or other document readily available to the lawful alien. Local governments may have enacted these regulations to deal with spending required of them by federal decisions, such as primary and secondary education for minor children of illegal aliens (required by a US Supreme Court decision), but a purpose to save funds for the local treasury is a permitted purpose so long as no constiutional or statutory right is violated. In the case of illegal aliens none is violated since their very presence in the country is in violation of its law. Immigration law, by the way, has not for all time been indubitably a federal issue, at one time some states had their own immigration rules.
May 27th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
FTA:
“why should those here illegally reap the benefit of services that they are not paying the taxes that are designed to subsidize these services.”
Illegal aliens pay *billions* in taxes:
“illegal immigrant workers are now providing [social security] with a subsidy of as much as $7 billion a year.
– http://nytimes.com/2005/04/05/business/05immigration.html
(They pay into SS yet don’t receive benefits from it, yet benefit in other ways.)
They also pay sales tax, gas tax, etc etc.
May 27th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
@Michael M.: Mike: actually I would argue that the inflammatory “illegalophobic” rhetoric is in your response to my article. Your article in addition regurgitates every article out there about why illegal immigration is a problem. Yes it is a problem. If Farmers Branch wants to arrest them all and call INS to have them deported, that is legal, that is within the framework of the Constitution and within federal law. I have no problem with that. If the current federal framework does not make that feasible then write your congressman.
What you CANT do is usurp federal law while they are here under idiotic pretexts designed soley to get them out. That is wrong. That is not Constitutional. That is not what we are supposed to be about.
People can scram and rant about it they want. It is an emotional issue. I looked and didn’t see emotional screaming and ranting as an exception to the Supremacy Clause. If you find it please let me know.
I laugh every time someone brings up this” we are all immigrants” or almost everyone has descended from….”
What the f**K does that have to do with anything….
May 27th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Cure the ignorant could have said it a little more clearly, or maybe this is not what he was trying to say.
Many immigrants do pay taxes because they provide a bogus SSN with their bogus papers. That is money they will never get back, unlike you and I who will eventually get it back. Even if they legalize their situation and get a real number and start using it they can’t then say oh by the way, back when I was here illegally, I used this bogus number, can we transfer that balance to my real number now.
They pay lots in sales tax, remember, that little extra that gets added on when you buy stuff. Yep, it is a tax.
Anyway, immigration is an issue but the wrong issues seem to be brought up all the time. You think stuff is expensive now? Wait until you see how expensive it gets when your favorite businesses are forced to hire everyone above the table and pay them at least minimum wage and all that other stuff. It doesn’t make it right but it is not like we are not benefitting from it either. I’m not sure most Americans have any idea how much illegal immigration supports our economy, why else would we not allow stricter measures.
francetales.coms last blog post..We missed the Photo Dump this Sunday
May 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Illegal immigrants have the same rights as every other human being. That’s the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness amongst many others. Just because you were born in one country as opposed to another doesn’t mean you have more or less rights than any other human being. The question should be, What is the proper role of gov’t? Should we have a gov’t that is limited and protects individual rights or is it going to be some form of statism. I think we need to have a gov’t that is limited to protection of individual rights which is based on the nature of man as a rational animal and requirements of his nature. Then if someone from another country wants to come and live here they should be free to do so. They should be free to trade value for value in a free market with whomever they choose to and whomever freely chooses to trade with them. The fact of the matter is that no one has the right to infringe on the rights of others. So a native born American doesn’t have the right to live off (gov’t welfare) the productive energy of another person either.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
They obviously deserve human rights. Theres no reason to treat them inhumanely.
I pay a rediculous amount in taxes for my American rights. Why should I pay to support illegal immigrants, when I don’t even want to pay to support the legal bums of the system. I’m obviously not saying that all illegals are bums. Most of them come here and work very hard to support their families. But what happens when one of them gets hurt and goes to the ER? They get free medical care on my dime (our dime).
Deportation should mean sending them away, not serving them with a court summons for a date 3 months away. Take possessions and money from them, but just enough to cover the cost of their deportation. That way we don’t have to pay for that either.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
@Steve: Is not the denial of housing an infringement on those basic rights?
May 27th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Most illegals do not work from bogus SSN and bogus papers. Most work under the table so neither they nor their employer are playing taxes that the rest of us do.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I understand your position, that the Federal Goverment makes the law and nobody should attempt to adjust it. Here are a few points I would like to see the author actually address, rather than stating that the federal goverment has decided and thats it.
Keep in mind that Congress changes their mind, and they do so in response to one of a few factors
a) Special interests – in this specific case, big business likes illegal aliens, they get to hire cheap labor and not pay taxes on that labor, which means a true american cant even compete fairly for the same job. (If you arent aware, when an employer hires a person, they budget 50% in addition to the salary, to account for unemployment taxes, social security and income taxes, with an illegal they pay the employee $7 an hour and that it, with a TRUE american they offer $7/hour and actually pay between 10 an 11/hour)
or they respond to Trememdous public outcry, which is usually started by local goverments finally getting fed up with being ignored and mistreated, and having their CITIZENS being abused, to appease big business. This is what is happening here, the goverment isnt providing a method of resolving the issue, the most they provide is an unfunded mandate, to give the appearance that they are doing something.
Regardless, It is Asinine for anyone to assert, that a non-citizen should receive the full benefits of being a citizen without paying any of the costs associated with being a citizen. The threat of INS is BS at best, because there is no money to capture and extradite these illegals. I fully support Local goverment deciding for themselves whether they want Unknown, illegal immigrants (although Immigrants isnt really a good term for them, because they arent attempting to be citizens, they are more like invaders,or plunderers, since the MAJORITY of illegal aliens come to make and take what they can, and send it to their home country.) I do believe that ILLEGAL Aliens should be treated like outcasts and shunned, until they decide to become a us citizen and contribute to the whole, before taking from it.
Please submit a response that address’s these points instead of falling back on a toothless unfunded mandate passed down from Congress that only serves the purpose of “mollifying” the populace, but making us think something is being done.
I await your response on the topic!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
It is so bizarre that the same people who claim to be against the government, pro-individual-sovereignty, etc, think it’s legitimate for the State to OWN PEOPLE–that is the entire premise behind the “citizenship” nonsense.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Become a citizen, case solved. How hard is it? ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. There is no grey area.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
One more note, Why arent the Illegal Aliens attempting to become citizens? If they are here for the good of the country, to make this country their home, to invest their blood,sweat and tears into building this great country. If that is what they are here for, then WHY dont they become citizens?
