Bush Admin Tamps Down Right-Wing Desire For Mass Deportation Of Undocumented Immigrants
Bush Admin Tamps Down Right-Wing Desire For Mass Deportation Of Undocumented Immigrants
At her Senate confirmation hearing this week, head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Julie Myers reported that it would cost $94 billion to deport all 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. An ICE spokesperson later reported that this figure does not include any costs for apprehension of undocumented immigrants.
While there are no current legislative proposals that call for direct deportation of all undocumented immigrants, the notion of such a mass deportation has been circulating among members of Congress and the conservative press for several years. For example, Congressman Tom Tancredo told the Heritage Foundation in September 2006:
When people say to me, and they do all the time, I hear this constantly—people go up, and tell me, they go, “Hey listen, what are you going to do with all the people who are presently in the country illegally? There’s 15 to 20 million — you can’t deport them.” And then they go on. Right. And I say “Hold it! Why not?”
In response to the nascent arguments for mass deportation, I co-wrote a report for the Center for American Progress more than 2 years ago in which we estimated the cost for apprehending and deporting all undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. to be more than $200 billion, with ongoing costs of at least $3 billion per year.
Unlike the ICE figure, our estimate included the substantial costs of apprehension. We estimated that apprehension costs would be about 74% of the total costs of apprehension and deportation. Applying this ratio to the ICE figure, gives a total estimated cost of apprehension and deportation of $362 billion, more than 50% higher than the estimate we produced in 2005! To put these figures in context, the entire 2008 budget request for the Department of Homeland security is $46 billion.
While calculations of this sort are difficult to do, the bottom line remains that apprehension and deportation would be incredibly expensive, whether that total would be $94 billion, $200 billion, or $362 billion. And removing all illegal workers from the economy would also quite likely be disruptive to the U.S. labor market.
That ICE is spending resources estimating a figure that we already estimated two years ago indicates that there is continuing disagreement between the White House and conservative members of Congress on what to do about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. While the White House favors a path to U.S. citizenship, more conservative members of Congress and conservative think tanks like the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform are pushing for higher levels of enforcement and “voluntary” deportation.
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101 Responses to “Bush Admin Tamps Down Right-Wing Desire For Mass Deportation Of Undocumented Immigrants”
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Not to talk of the thousands of Anne Franks who would be hiding and hidden by well-wishers. Would turn out to be a racist purge.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:56 amThe Bush/Bin Laden group feels that deporting them will reap less corporate profit stealing than jailing them, which will reap 100 times the profit taking.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:56 amit doesnt matter how expensive it is. just deport them. im so sick of living in my country and seeing it change to suit a foreign invasion.
we just spent 500billion on a war, why not spend it on deportation and control of our borders and the integrity of the american legal system?
September 14th, 2007 at 11:57 amJeb could jail immigrants in all those crooked housing developments gone bust in Florida. And it would only be a hop skip and a jump to Jupiter Island to escape the enraged citizenry
September 14th, 2007 at 11:58 amwe just spent 500billion on a war
What do you mean just spent 500 billion on a war? We’re still spending and will continue to spend thanks to Bush Bin Laden.
And it’s more like 500 trillion.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:59 amthe decrease in housing costs alone for americans would pay for this project. without all those illegals to rent to apt cost would plummet, so would housing - no illegals to rent homes they have to rent to someone - would become a buyers market for legal citizens and residents
September 14th, 2007 at 11:59 amthe integrity of the american legal system
Now that’s the last thing Bush Bin Laden wants to protect
September 14th, 2007 at 12:00 pmAnd it’s more like 500 trillion.
were not there yet
September 14th, 2007 at 12:00 pm#7
you might be right there
September 14th, 2007 at 12:00 pmcan someone please block P
September 14th, 2007 at 12:02 pmTwo words Cheap Labor. Sorry but as long as their is a cheap labor pool for agri-corps, they won’t be worrying too much about getting rid of illegals.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:02 pmThe GOP wants concentration camps, razor wire, watchtowers and some showers too.
