Immigration Debate - Fowler, CO

We have federal laws that are not being inforced, so someone has to do it. There are many aliens that have come here legally, that's the only way to do it. We are giving them social security, welfare, hospital care free, so where does that leave the citizens?

Just testing

I'd like to correct a comment made by Loretta... illegal immigrants DO NOT receive all of that help. They are not entitled to social security and many other benefits (unemployment for example) that citizens receive. They do get welfare, if and only if they have American born children... which makes sense. If an American can receive welfare for his/her American born children, then why shouldn't an illegal? Any child born in America regardless of race or ethnicity is entitled to the country's resources. In regards to the hospital care, citizens do too! A lot of Americans go to hospitals, get care, and then never pay their bills. I personally know a few illegal immigrants that have received medical care AND PAID in full for those services. "free" hospital care has nothing to do with race. It has to do with morals and responsibility. There is a lot of misconstrued information about the "benefits" that illegals receive. I believe that there should a happy medium for everything because let's face it, no matter what laws are put in effect, there WILL ALWAYS be illegal immigrants in this country. And, before the comments start about how illegals are lazy, uneducated, and troublemakers, guess what?! I was once an illegal! I went through the naturalization process, graduated high school, graduated college, and am now working on my Masters in Psychology. We're not all bad :)

yes you weht though the prosses to get legel here in arizona and calf going broke. they don't pay tax,s they work for less and put us out of work if you don.t like move back with your free education.

Wow... well "Bob" from Kingman, AZ, I always paid taxes, even before I went through the process. And... about my education, I paid for ALL of it out of my own pocket... no free education here! I never even applied for financial aid because, thankfully, I always worked and made enough money to where I didn't even qualify for the fee education you claim I received. I suggest you try and find yourself some free education. How many Americans avoid paying taxes, how many are on welfare, how many are in the housing assistance program? TONS! And you think that doesn't deteriorate our country's resources? Do you seriously think that only illegals are causing California and Arizona to go broke? If that's what you believe, you really should read more or watch the news. And, before you tell me that illegals are taking "your jobs", let me say that Americans will not do the kind of work illegals do, for the money that is offered. I work for a company that has 250 employees. Only 1 employee is not hispanic... and guess why? Because when an American (of any kind) walks into our door and asks what the starting pay is, they hand the application back and say, "Nevermind". I don't really picture you picking fruit in the field or cleaning an office building for minimum wage and no benefits. It is unfortunate that there is so much ignorance (and lack of education) in the world. But what can you do? There are bad apples in EVERY race. Don't think you are all high and mighty just because you were born on this side of the border. Many of us immigrants have accomplished so much more in this country than many of its citizens. Come to California. Stay in lower class, American populated areas, for a few weeks... then you'll see what Americans live like, how they behave, and how they are negatively affecting our country.

Correction to my last post... I meant to say you'll see what "SOME Americans live like, how they behave, and how they are negatively affecting our country". I do not believe that ALL Americans are the same and I do not want it to seem like I am throwing everyone into the same pot, like "Bob" is.

to loveofmylife.....I know that many illegals do get help. Hospital bills is a yes, you say that they only get help if they have kids born here. Who do you think pays for the birth of those kids?!?? WE DO!!! There are also lots of companies that hire illegals with false social security numbers and they pay a fine but continue to hire them. My mother-in=law was hit and hurt badly along with 2 other family members by an illegal and all that happened to him was he got deported. He was back with in a month working and getting drunk and driving all over again. So, he got an expense paid(by taxpayers) trip to see his family, then came back and went back to work at the same place he was. If you can come here and get your citizenship, why can't others?

yes

LoveMyLife wrote:

Correction to my last post... I meant to say you'll see what "SOME Americans live like, how they behave, and how they are negatively affecting our country". I do not believe that ALL Americans are the same and I do not want it to seem like I am throwing everyone into the same pot, like "Bob" is.

Totally irrelevant . Obey our immigration laws or be arrested and deported .