Answer – No reason to, they get everything for free, with no accountability and they dont have to even contribute, and they actually get free travel back to their home country when they finally are done fleecing america.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
@Scott: I would be happy to respond. You answered your own question in your second sentence. Regardless of the motivation and reasons, its is the job of Congress to change our collective mind, not local government. Everything else is fodder for the campaign trail.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
So how do I give up my Citizenship,and become an Illegal Immigrant, so I can go one with life as always, but have more cash in my pocket, since I wouldn’t have to pay taxes?
I mean, if its good enough for citizens of another country, why not for me?
May 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Brian, you obviously didnt read my post — let me quote the entire paragraph so it is in context.
“I understand your position, that the Federal Goverment makes the law and nobody should attempt to adjust it. Here are a few points I would like to see the author actually address, rather than stating that the federal goverment has decided and thats it.”
It begins I understand your position, I never agreed with it, I brought up several points, which you are unwilling to address. I am still awaiting your response
thanks!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
@Scott: Scott I read your post, I just didn’t view the points you made as on topic to my post. Not that they are not good points but this blog is specifically about whether local governments have the right to regulate illegal immigration
May 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Steve is correct. Don’t tell me who I can and can’t do business with, or hire, or rent to. Their money is green. They earned it through work.
Legal vs. illegal, that is only what we decide it to be. If the only problem was that they are “illegal,” and not that they are immigrants from another culture, then here’s an easy solution: open the borders and legalize all immigration. Then suddenly there would be no more room for dishonest claims about what the problem really is or isn’t, because there would be no more illegal immigrants. Obviously that isn’t the solution people want… why?
If taxation and government programs are a problem, then seek reform of taxation and government programs. As it stands, the most comprehensive studies on the matter indicate that immigrants are a small net gain to our tax base and our economy, not a burden to it and certainly not a disastrous loss.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Good on them! ILLEGAL (And this is the key term here) immigrants have no place in this country. Companies that use their labor should be seized by the govt and sold off and the owner/managers jailed; landlords who make housing available to them in any fomr should lose their property and go to jail. They should recieve basic, emergency health care but they are part of the system at that point and shoudl be deported as soon as their health is stabilized (no long term care!). They should also recieve basic police and legal protections but again, they face the system once identified and are deported.
My only issue here, out of common sense, is that we simply do not as average joe citizens ahve a legitimate way to 100% tell if someone is illegal or not. A national ID, one that is difficult ot forge, is one potential answer. A simple check at a website will allow employeers and landlords as well as medical professionals and law enforcement to know if the person is legit or not. You will end up with a few fakes, sure, but at least everyone’s tail ends are covered this way.
This country is about being the great melting pot, about being a nation of widely ranging cultures and peoples who immigrate here for a new life and chance, and I am all for that. But it shoudl be LEGAL immigration and with controls. We need to reduce long term visas, seal our borders up as tight as is reasonable, and revamp our immigration control proceedures so that we can allow in more people and provide more short term labor from a waiting pool of immigrants who wish to do so (and they are TAXED as well as controlled/tracked).
May 27th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Just to throw this in, illegal immigrants are not “deported” immediately. They are first placed in a detention center for a up to 6 months before they are shipped out of the country. These detention centers are horrible with many cases of could be called abuse. So far there have been 9 cases where illegal immigrants died in these detention centers because they are not given medical care, families are broken up or children are jailed in a separate cell which results in parents not being able to care for them. In other cases, illegal immigrants are even placed in regular jails with hardcore criminals. So yeah, no wonder illegal immigrants don’t want to be deported.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
@Steve-
I agree these people have the same rights as every other human being. IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES! Americans have literally died because illegal immigrants are crowding emergency rooms and thus couldn’t get help quickly. Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean you have the right to cut in line in front of someone else who might be EVEN POORER in some other part of the planet who waits in line FOR YEARS. I believe that the punishment for entering the US illegally should be much, much harsher. I realize that some 60% of illegals get here on PLANES and just overstay their visas. I also believe the entire concept of ‘anchor babies’ should be reversed. If you’re here illegally, you have the right to emergency treatment and food. That’s it. You want more go visit your country’s consulate or get a church to help you. Also employers should be punished more severely. Let’s start seeing CEO’s and CFO’s serving jail terms and I bet immigration will go WAY DOWN. You can start with construction firms and restaurants. Then visit most hotels and motels. Flame away girls…but which part of ‘illegal’ don’t you understand? I’m just tired of working and seeing all the freeloaders get tons of benefits (free food, hosptial, housing, and education) while I work and work paying for all these freeloaders.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Ignorant: The IRS has issued 7 million SSN’s to illegal aliens up until 2003. Only 5% used them to pay taxes totally only $305 million dollars (that’s only .000025% what the rest of America pays). Be assured that the rest of them used that SSN to open accounts to expedite their $45 Billion dollars in remittances to Mexico.
Brian: Thanks for your comments. We are all immigrants and its relevancy is that those of us so vigorously opposed to illegal immigrants are NOT opposed to immigration as people may make us out to be.
Illegalphobic is not a word Smartypants.
And even if we assumed it was, it sure doesn’t apply to me. I am not afraid of illegals. Quite the opposite. If anything, I am afraid of the people that would seek to obscure this issue by constantly trying to make it someone else’s problem. I don’t know where you call home, but the economies of scale are cathing up to us. And we are subsidizing it.
You seem to be find of the supremecy of federal law. Me too. I am also a fan of people being part of a solution. You are adept at pointing out the problems and for stirring people’s discontent…but where is your attempt at a solution bucko?
And francetales…that is such a typical low brow response. ‘Keep illegals in this country so our prcies stay low’. THAT is hogwash. Yesterday was Memorial Day where we were supposed to honor the fallen who died defending our country. I shudder to think how they would feel to hear so many so called American’s so easily trade away America for cheap products and so we don’t get our hands dirty standing up for what is right.
Sure, the feds are supposed to be the lead on ridding immigration violators. And sure my neighbor’s felled trees, lost dog and hooded bandit crawling through his window are his problem… Fortunately, some people step up when it is time to do what it is right and some people hide behind semantics, legal posturing and innuendo.
Michael M.s last blog post..Memorialize Your Day
May 27th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
@Michael M.: It is a word…. It is my word… lol, I am writing Websters as we speak to lobby for inclusion in the next edition.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
David P. : In 2006 less than 200,000 criminal aliens were actually deported, barely a blip.
