Immigrant Rallies

Parent Cafe
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<p>I know this topic has been discussed to death, but I found this section in the CNN article on the immigration protests (<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/10/immigration.protests.ap/index.html):%5B/url%5D”>http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/10/immigration.protests.ap/index.html):</a></p>

<p>Part of their goal has been to recruit more Asian and Middle Eastern immigrants. Most protesters have been Hispanics and high school or university students.</p>

<p>Jeez, let’s skip European, West Indian, and African immigrants who also reside in this country. </p>

<p>Why do you think these non-Latino immigrant groups are not present in the local rallies? Could it be that they don’t see Congress tightening national borders or immigration inflow as their problem?</p>

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<p>

Because European, West Indian, and African people can’t walk across a boarder. They have to use the legal method of coming to America. </p>

<p>I noticed a lot of the marchers now carry American flags instead of Mexican flags. I guess they got feedback that the Mexican flag did not go over well. Now they want us to believe their true allegiance is to American. It is time for a big strong wall between American and Mexico.</p>

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<p>Actually, there are lots of illegal Chinese and Irish immigrants, though not in the same numbers as immigrants from Latin America. I guess they just want to keep quiet.</p>

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<p>From a pragmatic standpoint, why would anyone draw attention to the illegality of their presence? </p>

<p>There might also be resentment. My stepparent is a non-citizen - although married for several years and came to this country on a work visa during the late '90s when there was a massive demand for computer specialists… yet does not have the rights of an American citizen. Why on earth would anyone like that espouse the cause of a bunch of scufflaws who want to get more rights than they have?</p>

<p>Consider that, even when you receive your citizenship, you can be deported for certain illegal activities. Consider as well that the process to establish citizenship is a nightmare - my family has spent thousands trying to get citizenship the legal way. The documentation is endless. Why on earth would a legal immigrant support the “rights” of the illegal immigrants who are really asking for more rights than they have? They’re asking for non-deportion depsite having broken our laws from the beginning. Hell, even many felons can’t vote - being born on American soil or coming in legally affords one less rights. </p>

<p>Sorry, very opinionated about this. I’m actually very pro-immigration.</p>

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<p>“Why on earth would a legal immigrant support the “rights” of the illegal immigrants who are really asking for more rights than they have?”</p>

<p>Because the children are not legal immigrants, but CITIZENS.</p>

<p>What the President’s proposed guestworker program would likely do is open up the floodgates to unscrupulous labor contractors, and the labor would not likely come from Mexico (where incomes are, strangely enough, higher and people can and do return, but from the Middle East, from China, etc., where, once they arrive, they are at the contractors’ mercy.</p>

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<p>The only people who change their opinion on the issues that people protest are those who get stuck in traffic. And those opinions are always negative.</p>

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<p>This immigration issue has really irritated me. In fact, watching the rallies on the news today prompted me to email my senators (which I have never done before). We have friends from other countries who went through all the proper channel to immigrate and become citizens and boy do they resent these people who illegally enter the country and then demand rights and benefits.</p>

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<p>Mini,</p>

<p>The children of rapists, murderes, robbers, and other degenerates are also citizens. Should we then pretend that the parents did not commit illegal acts?</p>

<p>Not sure why we grant citizenship to children who happen to be born here - IMO, the proper remedy is to strip them of citizenship until their parents figure out how to obey the laws of our country or until they reach the age of majority and can apply on their own.</p>

<p>I really, really resent people who break the laws of this country and then tell us that we owe them something. In light of the people I know who came here legally, I really resent it.</p>

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<p>Ariesathena, you probably also noticed that the African American community has been silent about this issue. How can I, as an legal and native-born citizen of the United States, support a cause where immigration THROUGHOUT HISTORY has undermined and hindered the progress of African Americans in this country? Booker T. Washington begged northern industrialists to utilize native-born black labor instead of recent (white) immigrant arrivals in northern cities. Who benefitted overall in the North? The descendents of immigrants. It’s one reason why the South never industrialized because businessmen had cheap labor that was expendable. Fast forward a 100 years later, the same cycle comes around. This time, we have illegal predominately Latino mobilization efforts trying to use the civil rights movement (I’m OFFENDED) and American history to justify that “America is founded by immigrants.” Well, African Americans were forced to come this country and were stripped of their immediate cultural heritage. When I see African Americans at the bottom of the economic soldier who cannot get hired and who are ambivalent about this movement, I am not shocked and I do not blame them. </p>

