Arizona law doesn't go "far enough" for Florida.

[hkem1]

too late for what? your local atm says press 1 for english? this issue is totally intertwined as a war of cultures. it's white fright. it's the amigo bumrush. it's like, god forbid, having a black president.

No, it's people like you that make this a war of cultures rather than focusing on what we can do to help Americans as well as the rest of the world.

We have one fringe on the right, who hates everyone that is different from them and focusing all their energy on that. Then we have another fringe group on the left that is only focusing on insulting the fringe group on the right. Meanwhile, we have a problem in our border states and an opportunity to help millions of people all over the world discover the opportunities of what America can bring.

Farouk Shami recently lost his Democratic primary in his campaign for Texas governor, but during the campaign I surprised myself and was rooting for him to win (the reason it was a surprise is because he is a Democrat). I fell in love with his immigration story.

He came to the U.S. with $71 dollars in his pocket and started Chi, which is now a multi-billion dollar hair-care and spa products company that he created from the ground up.

There are many stories like that, and even the ones who don't become that successful they provide more opportunities for their children and grand-children that they wouldn't have had in their previous countries. Just look at Arnold 'Schwarzenegger, he built him self up through steroids then became a movie star then Governor of California.

Even our president, who wasn't an immigrant himself, was only one generation removed from a Kenyan immigrant, who came over in search for better opportunities for him and his children.

My family came from Poland in the early 20th century. I now owe all my opportunities I have been afforded in life to all the struggles they went through venturing into a new country. Had they not done that my family probably would have gotten caught up in the Holocaust and who knows what would have happened.

I want every person who wants to come to this country to be more than welcome. They should be admired for wanting to leave their familiar areas back home and sacrificing their lives for the betterment of their children and grand-children. Everyone should have the same opportunities to experience this country that I have been so fortunate to have.

Whatever you may think is wrong with this country, it is still the best place in the world to improve your livelihood and that of your children's.

So, why don't we as a country, rather than wasting time playing politics or looking down on others for looking down on others; focus on ways we can improve this situation, so that people down the road can continue to experience the upward mobility that America offers.

 

[hkem1]

Ideas that I believe would help accomplish what I spoke about above.

1.) We must be English only for children.- I don't want English only because I worried about America being "tainted," but because it is necessary for the children to be able to read and speak English to to help them achieve upward mobility. I would like English only for the Immigrant as well but I believe that places an unnecessary burden on the already difficult life of an immigrant.

2.) We must make it easier and quicker to come to this country legally.-Many people come illegally because the process is too arduous to do it legally at the current time. Hopefully with the decrease of Illegal immigration our economy will be able to support the increased legal immigration.

3.) We must be strict as hell with anyone who commits any crime who is not a full fledged citizen.- Of course, once someone is a citizen we won't deport them and they have the same full constitutional rights as everyone else. But for anyone who is here illegally or part of a guest-worker program, can receive no benefits and should be deported the first time they commit any crime. This will help ensure that legal immigrants are in the best environment possible to progress in society and their children hopefully won't get caught up in bad unnecessary crowds. Also, just deporting people will keep from there being to many people here caused by legal immigration becoming easier.

Edit: If a child is born in the U.S. then that child should be a U.S. citizen regardless of his/her parent's status. If the parent commits a crime then the parent should be deported and the parent should have the option of either taking the child back to the country of origin, or leaving the child as a ward of the state.

 

[scooterbug44]

I might agree with you on #2 and #3, but #1 is a total crock.

 

[Zebraspots]

WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama said a $600 million measure passed by Congress Thursday to boost border security will help his administration move toward a broader overhaul of the country's immigration laws.

The cost of the legislation is offset by a hefty increase in fees paid primarily by technology companies that hire highly skilled foreign workers under the H1B visa program. Those firms with more than 50 workers and with more than 50% of those employees from abroad would see the current $320 fee per visa application jump to $2,000. Backers of the fee increase argued that it would help create more U.S. jobs in competitive sectors like technology.

