Immigration should be easier for the honest and tougher for the dishonest.

As nation of immigrants we must welcome those who come to our shores in need of freedom and peace. As long as they adhere to immigration laws and are integrated into our society by accepting the customs of culture, which includes learning a proficiency of the English language. Those who enter illegally should not be granted amnesty of any kind, and should be considered criminals, which they are. They broke laws put in place and should be detained. Now we have over 13 million illegals in this country today. The best way to solve this problem is to fine a hefty sum to all businesses that hire an illegal alien. If this was enforced it would dry up the jobs offered to illegal aliens and they would have no choice but go home, because we would have nothing more to offer them. The borders must also be enforced with an increase in border patrol, the national guard could help out here too. A fence must be built and infrared cameras would be a nice touch as well. Closing the borders to illegal traffic would also heavily reduce drug trafficking along our south border. Bush will you please free those two border patrol agents!

Honestly, the border security is deplorable. If you knew me, you'd know that I'm a die hard liberal, however, allowing our borders to be so easily trespassed is extremely dangerous. As for the 12m illegals already in here, we can't deport them all. That's absurd.

  We need to secure our borders

I am fine with legal immagration, but when the aliens just stream across the borders, thats where there is a problem

these people come across, and dont know english, they corrupt our govt

and they endanger our country

Immigrants come to this country and do the work of slaves, think about it at one point the United States brought over immigrants from africa to do the jobs americans didn't want to do, so saying immigrants are taking american jobs is stupid if anything we want them here otherwise there wouldn't be enough workers.

The most important issue facing America

Securing the borders is crucial.

Ma Duron that is a very big statement that is very loosely put. Generally speaking most LEGAL or ILLEGAL immigrants do not come to the USA to escape from Government problems or economic struggles. If that were the case I certainly would not have come to the USA! The US is in drastic need for an economic Boost and America has just received a huge money boost from the EU!!!! Please that kind of comment is ill thought out!!! People immigrate for many reasons and they are not all because of the examples you have given. If it were not for some of the immigrants this country would not be what it is today. Saying that I'm sure many Native American Indians would probably say they wish WE had never come!!! Stop listening to politicians and start listening to people. There are also people here that associate crime with Legal or Illegal Immigrants. Let me ask one questions: Do you honesty think that Immigrants are responsible for most Crime? If so you need to look at the crimes done by US Citizens at home and away!!! Sorry I'm just fed up with the blame being pushed onto Immigrants when one of the biggest criminals is running office!!!!

Generally speaking and excluding political circumstances mostly, immigrants, both legal and illegal, arrive from countries where there has been significant long-term unemployment from a recurrently failed economic policy and/or a lack of equal opportunity in their respective countries, which conditions their governments have failed to address. For so long as these circumstances remain, the flow of illegals is not likely to be stemmed significantly in the next few years, despite restrictions and penalties in the U.S. Conditions regarding future economic assistance to neighboring countries should be enforced where reasonable results of improvement in the living and working standards are made effective; even commercial trade agreements, if necessary, must be revised on a case by case consideration. The necessary statistics for each specific country (from U.N., World Bank, etc.) are all there: a new and stricter set of rules must be set into place to make governments, who pass on the burden to others, more accountable to their citizens.

We had 20,000 people screw up traffic half a mile from my house about this the other day. Its a hot button issue in Arizona that isn't going away any time soon.

UPDATE: We just had an illegal who had been deported and came back murder a police officer here in Phoenix. Anyone else sick of this crap?

  Could there have been a hotter topic this past year? This subject was at the front of my list. Why? I served in the Navy for 8 years for the desire to protect my country. To see how the politicians of both major parties have treated this issue in recent years boils my blood.

I began a campaign of contacting Senators and even the President to voice my disgust with many of them for even considering amnesty for illegal immigrants. How dare they devalue what it means to be an American and the lives of those who have served this country past, present and future. How dare they slap the face of all those who have gone through the red tape to immigrate here in accordance with our laws. These politicians should be ashamed of themselves and thrown out of the government for treason!

Now they are trying to sneak another amnesty bill through on the back of a military appropriations bill. What the f#&k! These scumbags just don't get it do they?! The American people have spoken and they still don't listen! This is proof that our governemnt has lost touch with it's base and is committed only to self serving purposes. The American people have been betrayed by the very people we have elected. It is time for a change...now!

