Fox News: Immigration Rally Is A ‘Perfect Chance To Arrest Illegal Immigrants’
By on Apr 10th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
Fox News: Immigration Rally Is A ‘Perfect Chance To Arrest Illegal Immigrants’
Fox News hosted a panel discussion on today’s immigration rallies and asked, are the events a “perfect chance to arrest illegal immigrants?”:
Think Progress participated in a massive rally in downtown Washington, DC earlier today. (CNN is reporting “hundreds of thousands” of people were at the rally, and organizers expected approximately 180,000 people to participate.) A photo from the rally:
Hopefully, we won’t be arrested for having joined in the march.
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Oh, Please. Did the Israelis try to wipe out Hammas while they would protest en masse in Gaza? More inflamatory comments from freelancing clowns I suspect. Sorta like repeating ugly things that have been said as hypotheticals, no necissito.
April 10th, 2006 at 6:36 pmAs with most complex political issues, little more than rhetoric is available for the average citizen to evaluate in order to fully understand the consequences of the numerous proposals being discussed. Immigration brings together a never before seen constellation that stands to change much of what Americans have come to understand about our economy, our political affiliations, corporate interests, globalization, trade agreements, the influence of unions, and many other ramifications yet to be identified or calculated.
Characteristically, the issue is polarized by intense passion on both extremes. This passionate posturing makes it increasingly difficult to carve out a compromise. Many politicians have taken positions based on their perceived constituency sentiment that allows them little room for flexibility. Regional economic considerations coupled with the potential impact to certain corporate and business segments create an incoherent patchwork of conflicting considerations. Navigating this difficult terrain is likely to foster more political stalemate than innovative compromise.
While Washington plays politics, Americans cannot ignore the fact that there are currently an estimated 12,000,000 reasons to resolve this issue. It’s time for politicians to set aside the rhetoric and complete the daunting task of a thorough evaluation that will provide the necessary, albeit frightening, calculations and considerations. Despite voices to the contrary, these 12,000,000 people are here to stay. Unless we get about the business of accepting this reality and moving forward with a coherent and tangible policy, we will soon find ourselves with another 12,000,000 reasons to solve this problem.
read more here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com
April 10th, 2006 at 6:36 pmHow about sending in the cops to Fox and check all of them for outstanding DUI? Probably make a real haul.
April 10th, 2006 at 6:37 pmTypical bumper sticker logic. Why haven’t we moved beyond the fake “easy” fixes?
April 10th, 2006 at 6:42 pmPerhaps because this is a convenient “look over there” distraction while the Bushistas try to start another war and line their pockets with more cash.
Typical Fox News headlines … spurring more hate …
April 10th, 2006 at 6:47 pmJust like DHS is the perfect place to arrest child molesters, eh?
April 10th, 2006 at 6:55 pmFox News loves to put forth these inflammatory ideas but poses them in that passive/aggressive style of a question. It’s the equivalent of making outrageous oral comments only to hide behind, “I’m just sayin’…” Fox News is all gesture.
April 10th, 2006 at 6:58 pmWell, I suppose I’ll get screamed at because I don’t agree with rewarding illegal activity or excusing a serf class for corporatist interests.
On the other hand I just don’t see the DHS going in there and pulling off a single arrest. This is the department that [url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/wjxt/20060406/lo_wjxt/3379371]roughs up teachers[/url]. They just don’t have the balls to get something worthwhile done.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:00 pmMore like the perfect chance to CHANGE THE FRIGGIN CHANNEL!!!
April 10th, 2006 at 7:02 pmIt already occurred to me why more of the actual illegals are not at the rallies, and people representing the population are there instead. They already thought of this possibility. I thought of it earlier today, but thought the crowds are too big and full of too many angry folks for that to fly. Leave it to Fox News to really put the thought into articulation and really want to try it out.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:05 pmOh, yeah, *that’d* be a good idea. Start arresting people at a rally of tens or hundreds of thousands.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:07 pmProsecute the employers who EXPLOIT the ILLEGAL immigrants and the problem will go away.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:08 pmWhich bank robber said, “You go where the money is”?
April 10th, 2006 at 7:14 pmOn the contrary, this is a perfect chance for these throngs of wonderful people to lynch Traitor Bush.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pmIn the bizarro world of Fox,this graphic makes perfect sense. I’ll expect to hear variations on this theme on talk radio soon,where the steady drumbeat has been illegal=crime=arrest=deportation.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pmRallies like this would be a perfect chance to arrest illegals by directing the march into a barbed wire enclosed area,like say,the Mall in DC and checking IDs. By Jove,I think they’ve got it!
“We’re arresting illegal immigrants here, so emigres will stay there.”
April 10th, 2006 at 7:17 pmFox News’ assertion that illegal aliens are plentiful at these immigration rallies and ripe for arrest is the same rationale they have espoused in Iraq; all the terrorists are there so we have to stay and kill them.
“Hopefully, we won’t be arrested for having joined in the march.” - pap from TP
April 10th, 2006 at 7:18 pm***Hopefully, you’re legal residents.
#15…perfect answer. I wish it would happen…I cringe when I hear the refrain “they do jobs Americans won’t do”, why not say “We only want to pay slave wages and the Americans won’t work for them”
I loathe American Employers that do this, and hide behind that lie of an excuse.
richb
April 10th, 2006 at 7:23 pmI took lots of pictures at the NYC march - right outside my office - posted them on my blog. I have seldom seen such dignified people.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:25 pmThey already do it at ant-war events, so why not at immigration protests? Is is truly shocking that the right continues to believe that is is both proper and feasible to arrest, imprison, and deport every single illegal immigrant in the U.S.
http://www.lcoliberal.blogspot.com
April 10th, 2006 at 7:30 pmHave you noticed that ALL of these Fox headlines that keep ending up on ThinkProgress are on Neal Cavuto’s show?
April 10th, 2006 at 7:37 pmActually Faux news is providing a great service. They have provided a platform for all the closet bigots, racists, killers, radicals, and psychotics to feel comfortable enough to expose themselves.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:42 pmThis might be a dumb question, but can someone tell me whether or not illegals pay taxes? I was listening to NPR last week and someone commented that they do. This didn’t make sense to me (i.e. if they are illegal, how would taxes be facilitated?), but then again, we issue drivers liscenses to them in CA, so I guess logic doesn’t apply. Can anyone clarify this?
April 10th, 2006 at 7:47 pm#28 I’m almost certain illegals pay taxes.
April 10th, 2006 at 7:57 pmWhat a great Idea.
During a republican and Prowar rally the military should go in and “draft” republicans into the army to fight in Iraq. Also they should target republicans with bumper stickers for recuitment.
No wat ….
I fogot Those republicans screamed harrasment and threatened to sue the military recuiter.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:00 pmWhen the *ahem* ‘Republicans’ gather at their next convention, it will be a perfect time to arrest them too.
Willie Sutton
April 10th, 2006 at 8:05 pm“***Hopefully, you’re legal residents. Comment by mighty aphrodite”
Too bad you aren’t deported. Nazis like you don’t deserve to live in this country - you hateful stupid freak.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:08 pmall this is a result of ignoring a problem,instead of dealing with it.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:09 pmFox,why don’t all of you go out in the street a make a ‘citizens arrest!’….that, I’d pay to see.
Tell you what … tell HIM to jump his happy ass in the middle of that crowd and make the first arrest. That should prove to be quite entertaining. Easy to talk big when you are not to one on the ground doing the dirty work … such as the case of our President and our troops.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:14 pmYes, many illegals pay taxes. They are issued a federal tax IDs if they ask for them.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:27 pmThat’s funny! Imagine, a hundred cops go into a crowd of say 500,000 immigrants and start arresting people! I want to see that kind of bravery, but it’s perfect coming from the brain dead repukes.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:36 pmRevoke my progressive card…I support any method to deport people who are here ILLEGALLY. This hurts America; for anyone who doesn’t think so, you must not be reading between the lines.