<p>The protesters also changed their strategies by using American flags instead of Mexican flags. We already know their true intentions: they have no desire to become full-fledged Americans. You can’t have your own cake and eat it too. You cannot have dual citizenship: either you’re American or you go back home across the border. Specifically, Mexico needs to do something about their domestic economy. I know globalization is a factor, but the #1 reason why illegal immigrants leave is because the economy sucks. To want to live in America because it has a “better standard of living” is inexcusable. You have native-born Americans who don’t even enjoy the same rights and privileges as their wealthier and powerful comrades.</p>

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<p>A stranger invades your home and refuses to leave. </p>

<p>Same situation here. See leftwing liberal press editorial photo of illegals holding huge banner that says “WE ARE AMERICA” ?</p>

<p>Image the same stranger in your home now declares he is in fact a member of your family, and have all the rights everyone has.</p>

<p>America is not an open tent. It will eventually collapse if we just let others invade our country and we “just” lent a helping hand. We can lent a helping hand under controlled conditions, via properly documented guest workers and work visa. Not support illegal foreign invasion. If we relent and soften now, 15 yr from now, Arizona, Socal, Texas will become defacto Hispanic provences, and threaten a break-away. </p>

<p>This posts a threat to our republic and social order as much as El Quaeda is to terrorism.</p>

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<p>We have all these rallies across the country.</p>

<p>Why don’t the people try to overthrow their governments and start a new and better domestic-oriented economy? especially one that will improve the standard of living in their country? That seems like the more logical step in my opinion.</p>

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<p>

The only hispanic names I saw associated with 9/11 were the victims and the lists of soldiers killed in action in the mid-east. I think a person who acted to come here probably has a love of this country that may not be easily understood by a person who was lucky enough to be born here.<br>

</p>

<p>This was a dream we could be proud of. America was built by dreams not walls. How hollow the promising sound of “Mr. Gorbechov tear down this wall” is as it echos against some proposals for our own wall.</p>

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<p>I don’t resent them at all! They are supporting me in my old age, paying into my Social Security without collecting a dime (the reason Social Security is going “bankrupt” - besides the two trillion going into Iraq, is that African-Americans are, finally, living to collect a little bit of Social Security instead of simply paying for mine, and that, immigration - both legal and illegal being close to a 20-year low, immigrants are putting less in), paying into my workers comp without collecting a dime, building our homes, picking our vegetables, cleaning our houses, caring for our kids. The only signficant threat that they pose is that they work harder than everyone else (and anyone who has ever spent time around them knows it.) Actually, the bigger threat is that they all leave, and I have to work an extra three years before retiring.</p>

<p>And as for the de facto “Hispanic provinces” - people seem to forget that they were there first, and it was the U.S. that stole it from them.</p>

<p>Now, of course, the President wants to turn over “guest workers” to his labor-contractor friends - and when he does, the labor isn’t going to come from Mexico.</p>

<p>Luckily, a vast number are current and future citizens, and they will vote! And if the rallies help them get organized, fantastic!</p>

<p>For the record, my grandfather was an “illegal immigrant”, from Lithuania, who wasn’t allowed in because he was “Oriental”. Came in through Quebec as a French Canadian.</p>

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There are many counties in Texas where you cannot get elected to office without a Spanish surname. I think this will become the norm across the border states if we legalize all of the illegals currently in the country. </p>

<p>If we plan to have a serious guest worker program, we must stop granting citizenship to everyone born on this soil. At least one parent should have to be a legal permanent resident. The reason we have the protests today is because of the children that are citizens by birth with parents and siblings that are illegal.</p>

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<p>“There are many counties in Texas where you cannot get elected to office without a Spanish surname. I think this will become the norm across the border states if we legalize all of the illegals currently in the country.”</p>

<p>I think it will become the norm because white folks have decided to stop reproducing, not recognizing that it will leave them no one to care for them in their old age, no one to pay into their Social Security, no one to provide them with nursing care services. Thankfully, immigrants are taking up the burden - as they always have.</p>

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<p>From Mr.B,

</p>

<p>what twisted logics! The Berlin wall was keeping people out. We are just enforcing our borders, stopping an illegal foreign invasion as someone else has said.</p>