Bush’s heroes.
-GSD
September 14th, 2007 at 12:02 pm$200 billion is cheap when you consider we have 10+ million felons walking among us. Furthermore, removing illegal aliens would be a major boon to the working poor of this country. There would be more jobs available and they would pay more. This is an idea both parties should support. The Libs I would think would support it more since it directly helps a major portion of your base. The conservatives lose cheap labor.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:03 pmCheney Tancredo - now there’s a pair - how much time you want to bet they each spend in the men’s room together.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:03 pmYeah and what about the felons in the WH. Deporting them would save us trillions
September 14th, 2007 at 12:04 pmI can’t even imagine trying to deport 12 million people. It’s a ridiculous notion, highly impractical.
And the public is not behind it. 78% feel current undocumented residents should be given a shot at citizenship.
What do you do with children born in this country who have an undocumented parent?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:04 pmPhenomenal photo.
Tancredo, with his racism and Stalinist type ideas of mass deportations, has a very red Soviet syle star emblem over his head, eclipsing the smaller, and lower, American flag.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:05 pm500 billion, that’s just what Cheney Halliburton stole. That’s chump change.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:05 pmPhenomenal Photo
Yes it’s like the masonic signs that can be found embedded in all things civic. There amidst the flag imagery is the red star. So appropriate for the red state party.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pmhow about just the ones that commit crime?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pmBut always remember to follow the money. Politics is just a front. Tancredo is just another crook, finding ways to steal taxpayer money on a massive scale. Deportation is just one more criminal plan.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:08 pmThe GOP wants concentration camps, razor wire, watchtowers and some showers too.
Comment by GSD — September 14, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
I recommend the movie “Children of Men”. It could happen here too, especially if there’s a profit motive, like Halliburton building those “detention centers”.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:10 pmI’m not sure it’s a matter of deporting them, anymore. I think it’s a matter of not allowing any more to enter this country. Let’s get going on some border security, and then we can worry about deportation…and we WILL have to confront it at some point. The way things are going, with so many people being laid off and negative emoployment gains last month, we HAVE to stop illegal immigration. Democrats, quit shilling for the Hispanic vote. Legal Hispanics aren’t crazy about wage competition, either, and illegal immigrants can’t vote. Won’t just ONE Democratic presidential candidate call it like it is, defend the middle class, and stop the bleeding by calling for stricter laws on reimportation of goods made overseas and stopping illegal immigration?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:10 pmhow about just the ones that commit crime?
How about stopping the war. The war is a far greater security threat to the country.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:11 pmHmmmm,
Let’s see; 28% of the Country are Neoturds.
I say let’s deport all the Neoturds to Texas.
Then we’ll secede Texas to Mexico.
It will save a Hell of a lot of money, Neoturds will still have their cheap labor and intelligent people can govern the USA.
Hey, it’s at least a plan!
September 14th, 2007 at 12:11 pmand some showers too.
I’m sure they will find a way to limit showering. Water will be costly and besides ICE views immigrants as dirty low lifes who don’t like to shower.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pmNot to Texas. Deport the neoturds to Alabama. They deserve them.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pmwhy not spend it on deportation? Comment by bobh — September 14, 2007 @ 11:57 am /
Because we would break up thousands of families and shatter millions of lives. They may not be here legally but it’s quite often that they’re here because they would be starving back in mexico.
Is this more compasionate conservatism at work?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:16 pm“What do you do with children born in this country who have an undocumented parent?
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:04 pm”
You end the “anchor baby” policy. The kids go with the parents. They are here illegally. They should be deported. Then, if they really want to live in the United States, they get in line and do it the legal way, and we welcome them in, as we do other legal immigrants.
Any other answer is condoning criminal activity. Period.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:16 pmhow about just the ones that commit crime?
Comment by Kevin
You mean the one’s that already committed a crime by ILLEGALLY entering the US?
They’d just come back next week.