On any given day, 30,000 illegal aliens are detained in America, with over 1 million detained since 2004. While in federal custody, their medical bills alone cost nearly $100 Million each year. Outside of federal custody, they fare worse. Nearly 1 in 3 immigrants (legal and illegal)is particpating in a major welfare program, relies on public assistance for health care and is lower educated than US citizens. Even after 15 years, study’s reveal, the immigrant population (legal and illegal) still lags significantly behind the average American citizen in education, income and health care coverage.
My property tax rate just went up 11%. This during the same month when my county published findings on the increased costs of social services for the growing immigrant community. (1/2 of which has already been established is ILLEGAL).
Michael M.s last blog post..Memorialize Your Day
May 27th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
They have the right to go back home and follow the steps for immigrating to the US legally.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
well, if thats the position you want to take, when you dont have a answer, then I can accept that. Very political and of course not answering the question. As for local goverment having the rights, we will have to wait until the Supreme Court gets to make a decision, since they Actually control the law of the land, not Congress.
But my points where on topic, they specify why the Federal Goverment will take no action to remedy what is Major problem for the people of the United States. In many instances when the federal law doesnt specify, or even if they do, the local law is held in force. There are several cases being disputed currently concerning this issue, which is whether local, or state goverments have the power to make laws for their populace, that do not conflict with federal law.
The law you are speaking of, doesnt conflict or contradict the federal law, the local law, will of course DO something, where the federal law is just for show. The Federal Law will not be changed unless people speak out concerning the unfairness of it, and although we may not have the money and politcal pull of the special interests groups, eventually the people will be heard! The people being the LEGAL residents of this country.
If I infiltrated another country, and attempted to work, get free health care, free education, and all the other benefits from being a citizen, including voting, then multiply that by Several million, and I think even the most liberal country in the world would start to do something about it.
I have no problems with anyone who wants to be a citizen and comes to this country with the intention and follows thru with that goal, but if they do not, and they are here to be a parasite on our economy, then there is a problem, and if the federal goverment, for whatever reason, wont do anything about it, then the states/local goverment have a RESPONSIBILITY to the Electorate to do something about the issue, and they have that right, as long as they do not contradict the federal law.
Dont bother responding with another non answer, I will leave this discussion since you are not interested in discussing the issue.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
So what happens to illegal kids who were basically raised in the USA and barely speak their parents tongue? You send those kids back to their country of origin and you are going to ruin their lives.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
What Are the Immigrant Permits?
Immigrant Permits are issued to foreign nationals who have the intention of gaining permanent residency in this country. Under immigrant schemes, you are permitted to reside in the country, provided that you fulfil certain criteria (as specified by the type of permit) for a period of up to one year. The permit is renewable annually, for one year, for a further four years. At the end of the five year period, you automatically receive residency status, entitling you to full rights and benefits as any other citizen, with the exception of the right to vote.
Upon receiving this status, you will receive a document that looks like a passport which enables you pass through our borders as if you were a national. You do not need to surrender your national passport, and you use your own passport when you return to your home country, either for visits, or when returning home to dwell. If you stay outside of this country for longer than 2 years, or for 5 years in any 10 year period, you will lose your resident status.
Below are the kinds of people who can apply for Immigrant Permits, with a view to taking up permanent residency here:
Retirees
Investors
Professionals
Scientists & Technicians
Artists and Sportspeople
Retirees
If you are over 50 years of age, and want to engage in “non remunerative activities” and you are receiving funds from abroad (from a pension or other investments or fixed income) at least to the value of 400 times the daily minimum daily wage per month and a further 200 times daily minimum wage per month for each dependent (e.g. spouse, children) then you can apply for a Retiree Immigration Permit.
Investors
You can receive an immigration permit if you are willing to invest your capital in Mexico. Your investment can be directed at industry or services, and must equal a minimum of 40,000 times the minimum daily wage in this country.
Professionals
If you are a qualified professional, you can have your certificates validated by the council and apply for an immigration permit to live here. You must be sponsored by a company who must satisfy the authorities that you are essential to their operative requirements.
Scientists & Technicians
If you are involved in science, or are a qualified technician, whether commercially or for education, you can apply for an immigration permit. You may need to be invited by one of the established scientific or technical organizations in in this country.
Artists and Sportspeople
These people can apply for an immigration permit. Each case is considered individually and entry is at the council’s discretion.
Acquiring Citizenship is an involved process, and it is not easy to do. As a minimum, you must have been living in here for 5 years (2 years under special circumstances) and have resident status. Marriage to a national may allow Citizenship without the residency requirement.
What you have just read is part of Mexico’s Immigration Policy.
Evidently they dont want anything to do with the poor, the tired or the huddled masses.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
This article makes a few false accusations. Most illegal immigrants do pay taxes.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/04/AR2006060400965.html
http://www.reason.org/commentaries/dalmia_20060501.shtml
Its not illegals draining the system. They are a large majority of reason the failing system is kept alive, they are holding it up on their backs, not the other way around.
If you ask me the main problem is that we have involuntary social services. We should have the right to choose to accept or decline services like medicare, welfare, or retirement. It would hold the system accountable to citizens and ensure its productiveness.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Personally I think our local governments need to just fine the crap out of anyone caught harboring an illegal, hiring an illegal etc … you can’t harbor a criminal who is on the run from the law without also committing a crime why the different view for illegal aliens; last time I check they broke the law and harboring them means you are aiding and abiding a criminal. So fine the companies and the individuals that feel they have the right to do it. That or we can just tell the rest of the world hey our laws don’t mean jack come on over and do what ever you want … Anarchy for the win.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Paradochs: You don’t pay taxes to have American Rights. The Constitution guaranteed you rights from its signing – before you had things like Income Tax and Social Security. The purpose of tax is to finance the government needed to secure our liberties and make sure they are not lost to future generations. Unfortunately the tax is most often spent funding some politicians pet project, personal war, or repaying those critically responsible in getting them elected (through redirected funds).
Steve: The Constitution grants U.S. Citizens the Fifth Amendment guarantee that they “…nor deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law: nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” There is nothing in the Constitution stating this is a right of mankind, only a right of American Citizens.
In reference to the “Pursuit of Happiness;” that is a statement from “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America” (The Declaration of Independence). This document’s only “Legal” purpose was to present the reasons for the severance of ties with England, and has no legal basis in American Law. While we do look at it as a guide, it is not part of the Constitution, nor part of any of the Laws of the Land (despite how often people attempt to use it).
Now, on to the issue of immigration – lets look at more relevant information… Illegal Immigration became a very hot issue after NAFTA was enacted. Before there is an uproar, I am only stating observation – not setting my personal opinions on the matter. Following NAFTA, there was a massive exodus of American Manufacturing jobs to other countries, not just Mexico and Canada. Then there was a massive loss of service jobs to foreign shores as well.