Businesses exploit these desperate people, and make a killing off of profits. They lie and try to say expenses would increase 100%; BS!! They have a built-in profit margin already; they charge much for the product, and pay little for wages. IN-sourcing; and American standard of living is lowered in the process. Those thousands of jobs could be held by Americans, getting paid a couple bucks more an hour; feeding into our economy. Instead, you have $30 BILLION being wired back home to Mexico.
At what point were millions of jobs going unfilled because Americans didn’t want them?
That’s a sad, sorry excuse full of malarky.
ILLEGAL does not equal IMMIGRANT.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:54 pmTaxes are paid by every one. Everyone who buys gas, shops at Walmart and pays rent. Federal income Taxes are another story. That is the meat of the story, everyone needs to be a federal tax payer. The right uses this , especially Rush Limbaugh, as a psudeo electoral college style class warfare whipping stick. I’m for making everyone a taxpayer tomorrow and then take away the exploitation stigma and hopefully accentuate the positve attributes that the current protests are proclaiming to be found in our immigrant community. Taxes are the hub. I have always felt that not just the financial burden should be shared by all but the bureaucracy that comes with it.
April 10th, 2006 at 8:56 pmWhat a dick!
April 10th, 2006 at 9:01 pmJoshdestardi–I agree totally with you that the employers are exploiting these immigrants. But why focus the enforcement on the immigrants, and ignore the employers? There are laws stating that employers must verify citizenship, via the I-9. Why don’t we enforce laws (or regulate) that way?
April 10th, 2006 at 9:03 pmScrew them get them out of the country.
April 10th, 2006 at 9:20 pm#28 #29#36#39 this is the perfect time to fix more than one problem. have the immigrants registar as workers. after certain amount of time amnesty is over.they snooze they lose. then change the horrific income tax code to a federal sales tax. whether you buy a beatup old jalopy or a new lexus everyone pays the same rate. you get 11 million new taxpayers and people cany hide behind their accountants.
April 10th, 2006 at 9:27 pmThis is the kind of thing that only an idiot would suggest, but then again Fox has been a network filled with idiots for a while. But again this was expected, you cannot have so many people seeking equal rights, equal pay, equal treatment and the chance to realize their dreams without our Republican brothers going “Oh my God, we can’t have this now can we? equality for everyone?… no no no, our great old father Adolf Hitler would be furious if he was alive”
April 10th, 2006 at 9:28 pmsorry that was “can’t hide behind their accountants
April 10th, 2006 at 9:29 pmSooooo…how do they know who is illegal and who isn’t?
Does Fox News have an “illegal immgrant-dar” the same way Sex & the City fans think they have “gay-dar,” and do they loan it out to the local police for events such as these?
If you’re a legal immigrant, but don’t have your wallet on you, are you then arrested anyway? You know, to be on the safe side?
And if you’re at the protest, but you’re white, do you get a pass? Because even if you are an illegal immigrant of Euro descent, you’re not one of “those” immigrants?
God bless the people at Fox News. They come up with all the good ideas. They’d probably call Hitler’s Final Solution “The Ultimate Answer,” have Brit Hume tease it all week long, and then charge people extra to hear it on pay per view. But then they’d include a free Sean Hannity pencil, plus a copy of Alan Colmes’ latest book, “Please, Mr. Ailes, Don’t Get It In My Eye,” and you wouldn’t feel so ripped off.
April 10th, 2006 at 9:43 pmOh, where is God and the N.R.A. when you need them? I’ll tell you one thing. Ol’ Charleton Heston would never have stood for some illegal immigrant marching without a permit after breaking another law by entering this country. Hell, No! They’d have had to pry the gun from his cold, dead aldzheimered hands. But then again, I think he would have had the guns legally.
April 10th, 2006 at 10:17 pmMikey (# 28) - illegals are consumers, so they would be paying sales taxes, gasoline taxes, even property taxes in cases. And some illegals get fake social security numbers so that they can work (I’ve worked with many in the hotel service industry) and so federal taxes are taken out of their paychecks- and of course they can never file a return for a tax refund because that would trigger a closer look at the fake number. . .(What I never understood was why when the employer withholds for a paycheck, that the fake social security number isn’t discovered. )
April 10th, 2006 at 10:36 pmAnyone looking for a public domain photos of the DC March can get my torrent of 92 5-megapixel unaltered shorts via bittorrent at:
April 10th, 2006 at 11:01 pmhttp://static.thepiratebay.org/ hashtorrent/ 3469276.torrent/ Photos_from_April_10_immimgrant_march_on_Washington.3469276.TPB.torrent
Which bank robber said, “You go where the money is�
That would be Dick Cheney….he was actually refering to the US Treasury. While he has us focused on non-problems, he and his Republican buddies have cleaned us out of about $3TT since stealing the office.
April 10th, 2006 at 11:11 pm#53
That seems a little extreme. I can see your point, however, many, if not a large percentage of the marchers are US citizens, think about all the relatives and kids these folks have, its a lot about family values and wanting to include illegal relatives. If you had an lunderstanding of Mexican culture would could consider this point.
April 10th, 2006 at 11:15 pm#10
April 10th, 2006 at 11:16 pmYeah it their version of yelling “Do I smell smoke?” in a crowed movie theater.
#53 “…marching in our streets and making a show of force in order to get rights to which they arent entitled.” Last time I checked marching down a street was not a show of force, but if you believe this to be true then I feel sorry for you and those like you. Show of force would be what police officers did to African Americans during their own march to the capital some 50 years ago, or our military forces fighting someone else’s war (wait actually its our war, or Bush’s war? not really sure anymore)
Marching down a public street, during rallies that have obviously been approved by all these different cities and endoresed by so many different political and religious leaders of our country…. Oh wait, they dont count do they? they obviously dont think the way you do so they must not count.
Everyone should remember this, and i’m going to quote a young Mexican American girl that spoke in todays rally in Washington, DC “Our politicians today should remember that all of us young hispanics are listening very closely to what is being said of our parents” I am sure that i must have missed a word here and there but her point is very clear, our youth is paying close attention to everything going on today, and guess what? they ARE U.S. citizens. It will be a few more years before all of them have the right to vote, and I hope that by then everyone that plans on making a political career for themselves attends to the needs of everyone in this country, not just the ones born with blue eyes and blond hair.
my two cents.
April 10th, 2006 at 11:20 pmI’ve just finished posting 62 images from today’s rally on Flickr - these are much smaller versions of the ones I posted about earlier.
http://www.flickr.com/ photos/ 61585312@N00/ sets/ 72057594104186560/
April 10th, 2006 at 11:46 pmI’m guess there were a whole bunch of U.S. Citizens in these crowds. Why do people think that every Mexican is illegal. Many of the working Hispanics you see in this county are legal and citizens.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:09 amWhy don’t these ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS make their country more like America and stop making America a third world country! If Americans marched around mexico with the red, white and blue what would happen?