It’s a bit more complicated problem than most trolls moldy brains can comprehend.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:16 pmIn construction, probably 30% of jobs are held by illegal immigrants. Wages have been depressed and American kids aren’t coming into the trades like they used to because of it. Black workers seem to be paying the highest price. I want to ask everyone this: Which of you is willing to sacrifice your job to an Illegal? Which of you is willing to accept less pay because of illegal competition? White collar liberals who want to keep them only care about cheap landscaping and child care. They could care less about the suffering of the working class.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:17 pmRabbit
Troqua, are you aiding and embedding illegals? Your comment is supporting them a little too much. They need to leave and file the proper forms to receive a work visa.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:17 pmAnyway, after Tancredo’s comments about bombing Mecca I seriously doubt anyone with brains is taking him seriously any more.
This probably can be safely ignored.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pmJust go after the employers. That’s it. Jail, fine or both or more but it’s the employer.
It’s not an illegal immigration problem, it’s an illegal employer problem.
Cut the demand and the supply will dry up.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pmI can’t even imagine trying to deport 12 million people. It’s a ridiculous notion, highly impractical.
its been done before - called operation wetback back in the fifties or sixties…how soon we forget
September 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pmAnd the public is not behind it. 78% feel current undocumented residents should be given a shot at citizenship.
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I would love to give them a shot. The real question is what should the illegal immigrant have to do to get that shot? Learn English. (that’s a given) Pay any back taxes. (one more reason to support the fair tax) and register an address. Maybe get a GED if they don’t have one already.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pmThey could care less about the suffering of the working class.
Rabbit
Comment by Rabbit
What a talented wittle wabbit!
Did you weave that straw man all by yourself????
September 14th, 2007 at 12:19 pmSecure the borders now. Some countries do retinal scans on people entering their borders. Don’t tell me we don’t have the money or the technology. We went to the moon 40 years ago, we can have secure borders.
Without borders, we are no longer a nation. But then that’s exactly what most of you libs want, correct?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:20 pmIn construction, probably 30% of jobs are held by illegal immigrants. Wages have been depressed and American kids aren’t comming into the trades like they used to because of it. Black workers seem to be paying the highest price. I want to ask everyone this: Which of you is willing to sacrifice your job to an Illegal? Which of you is willing to accept less pay because of illegal competition? White collar liberals who want to keep them only care about cheap landscaping and child care. They could care less about the suffering of the working class.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pmAnd the public is not behind it. 78% feel current undocumented residents should be given a shot at citizenship.
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
They had a shot at citizenship before they broke the law and entered illegally.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pmYou end the “anchor baby†policy. The kids go with the parents. They are here illegally. They should be deported.
Any other answer is condoning criminal activity. Period.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — September 14, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
That sounds like a Constitutional problem. The children are not here illegally.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pmBoth side of the isle knows that there is no cure to the illegals, my personal experience with them has not been a positive one…..had 800 dollars and 3,500 dollars worth of equipment stolen when I went to the store to get them some energy drinks and food. Now will only hire people that I can tell are americans, no mexi’s ever again, for any reason.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:21 pmhow about just the ones that commit crime?
Comment by Kevin
Those and fine the arse off the businesses that use illegals as labor.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:22 pmthis whole deportation issue is a false argument. there’s no need to deport 20 million illegals at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars.
instead, require proof of citizenship for benefits funded by citizens’ taxes: education, emergency services, welfare, drivers’ licenses, etc. additionally, make it a felony to employ illegals, issue bank loans or accounts to illegals, issue insurance policies, or to rent to illegals, and start enforcing those laws (along with the current laws).
as soon the demand for illegal labor dries up, those 20 million jobless illegals will return home of their own accord.
of course, the demand is there for a number of reasons. the entire system needs to be revamped to allow unskilled workers in legally…but getting rid of the illegals (and those employing them) first is a no-brainer, essentially free, and should be done immediately.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pmThe all-or-nothing setup is hollow. We can’t catch all bank robbers, so drop the legal barriers against bank robbing?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pmTroqua, are you aiding and embedding illegals? Your comment is supporting them a little too much. They need to leave and file the proper forms to receive a work visa.