  Flick01:  That really surprised me, I had no idea that Mexico wouldn't welcome us with open arms the way they'd like our country to do. 

I feel this is the biggest issue of my time and I don't feel ashamed for not wanting illegals to be able to just become citizens after breaking the laws to get into this country.  I'm sorry that the mexican government doesn't feel enough responsibility for the citzen of Mexico to make their country more livable but that isn't the responsibility of my government either.  I hate hearing these politicians talking and the immigrants rights, WHAT RIGHTS????  They entered into this country without using the proper channels and I'm suppose to feel bad that their helping drain our already awful health care system, I just can't. 

I honestly consider myself a liberal on all accounts when it comes to the rights and previlages of my fellow man.  However first and foremost i'm a citizen of this country and on this particular subject I can't justify socio/politico/economically the governments ALLOWANCE of 12 million - 20 million illegal immigrants, 2/3, from Mexico.  I agree with everyone else on this particular subject.  But what is the answer? inaction on the part of the leaderbase both Democratic and Republican has embolden illegal immigrants to march in the streets of this nation for legal citizenship.  The elected officials need to take a stand for this country.  I work for the department of defense which is doing alot of work for the Border Patrol and two things popped into my head first the U.S. does not control the U.S./Mexican Border most stations are built and located 60-70 miles away from the border second the Mexican government is doing nothing to stop the mass exodus of its citizens to the U.S. I found the second really odd and came to the conclusion that Mexico is using the U.S. as a dumping ground for their poor.  Lets face it we aren't getting the best and the brightest from Mexico we are getting the poorest of the poor the most uneducated and some are just flat out dangerous criminals i.e gang bangers, drug dealers, and human smuggelers.  Weak leadership and Corporate American greed are preventing proper measures to be taken to deal with this issue.

Truly, I believe that this will indeed be the hot-button issue of the 2008 election. The anemic amnesty bill that is currently circulating through Congress after being developed behind closed doors is pretty much a repeat of the '86 amnesty bill which also hardly had any effect. While it is true that illegal immigration is not at its highest point now, after 9/11, border security is extremely important. Recently, a reporter for a Texas newspaper revealed that terrorists from Iran were trying to get into our country through Mexico. We need security!

What's worse is the administration's elitist attitude towards the whole thing...I've been a supporter of Bush's in many ways, but he's truly dropped the proverbial ball here. I am not a racist, am not a "nativist" and am a full supporter of legal immigration. Contrary to Michael Chertoff's beliefs, I do not want "anything less than capital punishment." We should, at the very least, deport the 600K illegal aliens who have violated other laws (such as rape and murder!). And, imagine who legal immigrants feel after going through years of legal process...

If a strong pro-Immigration enforcement candidate emerges, I believe he or she will have a strong chance at victory. Here's looking at you, Fred or Newt...

I believe our immigration policy should be changed to the following. There will be no special bilingual programs in the schools,  no special ballots for elections,  all government business will be conducted in our language. Foreigners will NOT have the right to vote no matter how long they are here.  Foreigners will NEVER be able to hold political office.  Foreigners will not be a burden to the taxpayers.  That means no welfare, no food stamps, no health care, or other government assistance programs.  Foreigners can invest in this country,  but it must be an amount equal to 40,000 times the daily minimum wage.  If foreigners do come and want to buy land that will be allowed,  BUT options will be restricted.  You are not allowed waterfront property,  that is reserved for citizens naturally born into this country.  Foreigners may not protest;  no demonstrations,  no waving a foreign flag,  no political organizing,  no bad-mouthing our president or his policies,  if you do you will be sent home.  If you do come to this country illegally,  you will be hunted down and sent straight to jail.

Harsh, you say?.................

The above laws happen to be the immigration laws of  MEXICO!

I can't belive this is this far down on the list. There is no greater issue, no greater threat facing our nation, as our country is being taken from us, primarily through an illegal invasion from Mexico. This affects our national security, our crime rate, our economy, our tax burden, and our healthcare costs...all in an adverse way. It also undermines the ability of Americans to determine the direction of America. 3.28? Wake up people!  Wake up.

One of the most important issues in our present day America.  Something must be done to stop the growing number of immigrants.