Going back a bit in time; there was this little monument constructed in New York, really amazonian lady (204.1 metric tons of mass, about 46 meters tall), big tablet, bright torch, neat crown.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
For those of you not up on your American History, this big woman is the Liberty Enlightening the World, a.k.a., the Statue of Liberty. She has long represented America’s open arms, inviting to her bosom the outcasts and unwanteds of other nations. Offering them a beacon of hope in a life devoid of such promises. She makes no guarantee, save the opportunity to try to be better than what society has deigned.
These illegal immigrants, so savagely ravishing our nation (conveniently only during elections), were the same illegal immigrants openly invited to build the Transcontinental Railroad. The same immigrants given cheap jobs in the vast fields of farmers. The same immigrants that drove cattle cross country, dynamited mountainsides, and helped build much of the infrastructure of the United States.
The real problem with “Immigration,” is the American workers put out of a job by:
a) Unions holding back progression in the U.S. Economy, because progression would end Unions – and the Union personnel would then need real jobs
b) Corporations more concerned with hefty dividend payments than long-term success of the company
c) Agreements like N.A.F.T.A. opening manufacturing to U.S. corporations on foreign shores without massive penalties
These American workers are pissed off that “illegal immigrants” have a job, and they don’t. Mind you, these jobs held by Illegal Immigrants have always been held by Illegal Immigrants – that hasn’t changed. The only thing that has changed is the number of people out of work noticing it.
Bring the jobs back to the U.S. Encourage an end to Unions. Stop giving benefits to countries that send American Jobs to foreign shores to increase dividends (or to deal with the massive gouging caused by Unions) – and maybe, just maybe, there may be a slight increase in the prosperity of the United States of America.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Illegal immigrants are stimulating the economy. If we send them home our market won’t be as good. I say leave them alone and don’t give them social security.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
If you are here illegally you are breaking the law and should be deported — period.
These people have a right to due process and a lawyer to help them, but what defense does one have against not being a legal resident alien?
Enough of the tired bullshit about human rights and what-have-you: I pay taxes, and I do not want my tax dollars going toward the care of people and their children in this country that are not legal citizens.
Finally, to respond to a comment by John Nohj:
JN: “So what happens to illegal kids who were basically raised in the USA and barely speak their parents tongue? You send those kids back to their country of origin and you are going to ruin their lives.”
Hmmm. Maybe their parents should have thought of that when they decided to not try and become legal citizens. I have no sympathy for people who break the law then ask for exceptions to be made because of their children. Tough. I feel sorry for the kids that they have stupid and/or ignorant parents, but life is sometimes not fair.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
you know how hard it is right now to be an legal immigrant?
the chances are 1 in 6 for h1b visa -> pernament resident
and sponsorship for pernament resisdent is 5 – 7 years wait time. wtf are you suppose to do for 5-7 years lol. The system makes it so hard to be an legal. Sure you can come and study in our great schools; but get the fuck out after you graduate….
May 27th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Illegal immigrants, along with receiving the identity that they are stealing, are told which paperwork to file to opt out of having taxes, etc taken out of their pay check. They can do this a variety of ways. They then get paid tax free, and the person whose identity was stolen has to pay the back taxes. This has been known to happen to children as young as 6 whose identity has been stolen. And you DON’T get out of paying back taxes to the IRS. Even if someone stole your identity, you have to pay. As to the point of the original article, does that mean my local Sheriff can’t arrest me for marijuana possession, since there is a federal law against it? Because that sure comes as a surprise to me.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Right Question. Wrong Answer. Illegal Aliens do have basic rights under the constitution and various international conventions.
For example, Illegal Aliens have a right to a hearing if they are detained based on their immigration status in front of an immigration judge, and their children (who are innocent) have a right to a public education. Illegal Aliens do not have a right to get food stamps.
Your beef is that Illegal Aliens are being asked to show that they are in the country legally, which is impossible for them to do, because they are breaking the law. Unfortunately, no one in this country has a constitutional right to housing. Ask home owners in Florida who have lost their homes to foreclosure. Or home owners in Louisiana whose homes were destroyed by hurricane.
Is asking for proof of immigration status a form of discrimination? It could be, if only Hispanics were being asked to show proof of citizenship…but if the law requires everyone to prove it, then it meets constitutional muster. I’d go as far as to say that if the effect were to intimidate all Hispanics, then it could be considered suspect…but…this is targeted only at illegal immigrants.
@Scott:
“we will have to wait until the Supreme Court gets to make a decision, since they Actually control the law of the land, not Congress.”
Wrong. The Supreme Court gets to decide whether a law is constitutional; in this case, whether a local government can dabble in making immigration laws, or whether the federal government can. Congress makes and controls federal laws to the extent permitted by the constitution, and States and their subdivisions can make and control laws permitted to them by the US constitution and their own State’s constitution.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
They should have no rights to freedoms that we fight for everyday. I don’t understand why we don’t get all of the bastards out of OUR country!! If we hearded over to mexico (or any other country) and demanded freedoms and rights of the other citzens, then we would be shipped out of the country faster than you can imagine, after being jailed. We have plenty of people in this country that need jobs and CAN do the jobs these people are doing. There is no excuse for illegal immigration, it makes me sick to hear and see all of this crap everyday. Illegals killing and stealing and then getting shot for breaking into peoples houses and then sueing the victums over it ,….bullshit. I’d shoot’em all if i had enough ammo!!
May 27th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Ideology and reality are not the same, lets hold hands and dream of a world without religion and boarders…
The reality of it is that Constitutional rights are limited across the board on all inhabitants within the United States. I can rail on about how my right to own a machine gun is severely hampered in the guise of “public safety”.
Changing focus from rental application forms to the Right to Vote and the Right to Bare Arms is the true litmus test for ILLEGAL immigrants. Can an illegal immigrant enter a gun store and purchase an “assault weapon” without the required multiple forms of identification, or enter a polling place and vote without proof of status?
Perfect segue into some prior points made by others. Using false identification is identity theft no matter how you look at it. Most people think it is a harmless crime but it is not. Spending months, years dealing with the IRS audits over income reported using your social security number that you did not account on your filed taxes is not a fun experience. The extremely hard hit are the elderly living off pensions and retirement benefits which are cut off because they have unreported “earned income”.