Comment by Daryll — September 14, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Where did I support anything? I am talking about the practicality of trying to deport 12-20 million people. It’s simply not feasible, and I’ve see no detailed plan for how this is to be accomplished.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:24 pmThe big lie is that illegals are doing dirty work that Americans won’t do.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:24 pmPlumbers have dirty jobs but they get paid well for it. Illegal immigrants sustain legalized slavery.
Rabbit
Shut down the border, drones whatever else
Do a head-count with a mind towards a path to citizenship
Institute fines for illegal-entry
Collect fines and commence legalization process
(Most are already incorporated into the American workforce. The overflow will joyfully provide much-needed labor for AGJOBS states).
Assess needs and act accordingly towards a _new_ guest-worker program and treat new applicants for entry as admitted under the program.
It would not be outrageous to suggest that an exodus deportation is un-American because of the negative impact it would have on the economy by way of the costs, and lost-productivity; and it would only yield an unsatisfactory percentage of the expected results.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:24 pmSorry about the repost. Accidental.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:26 pmWe have to deal with those who are here now, and at the same time formulate commonsense, rational policies to address the future.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:28 pmAND it would only cost $3 to DEPORT TANCREDO !!!
September 14th, 2007 at 12:28 pmWithout borders, we are no longer a nation. But then that’s exactly what most of you libs want, correct?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — September 14, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
seems to be what the repugs want given all their dismal failures in resolviong the issue
September 14th, 2007 at 12:31 pm#
You end the “anchor baby†policy. The kids go with the parents. They are here illegally. They should be deported.
Any other answer is condoning criminal activity. Period.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — September 14, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
That sounds like a Constitutional problem. The children are not here illegally.
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
not that i disagree but wed have to change the constitution for that to be possible - and i dont mean just ignore it like bush dioes
September 14th, 2007 at 12:32 pmthis whole deportation issue is a false argument. there’s no need to deport 20 million illegals at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars.
take a look at the reasons that have already been gioven above and try again
September 14th, 2007 at 12:33 pmUndocumented workers contribute $50 Billion a year in Medicare, Social Security and income taxes. Probably more than that in local taxes.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:33 pm#
The all-or-nothing setup is hollow. We can’t catch all bank robbers, so drop the legal barriers against bank robbing?
Comment by Peter Christensen — September 14, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
anyone who says it has to be all or nothing is hollow, wea ll are aware of the concept of diminishing returns. but jus tbecause you cant catch and deport them all doesnt eman you dont deport those you can catch, sheesh
September 14th, 2007 at 12:34 pm#
Undocumented workers contribute $50 Billion a year in Medicare, Social Security and income taxes. Probably more than that in local taxes.
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
not going to miss it either are we?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:35 pmdoesnt eman you dont deport those you can catch, sheesh
Comment by bobh — September 14, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
And how’s that working out?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:35 pmJust go after the employers. That’s it. Jail, fine or both or more but it’s the employer.
It’s not an illegal immigration problem, it’s an illegal employer problem.
Cut the demand and the supply will dry up.
Comment by hellinabucket — September 14, 2007 @ 12:18 pm
It’s nice when we find common ground.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:35 pmits not, ask bush - hes not doing it - no one has tried since the fifties - another straw man argument
September 14th, 2007 at 12:35 pmFix simple.
Arrest/fine employers, and illegals go home
September 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pmit sure is R
September 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pmTom Tancredo is a bonehead.
There will be no mass deportations.
…although we should deport all illegal aliens convicted of serious crimes, after they have served their time in prison.
We also need to build a fence along the border, everywhere the terrain permits, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:37 pmComment by O. Bigfoot — September 14, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Li’l Foot! Dawg! Howza Neuticlesâ„¢ workin’ out fer ya? Mr P ‘n Wrongo were here a while ago, sayin’ they both got a real good look at ‘em, ‘n they almost fooled ‘em! Makin’ ya almost feel like a real man, er… dog, er… whatever?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:38 pmComment by Ringo — September 14, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Will that stop the Islamohispanics from invading, Wrongo?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:39 pmYou end the “anchor baby†policy. The kids go with the parents. They are here illegally. They should be deported. Then, if they really want to live in the United States, they get in line and do it the legal way, and we welcome them in, as we do other legal immigrants.