April 11th, 2006 at 1:17 amMILLIONS OF UNDOCUMMENTED IMMIGRANTS PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAXES VIA A COMMON FEDERALLY ISSUED TAX-ID.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:20 amMEXICAN AMERICANS, WHO BY THE WAY, 500,000 SERVED THE U.S. DURING WORLD WAR II ARE ALSO AMONG THE PROTESTERS. TRY TO ARREST US, AND YOU WILL HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUIT ! AMERICA IS A GREAT COUNTRY. AS A LATINO I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, BUT THE EXTREME RIGHT WILL FACE THE VOTING POWER OF U.S. LATINOS. THERE ARE 40 MILLION U.S. LATINOS. HALF OF THE 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED COME FROM MEXICO, THE OTHER 50 % ARE NOT OF MEXICAN ORIGIN..YET THE ATTACKS ARE…
MEXICAN AMERICANS AND THE CHILDREN OF THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE TAKING NOTE. WE DO VOTE AND CAN VOTE.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:26 amI’m for any person wanting to come this country for a better life. I say give them a chance.. Why not cubans? When a mexican citizen is sent home nothing happens.. but for a cuban citizen, it is usually far worse. I also think its going to set a dangerous precedent in regards to the law if our government turns their back on this issue. It could possibly send the wrong message to other groups of people who oppose any other law in our country and give them the go ahead to break the law W-H-I-L-E they are rallying together to change it. As for the money issue and the economy, its a nasty urban legend that everyday citizens would feel the pinch of deporting illegals. It’s only businesses who employ illegals that would need to worry. As for no “Americans” wanting to do the jobs of illegals, get real! Most of these jobs could be filled by persons starting out in the work force, people needing summer jobs, or anybody just wanting to get some extra money. Theres an awful lot of smoke bolwin’ going on nowadays and it needs to stop. Like I said before, give them a chance. Maybe our government should relax immigration laws for all persons. But, in the meantime, we still need to enforce any law until it has been changed. Individuality and uniqueness make this world an interesting place! Can you imagine how boring life would be if we were all the same? Embrace it and live without fear of eachother.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:37 amthis is such a complicated issue..I am wondering how close and immersed the people who are commenting are really to this issue…so many people I have known who have been affected by this issue had no choice when they came accross the border since they were little babes or children accompanying parents when they came to the us..then what many years down the line? Then they get criminal on their heads? or they go back to a country they do not know? I’ve known people who had to go through difficult legalization proceedings in such cases..what if these laws pass..what happens to them then? On the other hand open borders are not the answer either since I have also lived so close to the border that I have seen as well as the workers crossing through (pre gate keeper) I saw the criminal element and I think we need to regulate the best we can who comes in. there is drug traffic ect at the border and it would be crazy to have total open borders it just could never happen..so what we have is a very very complicated issue that can not be solved with one ill concieved bill but it has got the country thinking about it..my own family was mostly part of the first European immigrant waves and a few were probably on the shore wondering who the pale folk were..but we still need to consider the current immigrants rights since our legal citizens are the ones who are willfully providing them jobs and yet somehow we forget that and we are always seeming to point our fingers at the ones at the bottom of our countries economic ladder. Another thing I’ve noticed is people are thinking of only one country when they think illegal immigration.. our country is home to illegal immigrants from practically anywhere. But if a neighbor of yours was from canada and was living here illegally because he hadn’t bothered to go through INS would you know that he didn’t have a green card? I mean our concept of an illegal immigrant is so narrow..but sometimes it a person from australia who came on visa on vacation who never went back.. so just some food for thought. it would make for alot of criminals..maybe one of your neighbors, friends?
April 11th, 2006 at 1:40 amWow… I had no idea that this was a Bepublican/Bush/Fox News bashing post. I thought I might read something with some intellectual substance…. silly me for assuming such a healthy reality.
By the way, it is funny to notice all the lefties posting on this website can only argue using ad hominem attacks. Way to go number 27! You cracked the case! Only “closet bigots, racists, killers, radicals, and psychotics” would want to uphold the fabric of our national sovereignty!
Hey but your right…. and no one will be able to convince you otherwise. Enjoy your life of ignorance… just for God’s sake… for our children’s sake… don’t vote.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:54 amWow… I had no idea that this was a Republican/Bush/Fox News bashing post. I thought I might read something with some intellectual substance…. silly me for assuming such a healthy reality.
By the way, it is funny to notice all the lefties posting on this website can only argue using ad hominem attacks. Way to go number 27! You cracked the case! Only “closet bigots, racists, killers, radicals, and psychotics” would want to uphold the fabric of our national sovereignty!
Hey but your right…. and no one will be able to convince you otherwise. Enjoy your life of ignorance… just for God’s sake… for our children’s sake… don’t vote.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:54 amOther than the Native American Indian, we all came from an old country. We came through the front door, not under the fence. We stood at Ellis Island and waited our turn to work. We did not stand in front of a Dunkin Donuts or a Seven Eleven waiting for someone to give us work.
Deport them all at the expense of their home country !!
April 11th, 2006 at 2:01 amWhere do I start? They all have documentation. If it is counterfit, we can’t tell & we can’t ask (discrimination laws). They usually claim 5-7 children on their W-4 (you can claim up to 9 without the employer being required to report it), so no taxes are taken out. If we get a questionaire to validate their SS#, it is usually 12-24 months later, if at all. If we get a garnishment on their over-due income taxes, it is usually for a tax year 4 or 5 years past. In cases of California garnishments (DMV, state taxes, unpaid DUI, etc.) we have to give the employee 2 weeks notice before we can withhold any wages, they just don’t show up the next day. Federal garnishments take effect immediately, but they leave immediately. Of course, producing a child in this country gives them (at least the mother) legal statis. Our workers make about $9 hourly. Twenty years ago, many field jobs we taken by college kids & housewives. Now, we have McDonalds & Starbucks. We pay the same as Starbucks-anyone wanna job?
April 11th, 2006 at 2:19 amNobody should take these Illegals seriously…Forcing U.S. citizens to give you rights under the U.S. constitution is never going to work. The illegals need to be sent home and can return on our nations terms, not on the terms og the criminals.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:21 amNobody should take these Illegals seriously…Forcing U.S. citizens to give you rights under the U.S. constitution is never going to work. The illegals need to be sent home and can return on our nations terms, not on the terms of the criminals.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:21 am#68 - Very true Sal - but even the “Native” American tribes immigrated - just a little earlier….
April 11th, 2006 at 2:24 am#65 is right-it is a very, very complicated issue. It is a 3-legged stool. Pull off one leg, the stool collapses. We have to have secure borders, we have to deal with a problem that has been ignored since the last immigration act in 1986, and we have to deal with a very healthy, growing economy which will continue to produce entry level jobs. So many people do not realize how the illegal immigrant has existed in the shadows of our society. The estimate is 50% of construction workers are illegal. Ever had a housekeeper in a hotel who spoke clear English, if at all? That dishwasher in the coffee shop who shuffles out periodically to pick up a tub of dishes, then shuffles back through the kichen door is probably illegal too. How many of you have a gardening service? Ever check to see if their employees are “documented”? How about your housecleaning service? Same question. However, as employers we cannot question their legality-that is illegal! We cannot verify their SS# with the SS Administratin until after we have hired them! Congress keeps calling them “undocumented workers”-I have files of documents, everyone has documents.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:36 amDid you know that there’s no easy way to Citizenship in this country? I applied for political assylum in 1,992. They were supossed to call me 6 months later. Have they called me? No !! Is it my fault? No !! In case they call me and I am granted Political Assylum I have to wait another year to become a “resident”, after five years of being resident I can apply for Citizenship which means another year or so until I take the oath. I am not illegal in this country but I live in the limbo. Any moment I can be sent back to my country after living 16 years in this beautiful country. What the “Illegals” are asking is to be counted, to be controlled. Aren’t we talking about national security and blah, blah, blah? Well !! this is the best moment to start. Make everybody accountable, give them an ID, take their finger prints so they can be tracked the way I am being tracked every year. I read so many people in this blog saying things that they don’t understand. If they approved some kind of program, the program itself would allow these people to apply for residency in 6 years, knowing INS, we are talking about 2 years more to become residents and then and only then they can apply for Citizenship. So, we are saying that these people or me to say so, will be citizens in 13-15 years down the road. Stop talking about Citizenship when Citizenship is not granted easily in this country.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:39 amI think they are so many dumb people here,in the USA .Why can’t some of you guy see that the Mexican are helping us.Not putting us down.Untill about ten years ago I’d never met a Mexican. But now I have a American-Mexican grandson. His father is one of the sweetest people you would ever meet.He takes care of that boy better than my two exhusbands ever took care of my children (both white) I’ve seen this man .Do everything for his son.Even when he found out the boy may not even be his.HE STILL said thats his boy and know one elses.Thats a man ,a true father. I’ve met many mexican and I’ll tell you now.When you have a mexican for a friend ,you have a friend .They will help you without taken money from you.My son-in-law and his family has moved me a few times and never would take my money.Sure they come here to help there familys in Mexico.But they also spend alot of there money here.How can they not?They don’t live for free in USA.And we also give money to Mexico when we go on Vacation there? I’ve not personly went there.But I see the game show on TV sending people there.And hear about people in the US going there all the time.And talking about how Beautiful it is. Money is money no matter where you spend it.So what if they want to send money there.We did.I remember a few years ago on the new about US loaning Mexico money and they paid us back way before the time ,they said it would take to pay back.I’ve dated Mexican and Irans .I know what it is like for the Mexican to get to US and what it was like for the Irans to get here.ALot of differants there???????Unless you know them from both side, You wouldn’t understand.WE ARE ALL GOD PEOPLE .(ALL) .This is what is wrong with the world today ,So many people want to run everyone elses life ,when there on life needs to be fix.We are American let act like it.What would happen if the Mexicans did go back to Mexico, Boy would we be in trouble!!!! I’ve seen these guys work from daylight to dark .Never in my life have I every seen anyone work so hard.My son says all the time there is noway in hell he would work like the Mexicans do.I think all ,everyone should get to know a few Mexicans before you judge them.Most are really great people.In every races we have good and bad.No matter where we come from.Thanks
April 11th, 2006 at 2:39 amWell said Brenda.
