What should be done about illegal immigration?

US counts cost of day without immigrants

One of the biggest protests in US history unfolded across America yesterday as more than a million demonstrators took to the streets to protest against proposals to toughen immigration law.

From New York to Los Angeles and more than 50 cities in between, they streamed out in their numbers, waving US, Mexican and El Salvadorean flags. Most of the protesters were Latino, reinforcing what for many was the true impact of the day: the emergence of a powerful Latino political voice angry at a system which they say judges them good enough to work in the US but not good enough to be citizens.

A sea of white-shirted protesters 300,000 strong, chanting "Si, se puede" ("Yes, it can be done") surged through Los Angeles. In Chicago police said up to 400,000 protesters had taken part in a rally. Other large demonstrations took place in Denver, which saw 75,000 protesters, Houston and San Diego. [..]

The mood at the first of two demonstrations in Los Angeles was celebratory, with protesters streaming along Broadway in the heart of downtown towards City Hall. "I'm here to support the people who work here and to demand full rights for all immigrants," said Ricardo Meneses, who came to the US from Mexico 15 years ago. "We all come here to look for work. The only thing we can do now is demonstrate peacefully." [..]

Banners in English and Spanish raised the issues of the day: "The US is made by immigrants," read one [..]. A Latino protester wore a T-shirt reading "The sleeping giant has awoken", referring to an immigration protest at the end of March which attracted half a million people to the streets of Los Angeles. The scale of that protest and others around the country shocked organisers, police and politicians, and helped to move the debate on immigration to the top of the agenda.

Luis, 26, who came from Guatemala 14 years ago, said he had taken a day off from his work as a doctor's assistant because he thought that the contribution of immigrants should be recognised. "I think we're lucky to have so many immigrants here," he said. "I crossed a river and came here as an illegal and now I have a green card [residency] and a profession. I want others to have the same opportunity. The way we treat immigrants at the moment isn't just." [..]

Fox wrote:
2) It is unfair and unjust to let those who broke the law cut in line in front of all the people who have been going through the process and have waited patiently for years to be admitted legally.

I agree with this concern; many people that come to the US do it the legal way, and must wait their turn. I don't see why illegals should have preferential treatment to become citizens; that's the only issue I have, but we all know our government will do as they please.

Cicerone,

The fact that most legal immigrants don't feel this way doesn't change your mind on this?

This argument assumes that the current laws are fair. To me this is a false argument raised by the anti-immigrant right-- but the real people who should have a say on this are the recent legal immigrants.

Legal immigrants are largely sympathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants who have been working here. They feel that the immigration laws are currently overly punitive and support an amnesty.

Doesn't this mean something?

Stupid questions deserves a stupid answer; none.

Starting any sentence with "if there are no borders...." is stupid on the face of it.

I don't know, but I, for one, am quite happy that the Europe I'm living in today is so much different from the place it was a few decades ago. Mostly because national borders virtually disappeared.

And yes, if there are no borders, there can be no illegal immigrants.

cicerone imposter wrote:

Starting any sentence with "if there are no borders...." is stupid on the face of it.

So in other words,you dont have the courage of your convictions to answer the questions.
You are a hypocrite of the first order.

Should ALL national borders be eliminated?
Should there be open borders where any person is allowed to go anywhere they choose,with no fear?

Do sovereign nations have the right to control who enters their country?
Do sovereign nations have the right to control their own borders?

So then you have no problem with immigrants coming from the former eastern block countries and doing jobs that your countrymen wont do,for half the pay?

I smell a red herring.

mysteryman wrote:

Should ALL national borders be eliminated?
Should there be open borders where any person is allowed to go anywhere they choose,with no fear?

In an ideal world, yes; at this time, no.

mysteryman wrote:

Do sovereign nations have the right to control who enters their country?
Do sovereign nations have the right to control their own borders?

Yes to both.

Now what does either of that have to do with, say, the McCain proposal Ebrown has been defending here? With offering a path to legalisation/citizenship for those already in the country, who have already been working in the country?

I smell a red herring.

I have some very simple questions for those of you that support illegal immigrants...

Should ALL national borders be eliminated?

Should there be open borders where any person is allowed to go anywhere they choose,with no fear?

Do sovereign nations have the right to control who enters their country?

Do sovereign nations have the right to control their own borders?