This is one of the two or three most important issues facing the country. While the government at least *pretends* to consult public opinion on issues like Iraq or social security, there has been virtually *no* public input on immigration policy. The new Senate and the President both agree on a general amnesty and a major increase in immigration quotas-something the vast majority of Americans oppose. The press and major corportions are gaga about open borders/cheap labor though-so don't expect much coverage or criticism. Hopefully, the upcoming presidential election will force legislators to actually consider the interests of American voters on this issue.

The biggest issue of our generation because unprecendented mass immigration from poor countries is hitting every developed, advanced nation in the world (Japan being a possible exception). France, the UK, Australia, the U.S. and just about any place you'd want to live is being hit with waves of persons coming from the 3rd world.

Immigration is commonly fine. However, problems arise when the newcomers have little interest in assimilating or subscribing to/abiding by the values of the host country.

If you think near unrestricted immigration is "OK" for people who are seeking to escape poverty, come visit Los Angeles. In fact, you don't have to do that. Just jump on the internet and take a look at what Californians score on public school tests, the rate at which they graduate high school, the traffic they have to deal with, what they have to pay for homes in an area where there isn't enough housing, and the increasing taxes that citizens must endure.

It's no joke folks. Get informed. Your childrens' futures depend on it.

It is true that most of our grandparents, greatgrandparents etc. came here as an immigrant. However most of them did not have a welfare system that they could take advantage of upon arrival. Immigration is good, it's what makes the US so diverse. However I believe that the modern day immigrants, mostly illegal are taking advantage of the system and causing hard working Americans to suffer. It's sad to say that hard work brings great rewards when our rewards go to supporting a broken system.

Immigration is not a problem. It is illegal immigration which is a problem.
America could have stopped the illegal immigration if it wanted to, but it doesn't, in fact it encourages it. Otherwise why would companies (including wal-mart) hire them. Oh wait,Now I remember- to further downgrade American society and to save a buck!
America is not even like a real country, anyone can come in and work/live as they please. It makes me sick to see illegals in my home of California who are buying big homes and driving new cars, while people who went to college like me, followed all the right steps and then make less than the illegals.

I am rating illegal immigration only. Politicians do what we elected you to do. Alway do the right thing. Enforce the "Law" or either make Canada and Mexico part of the United States. Then the border will start at Canada and Mexico's edge.

(updated from 4/7/03)

What should be a moderately important political issue serves only as a convenient distraction. And this can be said of almost all hot button topics. Most of America votes on our so-called representatives based on similar views on Abortion, Gay Marriage, and Immigration, and for what? So that, once political corruption and failure comes to the front page of your newspaper, they can toss out a few "opinionated" words and pretend that they're doing their job? Or, for some, its "Election time is coming . . . look busy!" And, sadly, we're buying what they're selling, regardless of their full track record, and once we do, they go back to doing nothing about the issue. They have no intention of doing anything either way about it. Its amazing what a little lip service can do.

Regarding the topic of immigration itself: it might serve one well to recall that theres a huge difference between legal and illegal immigrants. I'm a first-generation born American, my parents are both immigrants from China. Legally. My parents jumped through the hoops, filled out their paperwork, and they're citizens. And I was born on this soil, just as you likely have. When some self-righteous backwoods yokel hisses at me to "Go Home", it's sadly amusing. Baltimore is, and always was, my home. AMERICA IS MY HOME, and Ive got just as much right to be here as you. And don't call yourself a "native" American, when your ancestors discovered this land when there were ALREADY people living on it. And don't give me that crap about "us" "not assimilating" into American culture. Some immigrants might not be, but I, and much of my family, had married interracially. We speak English. But, for some, it won't ever be enough, because I dont have the same skin tone as they do.

As far as ILLEGAL immigration is concerned, well, it's not legitimate. I'd prefer it if they went through the proper routes. But, frankly, I dont know enough about the situation, and nor do I care all that much, considering there are far more important issues to worry about. It seems to me that xenophobia is more of a ruling factor in how one perceives this issue, rather than the repercussions of the illegal immigration. If you're going to pick a stance, pick it for the right reason.

I'm more concerned about the corruption in our politicians how much power lobbyists have in Washington. I'm more concerned about how the war is going. Once these issues are covered, maybe I could focus more on immigration policies. But, that's probably not going to happen any time too soon.

