Eric Wise

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

I really think that your country's admission politics are abusive.  The wall between USA and Mexico should be a BIG shame for your nation.

I understand the danger of terrorism, but come on, your country would not be what is without the immigrants. A little bit of respect to people from Sweden, Mexico, Panama and the rest of the world

(I'm Argentinian)

PS: Hope you get the refund :)

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

This is really the type of blog for this discussion, but NicoGranelli, give me a break.  Open borders are simply not realistic.  The wall between USA and Mexico should be longer, bigger and rigidly enforced.

Our legal immigration process should be streamlined and a guest worker program should be created.  But you can't have tens of millions of illegal immigrants living in your country.  Municipal services like schools and hospitals in the southwest are bankrupting communities by providing services to people that do not contribute to the tax base that pays for those services.  The small percentage of illegal immigrants that commit crimes in the US do so with impunity, rarely facing the consequences that a citizen would face.  And since they can't really be tracked if they get into trouble in a one city they just move on to another city and start over with a clean slate.  Not to mention all the unlicensed, uninsured illegal immigrants driving cars around our streets.  I live in a large southern city and I have a few friends in the local police.  They tell that if I'm in an auto accident with someone who is hispanic the chance that they are legal residents with insurance is very small and I will have to cover all the costs associated with repairing my vehicle.  They see it every day here.

I'm all for giving people a shot at the American dream, but it has to be done legally.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

I fully agree with ewise's statement as I have been in a similar situation.  

My wife is Thai and we went through a lot of time and expense to get all of the immigration steps done - she now holds a US Green Card.  Since that time, we have had multiple relatives who  have been denied visas to visit. Why?  Because we could not "prove" that they would not stay over illegally!

As you might guess, I am also quite irritated to hear that people who have snuck over here illegally are even being considered being granted amnesty or any type of preferred status.  This is after we followed all the rules (including paying processing fees) and have had permission denied.

To me, it comes down to a simple rule I taught my son long ago, "Do not cut in line!  Wait your turn."  

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

I have to say that it seems pretty ridiculous that you would have to go through so much trouble for your own WIFE to immigrate legally!  That's just crazy.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

we, legal people know how much time, money and effort it costs (in your case it was just ~2000, I wasn't that lucky), nevertheless there are many scenarios, you can't generalize just like that

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

The immigrants that helped to build this country came here legally, as did my mother (now naturalized). I feel that illegal immigrants are breaking the law and should be treated as such. That being said, the system definitely needs some work!

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

I think this is not really the place for a topic like this.. but since its going on.. why not. I am so glad to see everyone is singling out our neighbors to the South and all the bad they bring. What about all the good that is brought to our economy? Anyhow, Jim I really don't think that your local cop friend would have a problem is Sweden was the country to our South.. and all these *illegals* had blue eyes and blond hair.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

Personally I think its hippocritical for anyone, especially those in congress, to brag on about giving America a raise when illegals working under the table undercut the minimum wages and basically hurt everyone, even themselves.

Our nation was founded on immigration true.  These people were hard working, honest individuals who truly wanted to be Americans and take part in the American dream.  Right or wrong, the perception of many illegals is people who slink across the border, take advantage of our medical and social programs, make as much money as they can, and then either send it or flee back to mexico when they are done, making their efforts a net loss to our country.

I'm all for importing as many hard working, honest people as we can.  I'm all for the process being simplified and made less costly.  I'm totally against anyone thinking they are above the law and can just run in and do what they want.

If I was King of America, I think I would put the burden on the employers. We need to provide an accurate, fast method of checking someone's right to work in the USA and require all employees to be vetted by it.  Then any business that knowingly hires illegals gets such a nasty fine that they won't even consider doing it.  Huge fines and jailtime are working for executives like Enron with Sarbonnes Oxley style legislation, it should be the same for hiring illegals.  Then if there's no jobs, there wouldn't be as much illegal immigration.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

Eric and Jim, Amen.  Let me step onto the soap box.

I'm also a Green Card holder (also through marriage) but before that was an F1 and then H1B.  The cap on H1-B visas is just simply ridiculously low, and while I doubt there's a whole lot of overlap between illegal immigrants and H1-B applicants, there's no doubt in my mind that we need both better enforcement and more liberal visa policies.

I don't care where you immigrate from, it's too easy to say we're picking on latinos, it just so happens that latinos are the predominant majority of illegal immigrants.  (Note that I'm NOT saying that lations are predominantly illegal...) And sure, possibly the vast majority of illegal immigrants also do great work, but they're outside the system: their labors don't benefit society as a whole (through taxes) the same way legal workers' labor does.  The fruits of illegal immigrants' labor is disproportionately enjoyed by the company that hires the person, the person, and their family, with some trickle-down effect to the consumer.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

Amen Eric!!! One should have to follow the law of the land.

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

Stop voting for the people in power and these problems will go away.  Become active in letting people know the laws that are being put into place and who is voting in favor of them.  Let the people in your district know the side-effects of these laws, how it is impacting our lives, and what they can do to make it stop.

We have the power to reclaim our country.  But it will require many of us sacrificing much of our lives for a decade or so so we can get things back on track, before resuming our previous purposes.

Are any of us prepared to do that?

# re: A modest proposal (off topic)

I totally agree Eric. My lovely wife Leticia is Brazilian and we spent years, and mega bucks, doing things the legal way. She is still not a U.S. Citizen but does have the legal right to work in the U.S., where she has managed Medical systems for Texas and Tennessee since 1993. btw, the only benefit for us seems to be the dual-citizenship our 3 children have, which may come back to bite our 2 boys since they have the responsibility of serving in the U.S. and Brazilian Militaries some day. <rant />