If this wasn’t an election year, I doubt we’d see this issue being debated. After all, lots of Republicans profit handsomely off Mexicans who come here illegaly. What other issues do Republicans have to run on? Playing the race card is about all they have left.
But every day I feel I have more in common with these people than I do with the Republicans who are destroying this country. Our votes have been nuetralized for 3 elections now and more than 50% of this country’s citizens are shut out in determining our national agenda. Senate Democrats represent over 55% of the people, but they are in the numerical minority. Something is very wrong with our ability to have representitive government.
Until we fix our voting, I don’t think we can expect an honest compromise on the issue of immigration. Maybe after November this will change.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:04 amWe should not reward these illegal aliens, they broke the law. That makes them criminials. When we break our laws we get punished, they should also be punished. Deport them and make them go through the proper channels to come back. We need better border patrol.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:24 amSend the maggots back to their piece of crap country!!! We don’t need their illegal
April 11th, 2006 at 3:36 amalien jack asses over here. It’s time to shut down our borders and send the stupid
poor idiots back home. Shoot them if you have to!!!!
put a little twist in it and what do you get?
1)immigrants without papers, not illegals
2)underpaid laborers, not cheap labor
3)hispanics, not mexicans
4)non caucasians, not foreigners
5) Americans …not!!!
6) Americans …yeah dude
is it easier to see now?
let me explain:
1)a child came here from Guatamala at 2 years of age, grew up here,went to school here, bright and excelled in school, worked at Burger King after school, paid taxes, but never had papers. Turns eighteen years of age. Can not apply to college. 911 happens, restrictions at the DMV, can not drive nor work for corporations anymore. With tightening of security, now he is a farmworker.
2) an El Savadorian man without papers, a carpenter/constructionworker by trade with 15 years experience now oversees 30 some workers on various construction sites while his boss flirts with a mistress. The men being directed earn on average $20 an hour and are digruntled at there low pay while this gentleman is making $8 an hour and is thankful for it. His skills and knowledge landed him the position. His disposition landed him his pay.
3) Both gentlemen I’ve mentioned are considered Mexicans by everyone except other hispanics.
4) A fifth generation American, of chinese origins, knows no other language than English, hate Chinese food, loves the Mall of America, and is no smarter or dumber than any average Minnesotan, is however percieved as a foreigner. The only thing foreign to her is …China!
5) Michael J Fox & Mike Myers
6) Paul Rodriguez & Cheech Marin
so….are you sure about what you think you know,
what you see, are you talking legal or justice,
righteous or pious
April 11th, 2006 at 3:37 amAmerica:
The hearts of our leaders are in the hands of the Lord. He will not allow them to be brought low neither will he allow immigrants to suffer. God is balance and KNOWS what is best for the UNITY and SUSTANABILITY for people of all nations.
Remember: LOVE .. PATIENCE ..MORE LOVE.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:45 amThat’s HILARIOUS.
During the big first march here in LA, when .5-1.5 million people poured out into the street, the news showed long rows of LAPD, and the sargeants were keeping their squads buttoned down and calm. Any other move would have worked out VERY BADLY for the officers, since there is NO WAY to stop that many people from all the mob dyamics that might be sparked by UNPROFESSIONAL conduct.
As it was, no arrests — no reported significant crimes. Another professional LAPD performance — bully for Chief Bratton, and congratulations to Mayor Villaraigosa’s office as well.
These FOX guys don’t care about the troops, and they don’t care about the first responders, and they don’t care about the cops. Idiotic tactical ideas like setting off major riots are just their version of the ‘flypaper’ strategy, for the Homeland. Let’s see if we can set off a race riot and kill some Mexicans, nevermind the police wiped out in the process. That’s collateral damage — they knew what they were signing up for. It’s a voluntary employment — they didn’t have to take the job…
April 11th, 2006 at 3:49 amConsider this: To the tune of 2000.00 a day….800 to 1000 individuals a month, pass through the mental facility I work in. Due to the laws now existant in this country, we are required to treat the ‘indigent’, and accept their identities as whatever they SAY. This category includes any illegal aliens. I have processed false documents, stolen credit cards, and people who simply refuse to cooperate because they have been arrested by the police as being dangerous, and the jails cannot or will not keep them. These people know the system, and the laws better than the average legal ‘man on the street’. We remove their property from them when they enter, and it is returned to them, intact when they leave. The are held until they are stabilized, that is, generally medicated, then they are released; usually in 24 hours to a week. Roughly 20 to 30 percent are actually ‘mentally ill’. The rest are on illegal drugs; in by the police for domestic problems, playing the system for a place to crash for meals, minors trying to get a vacation from their group homes…the list of non-mental reasons is lengthy and creative. Some of these people are in here, every week. Do you really think the illegal immigrants who actually pay taxes can begin to cover the amount of individuals who are illegal who are using the mental health system? Where do you think this money is coming from? This is just one facility, in one town.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:53 amIt’s not a complicated issue. Start arresting the business owners who hire these
April 11th, 2006 at 4:29 amillegals. Make it a 5 year prison sentance if you hire these scum. Trust me, they
will not come over here if there are no jobs!
#74 #75 So sorry to hear your story, however, the right way is the legal way and the only way to enter this country. I also know alot of other people from other countries that are very sweet also, but this does’nt give them the right to reside in the U.S. illegally or protest in our streets, I would suggest they go back to their country and fight for their rights. I know for a fact that these illegal aliens use false SS# and the idenities from our deceased loved ones, they lie to obtain Government and health benefits and tax forms this is fraud in many ways. I have watched the rallies on the news and it seems that not one representative or illegal alien has commented on the real issues, entering this country illegally is against the law as is fraud, also, they do not mention the many border patrol injured and killed by aliens crossing our borders illegally. We must be able to control our borders and keep our border patrol safe. The illegal aliens did not come forward while the previous immigration laws were not being enforced, why now? We must enforce our laws to secure our country. For those illegal aliens that have mentioned the suffering in crossing the desert illegally to have a better life in the U.S., please don’t put your children and pregnant women through this suffering, file for legal status the right way, the legal way.
April 11th, 2006 at 4:36 amWe have had, what, 300-400 years of ‘pr’ stating that the United States is the land of opportunity, that we can ‘do anything’ or have anything if we work for it? Is the resources of anywhere on the planet unlimited? Can we do anything? Seems a bit unrealistic to me…..
April 11th, 2006 at 4:42 amQuestion: If the illegals take the jobs that no one else wants, and you enact legislation to raise the minimum wage so that non illegals want the jobs, will that increase the amount of illegals entering the country to compete for these jobs? Sounds like a catch-22……
April 11th, 2006 at 4:54 amTo #62 and what about the other billion of illegal aliens that don’t pay their taxes and unlawfully obtain benefits through our Government, which comes comes out of taxer’s money?
All this is NOT about being racist, this is about doing what is right and upholding the law, this is not about who is Mexican or Hispanic, this is about upholding the law! Alot of people went through the proper channels of legalization and they prevailed, they had to wait in long lines and wait months and years to obtain their goal. The other illegal aliens that are here have taken it for granted that they can just come here illegally because the immigration laws are not being enforced and employers will hire them with their illegal status, they can just avoid the proper channels, however, now that there is mention that immigration laws are to be enforced, they want to speak out for their so called rights! What?!