The American worker must get a better paid job and the quallity of life. Illegals from Mexico should become legal if they have been here for a while and if they are good people.

I respect everyone, but I do not agree with these protesters. On the local news, half of the people protesting didn't even know why they were protesting in the first place. Many kids just didn't want to go to school, so they joined the protest. What people fail to realize is that if you are here illegally, you are breaking the law. Why should we have to learn Spanish in America to be considered for jobs? The Americans who hire illegals for cheap labor should be thrown in jail. The illegals are overworked and underpaid, it's like a form of slavery. If you feel like you must protest, at least wave the American flag.

I'm rating immigration solely as a political issue here, and it suddenly has become critically important. And I think the Republicans have way more to lose here than the Democrats. Hurricane Katrina was a PR disaster for the Bush Administration. Fairly or not, the Bush Administration's incompetence in responding has been blamed on an indifference towards the plight of Black Americans. Any inroads the Republicans had made with their social conservatism and high profile of Condi Rice, completely evaporated as the days rolled by in New Orleans without Federal aid. The immigration issue has the potential to be equally catastrophic. Already, protests against the house sponsored immigration bill that would make felons out of illegals, and criminalize working families who assist illegals, have far outnumbered any rallies against the Iraq war. Hispanics make up about 12% of American voters. If the Republicans botch this issue, they may pay the price for years.

It's an important issue in the US today but I think the current emotional, accusatory uproar surrounding this issue obfuscates the legitimate immigration issue by linking immigration with border security. In the post-9/11 world, any politician who does not acknowledge the importance of border security should simply be impeached. Failing that, in his/her next election cycle what more pertinent and damning accusation could be levelled at a candidate than his/her own quotes exhibiting their stance on this issue? For an illegal alien in the US today, he/she should fear the routine enforcement of our federal laws and have a greater than 50/50 chance of being criminally deported. If that is not the case, our government is failing. Period. And it should be held accountable for such failure, starting with the INS and continuing upward to the Oval Office, if it is reasonably verifiable that the Chief Executive fails to enforce the law. Granting amnesty (or whatever you may choose to call the proposal on the table) to law breakers always results on more laws broken, no matter how badly we need the tomatoes. Please, if you do nothing else, eschew the emotional rhetoric and see the facts. If a law is unconscionable, it should be corrected. Not ignored. If you are working to help others ignore the law, you are a criminal. If you work to change the law, or the process, you are at least part of the solution.

Illegal immigration is definitely having a negative effect on the lower middle class. I live in So. California and I see the effect first hand. Multiple families living in one house, changing neighborhoods, hostility towards blacks, businesses that cater to hispanics only, etc. Wages are decreasing and Americans have to compete with illegals for unskilled and low paying jobs. Why pay Joe American $10.00 per hr when you can pay Jose Illegal $5.00 under the table and unreported? Seeing protest marchers proudly displaying the Mexican Flag was really a slap in the face. It's as if they are saying "our loyalty remains with Mexico, but we'll use the United States for a better life". Why don't they protest against the Mexican Government to help all citizens of Mexico obtain a better standard of living in their own homeland of which they are so proud?

It was reported that 500,000 protested the new immigration laws in L.A. this weekend. I wonder how many of them are registered to vote never mind legally in the country. I have no problem with legal immigrants its harder to get in legally then it is the other way. You hear all the arguments about people look for a better life and they do jobs others will not do. Well if you unemployed and all welfare maybe the goverment should put you to work picking peaches instead of just collecting a check. Times have changed the borders have to be secured if any one can just cross the border then we are setting are selves up for another major terrorist attack. Look at what 20 people were able to accomplish. What if there had been a few hundred maniacs hoping to get their 7 virgins, we could suffer even bigger losses!