May I suggest a better legal testing ground just down the road from the Supreme Court Building… http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQSNYN2dHY18MzVy9TuruvFaMmaQD90TS0JO0
May 27th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Illegal is illegal. It is not fair that ILLEGALS use free healthcare,get food stamps, buy homes with their acquired identification…but one thing is for sure..the reason they are allowed here is so that they can be exploitedby big business. They work for lower salaries than we do. Exploitation is one of the reasons that countrywide went under. Making bad loans to illegals, and axtually giving them loans with prices so high on the properties that they could not pay the mortgage but countrywide went under from the bad loans…
All big business who utilize their services, who hire illegals should be forced out of business and the companies should be brought to court.
Illegal is illegal, why not apply for citizenship like everyone else. This is not a racial issues, this is a legal matter. But this country is notorious for trying to get free or cheap labor from outside of this country. Human trafficking, remember the slave trade. Mexicans are being hired for close to slave wages,..
Illegals need to go home and make their country better instead of comign here in numbers and making ours worse. And this notion that California or any other state once belonged to them is noty historical, look it up…that is and never bee nthe truth.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I live near Farmers Branch and I understand their feelings. I’ve driven past the apartments where the balcony was transformed into a room by adding plywood walls. This new room houses an additional illegal family member or two. The rest of the house is already packed. Our local county hospital is over run with people unable to pay. Budgets meant to last the entire year are depleted in a couple of months. Crime is up and enforcement is difficult since identities (and often homes) shift daily. Auto accidents where an illegal is involved turns into a nightmare for the legal citizen. The legal citizens insurance has to pay for all damages since illegals don’t carry insurance. This leads to a rise in insurance rates for everyone except the illegal. The drain on tax supported organizations will eventually bankrupt the city governments since illegals pay minimal taxes and absorb maximum benefits. Farmers Branch has the right idea. Penalize the lawbreakers, and protect the law abiding citizen.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Federal law is never the end all be all. It is simply a baseline that all states must meet minimally. The are many state laws that build on top of the federal laws. As well, what Farmer’s Branch is doing does not violate any of the Federal Statutes, but simply adds to them. You have to be kidding yourself if you believe that Illegal Immigration is a net gain.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Based upon your argument, states, counties, and cities have no right to issue any regulation of schools and school systems, since the Federal Government has some regulations pertaining to them.
The Federal Government has the Right to control immigration – that doesn’t mean that they control housing, employment, or community services.
Once the illegal immigrants have circumvented the Federal Government’s immigration system, they are breaking the law. Issuing requirements for housing isn’t under the Federal Government’s jurisdiction, unless the requirements discriminate based upon a Federally-protected category (not renting to people based upon race, religion, etc.). Since “illegal” isn’t a protected status, it hardly seems that this is a Federal issue.
The Hazelton law was sweeping and broad. Simpler laws might pass Constitutional muster, and maybe we can protect the citizens of this country, 25 of whom are killed every day by illegals driving on our roads alone.
To John Nohj, your answer is that kids who are here illegaly also need to go back to their country of origin. What happens to them (“ruin their lives”?) isn’t our responsibility. They are the responsibility of their parents.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
WOW, Thats a very different country from when I first got here 16 years ago and I must add I came Legally and now I am an American citizen who own a successful company that employs American citizens . The problem really lays on the bad state of this economy and the influence of the republican dominance on politics from the last 16+ years. Public opinion has shifted against immigration and politics couldn’t come up with a immigration reform that both parties could agree on. Unfortunately the majority of Americans couldn’t care less about immigrants and therefore immigrants in this country legal or illegal are suffering. This is a very Unfortunately event for the free world and I hope with new President (Obama) we will be able to overcome these differences and focus on our economy.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
John Nohj, your point is of concern to me. I know people who were raised here, lived here 10+ years, speak English & Spanish, and work in the current system… illegally of course… not in some menial job. While, I take issue with illegal immigration having friends in this position makes my view mixed.
May 27th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Illegal immigrants are not illegal immigrants because they want to ride the system for free, they are so because it is so difficult to be legal.
I would like to become an immigrant but with only 3 bachelor degrees, a master degree in computer science, an MBA, an outstanding performance record and 6 years of experience, I’ve had no luck. So right now, I have to keep going with my temporary visa.
Bottom line for the illegals: When you’re making 3$ an hour for a lousy job in your country, it’s in your best interest to come in the US as an illegal immigrant, with the prospect of being sent back to your country as the worst case scenario.
Bottom line for the Americans: Is the cost of managing illegal immigrants truly lower than the cost of having them exploit legal loopholes? Are you better off spending $3 billion (that’s 0.1% of the US budget) on Medicare or $2.5 billion on immigration rules and enforcement? The difference is less than 0.02% of your taxes. Maybe there are other things that we can work on that will be more profitable for everyone.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
# Steve Says:
May 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Illegal immigrants have the same rights as every other human being. That’s the right to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness amongst many others. Just because you were born in one country as opposed to another doesn’t mean you have more or less rights than any other human being. The question should be, What is the proper role of gov’t? Should we have a gov’t that is limited and protects individual rights or is it going to be some form of statism. I think we need to have a gov’t that is limited to protection of individual rights which is based on the nature of man as a rational animal and requirements of his nature. Then if someone from another country wants to come and live here they should be free to do so. They should be free to trade value for value in a free market with whomever they choose to and whomever freely chooses to trade with them. The fact of the matter is that no one has the right to infringe on the rights of others. So a native born American doesn’t have the right to live off (gov’t welfare) the productive energy of another person either.
You are just plain WRONG!!!!!
The rights to life, liberty, happiness and property are the rights of, you guessed it. AMERICAN CITIZENS… Of which illegal immigrants are not. The people in cuba or venezuela do not have those rights, unless their communist governments give it to them. These rights are the inalienable rights of American Citizens. The only rights that illegal immigrants have is the right to not be killed, beaten, and robbed. Because our criminal system does not check the immigration status of the victim of a crime. But they do not have the right to free health care, welfare, etc. Those systems are in place to help AMERICAN citizens when they need it. Not to help the illegal immigrants from a foreign country. If the citizens of a foreign country need help, they should request foreign aid from us while on their own country’s soil.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
@John Nohj: Concerning the kids of illegal immigrants, it is their PARENTS ruining the children’s lives by not adhering to our laws and becoming citizens. What happens to kids of other parents who are involved in illegal activities and get caught? You could argue their lives are ruined too but that doesn’t mean we just let the parents off. It is a shame that children do get involved but we have laws for a reason and they need to be upheld.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
this is easy,NO. illegal aliens have no rights, look at the first word ILLEGAL they are here illegally.they take jobs,cause crime, pollute every thing,freeway congestion,flood are health system.in general they take all they can and demand more .the KKK was right but had the wrong race,the blacks where forced the country for free labor, and after there freedom they helped make a better America.as for the taco binders there forcing us to live by there standards,just listen to there poor English,you go to other country’s and those people speak better English than are wet backs could ever do.we cant send them back so my idea would be go after employers hit them hard.go after landlords enforce city,county ordinance,like cars parked on lawns,multiple family’s living in a apartment or house,no more free health care unless residency can be proven.how hard is it to get them out,as for the crying public that thinks they have rights send them to zimbabwe
May 27th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Why is this country making it so easy for people who illegally come here? The ones who work on getting their citizenship jump through hoops while illegals can get a job, drivers license, and now housing and services so easily. Typical liberal politicians giving to those who don’t deserve and taking from those who strive to do the right thing and work for what they desire.