April 11th, 2006 at 5:24 amWE FAIL AS A COUNTRY 30 YRS AGO BY NOT PROTECTING OUR BORDERS AND ENFORCING OUR LAWS START ENFORCING OUR LAWS STOP GIVING ILLIGAL FREEDOM TO BE HERE AFTER BEING CAUGHT BY BORDER PATROL AND SLIPPING THRU IMMIGRATION COURTS .I KNOW OF A PERSON WHO’S BEEN HERE 3YRS. ON EXTENSIONS ON HIS COURT DATE FOR VIOLATING A VISA STAY AND STILL PENDING WHAT’S GOING ON TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA..
April 11th, 2006 at 5:25 amHere is too much talk about money and how illegal aliens steal money from the system, by not paying taxes and having medical care, but money is only a reflect of human work, and 11 milion people working twelve hours per day is a load of money, who is invested in the USA, because they work in/for the USA. And they are payed just a couple dollars for very hard work. Or how many of you are prepared to return to the country, to grow some corn, or build houses, putting rows after rows of bricks only per a pittance who hardly pays your hut or your crack-riddled neighborhood appartment and can’t pay a decent health insurance for your family?
And for the person working in a mental health instituion who offers free care: for sure you see the worst of the society, but that doesn’t mean that all the immigrants are like these persons, and in the other hand: who’s guilty or this situation? the immigrants or the society? What is your solution? let them die in the street or go along without health care? You want more mad people by the street?
April 11th, 2006 at 7:00 am#89
…And so that makes it ok to enter this country illegally?
April 11th, 2006 at 8:26 amThe United States shouldn’t enforce it’s laws?
We shouldn’t secure our borders?
My take on this:
America should enforce its laws. Doesn’t matter if the law is against illegal spying or illegal immigration, the law is there to be enforced.
And putting it down to the fact that the illegals are working for wages so lower then you would pay an American, just sounds a bit like a double standard (we can treat them worse because they are foreigners?)
April 11th, 2006 at 8:51 am#91.
And I suppose there is no such thing as an unjust law? Would you ever put your neck out to protect someone ELSE who was in danger of injustice?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:13 amHow about the government of Mexico build an economy that is strong enough to support its own citizens? Maybe that will help.
Give back the Gadsen Purchase and call it a wash.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:15 am92
If the law is unjust, change it. Don’t just ignore the law altogether, because that undermines the good laws you have on the books.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:26 am#93
That would be great if Mexico were to build a strong economy, but what do WE do in the meantime? Do we just continue to turn a blind eye to the multitudes crossing the border illegally? Do we keep justifying their illegal entrance into our country by saying that they’re doing jobs that Americans don’t want?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:34 amALL HAIL THE FOX NEWS QUESTION-MARK HEADLINE!
April 11th, 2006 at 9:35 am#90 I’ve said that laws must not be enforced? I think not. I only was advocating for an humane treatment and recognition of a truth: they are already in the USA, and many have a productive life. Declaring them felons would result in civil unrest, trigger-happy cops and racists shooting innocent people.
Secure the frontiers, if you want. Build a concrete wall of a hundred miles and patrol it, if you want, and want to afford it. But also improve your immigration system, and legalize easily those who are productive members of the society, and expel or imprison criminals (those who have other crimes aside of being an immigrant) if you want. Prosecute the enterprises who hire illegal immigrants, even by subcontracting them (WalMart comes to mind).
But simply expelling poor people who only wants to make a living is mad. And the law to condemn those who help them, including doctors and preachers, is simply evil.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:37 am“Hopefully, we won’t be arrested for having joined in the march.”
Really, who cares? It makes absolutely no difference how many Mexican citizens and Left Wing Fucktards walk up and down the street demanding to be Americans though it is kind of funny having the Leftist America haters right along side all those people that gave up everything (not much really) to come here. It makes you wonder why people who hate America and do everything they can politically and socially to destroy her would want more and more Mexicans safely within our border. Hummm.
But as I said, it makes no difference. Nothing will be done except to maintain the status quo. The core constituents of either political party won’t stand for mass legalization without control of the borders and for whatever reason neither party is willing to tackle that issue. Doing nothing is the safe bet and that’s what will be done. Say buonas noches Graciella.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:38 amMy husband and father of my two children is an illegal immigrant, who was sent here by his parents to make a living when he was ELEVEN years old. He began working at the age of TWELVE, and has been paying taxes ever since. The thing most American citizens call a tax return is and always has been non-existant to him and millions of other illegals. Taxes are taken out of every paycheck, just like the rest of us, but they can’t file a W-2 because they are illegal. Every January, I figure his taxes, (just to see) and the United States government actually makes a profit from him…and millions of others, just like him. So for those of you radicals that say they come here and take jobs and don’t pay taxes…shut up. YOU ARE WRONG.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:39 amBut simply expelling poor people who only wants to make a living is mad. And the law to condemn those who help them, including doctors and preachers, is simply evil.
Comment by Evil Spaniard
There are 6 billion poor people on the planet. How many can we put Spain down for?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:43 am#95 And other thing: you’re promoting NAFTA and CAFTA as if it was a miracle solution to those countries’ economines, but the free trade only favors the USA. The USA has set the rules and has the money to control the “free market”, so they are only plans to enrich the USA tycoons and impoverish commoners in Central and South America.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:43 am#100 In fact, we are having our share of immigrants. And we legalized them. What is the problem?
April 11th, 2006 at 9:45 amAll of the focus here is on Mexicans.
What about those coming from the Middle East who have over stayed their visas by years? (Many of which work at or own your local convenience store). In the Mid West- most are Muslims. They are just as illegal as the Mexicans crossing the border.
April 11th, 2006 at 9:47 am#99
And you are not right. There are many illegals working for cash. Many who are paid under the table. Every year hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants obtain medical service in hospital emergency rooms, and they have babies without insurance–who pays for that? I guarantee you that American tax payers lose more money than people like your husband. By the way… how can your husband pay taxes when he’s illegal? Fake social security number? According to you, millions are cheating and abusing the system–it’s time America does something about it.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:01 am#101
I’m neither promoting NAFTA nor CAFTA. I was merely humoring #93, and putting the focus back on to America’s responsibility to control our borders. By the way, I’m also not advocating the expulsion of poor people trying to make a living. On one hand the solution is clear–America needs to secure and control it’s borders, and to make it really tough to live and work here if you are here illegally. On the other hand the solution is very complicated because of the human side of it. I can see the issues on both sides, and am greatful that I’m not the one who has to find the solution. No matter what happens–some people are going to be adversely affected.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:21 amIn fact, we are having our share of immigrants. And we legalized them. What is the problem?
Comment by Evil Spaniard
No, I don’t think you’re taking your share of poor people who just want a better life and are willing to break your laws in order to get it. I don’t think you’re taking your share of criminals who are sneaking across because there is more to steal where they are going than where they were born. I don’t think you’re taking your share of people who sneak across your borders then march by hundreds of thousands and demand that the land and country be given to them.
Of course you people in Spain are different. You’ve already surrendered to the Muslim invaders and are now Dhimmis in your own country and if you act up they’ll just bomb you back into submission. Never mind. You have enough problems as it is.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:33 amI am sick to death of politicians of BOTH parties claiming to speak for the people on this issue, but taking a stand that doesn’t reflect the people’s will. The issue of illegal immigration is not a partisan issue. It is of concern to all americans. Every time I hear a democratic politician proclaiming that we need to offer amnesty to those here illegally I literally want to scream. NOBODY that I know is supportive of amnesty be they democrat or republican. So I ask you….who’s interests are being served here?
It sickens me that our borders still are not secure almost five years after 9/11. This is madness. I guess serving corporate interests is more important than the security of the american people.
It bothers me greatly to see mexicans being used as the face of illegal immigration today. I know that mexicans aren’t the only ones entering our country illegally, but they are the ones demonstrating in the streets. I commend them for their peaceful demonstrations, but I cannot support their agenda. THEY ARE HERE ILLEGALLY!