Illegal immigrants may be given the authority to stay in this country, provided they are working........say what? What is the motivation, then, for a person from Uganda or Ivory Coast to become legal? Immigration/insourcing of cheap labor is killing the middle class. There will simply be two types of native Americans in this country in five years: Have nothings and "have mores" (to use Dubya's own words). These "have mores" will be investors, CEOs, etc who profit from cheap labor. The "have nothings" will be everyone else. America is being sold from under us. It MUST stop. Some people from Mexico and Central America come to this country legally and work. No problem there. But they are having huge families (eight people crowded into on one-bedroom apartment in my complex!), and in some cases bringing gangland activity. There are small towns in Delaware (near Perdue and Tyson chicken plants) and rural Virginia (near other factories) that haven't had homicides in decades, but in the last few years have been hit with machete slayings and a general deterioration of real estate. Hold these corporations hiring cheap labor, and firing Americans who've worked there for generations, accountable! (I will paraphrase comments I wrote in the Offshoring/Outsourcing issue below): Here's a novel idea: Pay Americans what they deserve to work in retail environments like grocery stores or fast food places or department stores, or in call centers, or in engineering or constructions jobs. People in retail environments or working in call centers interface with consumers all the time--it takes a certain personality to do that. These are not jobs that many people could handle. And if call center or retail employees paid what they should be paid for their unique talents, maybe people wouldn't get the "poor customer service" that so many consumers are complaining about these days. "Meet and eat" executives are the ones getting the money saved from outsourcing and hiring immigrants, so they can drive their BMWs and take their vacations to Bermuda. The worker bees are not getting these benefits. The consumers dealing with someone working at McDonalds who can't speak English are not getting treated with service they should be. The individual trying to change his address on his credit card statement, placed on hold for 45 minutes because the company cannot find enough staff willing to work for piss-poor wages, is not reaping benefits. STOP OFFSHORING AND HIRING CHEAP LABOR! American corporations doing this should be fined. Or the Government should offer financial incentives for keeping the jobs in America.

One year ago today, the Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh had his throat ritually slit by Mohamed Bouyeri, a Muslim born in Holland who spoke fluent Dutch. This event has totally transformed Dutch politics, leading to stepped-up police controls that have now virtually shut off new immigration there. Together with the July 7 bombings in London (also perpetrated by second generation Muslims who were British citizens), this event should also change dramatically our view of the nature of the threat from radical Islamism. The USA should start determining what is in its national interest.

Immigration and you! So you may think that Immigration has nothing to do with you, right? Wrong, it has everything to do with you and your neighbor and your house and your job and your health and your family and our history and your future history. Immigration is this country (USA) is on of the biggest problems with the cost of housing, healthcare and among many other things, what you get paid at work. Immigrants, Illegal or not have a massive hand in our quality of life in America. U.S. over immigration does not relieve overpopulation problems in third-world countries. Over 4.9 billion people live in countries poorer than Mexico. Each year the populations of the world's impoverished nations grow by tens of millions. Mexico grows by 2.5 million per year, Latin America by 9.3 million, South America by 5.4 million, and China by 8.3 million. U.S. over immigration cannot have any significant affect on this number, even at current high mass immigration levels of over 1,000,000 per year. U.S. population is projected to double. Although current population growth rates are not strictly exponential, an analysis of exponential growth reveals how quickly a population can grow. Exponential growth is like compound interest. With 1% growth rate, population will double in 70 years; a 2% growth rate will cause doubling in 35 years, 10% in 10 years. (Divide 70 by the percentage number to get the approximate doubling time). U.S. population has grown by 1.2% per year over the last 50 years. This "low" growth rate means it has taken only 58 years for our population to double. We can expect this doubling to continue, drastically magnified by the impact of unrealistically high levels of mass immigration. We have enough people in this country that are born here every year. We really dont need anyone else. Immigrants of all kinds get Government assistance and most never make enough money to pay us, you and the Government back. And while we spend this money on people who dont really give back we short change our old, our kids, our homeless and our paychecks get smaller as the prices of homes get higher because we have way to many people here. Companies in the good old USA, always use Immigrants to do jobs, why because most of them will do it for less then we do, with less breaks then we get and work longer then we do. So most business owners will use this cheap labor and really it should be stopped. Affirmative action for Americans is what I call it. Companies must have a certain number of American born employees working at there company plain and simple. And if you want to live here in America you should have to prove to American Government that you have a skill that we can benefit from and you must provide for yourself and give back. Canada works like that, you need a skill that Canada needs or no ride ticket (I love America, but we can learn from others.) It is kind of like working at a job, you get paid to work and provide a skill for that company, if you stop providing that skill and stop working, you get fired. So you want to live here, work, pay taxes, earn your keep and if you dont you get fired and sent home. And to those lazy Americans who play around on the job and make us (America) look like a bunch of fools, you can go to. Lets stand and work to keep our money, jobs here in the USA where we can benefit from it and lets stop giving it away. Take care of America (our family) first. And then help others. Next time. Outsourcing and why it killing us!