Any other answer is condoning criminal activity. Period. -Bigmouth
That would put Alberto Gonzales back in Mexico, eh?
Good Plan!
September 14th, 2007 at 12:43 pmWhy not just make Immigration a Foreign Policy issue. Really, establish special quota relationships with our bordering neighbors and then the rest of the world’s immigrants would be allowed by education levels, IE: PHD, and Drs. first and so on. Make everyone who is here right now with children, that fit Article one of the 14th amendment instant citizens with real SS#s, and instead of giving Foreign aid or subsidies to the country of their origin, have the aid follow the immigrant to their home state of residency in the US. By including this in the budget for the State Dept. under Foreign aid we cut back what’s available to spend elsewhere. Nobody gets thrown out, we respect the unique relationship with we have with our nearest neighbors and the states that are not being equitable with tax collection get compensated as a relief for the imbalance. How’s that?
September 14th, 2007 at 12:47 pmKevin, no. They are all criminals. Criminal Acts:
1. Illegally entering a sovreign nation.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm2. Illegally using SSN’s for their persoanl gain (identity theft/fraud).
Jaeger’s report used a similar, extremely flawed methodology as Myers did: he assumed that our current efforts represented our best efforts, and then just multiplied. Obviously, our current efforts are not the best we could.
Jaeger is even less credible than a Bush admin hack.
And, Tancredo has specifically stated that he doesn’t support mass deportations. He favors a different plan: enforcing our laws so illegal aliens go home.
If we enforced our laws it would certainly cost some crooked businesses some money and the MexicanGovernment and the DemocraticParty might not like it, but it’s something we have to do if we aren’t going to fall into anarchy.
September 14th, 2007 at 12:55 pmIf the immigrants are “undocumented”, how do we know there are 12 million of them? I’m just sayin’!!
September 14th, 2007 at 12:59 pm“What do you do with children born in this country who have an undocumented parent?
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:04 pmâ€
You end the “anchor baby†policy. The kids go with the parents. They are here illegally. They should be deported. Then, if they really want to live in the United States, they get in line and do it the legal way, and we welcome them in, as we do other legal immigrants.
Any other answer is condoning criminal activity. Period.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
What about grandchildren?
September 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pmTroqua, did Univision pay you to add ridiculous comments that support illegal immigration on this blog?
September 14th, 2007 at 1:01 pmWhat about grandchildren?
Comment by Bobwurst
Well, at least we won’t have to worry about their pets because they’ll eat the chickens and goats, and as for dogs, they just let them roam freely and eat garbage, like they do already.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:07 pmRidiculous idea. You do that and inflation will go through the roof. AND more companies will move overseas. In this beautiful greedy nation capitalism will always win over patriotism.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:13 pmI see no volunteers to give up their jobs to an illegal. Come on, where’s the empathy? Poor Americans make this sacrifice every day.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:14 pmRabbit
Maybe if they offered them $10k each?
September 14th, 2007 at 1:24 pmComment by Wallstreetman — September 14, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
Not if the “offshore tax scams”, as Conrad of North Dakota calls it, are permanently shut down and it is rendered impossible for corps. to export American jobs overseas.
This notion that it is almost ‘mundane’ conversation to stab the average American worker in the back by taking their livelihood away sickens me to the pits.
Of course this is also the same American Worker whose sweat and toil facilitates the continuous growth of these same businesses.
Unless I have completely missed the point of your post.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:28 pmI think you got the point. Anyone who knows American labor history knows the worker always gets screwed. Corps want to bring the Chinese system of slavery here. They wish that on all of us. A bowl of rice and a dollar a day.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:51 pmRabbit
And the public is not behind it. 78% feel current undocumented residents should be given a shot at citizenship.