That is the bottom line. I refuse to support rewarding illegal behavior. It does not make it okay just because they have a job. Every american citizen is supposed to obey the law. If they don’t, then there is a consequence to that. The current laws should be enforced and obeyd. It is not racist to demand compliance with the law.
Lastly, I need to remind everyone of the devilish details involved in offering amnesty. Which government agency would handle the transition from illegal to legal status? I believe that INS has about 5500 agents. Estimates for illegals are between 12 million and 20 million. Do we really expect each agent to handle thousands of cases in a timely and organized fashion? Who will prevent fraud? Who will determine whether documentation is forged or actually valid? INS already has a case backlog and is understaffed so this is not a credible solution. Who will determine how long a person has been in this country? Is there a credible way to determine the length of stay? What do we do about those that refuse to assimilate and achieve legal status? Can we really depend on the government to enforce laws and secure our borders after giving amnesty to millions? I think not. Amnesty was given in 1986. Have they secured the borders since? No. We’ve ended up with a continuous stream of people entering our country illegally. So what did the offer of amnesty in 1986 do to solve the problem? Absolutely nothing.
It is easy to legislate, but difficult to enforce the legislation. Until this government gets serious about security, I don’t trust it to enforce any legislation. Bottom line is immigration is good for our country. Illegal immigration is not. I am not a racist, just a realist.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:54 amCavuto sounds foreign, i wonder if he has a green card
April 11th, 2006 at 10:57 amI am so sick and tiered of this mantra that we “need to secure our boarders firstâ€, excuse me but that is total BS! How many of the 9/11 highjackers crossed the Mexican border? None! How many plots have been uncovered in which terrorist planned to cross the Mexican boarder, None! So this securing boarders issue is a joke, intended to send a message to Latinos that you are not welcomed in the US.
This is unfortunate because there is one argument missing in progressive circles regarding immigration. Mexico is un ruin, a failed state where the standard of living is peanuts and its people are subjected to a ridged caste system were financial mobility is unheard of. But in the 1970’s and 80’s Mexico saw an infusion of new ideas where students and academics saw an opportunity to life up Mexico’s poor by instituting land reform, nationalizing the most successful parts of Mexico’s economy (i.e. oil), and adopting a model that was in place in Cuba. If this was allowed to happen, Mexico would have been a completely different place today and the need for migrants to come to the United States would have been diminished.
However the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, with the assistance of the CIA did not allow these reforms to take serious roots and began a bloody dirty war where hundreds if not thousands of leftist were brutally murdered by the CIA backed regime. While these pigs filled their own coffers with corruption, the poor was left to seek new opportunities. So when you hear someone say “Secure our boarders†take into account recent historical considerations, the blame for Mexico’s plight as well as other areas in Central and South America rests in the hands murderous regimes and their American overseers in Washington.
April 11th, 2006 at 11:14 am#109 HGM
For many this is a very personal issue. I understand that. I also understand that conditions in their country of origin is what drives some to seek refuge here. However, that does not negate my point. WE NEED TO SECURE OUR BORDERS!
I am sorry if you feel that is a slap in the face of latinos, but I assure you that is not where I am coming from. If you read my post above, then you would see where I commented that mexicans aren’t the only ones entering our country illegally. I maintain that anyone entering our country illegally should not be rewarded for it. There is a legal process for entering the U.S. and for becoming an american citizen. If people choose an illegal path instead then they have to suffer the consequences of that choice. The legal residents of the U.S. are not here to subsidize the working class of foreign governments. Those here illegally should work just as hard in their home country to demand fair wages and rights instead of breaking the laws here and demanding the same protections as legal residents of the U.S.
Your point about none of the 9/11 hijackers using the mexican border is really irrelevant. I don’t expect terrorists to attempt the exact same gameplan they had last time. They know we are on to that game. They won’t enter the country the same way and they won’t use the exact same means of attack.
The point is for our government to do everything in its power to protect its citizens. Securing our borders in order to stop the illegal influx is just common sense. If it cuts of the flow of cheap labor, then so be it.
Attempting to make this a racist issue amuses me, especially since most legal latin americans that I talk with are in total agreement with me about securing our borders. They aren’t supportive of illegal immigration either. Are my latino friends racist too? give me a break.
April 11th, 2006 at 11:38 amWouldn’t it be easier to arrest them at their Jobs? That way the Bush Wackos Could arrest and Torture not just the Illegal immigrant but the Employer as well.!!
April 11th, 2006 at 11:40 amBut that Wouldn’t be a ‘News Story’ people doing their Jobs would it? Why No.
See this way Old Privatise Dick Cheney could use Emminent Domain on the Illegal Aliens Employers Property, and Business, and bring that into Halliburtons Corporate Monarchy.
Okay. look. heres the Plan
Since we can track a Cow from Birth to Death, and Every Stall and Farm in between to track Mad Cow Disease…Then;
Why don’t we Just give every Illegal Alien a Cow? That Way we would know where the Mad Cow and The Illegal Mexican are at all Times!
April 11th, 2006 at 11:43 amIRI, aka Sybil, will need two mad cows, one for Personality1 and one for Personality2.
April 11th, 2006 at 11:45 amFun thing to do in Texas.
April 11th, 2006 at 11:48 amBorrow a Light Green Vehicle
Go to Large Construction Site
Start Yelling-
Immigracion! Immigracion!
More fun than Cow Tipping!
#106 No, I don’t think you’re taking your share of poor people who just want a better life and are willing to break your laws in order to get it. I don’t think you’re taking your share of criminals who are sneaking across because there is more to steal where they are going than where they were born. I don’t think you’re taking your share of people who sneak across your borders then march by hundreds of thousands and demand that the land and country be given to them.
Let me see… miles from Spain to Morocco (Africa, do you know): 10. Language of the countries in America, except Canada, USA and Brasil: spanish. Guess what is the first country of Europe in think the immigrants of those whole continents.
Of course you people in Spain are different. You’ve already surrendered to the Muslim invaders and are now Dhimmis in your own country and if you act up they’ll just bomb you back into submission. Never mind. You have enough problems as it is.
Sorry, but that hound don’t hunt. The perpetrators of the spaniard bombings are dead or in jail. We are helping your country in Afghanistan. The iran fiasco is all yours. And your country is the one with the Iran problem. Sorry again, but your lame go it alone politics don’t stick with reality.
April 11th, 2006 at 11:58 amFunny how you fail to take up historical issues that I brought up in my earlier post, you simply cannot discuss this issue in a vacuum. As with everything that has to do with American foreign policy, there are consequences for the abuses that took place in 1970’s and 80’s. Also, I will not take the terrorist infiltrating through Mexico seriously, it is another ploy by Bush and his cronies to play off of fear and misguided patriotism. Protect it citizens? Are you kidding? How about beginning with pulling out of Iraq? How about not threatening Iran with Nuclear annihilation?
Economic refugees have the right to seek a better life, they have the right not to starve and not to live in absolute destitute. If anyone believes in human rights, then they cannot allow nationalistic rhetoric from assuring basic human decency because your nationality does not give you the right to deny people dignity.
Anyone who can’t see a racial component to this hysterical xenophobia infecting US society is blind to daily life in America. I firmly believe that if these immigrants’ names were Smith and had fair skin they would be welcomed with open arms. One only has to look at the backlash at bi-lingual education and other examples of cultural intolerance.
I guess all I can say in the end is that time is on our side. In a matter of decades Latinos will possess incredible political power and will be able to sway public policy at will. Until then we will continue to speak truth to power and advocate for basic human rights.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:03 pm#115 The Iran Fiasco was meant really Iraq fiasco, but hey, your diplomacy with Iran is also a fiasco.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:05 pmIF the Right WIngers hate the illegal immigrants so much, where were they 20 years ago? When the problem could have been stopped at the border. It’s not like the 11 million people just got noticed last year.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm#109
You’re throwing a lot of dust in the air in attempt to confuse the issue, but you’re completely missing the point. The issue is about securing our borders–not about Mexico. We are at war, we have enemies, and they wish to harm us. If immigrants from Mexico can cross our borders illegally in droves, in search of a better life, then so can our enemies cross in effort to launch another attack on a U.S. city. Let’s say some terrorists cross from Mexico into Arizona, and nuke Phoenix. Thousands of illegal aliens are killed. Will you then be concerned about the U.S. securing it’s borders?