First of all, let me say I hate politics;however, this is a real problem. If idiot politicians care about terrorism and our well-being then I think they should start here in the US. First, screen cargo at airports; they don't even do this for all bags. I just don't see why the government can't build a wall between the US&Mexico border, it would make things a million times easier; illegal immigrants do not help this country. So just build a freakin' wall cause it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than fighting a pointless war where kids just die every damn day.

Huge, and the one thing I differ greatly with President Bush on. To say our borders are becoming a major problem is a great understatement. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now.

What has happened with other issues (where economic gain is the main incentive) simmilar to this that the US government has tried to control? Drug policy has failed miserably and turned Colombia into one of the worst places on Earth to live, and has done little to nothing to stop drug flows or drug use. How about arms control? Simmilar outcomes. When there is strong economic incentive, people are going to find their way around laws and enforcement, no matter what. People are coming into the US to find jobs and make a living for themselves and their families. They are trying to escape poverty. That's a pretty strong incentive to get in. No wall near San Diego, bored Minutemen or increased INS legislation is going to change that. Until weath gaps diminish and people in the Global South have a standard of living that gives their lives a sense of dignity, there will be no end in sight. Current crack-downs on illegal immigrants have led to increases in human smuggling and trafficking. In Denison Iowa in 2002, 15 illegal immigrants were found dead and half-decayed in a sealed rail car after a botched attempt to get to the Mid-west. They paid the ultimate price for something here we all take for granted: economic freedom. Interstate 80 is now a hot human trafficking/smuggling route with estimates of up to 1,000 illegals trasported on its stretch in any given day because many think they are out of the range of the border patrol. State troopers often pull over vans with up to 25 illegals in the back of the van stacked up like cord wood when doing routine traffic stops on 80. Many of these illegals are simply trying to get to jobs to ensure economic security for their families. Those that are arrested often spend months in jail while their families back home have no idea what has happened to them. Current legislation is worsening the situation. HR-10, a house bill sponsored by Sensenbrenner has made it even more difficult for refugees and asylum seekers to stay in the US. The real ID component of the bill would mean that many illegal immigrants would continue driving without drivers licenses, and thus no car insurance. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what's wrong with that. Asylum seekers that have been tortured and raped are often thrown in with dangerous criminal and interrogated about their torture to see if they might be lying about something. Supposedly this measure is supposed to prevent terrorists from applying for asylum, but given the strict surveillence, extensive documentation and INS involvement, only the stupidest terrorist would try this- and certainly get caught. Meanwhile, victims from war-torn regions who really need asylum are treated like criminals. Many suffer complete break-downs once they begin the asylum process in the US because of the degrading treatment. It's true that we need heightened security to keep people who wish to harm us out, but we also must realize that shutting our borders is not going to stop the flow of people looking to find some economic opportunity. Also, do we want to deny access to those who have been tortured and abused in war ravaged nations? I don't think many American would. The task at hand now it, how do we keep a healthy flow of immigrants and refugees in while maintaining the security and economic integrity of our own nation, and also keep up our image as a nation of opportunity and political refuge? I hate to say, but there is no easy answer to this. Cutting off our borders simply makes conditions ripe for more human trafficking/smuggling and the horrific outcomes (not to mention illicit economic gain) that often arise from it.

Very important issue. . .it speaks to the alleged 'differences' between republicans and democrats. Dubya lies about war, weapons, and defense of marriage while a large gap of land is open for immigrants to cross over. (Some security - and I have to take off my shoes at the airport?) Don't give me any 'I love dubya' hate mail either- Clinton the business-friendly conservative also looked the other way while immigrants help drive down labor wages while increasing stock portfolios. Both political parties pretend to give a sh#t about immigration, both parties get paid to look the other way. The middle class suffers. Americans don't know when they are being suckered. Only businesses claim that 'immigrants do the work that Americans won't' What crap. Business and the upper class LOVES a labor force that (1) comes cheap, (2) doesn't complain and (3) is expendable.