This is a joke against all that is American and against the rights for the people who are ENTITLED to them.
May 27th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Entering this country illegally you forfeit any rights you have as you have broken the law, therefore you are entitle or privileged to any rights so stated. If you wish to have these rights go about this the proper way.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
All I have to say is that our country was founded by immigrants and that they decided that they wanted the Government to listen to the people. As such they created a government based on the idea that the people have the power and that they lend their power to the government to get things done. As such if the people decide that they want to invest as much of their power as they can to get rid of illegal immigrants that is there right and I support them.
It is my belief that if you were to have an honest discussion with many who support the removal of illegal immigrants you would see that most just believe that the illegals are the source of many problems in our country not just an issue all unto them selves.
I would also like to tell you about a story that has been in my local news lately. The short version is that a school district is teaching Hispanic students that the southwest of the US was stolen from Mexico and that the White Man will keep you down for the rest of your life. http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/85853.php
In case you want to read one of the articles your self
May 27th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
“Become a citizen, case solved. How hard is it? ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. There is no grey area.”
“I do believe that ILLEGAL Aliens should be treated like outcasts and shunned, until they decide to become a us citizen and contribute to the whole, before taking from it.”
Do you people think they forgot to fill out the form or something? My wife’s family has been here 11 years, working for themselves and paying taxes. They’d jump at the chance to become citizens, but it just isn’t that easy. In the eighties it may have been easier to immigrate, but now it’s frankly difficult to become a citizen if you don’t have an advanced degree and corporate sponsorship, which is what the majority of filed visas are.
Sure not all illegal immigrants are great, but most are here because they know there are better opportunities if you work hard here than their original country. You can call them lazy all you want but it’s hard to tell that to the guys in front of home depot at 6 am hoping for hard labor at 10 an hour or less.
So in conclusion, I’d trade “the KKK was right but had the wrong race” for illegals.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Let’s get real! You want to have illegal aliens pay tax, make them legal! They come to America for a better life. Nothing more. And if you gave them the ability to become citizens, I’d bet most would jump at the chance.
“Oh, my taxes are being used to support illegals”. What a stupid argument. Your taxes will be used for all sorts of foriegn aid if you like it or not!
So for all of you whiners out there. Grow up! Become part of the solution! Count yourself lucky cause you were born here. For those who weren’t, realize the courage it took for them to leave thier country and start a new life here.
Isn’t that what America is all about?
May 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Put a 150% tax on any money being wired to mexico and south Am..and have the border patrol take the tax out on any body crossing in to mexico.The new taxes would fund the INS and Border patrol to keep them out in the first place.problem solved.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Illegal Alien = breaking the law. How many felons have rights?
May 27th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
As legal americans, we are far too lazy and bloated to fix this, or most anything that is crippling this country. If it isn’t immediate and easy to deal with, as a whole, we don’t care. Honestly, Illegal immigration is one of the lowest things on the totem pole that we should be focusing on… that is as far as how our federal government has let this nation get out of hand. If we are true survivalists, we’ll start learning other languages. It won’t be long before we’ve watched our country implode from capitalism and greed, and will greatly need those linguistic skills.
May 27th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
@jc: all of them
May 27th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Well while it may be nice to want to help everyone the sad fact is that first you must help your own and if you have extra then do help others. Like it or not the “illegal immigrant” issue is a big problem and it costs each and every one of us in both the long and short run. Im all for legal immigration as long as there are good jobs for both citizens and the immigrant. Anything less is just setting up a new slave class who will be dependent on government services and abused by employers.
Gregs last blog post..Wind power could make Norway "Europe’s battery"
May 28th, 2008 at 1:29 am
@all
Illegal aliens are criminals under US federal law. It doesn’t matter what “good” they may do by paying sales tax, buying good, paying into social security(and I would like to see factual evidence on this)because they are law breaking criminals. Kevorkian thought he could take the law into his own hands because he thought there was benefit to breaking it and look what happened to him. Illegal aliens KNOW they are breaking US law. That is the worst part.
xxo
May 28th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I would like to know why these people (illegals) think they are so much better than my ancestors who did the right thing and immigrated here LEGALLY? If they want a better way of life, why refuse to learn english? Why do they not want to become citizens? Few, if any, other countries in the world cater to illegal immigrants the way we do. Why?
People who think that illegal immigrants pay their fair share of taxes are delusional. I live in Texas, property taxes have gone up 5-10 times what they were 10-15 years ago, in order to pay to educate the children of illegal aliens who barely speak english, if at all. At the same time the children of legal citizens are held back and suffer with an inferior education while teachers are forced to cater children who need more attention because they don’t speak our language.
Meanwhile, most illegals don’t bother to pay for auto insurance, so the rest of us who obey the law, are forced to pay higher premiums to pay for those uninsured. The same goes for medical insurance. And because they rarely have medical insurance they clog the emergency rooms of hospitals with minor ailments such as colds, while those with serious medical concerns are forced sit and wait.
But it doesn’t stop there. Many say they contribute to the economy, but how can that be when they are sending huge amounts of money back to Mexico? Many only buy necessities such as food (not taxed), so how are they paying taxes? The only commodity they would be forced to pay tax on would be gasoline.
When I was a teenager in the 1980′s I could easily get a summer job at a fast food restaurant or doing yard work. Just try that today, how can you compete with someone who will take far less pay, and who can be paid under the table? Meanwhile teens that should be learning responsibility and a work ethic sit in front of a TV playing video games.
If illegal immigration is so good for our economy, why are we in a recession when illegal immigration is at the highest level ever? Why is the dollar worth so little? Our nation is in a downward spiral, it is time that people woke up and start taking this issue seriously. Bring back our troops from Iraq and have them address the real problem our country faces. Use them to round up all the illegals and ship them back to where they came from.