April 11th, 2006 at 12:14 pmThe terrorists came across from Canada, Antagonist. This is more fear mongering crap. Mexicans are not our problem. Focus! The problem is in the White House.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:22 pm#118
I’m a right winger, and I agree with you. I simply do not understand why America has turned a blind eye to its Mexican border, and our politicians have turned a deaf ear to those raising the issue. The problem is so huge now that any proposed solution will cause large-scale outrage in any group adversely affected.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:26 pmAttempting to make this a racist issue amuses me, especially since most legal latin americans that I talk with are in total agreement with me about securing our borders. They aren’t supportive of illegal immigration either. Are my latino friends racist too? give me a break.
Comment by Str8UpNoChaser
I met Caesar Chavez at a garden party in Dallas a number of years ago and he was quite adamant about the border issue. He was concerned with Americans who happen to be of Mexican descent and not illegal Mexican gate crashers. He was trying damn hard to raise the wages of his people in the fields and found it impossible to negotiate better pay when workers willing to do the job for less flooded the market.
The idiots at LULAC and other race based special interest groups aren’t really interested in helping Mexican Americans they are only interested in the power gained by the numbers joining their ranks. The stupid Mexicans that have citizenship and are agitating for the illegals are cutting their own throats. So be it, I don’t want the price of a head of lettuce to go up another nickle anyway. By the way, five cents is the cost past on to the shopper for harvesting that head of lettuce.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:28 pmI’m a right winger, and I agree with you. I simply do not understand why America has turned a blind eye to its Mexican border, and our politicians have turned a deaf ear to those raising the issue. The problem is so huge now that any proposed solution will cause large-scale outrage in any group adversely affected.
Comment by Antagonist — April 11, 2006 @ 12:26 pm
Cheap labor.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:28 pmBy the way, five cents is the cost past on to the shopper for harvesting that head of lettuce.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 11, 2006 @ 12:28 pm
Damn, something else pays better than teaching…
April 11th, 2006 at 12:31 pm#120
You’re an idiot. According to your logic, I should should secure my house by locking the front door and leave the back door open. It’s common sense to secure all borders. only someone with their head in the sand would call it fear-mongering crap.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:31 pm#116 HGM:
Funny how you fail to take up historical issues that I brought up in my earlier post, you simply cannot discuss this issue in a vacuum. As with everything that has to do with American foreign policy, there are consequences for the abuses that took place in 1970’s and 80’s. Also, I will not take the terrorist infiltrating through Mexico seriously, it is another ploy by Bush and his cronies to play off of fear and misguided patriotism. Protect it citizens? Are you kidding? How about beginning with pulling out of Iraq? How about not threatening Iran with Nuclear annihilation?
I ignored the hostorical issue because it is a case of apples and oranges. America has commited abuse against many different nations of people throughout its history. That does not give people the right to come here illegally in order to be made whole. As I stated there is a legal process by which people can come here and become citizens. If there weren’t I’d take your position more seriously. America has harmed no groups of people more than the American Indian and African American. Should these groups of people be allowed to disobey laws to make up for injustices in the past? No. latinos shouldn’t be allowed to do so either. I’m sorry that you don’t take the possibility of terrorists entering the U.S. through mexico seriously. I do. I want all bases covered. As far as pulling out of Iraq goes, you won’t hear any dissent from me on that point. I totally agree. However you’re mixing apples and oranges. Are you saying that latinos hve the right to come here illegally as long as we are still in Iraq? I fail to follow your logic on that one.
Economic refugees have the right to seek a better life, they have the right not to starve and not to live in absolute destitute. If anyone believes in human rights, then they cannot allow nationalistic rhetoric from assuring basic human decency because your nationality does not give you the right to deny people dignity.
I agree that people, any people, have a right not to starve and live in squalor. However, I disagree that starving people have a right to enter the U.S. illegally in order to be made whole. Just as they are marching in the U.S. to demand rights, they should’ve marched and organized in their home countries. I believe in basic human decency. We have american citizens in this country that live in poverty as well. I would like for my country to uplift those people out of squalor before taking on the social problems of other nations. You cannot ignore the laws of the land. You mention nothing about laws and everything about humanity. Are we simply to absorb every illegal immigrant into the fabric of our society simply because they made it here. I think not. Americans of all backgrounds and nationalities have a right to say enough is enough just as citizens of other countries have a right to decide what is in their best interest. The key is being a citizen no matter your nationality.
Anyone who can’t see a racial component to this hysterical xenophobia infecting US society is blind to daily life in America. I firmly believe that if these immigrants’ names were Smith and had fair skin they would be welcomed with open arms. One only has to look at the backlash at bi-lingual education and other examples of cultural intolerance.
There is no racial component. Nobody is saying deport all illegal latinos. The citizens of this country are fed up with illegal immigration period. It doesn’t matter the color of ones skin. Do you not see haitian refugees turned away and sent back to Haiti on the very rafts that they float here on? The backlash against bilingual education is because illegals come here and can’t even speak the language. It is up to them to assimilate into our society, not us into theirs. If I wanted to live in a spanish, french or arabic speaking country then I would move to one. How arrogant is it to enter another country illegally and demand that the citizens learn your language in order to communicate with you? I can’t go to mexico and demand that they post street signs in nglish just because I’m there. When I choose to go to mexico I alreayd know that they speak spanish. If I am truly interested in integrating with the rest of society then I would learn to speak spanish in a hurry. It’s just common sense.
I guess all I can say in the end is that time is on our side. In a matter of decades Latinos will possess incredible political power and will be able to sway public policy at will. Until then we will continue to speak truth to power and advocate for basic human rights.
Comment by HGM — April 11, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
Not if you are banking on millions of people here illegally. By the way. Latinos are a very diverse people with different views on things. They are not one huge voting block. As I said in my earlier post, those that I speak with are just as against illegal immigration as I am. They went through the proper channels in order to become american citizens and are insulted by those that feel they should have the same rights but not the responsibility of going through legal channels. You show your true colors with the statement about incredible political power. Regardless of the power that you think you have, this is still America and always will be. It will never turn into Northern Mexico. If that country holds such attraction for you than kindly allow me to hold the door while you make your exit.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:32 pm. It’s common sense to secure all borders. only someone with their head in the sand would call it fear-mongering crap.
Comment by Antagonist — April 11, 2006 @ 12:31 pm
The Soviets felt the same way about Eastern German borders… let’s just hope that ’securing the borders’ doesn’t mean more than than. I want to make sure that we are clear with our government that we want security, not isolation. Big difference.
I worked with a guy in Boise whose initial work visa was denied for renewal, so he snuck back in the country through Canada and worked for cash under the table until he eventually got a new visa. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:36 pmLet us arrrest an illegal President.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:41 pm#123
April 11th, 2006 at 12:43 pmYou’re probably right, but how could our leaders not count the cost? I have to believe that there were people raising concerns of absorbing millions of illegal immigrants into our society for a long time to no avail.
You’re probably right, but how could our leaders not count the cost? I have to believe that there were people raising concerns of absorbing millions of illegal immigrants into our society for a long time to no avail.
Comment by Antagonist — April 11, 2006 @ 12:43 pm
China has lent us this much money, why not another trillion? Our leaders mostly do not care about us, just their own bank accounts and egos. We’ve elected people who put Corporate Profits over people. Now we need to undo it.
As long as the Corporations were happy, the politicians have looked the other way.
I don’t think illegal immigration because an issue until Lou Dobbs started screaming about it on television every night at 6:00 for months and then the average american finally took a look around and said “Oh yeah.”
April 11th, 2006 at 12:51 pm#127
I’m not for closing the border, nor am I against immigration. I just can’t condone being here illegally.
April 11th, 2006 at 12:51 pmInstead of bemoaning how great the illegals have it,health care,ect,wouldn’t it be better to fight for health care and a living wage for everyone ,instead of spewing this hot air?Count your blessings American,you may soon find yourself in a WORSE situation than the illegals!