Comment by troqua — September 14, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I don’t know where you got info but I can say that I find it very rare to find real Americans who agrees with that percentage. I think its the other way around - 78% want them gone.
Heres a few simple things to take care of the problem:
C’mon, how hard will it be to find illegals? There everywhere. Just look on any street corner, public transportation, Mexican neighborhoods. You’d have to be blind to miss them. How bout the rally’s?? Can get thousands at a time there.
I’d say first go after the gang-bangers and criminals, drunks (DUI’s), domestic / child abusers, and anyone speaking Spanish. People loitering at day labor centers, etc. That should eliminiate 80% of them right there. And once caught, determination to deport should be made within 7 days, none of this 30 days average I have read about. That will cycle out the old and bring in the new to the detention centers.
As another posted, NO services. No school, no medical, no welfare, no renting, no drivers license, no credit cards, no bank accounts, no mortgages for the 3 and 4 families that buy a house. How come Americans have to show proof of ID for everything but people with no proof get all this??
Go after the employers HARD. They are the biggest cause of all the illegals being here. First time caught, fine them heavily. 2nd time, jail the top management, 3rd time, close the company.
Children born to illegals should not be US citizens. It was not meant for this purpose. The kids go back with the parents. It is the illlegals who make the babies who are at fault if a family is broken up. They shouldn’t encourage all their relatives to come or bear children knowing they have the possibility of being deported and seperated. Thats just stupid and their irresponsibility.
Government must be hard on ALL illegals and vigorously enforce ALL immigration laws on the books. Even with the minor enforcement that has started, alot of illegals are scared. Thats the intent. Keep up the ICE raids and the illegals might think twice about staying here.
See, its an easy answer. It may take a few years but I think if the steps outlined above were instituted, we would have great success in deporting a large number of the illegals.
GOD BLESS AMERICA !!
September 14th, 2007 at 1:55 pmWhy does Tancredo look like he’s competing for Miss America?
September 14th, 2007 at 2:24 pmC’mon, how hard will it be to find illegals? There everywhere. Just look on any street corner, public transportation, Mexican neighborhoods. You’d have to be blind to miss them. How bout the rally’s?? Can get thousands at a time there.
Comment by Jill — September 14, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
—————————————————
Just because somebody is Hispanic or may look like he/she is Hispanic doesn’t mean they are here illegally. There are many people with light brown skin who are native born American citizens or are legal immigrants. You can’t tell who’s here illegally by looks alone.
So what do you propose? Challenging people for proof of legality on street corners, on the bus, in Mexican neighborhoods? People who are here legitimately are going to get rather tired of being hassled constantly, and illegals who aren’t Hispanic wouldn’t even be caught in the net. Would you feel comfortable if you were challenged to provide proof you belonged here everywhere you went?
September 14th, 2007 at 2:36 pmA simply amazing example of thinking really, really hard while trying not to think at all.
One of the greatest assets of this country is that it is the land of the free, founded on the shoulders of countless cultures that came before, bringing their ideas and insight to create one of the strongest cultures the world has ever seen. Rome did the same thing–though they conquered lands, the people therein were made Romans. They brought with them their commerce, their workforce, their names, their blood, their fresh outlook. That is why Rome lasted as long as it did, not just from strength of arms and determination.
Yes, deport all these horrible people who come here to find a better life. These people aren’t waking up one morning in their home towns saying, “Gosh, how can I weasel money out of Americans? I should just go up there!” These people are desperate to make lives. America offers that chance.
You Fatherland-mongering, Lebensraum-cherishing Nazis who feel that immigrants have no rights (indeed, label 80% of them as criminals–that’s never been done before [except in Nazi Germany, of course, when being Jewish was a crime, among other arbitrary decisions]) should probably just move away. You’re gonna blow way too much steam out of your ears looking at all these brown-skinned people that bag your groceries, do your landscaping–indeed, they’re probably the reason your pathetic Social Security system has lasted this long.