The extra funding for border security would go toward hiring more border guards, boosting the number of federal agents in the region and increasing the number of unmanned drones used to conduct surveillance of the border area.

Obama: Border Security Bill Will Help Overhaul Of Immigration - WSJ.com

 

[hkem1]

I might agree with you on #2 and #3, but #1 is a total crock.

I think English-only is an important part of any immigration reform. I think it is unnecessary to have immigration documents in English-only but it is important for the children to be in an environment conducive to their success.

If a child is below grade level in reading during the third grade, that child has a less than 10% chance of ever going to college. Children in third grade are too young to be able to make the decision themselves if a college education is what is best for them. I want every child to have college as an option to him/her until he/she is old and mature enough to make the decision for him/herself. Encouraging English-only at schools will help ensure that each child who does not have English as a native language is equipped to be as competitive as he/she wants to be in the college process.

My tennis academy, which has a large international population, has English only as a rule when in the presence of English speakers. It is a controversial rule, but most people agree that it accelerates the language learning process to constantly be surrounded by the language. Within the school the teachers are allowed to institute English-only as the teacher see fit, which for many teachers is anytime they are around. Also the school would never put two native Chinese speakers in the same room because it might stunt their growth as English speakers.

I went to a public Policy program mainly directed towards Hispanics earlier this summer and the thing I heard over and over again was, "I work hard now but I didn't decide I wanted to go to college until it was too late to catch up." They do work hard and will eventually graduate from college but many of them will not be able to take the path they want (4 years at UT-Austin) to that degree, and will have to start somewhere else.

I believe that if their schools had been more adamant about English only from a young age, they would still have the option of 4 years at UT-Austin when they were mature enough to make the decision.

I just think it would help keep options open for immigrants who want to work hard.

 

[Elephant Child]

You can't require anybody to carry an ID.

I'll remember that the next time I want to cash a check, or get stopped for a traffic ticket or try to get on my flight, or try entering a foreign country, or vote in an election, or sign into the ER...I'll tell them I don't need any kind of ID, no one can require me to carry one because Lucifer said so.

 

[LuciferSam]

I'll remember that the next time I want to cash a check, or get stopped for a traffic ticket or try to get on my flight, or try entering a foreign country, or vote in an election, or sign into the ER...I'll tell them I don't need any kind of ID, no one can require me to carry one because Lucifer said so.

You're not required by to drive, have a checking account, enter a foreign country or vote. As far as the ER is concerned, in an extreme trauma case they'll probably take you, but you're still not required by law to go there. Now don't you wish you had put just a bit of thought into your rant? Don't you feel just a bit foolish? You really should.

 

[futurebeachbum]

Ideas that I believe would help accomplish what I spoke about above.


2.) We must make it easier and quicker to come to this country legally.-Many people come illegally because the process is too arduous to do it legally at the current time. Hopefully with the decrease of Illegal immigration our economy will be able to support the increased legal immigration.
.

Is that with or without a job?

There are very few (if any) countries in the world that will let you legally move there without either an employer to sponsor you or proof that you have enough money to not need employment. Even today if you want to emigrate to Mexico as, for example, a self-employed artist or writer, they aren't going to let you enter legally (not as a tourist but as a permanent resident) if you don't have the money to not need a job.

The U.S. isn't too different from that. A Mexican citizen can easily move here for a year on a renewable NAFTA work visa. All they need is an employer to sponsor them. I have employees from 10-12 different nations and I've brought in several employees from Mexico and Canada over the years this way. Its not at all painful. I basically sent them a letter confirming their employment and $100 for the TN fee. A NAFTA TN allows them to bring their spouse and underage children with them.

How much easier should we make it?

 

[hkem1]

Is that with or without a job?