We have to stop illegal imigration now. We should bring our troops home and station them on our borders. Visitors and legal imigration ok. Illigals are bankrupting this country along with Ceaser Bush

The fact that the world even has to have borders or barriers to keep people out is obsurd to begin with. Immigration should not even be an issue. Idealy, and yes I am aware that this is the real world, the whole world should be one nation, the human race. Let's be honest, if we elimainated boarders then the problems plaging the world would become everyone's concern and being so, everyone's problem. It's too easy to say, it's not my problem ,it happened on John's property,let him deal with it, when really, it's leaking into your own back yard. Tearing down the fence and helping John may keep Jane's yard from the same outcome, not to say it wouldn't open a whole new set of problems but at least the fence is down and they are talking about it, the rest comes with time. Immigration, in my opinion, is much blown out of proportion by these self proclaimed culture preservists, as a North American white male I have no culture per say other than an amalgimation of various other cultures and a social push to atain monetary wealth, as has our main language aquired many words from other cultures. I for one am darn thankful for my exposure to cultures, they have made me who I am today. I respect personal culture and believe it should be preserved if it is important to you as the individual. It seems to me that being proud of your heitage is a double edged sword. The only reason Imigration is an issue these days, in my opinion of course, is because 90% of the world lives in poverty and they are sick of being that way and the ones with the money don't want to give any of it up. My point is this, without all this intermingling of cultures we would all be immensly ignorant due to the lack of first hand exposure to other cultures' and their fresh idea's and approaches to problems we all share, not to mention, it would be one boring place. Stop looking at the small picture people, tear down the walls, talk about the issues that matter and cut out the red tape. Lets start becoming the human race that we call ourselves. HardCor

No matter where one stands on the issue of immigration, open or closed, there are a few matters that must be recognized. First, no country is secure or sovereign if it cannot control who crosses its borders. As the Mexican border is clearly out of control, something must be done. Second, one must understand the general profile of an immigrant. Historically, those who immigrate voluntarily are ambitious and relatively educated. These are the kind of people the U.S. should want. The problem is that with the relatively new modern welfare state one can't be sure if this profile still holds true (at least as much as it once did). Another problem is that a society can only swallow so much of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid. This is similar to loading an insurance plan with bad risks which starts the death spiral as the lower risks flee the pool or balk. Third, usually immigrate families are completely Americanized by the third generation. This has historically meant that language and culture clashes eventually fade; however, recent trends seem to indicate that modern immigrants seem more adamant about maintaining their home culture, philosophy and language. If this is true, then future social conflict is certain. Fourth, the argument that my ancestors were immigrants, so I can't stop anyone from coming now sounds romantic and logical, but in reality this just isn't the case. Circumstances often dictate a change in policy. This doesn't mean that immigration should stop, but it does mean that what happened in the past doesn't dictate what must be done now. Fifth, the United States is not a nation built on ethnicity, but rather on a philosophy. The recent trend of hyphenation (eg African-American and Irish-American) is eroding this philosophy, and without that, immigration will most certainly destroy the county as we know it.

Recently, President Bush proposed a new immigration policy that would essentially loosen the law to allow for more migrants to come to the US. I applaud Bush's initiative. It's smart politics for him too and it's sound policy. The bottom line is that there are a lot of jobs that Americans simply don't want to do like washing dishes and building roofs. Yes, we ought to grant temporary legal status to the millions of migrants who already have work lined up for them. It is way better that we document who these workers are rather than having them here illegally. It has been reported that abuse of undocumented workers is rampant. Most of these people are paid in cash by their employers and their wages are beneath the minimum wage. Business who hire and then underpay illegals are competing unfairly against companies who hire documented workers. Indeed, there is a huge cash economy that operates underneath the radar of government regulation. If documentation becomes a reality, it will mean more revenues for the government; in these times of large deficits, that will be a relief. The new immigration law will also give the migrants a better shot at improving their own home countries. They are certainly going to get paid more here than they would in any other country. That will help us with our foreign relations; I think we need to state our case better in the international community and showing our humanitarian side might be a good thing. The migrants can come and go according to the amount of work that is available in the US. This will in the long haul help reduce illegal immigration, making the process easier will allow for those who want to work come here. Plus we can keep better tabs on who comes and goes through our borders, which is a major concern in light of the war on terrorism. In the final analysis, we are a nation of immigrants. I believe that we should extend the promise of the American dream to whoever wants to make the most of life in this country, even if it is on a temporary basis. The tough jobs aren't being taken by Americans; it's better that we give it to those who want to work. After all, that's why most of our ancestors came here, to work in a land with plenty of natural resources to go around.