September 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pmThis illegal immigrant thing is tricky (I happen to know two Americans who married “illegals” and have had children as a result, what to do, what to do?) but it just blows me away to hear the compassion oozing out of supposedly religious people like Daryll and Miss God Bless America up there.
You would think that people who supposedly live by Jesus’ teachings would embrace all who came here.
September 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pmOnly if you were deporting people based on their race.
September 14th, 2007 at 3:58 pmI’m married to a “brown skinned baby”. Illegals are targets for exploitation. They have no recourse in the event of abuse on the job. What some people want is slaves. Slaves in the form of illegals. Go ahead, screw your own countrymen. BTW the word is “liebenstrum”. If by criminal you mean someone who did something illegal…..
September 14th, 2007 at 4:38 pmBut Stephen, I’m glad to hear that you are willing to give up your job to help these poor people. When your kids go hungry you may regret your decision. Ever been to an American ghetto Stephen? Do you hate American workers Stephen? Are you in favor of importing workers who have zero rights Stephen? Why do you want to displace American workers, Stephen?
Rabbit
BTW Stephen, if you want to see true liebenstrum in action, look towards Palestine.
September 14th, 2007 at 4:59 pmRabbit
Comment by Rabbit — September 14, 2007 @ 4:59 pm
I think you completely missed the point of his post
September 14th, 2007 at 5:08 pmI think his point was that someone else should sacrifice their job. Anyway I don’t like to be compared to a fascist. I’m sure my S. American wife would resent it too. The fact remains that half of landscaping and a third of construction jobs are being done by illegal aliens. They undercut Americans (who also pay SSI and taxes) and hurt the economy because they work for less while legals line up for unemployment.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:46 pmRabbit
First, I’ll go ahead and continue using Lebensraum in the way I intended.
Second, I do not want to displace American workers, I do not want to create American ghettos, I don’t hate American workers (particularly since I am one). I am not for encouraging illegal immigration into this country. I am, instead, not eager for the already-bloated federal government to dump billions on finding these people, labeling them criminals, and shipping them back to what they were obvious escaping. I am not giving up my job to help these poor people (thanks for injecting the over-used emotion into the argument for me, by the way).
I do not support criminalizing these illegal immigrants, throwing them into jail, persecuting them as slaves, etc. I do support making employers who pay them wages to do so in a fair way, enforcing union laws that govern this nation, keeping their lives safe and secure. If they are helping this country, they deserve to profit from it just as the rest of us do.
If you somehow read that I was anti-immigration, anti-American, anti-whatever, you need to turn up the jazz on your critical reading. Obviously my sarcasm needs to be more obvious.
September 14th, 2007 at 5:48 pmI’d like to move to the EU and work there but they take care of their own first and no American is going to take a job without an EU passport unless you work for an unscrupulous employer and take less money. Illegal aliens should not be allowed to take jobs here period. I don’t care if they are Swiss, Mexican or from the moon. They are screwing American workers. If they were taking white collar jobs there would be a hue and cry that you could hear on Mars but because they are taking blue collar jobs we are now arguing if it’s right. Like I said before, you want them here, give them your job. Jobs are finite you give one to someone and someone else does without. We’re not talking about living space here we’re talking about the well being of millions of Americans.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:30 pmRabbit
I do agree that Gestapo tactics to round up 12 million illegals would be the wrong approach. Better to round up the people who employ them.
September 14th, 2007 at 6:33 pmRabbit
They’re heeere!!!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:17 pmDirect deportation efforts at illegal aliens who committed crimes or are public health risks. Such illegal aliens pose danger to others justifying significant expenditure to deport them. For other illegal aliens a less expensive alternative: create conditions causing them to self deport, such as denial of government benefits. This will not cause 100% to leave but will encuourage many to do so and discourage others from attempting illegal entry.