There are very few (if any) countries in the world that will let you legally move there without either an employer to sponsor you or proof that you have enough money to not need employment. Even today if you want to emigrate to Mexico as, for example, a self-employed artist or writer, they aren't going to let you enter legally (not as a tourist but as a permanent resident) if you don't have the money to not need a job.

All these people who go around talking about how much stricter every other country is with illegal immigration than the U.S. need a reality check. Do you really think these other countries do any better of a job enforcing those laws than the U.S. does? Doubt it. The countries that do a good job enforcing immigration laws are probably socialist or communist so it is more difficult to do anything without being a citizen.

The U.S. isn't too different from that. A Mexican citizen can easily move here for a year on a renewable NAFTA work visa. All they need is an employer to sponsor them. I have employees from 10-12 different nations and I've brought in several employees from Mexico and Canada over the years this way. Its not at all painful. I basically sent them a letter confirming their employment and $100 for the TN fee. A NAFTA TN allows them to bring their spouse and underage children with them.

How much easier should we make it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't every single one of the occupations that qualify for a NAFTA TN require at least a Bachelors degree? I'm talking about farm workers and janitors here; not psychologists and accountants.

Potsville Iowa is a small town where the factory is the major employer. There was a large immigration raid and they threw out all the illegals. What do you think happened?

You think there were more jobs for Americans all of a sudden? NO.

All the American citizens who either owned the small businesses or worked for them lost their jobs, because the illegal immigrants were the customers. Studies are starting to show that illegal immigrants do not take jobs; actually, they create them. Here in Texas, we have long used this to our advantage.

Maybe if there was an easier way to get unskilled labor legally into this country and not just professional jobs.

 

[futurebeachbum]

All these people who go around talking about how much stricter every other country is with illegal immigration than the U.S. need a reality check. Do you really think these other countries do any better of a job enforcing those laws than the U.S. does? Doubt it. The countries that do a good job enforcing immigration laws are probably socialist or communist so it is more difficult to do anything without being a citizen.




Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't every single one of the occupations that qualify for a NAFTA TN require at least a Bachelors degree? I'm talking about farm workers and janitors here; not psychologists and accountants.

Potsville Iowa is a small town where the factory is the major employer. There was a large immigration raid and they threw out all the illegals. What do you think happened?

You think there were more jobs for Americans all of a sudden? NO.

All the American citizens who either owned the small businesses or worked for them lost their jobs, because the illegal immigrants were the customers. Studies are starting to show that illegal immigrants do not take jobs; actually, they create them. Here in Texas, we have long used this to our advantage.

Maybe if there was an easier way to get unskilled labor legally into this country and not just professional jobs.

What a great example. These guys are the poster child for companies helped by illegal immigration.

This is the same Potsville plant that was charged after the big immigration raid with violating child labor laws including having children under 16 operating dangerous meat processing equipment. From this USA Today article:

DES MOINES (AP) ? The owner and managers of the nation's largest kosher meatpacking plant were charged Tuesday with more than 9,000 misdemeanors alleging they hired minors and had children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment such as circular saws and meat grinders.

Two employees were also charged in federal court. The state and federal charges are the first against operators of the Agriprocessors plant in Postville, where nearly 400 illegal immigrant workers were arrested in May in one of the largest immigration raids in U.S. history.

The complaint filed by the Iowa attorney general's office said the violations involved 32 illegal-immigrant children under age 18, including seven who were younger than 16. Aside from handling dangerous equipment, the complaint says children were exposed to dangerous chemicals such as chlorine solutions and dry ice.

The attorney general's office said the violations occurred from Sept. 9, 2007, to May 12, 2008, when the plant was raided by immigration agents.

Now I feel really extra bad that enforcing our immigration laws had a negative impact on this plant and the community that supported it.

I would guess that such activities would have been a lot harder to get away with if they had had a legal workforce.

If they couldn't get employees then they needed to change something about their business. Maybe it was pay? Or location? Or business processes? Who knows, but something needed to be changed.

I guess hiring illegals (especially illegal alien kids) was a lot simpler solution.