All we have to look forward to would be lower taxes, lower unemployment, less demand for gas and food, which means lower prices.
People always say that these illegals are hard working, but isn’t the hardest job staying in your own country and making it a better place to live? Instead they take the easy way out and illegally immigrate to a country that they know will take care of them.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I am a LEGAL immigrant South of the Equator. I applied for a green card in 1991. Application was processed and approved in 2004.
Illegals immigrants break Federal Law and push American values aside and then ask for amnesty and money through all civil support services. It’s unfair to:
– all legal citizens within our society,
– all those that need these support services and have a right to claim them,
– for those who abide by laws and play by the rules,
– to American values.
it creates an economic disparity for all public services that tax abiding citizens have to pay.
To let individual communities determine the outcome of immigration is beyond their scope, as it will inevitably lead to witch hunt scenarios. Specially now, given the current pressure from the existence of so many illegals through out the entire country.
Most of them pay taxes, but do they do so with a legal SS or a spoofed up one causing others harm?
I agree that the US immigration needs a huge reform, but that’s no excuse to do things the wrong way. They should be processed by the laws they break.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I live in southern California. Our schools are horrible. Taxes are high & they keep threatening to raise additional tax money due to the ‘budget crisis.’
The solution for the school funding is simple: remove every illegal immigrant child (including children born to illegal immigrants.)
Given the large illegal population in my area, the resulting reduction in class size would create an over funded system that would produce a stellar education.
If you add in the emergency medical care, uninsured drivers, etc., the equation is clear.
Illegal immigration is not ‘good’ and everything possible (logical) should be done to discourage it’s continued large-scale practice.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hi:
Ultimately, we are all human. Citizen, resident alien, illegal immigrant – all words to describe live human beings who have fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters just like us. We all have common aspirations to a good life and our perceptions lead us to what we think is a good life.
We need to look deeper into our souls and ask ourselves – is illegal immigration so shocking and dramatic that it is impacting our day to day survival. Illegal immigrants perform valuable services – services that many Americans will cringe at doing especially agricultural work.
Let us make all illegal workers “legal”, give them a H1B or whatever legal term you want to use, give them some self respect. Create a system whereby Mexican immigrants cab come and work legally and have a right to a decent life.
After all, aren’t all of us descendants of immigrants ? Why should we be so hypocritical and zenophobic that we cannot see the light of reason ?
Have you ever felt the fear that an illegal immigrant feels day in and day out ?
Come on people, HAVE A HEART.
GoLeez
PS: I am not a liberal – I am human!!
May 29th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Found this on the web, and thought even if it isnt on topic, it does make you think, why dont we change our immigration laws to resemble this
1 There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2. All ballots will be in this nation’s language.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3.. All government business will be conducted in our language.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
4. Non-residents will NOT have the right to vote no matter
how long they are here.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5. Non-citizens will NEVER be able to hold political office.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
6 Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers. No welfare, no food
stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs. Any burden
will be deported.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
7. Foreigners can invest in this country, but it must be an amount at least
equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
8. If foreigners come here and buy land… options will be restricted.
Certain parcels including waterfront property are
reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9.. Foreigners may have no protests; no demonstrations, no waving of a
foreign flag, no political organizing, no bad-mouthing our president or his policies. These will lead to deportation.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
10. If you do come to this country illegally, you will be actively hunted
&, when caught, sent to jail until your deportation can be arranged. All
assets will be taken from you..
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harsh, you say?…….
The above laws are current immigration laws of MEXICO
sorta puts things in perspective!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Sure, why not. They control everything else in our life, the US is now ruled by a Dictator and civil rights are a thing of the past. Welcome to the new Regime!
JJ
http://www.Privacy-Center.net
May 31st, 2008 at 3:45 am
Illegal Aliens are cool man. how would the rich survive without them? I mean think about it?
Sammy D
http://www.fireme.to/udi
May 31st, 2008 at 5:19 am
OF COURSE THEY DO!!! NO BORDERS!!! NO ALIENS!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
The federal government is an ass! Congress exists only to perpetuate its members. They pass laws for that purpose only – all the potential votes of the foreign nationals here illegally make them salivate. A pox on all of them!
June 7th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
wow what a bunch of hooplah. ask my daughters if the deportation of their father was just. Our laws were set up in 1928 for immigration, that needs to change. Yes violant crimes,moral charges, and some others should be examined on a case by case situation. Double jeoperdy is inacted when someone is deported after the fact of original sentence. Not 18 years after their lives have changed or paid the price. My children are US Citizens and so am I. Since 1620 my family has been on the land of the free, my family was on the mayflower and i do not recall them having immigration papers, or a card that must be carried at all times, or back on the boat to England. Actually my forfather came as an indentured servant. But he recieved freedom only after doing 7 years work for free. If you make it to America and keep your ethical and morals, then after proof of paying taxes and being an upright (citizen) human being. It should be a simple process to receive immigrant papers. The day you can live on 2.50 per day I will applaud you, but i know you can’t therefore why punish those who want better. We tried to save Vietnam ,the french gave it up 10 to 15 years before, now we are bombarded with vietnamese. We tried to save Irag and still trying, we soon will be bombarded with Iraq’s. It fits for all, this land was stolen or fought for by indians, mexicans,french, brits, etc. and some won some lost. If everday foriegn nationals could get to the land of the free they would. Mexico has been condenmed by the US as it is virtual impossible to get Visas and such to come legally here. We need to change this. We need to consider the impact of seperation of families, we need to stand up to the government that does not even have a manned border check point for over two years in San CLemente. I look for miracles for this country.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
g. whay did you leave your country? I am married to a mexican citizen for 4 years now. He has been here for 12 years and I personally made sure he paid his taxes. He has never been on aid and makes good money. He lives by the rules and is very charitible. We were on vacation last week when passing through Arizona we were stopped they say he was speeding but that was not true, I was there. They looked at his New Mexico Drivers license and thought he had had it made or something. It was real, I was there when he got it, just 7 hours before they stopped us. On the road throgh Arizona I saw 4 cars pulled over 1 hispanic person and 3 black persons. They were going through the trucks and inside back seat. When the officer asked for my husbands green card, I was not asked. I am white and the statement he made was ” you have a drivers license right? I stated yes. When he was talking to INS about holding my husband he stated “no, he is with a citizen. I am angry he assumed that I was a citizen yet the mexican looking man was assumed illegal. I do not have to carry my social security card or birth cert. Why does he have to carry anything more than his drivers license the same as me. As of this writing I do not know where he is or any information on him, the government, border patrol and such note to me that they are protecting his rights to privacy by not telling what they have done with him. I am the citizen that lost my husband to the feds. and they are not giving me the right to know. How messed up is that. The feds should put their own men out there to do the work not the lackys of the state. I should have more rights to know where my husband is that fully supported me and paid the bills, so I do not have to become homeless and poor.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I would like all of those who claim to be in support of illegal aliens “rights” to consider doing the following: Go to the Mexican border and tell the ICE agents, who caught over 1000 illegals crossing the border that day, that they need not find a bed for one of the illegal aliens tonight. Tell the ICE agent that you are going to take an illegal alien home with you. You are going to provide that person a bed, and food, and clothing free of charge. The illegal alien can stay with you and you can make sure that they go to school-even if you have to pay for their college. You will pay for their visits to the doctor, and for all medical treatment. If that illegal alien needs money for anything, you will give it to them–no questions asked–even if they are just sending your money back to their native country–that is their right. If your illegal alien has a child, you will pay for all medical costs, and then you will pay for the subsequent daily care of the child. Your illegal alien will not be expected to reimburse you for any of this because it is their right to expect this. You will also start to speak your illegal alien’s native language in your own home, because that too is their right.