April 11th, 2006 at 12:57 pmI’m not for closing the border, nor am I against immigration. I just can’t condone being here illegally.
Comment by Antagonist — April 11, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
I agree. It’s just that our government, like most governments, have screwed up so much that We The People need to be more skeptical than ever. It’s what Thomas Jefferson advocated. Unfortunately, it conflicts with desperation television for too many…
April 11th, 2006 at 1:00 pm“I met Caesar Chavez at a garden party in Dallas a number of years ago and he was quite adamant about the border issue. I-RIGHT-I”
Which lie is the truth? The one where you said you were 30, or the one where you claimed to have met Cesar Chavez who died 13 years go. Yeah, 17 year olds get invited to meet cesar chavez quite often - what a LIAR you are.
For someone who CLAIMS to be a christian, I haven’t seen you advocate a single christian value so far. But you make a perfect anti-christian, being the exact opposite of a ‘christ message’ in EVERY WAY. You’re a stupid fvck!
April 11th, 2006 at 1:20 pm#134
Are you a Christian?
April 11th, 2006 at 1:26 pmI just can’t condone being here illegally.
Comment by Antagonist — April 11, 2006 @ 12:51 pm
No argument here.
Illegal immigration is a lose-lose situation for everyone, except maybe for the employers who get cheap labor (uninsured, lower wages, and with no legal recourse in case of harassment or abuse), and the federal government who is now dependent on a huge surplus thanks to the taxes paid by illegal aliens. Illegal aliens not only contribute to Social Security, Medicare, etc., they also make purchases and hence pay sales taxes. These are the powerful economic interests that keep the illegal immigration flowing.
I wish more people discussed the issue without resorting to racist fear-mongering, half-truths, or out-right lies. The talk about “illegal aliens will upset the racial balance in this country”, or “illegal aliens are here to mooch”, or “illegals should be shot on sight” help little or nothing to find a reasonable, workable solution to the problem. All these appeals to emotion miss the point: Illegal immigration is about enforcing existing laws, and we all stand to lose when the laws are ignored by the same people who are entrusted to enforce them.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:26 pm“Are you a Christian? Comment by Antagonist ”
Was I talking to you Moron? I don’t think so. Kiss my butt you idiot.
April 11th, 2006 at 1:35 pm*Cosigning Gregor in #136*
April 11th, 2006 at 1:38 pmI am an ER docotor and I spend most of my evenings and early mornings taking care of children of illegal immigrants. They pay nothing for our hospitals service. Our hospital must treat anyone who comes into the ER, and while I should be helping a real emergancy triage is backed up with babies with coughs, or 11 year olds with a headache. We have been hiring hispanic nurses to help with the language barrier. My boss wants me to take Spanish lessons. I want to help people but not at the expense of my nieghbor down the street.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:07 pm#126, Thats your answer? Love it or leave it? Man, what ignorance! First of all, you certainly don’t speak for all Americans and the last time I noticed, we don’t have a designated national language. You claim to be a progressive, but in your reactionary tirade you just told me I should leave my country because I don’t agree with you. That goes for anyone on this post, you simply cannot share in progressive ideals if you have a reactionary and exclusionary position on economic refugees.
I think you ignored the historical issues, not because its apples and oranges, but simply put you lack the proper knowledge to make an informed decision. How can you say that the imperial influence American foreign policy has had on its neighbors to the south for the last thirty years has no affect on migration? That just makes no sense!
Oh, well lets counter you other points, American Indians (along with Canadian Indians) receive billions in compensation along with other benefits such as land and sovereign rights from the American government. African Americans have received some (not nearly enough) benefits such affirmative action to begin the to correct the wrongs of the past. Yes, America has a direct responsibility to provide opportunity to those it systematically ignored during the cold war.
Your just missing the point, all you see is “us†and “themâ€, which reflect the ideology of the right. I’ll even go a bit further than simply calling this racism, the odious stench of fascism is spewing from the anti-immigrant side. Perhaps you agree with the Arizona DJ who advocates shooting these refugees as the cross the boarder? Once you no longer see the other side as human beings, you no longer respect their humanity. This leads to non-humane treatment and scapegoating. Perhaps we should force all illegal immigrants to wear a yellow star in order to reinforce the subhuman status who so many on the right advocate for.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:08 pm#137
I just find it fascinating that there seems to be a never ending supply of people like you. You don’t profess to be a Christian, yet somehow you’re qualified to tell someone who is one, how they should behave. Tell me, Do you tell a Budhist how to be a Budist? A muslim a muslim? By the way if I were to kiss your butt, I could start anywhere because you’re all ass.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:21 pm#126, Thats your answer? Love it or leave it? Man, what ignorance! First of all, you certainly don’t speak for all Americans and the last time I noticed, we don’t have a designated national language. You claim to be a progressive, but in your reactionary tirade you just told me I should leave my country because I don’t agree with you. That goes for anyone on this post, you simply cannot share in progressive ideals if you have a reactionary and exclusionary position on economic refugees.
Comment by HGM
That’s 100% correct!. Americans have no right to a common language and no self respecting progressive would ever suggest such a thing. Americans have no right to a clearly delineated border and anyone with two feet does have the right to enter by the millions to share in the American dream that is rightfully theirs. What the hell is the matter with these people anyway. One would think they don’t believe the words of John Lennon’s “Imagine”?
I think you ignored the historical issues, not because its apples and oranges, but simply put you lack the proper knowledge to make an informed decision.
Right again. Ignorance of the ancient history of this land mass and the ebb and flow of the indigenous peoples that once occupied it is critical in making any kind of informed decision of how the United States should control or not control those who seek to enter. Who was here first? Who made this country the multicultural mosaic it is today? Who really cares about nature. Who really loves their fellow indigenous person? They do! They do! The White man only destroys and speaks with forked tongue.
How can you say that the imperial influence American foreign policy has had on its neighbors to the south for the last thirty years has no affect on migration? That just makes no sense!
You are amazing! American Imperialism is the beginning and end of all evil in the Western Hemisphere, maybe in all the world!.
Oh, well lets counter you other points, American Indians (along with Canadian Indians) receive billions in compensation along with other benefits such as land and sovereign rights from the American government. African Americans have received some (not nearly enough) benefits such affirmative action to begin the to correct the wrongs of the past. Yes, America has a direct responsibility to provide opportunity to those it systematically ignored during the cold war.
It goes without saying that the blood and treasure America spent wrongly containing the Soviet and their plan to bring peace and prosperity to the earth wreaked havoc on the Latin countries to the south. America should be forced to pay full recompense to those countries that suffered from not being allowed to be absorbed by the Global Communists.
Your just missing the point, all you see is “us†and “themâ€, which reflect the ideology of the right. I’ll even go a bit further than simply calling this racism, the odious stench of fascism is spewing from the anti-immigrant side.
Correct. We are all brothers united in the reality that we breath air and any suggestion that one man, one system one way is better than another is pure radical racial bigotry straight from the Nazi pits of hell.
Perhaps you agree with the Arizona DJ who advocates shooting these refugees as the cross the boarder? Once you no longer see the other side as human beings, you no longer respect their humanity. This leads to non-humane treatment and scapegoating. Perhaps we should force all illegal immigrants to wear a yellow star in order to reinforce the subhuman status who so many on the right advocate for.
That’s right, yellow star! That’s what you American First bigots want. I’m with HGM all the way and can’t wait until we open our borders and even pay passage to every poor, illiterate, superstitious, murderous freeloader the world can supply. I think I speak for all progressives when I say that our brothers in Haiti need a nice home and a hot bath and I for one volunteer HGM’s house to ten economic refugees from Haiti, compete with voodo paraphernalia and headless chickens. Everyone must give up something to make this a better world. We CAN make a difference, one poor, ignorant, diseased little bastard at a time.
April 11th, 2006 at 3:10 pmWe CAN make a difference, one poor, ignorant, diseased little bastard at a time.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 11, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
Starting with you? ;)
April 11th, 2006 at 3:16 pm<