Immigration Laws Past and Present

[Umoja]

Okay.

My wonderful history class. We were talking about immigration, and the subject of what should be done with immigration came up. I'm pretty divided, and mind you this just has to do with immigration. What should the US do with it's immigration? Restrict all people from entering into the country, and crack down on illegal immigrants? Or should they open the borders and risk having to pay huge amounts of welfare to people who cross over for a short time, make a little money, and then leave?

[timbaly]

I could never make up my mind on that subject either. Today I heard Bob Grant speak about out it on 710 am in the NYC area. His show comes on at 5pm and ends at 7pm. He's a conservative who has predicted the invasion of illegal immigrants over 30 years ago. He also predicts the downfall of the countries way of life, which he says will happen very soon, what he means is a South American dominated USA. Today he reffered to the Mexican illegals as an invading army who are occupying the area along the border with Mexico. He says there a burden and have to be stopped since they collect on social programs, yet they don't pay taxes. He suggested using land mines to defend the border along with US military presence.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Grant sounds like an idiot... and a dangerous idiot at that... land mines?

The truth is that immigrants do pay taxes if they are working. The only possible exception is if the employer does not reveal the immigrant employee--basically, leaves him or her off of the accounting books. The bigger crime there is fraud from the bosses and the accountants.

The "invasion of immigrants" crowd are quite racist and culturally chauvinistic. The complaint is that good jobs are being lost to the dreaded Mexicans! Latino immigrants are taking jobs in this country that privileged Caucasians have no interest in. On the other hand, we have immigrants from Canada taking more popular white collar jobs. Where is Pat Buchanan's rage against the invading hordes of Canadians?

As far as the fundamental question of immigration, I support letting people in. I find it absurd that people complain about there not being room in the USA for more people. I live in Nebraska... my state and its neighbors are far from densely populated. The coasts are fairly crowded, but we have a lot of room in western Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, etc. Just compare the population density of the USA to most other countries--it is not even close.

That said, there is not room in the middle of this country for a billion humans. That is why I advocate an economic system with a better distribution of wealth. Many immigrants come here because there is no livelihood to be made in their country. We should see to it that the rest of the world keeps enough wealth that survival does not require immigration.

The other big reason for immigration is fleeing danger. Down with the U.S. funding of terrorist regimes! We need to make a world where we can all live safely in the land where we are born.

[Umoja]

I actually do disagree on one point MiN. African-Americans and Native Americans do tend to have quite a few "lower class" jobs, and Mexicans who come into this country are able to take these jobs because they are willing to work for less.

[flayer2]

>> He says there a burden and have to be stopped since they collect on social programs, yet they don't pay taxes>>

Thats a lie!! Illegal immigrants live an underground existence in constant fear of deportation. They pay SALES TAX on all purchases, just like everyone else and yet they are NOT entitiled to welfare benefits.

Invading army huh!! Don't I wish ... The land was stolen from them and now they are taking it back... :huh:

"Predicting the downfall of the way of life " - like that's a bad thing!! :D

Blame the companies that pays the low wages or the US gov that allows it, not the immigrants. They are merely hard working people looking for better oportunity...

AA's should ally with the latino community against the US power structure..

[swapna]

The US land rightfully belongs to the native Indians. Europeans occupied the land and detroyed the native culture. They are the actual owners of the US land but they are branded as native "indians".I hate it the fact that they are called Indians bcoz columbus erroneously thought US was India. The people who cry about the illegal immigrants were immigrants 300 yrs ago. 300 yrs ago the same people said that natives are selfishly adhereing to their lands when the europeans badly need them. The illegal immigrants who come now are also badly in need of food.
What right do the US citizens have over this land that other citizens of the world do not have?

[(*]

The word "illegal" carries far too many negative connotations.

Their only "crime" is trying to provide for themselves and their children.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2003, 03:34 PM
African-Americans and Native Americans do tend to have quite a few "lower class" jobs, and Mexicans who come into this country are able to take these jobs because they are willing to work for less.
Yeah... People of Color and poor Caucasians are played off of one another to drive wages down. We do need to be in solidarity--we cannot allow the working class to be divided like this. I was simply saying that affluent Caucasians are disconnected with reality for thinking that immigrants are some horrific threat to their affluence or their culture...

And to (*,

I also avoid calling undocumented immigrants "illegal", for the same reasons you give.