September 14th, 2007 at 9:24 pmThe Republican Party is divided in two categories: those who try to avoid talking about IRAQ by saying nothing at all, and those who try to avoid talking about Iraq by talking loudly about something else( see the vicious tactid here: The Republican Party wants you to focus on the immigration issue so you can forget about the real problem in the United States): IRAQ. They are going back to the days when being mean-spireted was cool, blaming the “darkies” for all the issues today. Don’t let them fool you again. First they screwed up sending thousands of AMERICANS to their deaths. Then they refused to apologize. And Now they are going after innocent working class people. And then they call themselves “religious”. Ask yourself a simple question: What do you think God would do with the immigration issue? Would He separate kids from their parents??? ..Leave innocent working familis alone, bring the Troops home and in November …PLEASE VOTE REPUBLICANS OUT OF CONGRESS! If you really love your country, if you are really worry about THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…Give yourself a favor and vote Republicans out of Congress…don’t let them fool you anymore. In other words…” Who cares about IRAQ when you might get raped by a Mexican busboy” that’s what they want you to believe. Be smart, be wise, and you will understand why this issue is nothing comparing with the IRAQ issue.
September 14th, 2007 at 9:31 pmWho were against the minimum wage raise for so many years?
September 14th, 2007 at 9:41 pmThis is the one issue that Democrats and Republicans agree about. Any talk about securing our borders and enforcing the laws is just lip-service.
The Democrats want to keep the ILLEGAL immigrants coming, because they have sympathy for them.
The Republicans want to keep the ILLEGAL immigrants coming because they want cheap exploitable labor.
So with everyone in falling all over themselves to figure out how to be nice to them, why don’t we just repeal ALL immigration laws from the books and just pass out social security cards at the border to anyone who shows up?
Why draw the line at 12 million? Why not let 25 million in? 100 million? Why stop there? If se send invitations to China, we could get a few hundred million more cheap workers to exploit.
Keep’em coming. After all we have so many jobs that we lazy Americans just won’t do. Meanwhile, the Illegals will be happy to sleep with 6 room-mates in a one room apartment for $5 an hour like they do here in Los Angeles. That’s OK, If we Americans really needed the job, we’d lower our standard of living to that level too. But we won’t. Because according to Bush, we just won’t do thos jobs. We’re too lazy. We expect to be able to afford our own bedroom by the time we’re 30 years old.
September 14th, 2007 at 11:12 pmStephen, before you wax eloquent about how these invaders “simply want a better life” yada yada yada and before or after you pull out the racist card and slap it on the table, and around the time you finally yank out the ole tried and true “oh you must be a Nazi” label for anyone that doesn’t want their country invaded…… do this simple thing
Since the largest percentage by far of illegals are from Mexico and countries south of Mexico —
September 15th, 2007 at 12:45 amGoogle (or search) for rape in Mexico. Google Juarez Mexico murders of women. Research crime statistics. Actually talk to some people in Mexico and ask what actually happens when people shoot and kill one another in their hometowns or rancheros. The ones I talked to said nothing happened, nobody cared, nobody called the police. Sometimes the family of the person shot would go kill the shooter etc. but no police.
Just research the culture before you paint this wonderful rosy picture, because it is the culture you are wanting my children to be forced to live in.
Apprehension my a@@, fine the crooked employers that hire them big bucks, and they will go…
September 15th, 2007 at 2:46 amWhen they talk about rounding-up and deporting the illegal aliens are they including the Irish, the Slavs, the Chinese, the Asian Indians et al? Or do they really mean them Mexicans?
September 15th, 2007 at 12:18 pmfootsore
Now how does Ms. Myers propose that we pay for this mass deportation scheme?
September 15th, 2007 at 9:46 pmWe need to deport these illegals. They destroy the economy by taking jobs from Americans. They work for lower wages so employers hire them, preventing Americans from getting the jobs. The illegals also commit crimes such as robbery, rape, and even murder. Plus, with so many undocumented illegals running around, whose to say some of them aren’t terrorists? Also, these illegals don’t have the vaccinations we have in the U.S. This means they are more suseptable to disease, which they can then spread in the U.S. $200 billion is nothing compared to the cost in loss of security, jobs, and the increase in disease risks. We should spend the money, deport the illegals, and tighten up the borders.
October 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pm