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<p>I went to the march for awhile today, watched the crowds parading down 16th street, though did not follow them to the Mall. The energy was, for the most part, lovely - calm yet enthusiastic, no rage in evidence, lots of families with kids. I think most of us, when encountering individuals, or in this case, a very large group of individuals, feel compassion for the illegal migrant’s situation. Most of the signs carried were benign - however, I did take some exception to “We produce, therefore we demand.” There is no entitlement imperative that applies to the US for an illegal, in my opinion. One of the signs said “Don’t scapegoat illegals.” There certainly is some truth to that - at least they didn’t drag us into a hopeless war!</p>

<p>The micro issues, person by person, however, transform into something else entirely when you are dealing with the practical consequences (and there are many) of the macro reality, millions and millions of illegals flooding our country. Like a Wisteria - it is lovely and blooms beautifully, but eventually its vigorous growth chokes out everything in the forest. I think that most of us who were born here are unhappy, in at least some respects, with the rapid changes in society caused by an unchecked flow of illegal unskilled migrants.</p>

<p>I do empathize with the great desire to come here to achieve a better life - I would try too, if I were in that position. I sponsored two individuals (au pairs) for a green card, and my current housekeeper was from El Salvador, originally illegal, but obtained her green card some years ago from her sponsor. She is applying for citizenship, has made a very good business for herself, is a homeowner, and has raised four industrious children, all of whom are either now working or finishing college. One example of the American Dream, realized.</p>

<p>However, take a look at some numbers - net losses cause by the large numbers of illegal migrants. I found these on what seems to be a rather paranoid web site (check out the US concentration camps article - they really exist, BTW, it is not a fantasy - miles and miles of staffed, newly fenced, empty compounds, waiting…for whom? for when?) that some of you may be familiar with, but I just discovered today when I did this search (cost of illegal migration). </p>

<p>The site may be rather wild-eyed, judging from the topics, but the numbers mentioned are quite congruent with those I got from the INS in 1990 when I was interviewing all of the executives about their core responsibilities and the issues they faced in conducting their missions. In fact, the 30% number for the prisoners is lower than the Detention Assistant Commissioner mentioned - back then, she said that over 40% of the individuals incarcerated for violent crimes and drug crimes were illegals.</p>

<p>If the US can’t control the border, then we can’t keep criminals out. Personally, I support the strong, high, patrolled fence, to keep the flood down to a trickle. Currently, the border is wide open - ANYONE can come in, including terrorists. I believe this will bite us badly, perhaps in the near future. I know that allowing the hordes of illegals to flood the US helps keep the Mexican government stable, and maintains peaceful relations (i.e., is a safety value to prevent violent revolution), but I think it’s a Faustian bargain.</p>

<p><a href=“Alex Jones' Endgame”>Alex Jones' Endgame;

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<p>

Illegal immigration may be the most significant issue to African Americans because it forces depresses the market wage for unskilled labor. Our cities are full of unskilled workers who cannot compete against illegals willing to work for next to nothing. Democrats again demonstrate they don’t care about African Americans – they think the immigrants will be new Democratic voters. Black leaders don’t care about African Americans – they want African Americans to be dependent on them and big government. If there is one group that has the right to scream “We were here first!” it would be African Americans. But only silence remains.</p>

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<p>In the 1850s and 1860s, the prisons were filled with Irish. In the 1870s and 1880s, they were filled with Slavs. In the 1890s and 1900s, with Poles. 1910s through the 1930s with Italians. And so it goes. Folks at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder inhabit our hotels of the poor, (with African-Americans, therefore, a continuing presence.)</p>

<p>In the fields and orchards of eastern Washington, in ten years, I never saw an African-American berry picker or cherry picker. Never saw a white one either. </p>

<p>The construction trade in New Orleans is filled with undocumented immigrants. The jobs are there for anyone who wants them - all they have to do is show up. $16 an hour.</p>

<p>All paying for my retirement, and for yours.</p>

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<p>Mini, you are delusional. First of all, there are not many African Americans in the state of Washington. Second, Hurricane Katrina pretty much displaced the entire African American population of New Orleans throughout the country. Many victims and survivors are too scared and depressed to return back to New Orleans. After all, they lost their homes, their jobs, their institutions, and their sense of community. Plus, New Orleans was one of the poorest cities in America since it depended on a tourist and service economy.</p>

<p>Maybe you need to look up the history of sharecropping in America? African Americans are still at the bottom, whether it’s 1850, 1930, or 2006. Where are the Irish, Slavs, and Poles that you mention today? Most have assimilated into American society by becoming “white.” Black people did not have that privilege and still suffer today. You are making American history too simplistic and objective, which is very offensive, I should add.</p>