Yes. We need blanket amnesty for almost all immigrants from South and Central America and Mexico. We need to cut down the number of student visas we give to Middle Easterners.

If you become a legal citizen or resident of the U.S., then by all means live your life to its fullest. If your illegally in the U.S. though, then either become a legal resident or citizen, or get out. If you trully want to be a citizen or resident, then abide by the rules of the country. Other countries would expect U.S. visitors to do the same. We cannot have unknown people walking in the U.S. that could do financial or physical harm to legal citizens and residents.

It is not immigration that bothers me, it is ILLEGAL immigration. Living in America is not a right but a privelage, and should be limited to those who earn it legally. This is our country and we need to control the borders for our own well being.

I'm horrified by some of the comments here, and how many people agree with them when the ideas are TOTALLY illogical. Immigration keeps this country alive economically, it is not a hinderance to it. Immigration is the only thing that provides enough money to support the federal budget. People poor immigrants are not the people to blame for your sorry lives.

I live in California. Obviously, there are tons of Mexican and Asian immigrants. I do not have a problem with immigrants who come here legally, make an effort to learn English, and support themselves without depending on the goverment to give them money. In fact, I have a great deal of respect for them. But when there are thousands of immigrants coming to California illegally, driving up the crime rate, speaking Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, Tagalog, or whatever language they speak all over the place, and taking our taxdollars because of some of their unwillingness to work, I do have a problem with it. I have a problem with going to the airport, and having all of the workers where you check in speaking very little English, especially when you are trying to find out important information about your flight and where to go. This has happened to me more times than I can count. It's absoulutely ridiculous. If you want the privilidge of living in America, you need to be a responsible citizen. I'm not saying that everyone who was born in America is responsible, there are tons of criminals and lazy people who are not immigrants. I'm just saying that there are many immigrants who need to make a bigger effort to be good citizens and grateful to live here.

Unlimited immigration is just another pyramid scheme, a way for politicians to put off dealing with the natural but problematic consequences of a stable population. Legal immigration should be capped at a net 100,000-200,000 per year, and there should be no more normalizations of illegal immigrants, ever. Doing this would allow the population to stabilize at a halfway reasonable level, with positive environmental consequences.

wE CAN NOT HANDLE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME HERE LEGALLY AND THE ILLEGALS ARE USING SOCIAL SERVICES, HAVING MORE CHILDREN AND CONTINUE TO FLOOD THE LABOR MARKET WITH LOW WAGE WORKERS.

Immigration is great as far as I'm concerned. Many immigrants come here to do the work that Americans don't want to do, and don't forget that many of them serve in our military. There are 2 types of immigrants: 1. comes here to work and make money, then returns home. 2. comes here to live the rest of their life. Even if they never learn a word of English, their children probably will. I don't see this as a problem. A century ago people were complaining the Irish immigrants were going to destroy the American way of life.

We have WAY too many immigrants here already. Immigration must stop temporarily until someone can figure out the mess. Thousands of Mexicans are illegaly comming into America everyday. Who knows how many others come down from Canada or from ships! Put the military on the border and stop this.

I fully support tigher immigration and border control laws. The Constitution does not state that we are required to allow foreigners into our borders. I believe that we need to pass laws which would further reduce the number of immigrants allowed to come into our country anually, and strengthen our border controls. I fully believe in letting these folks live the American dream. However, being consistent with my thoughts on foreign policy, perhaps we should help these people IN THEIR OWN COUNTRIES rather than letting their standard of living become so low that they feel that the United States is the only place to go. The American Dream must not just be the American Dream, but the American Dream is the human dream. We should let the people of Mexico, Afghanistan, Canada, Saudi Arabia, etc establish this dream with our support and backing. However, we have enough problems feeding the people we already have here and the number of Americans in poverty is growing. Certainly, while it may serve as a ladder for Americans, welfare seems to attract most of the immigrants into this country, where they believe a free ride will come to them. I don't want to get into welfare and how I believe it should be reformed, but certainly recieving a check in the U.S. every month is better than living in Mexico with nothing.