This notion may seem ridiculous. I mean, who in their right mind would go pick up an alien and bring them into their home? The funny thing is, this is not a hypothetical. This is reality. Just because you do not have an illegal alien physically in your own house, does not mean that all of the above isn’t a reality. It is very easy to cry over the inhumanity of those who would send these illegals back to their native country. It is easy, in theory, to say that the United States of America should take care of all people of all lands. In reality, no one is truly willing to make the personal sacrifices to make that happen. Are you, illegal alien sympathizer, willing to give up your family vacations so that you can take in an alien? Are you willing to give up your second car? What about your children’s college? Are you willing not to send them to a good school so that you can spend the money on the medical care of a perfect stranger who feels entitled to your money? Are you willing to tell the government that they don’t have to house illegal aliens who commit crimes because you will take care of them? What are YOU willing to do to help alleviate this problem? Most likely, you will do nothing, and take the easy way out by simply complaining about the harsh government policies.
I have worked as an attorney for the government for nearly 10 years, and I currently handle immigration issues on a daily basis. I have sacrificed time and a much better salary in an effort to learn how the system works, and hopefully effect a positive change. It is the illegal alien sympathizers, who have the ear of the media, that make my job more difficult. All you hear about in the media is the plight of the illegal alien (ie: in the NY Times). It is SO much easier to be the “good guy” claiming that something should be done for these “poor people.” It is NOT easy, however, to effect a practical solution when that solution might involve saying, “no” to free benefits, or creating boundaries limiting the rights of a potentially sympathetic group of people. And remember, the government is not saying “no” for the heck of it. The United States government can simply not support the rest of the world–particularly when U.S citizens are unwilling to make personal sacrifices to sustain such support.
I hate to be the one to break this to people, but the world is not always a fair place–not even here in America–because sometimes people are born into a particular situation. Some people are born into rich families (read: Paris Hilton) and some people are born into poor community (Oprah Winfrey). Is this fair? Hell no! The question is whether those born into less fortunate circumstances have the opportunity to advance. Unfortunately, in some countries, the opportunity does not exist, but the United States alone cannot bear the burden to rectify what is really just a twist of fate. And when the United States has tried to effect democracy, and create opportunities for people in other countries, they are often accused of being imperialists. How can we win?
Unquestionably, there are utterly horrific situations that occur around the world on a daily basis. From a moral, humanitarian perspective, something should absolutely be done about those situations. I just get tired of hearing people cry about it–and then do nothing personally to fix it.
So, before you respond to this blog, ask yourself, “What am I willing to do?” or “What am I willing to sacrifice?” If the answer is “nothing,” then frankly, your opinion isn’t really worth much, and maybe you should find another cause to support.
I urge you to research this issue. Just google, “how do illegal aliens get healthcare?” What you find will be shocking. Go to the CIS (customs and immigration) website and look at the utterly astounding statistics regarding the money spent on illegals. If you take the time to do this, and you are willing to make some kind of sacrifice to care for these people, write back to me. I would truly like to hear what you have to say.
I expect, however, that most responses will be kneejerk in nature…once again, taking the easy way out.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Most of the Aliens are abusive especially those Mexican stealers and opportunist
February 10th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Did you just say that in a country where the government is "of the people, for the people, and by the people" it is the job of CONGRESS to change OUR mind for us? I am sincerely hoping that I misunderstood your point. It is OUR job to let CONGRESS know that we are not happy with the current state of affairs and DEMAND a solution we APPROVE to fix the current situation.
Incidentally, the reason we are not happy is because a certain segment of the population (albeit an ILLEGAL segment) is being treated in a manner that is inconsistent with the treatment afforded the rest of us; namely, they are being allowed to break the law without significant consequence. That's discrimination against law-abiding CITIZENS right there buddy.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Not to mention the first sentence is entirely untrue. The Constitution states in the preamble, WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES……FOR US AND OUR POSTERITY. Nothing about non-Americans, and there is actually a provision in it that thestates were to be taxed for the amount of foreign labor requests that were issued – SINCE IT IS THE STATES THAT REQUEST THOSE WORK VISAS, NOT THE FEDS. In other words, your states are in collusion with the feds on this outsourcing and insourcing – and the American people are paying the taxes for all those benefits they receive. The contribution does not outweigh the costs. And did you know that in Mexico, non-citizens are precluded from being involved in public policy and the politics of the country, and cannot even own land there – it must be leased for term periods. And the drug trade actually is their largest export, which they sell out in front of the high schools and middle schools in order to get their customers as young as they can get them for future profits.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:39 pm
See above, it is the local government that requests those work visas, not the feds.
And we stand to lose the west and Southwest very soon unless something is done, since it is much easier to conquer a country from within than from without – and Mexico is just licking its lips to get back Arizona,Texas and New Mexico – and so are those militant Mexican nationals who live in this country, whether legally or illegally – because their "allegiance" is to Mexico many of them above the U.S., and don't lose their citizenship even after becoming a citizen in this country.
And more lives have been lost in the border states due to this situation than 20 9/11s.
April 28th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Question who's SSN are they using???? Yours or mine???? Ever try and clear your name with the IRS when your ID has been stolen and you suddenly find that you owe thousands of dollars in tax's??