Most of us have debated this topic in here on multiple occasions, and right now it's heating up again. One of my main problems with immigration reform is that it concentrates too much on helping the illegal immigrants and doesn't do much for the actual immigration system itself. I saw this article today that kind of discusses this issue from a perspective similar to what I've tried to point out in these debates before. With it becoming an administration priority, and with Republicans licking their wounds from the last election, I believe something will get done, I only fear they will again treat the symptoms (illegal immigration) and not fix the real problem (the legal immigration system)



http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/01/us/legal-immigration-irpt/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

It all comes down to funding. They really, really need to staff INS in a way that allows legal immigrants to be processed in a reasonable time. Some kind of amnesty, or at least a path to citizenship, is the only realistic solution for that problem. Sorry, but you just can't round up and deport 10-12 million people, especially people living off the grid. Unfortunately, that aspect of the problem has been so hyped over the past few decades that it's the one that people focus on.

If you want INS to work properly, that means funding, which means more taxes. Good luck with that one.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

It's not just funding and manpower though, there are a million hoops to jump through (ok a million might be a slight exaggeration). If you simplify the process, you can do more work with less man power.

I say remove the term "illegal" immigrants.

If you live here, you pay taxes. If you don't pay taxes, commit a crime, you get deported. All persons wanting to move here and create a better life for themselves should be accepted with open arms. However, they should have an extremely short rope.

I've worked with illegals [Mexicans] before. For the most part they work hard, get paid like shit, and are very good to their families. These are the types of citizens I want in this country and we can deal with them coming.

By having a blind eye to illegals does not benefit them the most, it benefits those who employ them, who take rent from them, who directly benefit from their work or income. If you allow them to come into our country, work hard, get a real job, they can move up faster, be more productive citizens and not be worried about being deported.

If they pay taxes, are expected to have insurance and have the same rights as a normal citizen, we won't have the same problems we have now.

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RIP ROAD WOES 12/2/2012

Democrats want to legalize all the illegal immigrants for the votes. Going to be hard to avoid that.

This is dead on.

/thread

Not nearly enough liberal bashing or racism for this thread to be over yet. Let's not be silly. Great post though, Sonic.

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Tanzania¹²

I firmly believe we should not be setting a precedent of rewarding those who break the law. Also, RolandDeschain pretty much has it right. Most of the politicians supporting amnesty for all illegals are probably just pandering for votes.

Reagan was the founding father of amnesty. Pretty much exactly what Sonic said, Reagan wanted. Just to put that out there. This isn't a crazy Liberal idea.

"I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally," Ronald Reagan said in 1984.

And Republicans want to continue the status quo, because all of those illegal immigrants are easily exploited for cheap laborerrs that have no rights. Meanwhile, they get cheap talking points as they pander to the paranoid and racist voters.

The corporatocracy is not in favor of legalizing immigrants.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

Sutz, just how many people do you think are hired at below-minimum wage level as far as illegals go? The illegals I've known have made minimum wage or better. Some of the apple orchards in eastern WA pay $15+ per hour for picking apples. I think you just lump illegal immigrant labor, regardless of what they're making, together into this mysterious "making $3/hour category" in your own mind. I'm not saying those don't exist, but I think they're significantly less common than you seem to think. I've also known a few illegal immigrants that make decent money. Construction jobs, largely.

The thing with Eastern Washington apple orchards and most American farming is that there is no interest in US citizens for that kind of work. Even farmers' sons and daughters take no interest in it. The only hired help they can find is illegal immigrants, and like it or not they are the future of America's farming. Trying to deport them would only be shooting ourselves in the foot. We need them more than they even need us. They deserve amnesty.

Whatever, Mr. 'Dems only want to make them legal for the votes' "independent".

Statistically, IDK to be honest, but the Wash apple orchards are far from the only place that our undocumented workers seek employment. Your anecdotal evidence based opinion pulls no more weight than my statistically challenged one. In fact, perhaps I should call INS and tell them that I know someone who claims to know iilegal immigrants and hasn't reported them.

_________________
Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

Whatever, Mr. 'Dems only want to make them legal for the votes' "independent".

Statistically, IDK to be honest, but the Wash apple orchards are far from the only place that our undocumented workers seek employment. Your anecdotal evidence based opinion pulls no more weight than my statistically challenged one. In fact, perhaps I should call INS and tell them that I know someone who claims to know iilegal immigrants and hasn't reported them.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

I find it interesting that someone who was a marine, part of the "Semper Fi, you rat you fry" crowd would threaten to report me to authorities for not reporting illegal immigrants.

FYI, that's not actually in the code. I guess it sounded catchy when Abby said it, but Gibbs' look when she did kind of tells it like it is. That's not how it works.

I'll refrain from worrying overly much about the opinion of someone who's avatar is the Lone Gunman of the Apocalypse on real codes of honor, thank you.

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Talent can get you to the playoffs.
It takes character to win when you get there.

Rofl, I used the phrase from that because it's clever/witty. I'm sure a Marine would never cover anything up for anyone, though. That's just not part of human nature.

So, open borders? No limits on numbers allowed in?

How libertarian of you.

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That's weak sauce!

It's worked for every other country out there, why not for us? I mean, isn't that what folks are always advocating? That we emulate other countries like those in Scandinavia and such? I hear you can just walk into those countries with no papers.

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I blog, I tweet. When I'm not writing or goofing around on Seahawks.NET.

Tighter borders but amnesty for all those that have already laid down their roots. Get them paying taxes. Just like Reagan wanted.