Vet: It is not irrelevant. I feel as if everyone generalizes the illegal population. Yes, there are bad apples, and yes some do bad things like drive drunk, commit crimes, and disrespect the laws of our country. But, so do Americans. Yet, I do not come on here and say, "All Americans are bad. All they do is molest children, go on a shooting rampage at schools, and receive welfare". That wouldn't be fair because I know plenty of Americans that are hard working individuals that pay taxes and respect the laws. To "taxpayer", an American KILLED one of my high school friends because he was driving 96 mph on a 35 mph street. But I'm not placing blame on ALL Americans. It is up to an individual, regardless of where they came from, to make good and bad decisions. And, are you saying that only illegals have their babies for free in hospitals? I strongly beg to differ. Any person in the US with medical has their baby for free in a hospital... not only illegals. What if we were to banish free births? There would be an uproar... and guess from who? AMERICANS who have medical... illegals wouldn't speak up because they don't have the right to voice their opinion in this country. I said they only get assistance for their American-born children (welfare, food stamps, etc.), not for themselve. Yes, they might use that money for themselves, but that's a different story. Maybe I think very differently from all of you because I now live in a more diverse area where we all accept other races, nationalities, bcause we have to either get along or constantly be at war with each other. I grew up in a little town in the midwest... and guess what? They all thought like you. I thank God every single day that I got out of there and had the opportunities that I have had. I don't wish any bad on anyone and I too would like to see some kind of reform. Unfortunately that is not up to any of us. It just shocks me how close-minded people can still be. Know the facts... then speak.

i will meet friends

because they are illegal, and that means they are breaking our laws. You have to show your ID's when you are in mexico, why not here in our country.

While Immigration Reform is needed, I do not think that Arizona's approach is the way to go about it. While we need to secure our borders from those intending to harm our citizens, we also rely on immigrant labor and our economy is suffering, in part, from the lack of that resource.

Arizona has been fighting these laws since the first foreign settlers arrived in Arizona which was taken from Mexico in the early 17 to 1800. After settlers took over Arizona they then decided that Mexican/Hispano's and Native People were to be eliminated or removed from the Land. These actions are no better than what Hitler did to the Jews. When the Jews were forced to carry ID's and that didn't work well enough for Hitler he decided that the next best thing was to eliminate them.Have you all forgotten that? This is suppose to be the land of the free. To my Hispanic friends be careful what you wish for or you will pay a deeper price than having to carry ID's.

loveof mylife well i have picked apples peaches cheries.i lived in gj co ididnt injoy it was a job

Bob - good for you! If that's what you have to do to support yourself or your family, more power to you! However, there are a lot of people that refuse to do that kind of work now because it doesn't "pay enough" and our society has become rather lazy when it comes to working in labor related jobs. If it was the only job I could find, I'd jump right in too. A lousy paycheck is better than no paycheck. I have never had anything handed to me so I respect anyone with the strenght and motivation to do whatever it takes to survive. I hope it's clear that I am not judging anyone or saying that everyone on here is racist... I too would like to see some kind of solution to this pressing issue. I just feel as if people don't take the time to read facts and go outside of their bubbles before making comments. It does have a lot to do with where you were raised and the kind of beliefs that your parents and peers have instilled in you (not to pull any of my Psychology teachings on you... but it's true!). However, if we are going to move forward as a whole, a lot of those thoughts need to change because there will ALWAYS be immigrants (legal or not) in this country.

Does anyone have a better solution?

Eleanor Maddox wrote:

Does anyone have a better solution?

Yes... Continue with the proposal that was on the table years ago. Document who is here and make it so those who want to work can do so on a temporary basis. Anyone who is a criminal or who does not want to play by the rules gets caught and sent back.

FedUP... I agree with you 100%... there should be some type of program for those that have been here for several years, paid taxes, and stayed out of trouble. ICE needs to seek out those that have bad criminal records and start deporting. At the same time, the boarders need to be secured properly so that those bad apples do not come back in. Additionally, there should be some type of program for those that want to come here to work from other countries with the opportunity to make it a permanent visa if they abide by the law, enter and leave as their visa requires, etc. Simply saying that immigrants are all law breakers and bad to this country is extremly ignorant. This country was built by immigrants.

I think anyone who wants to be a citizen should do it the correct way and we are not here just to support every illigal. And we should do what ever it take to keep our country safe!!! Unless your a citizen you have no rights! Just like if your in prison your rights used to be taken away, but so politicans can get all these votes the politician will do any and it doesn,t matter what we the people think!!! And the ACLU needs to go to the Soviet Union and get totally out of American, they are part of the down fall of our nation!!