As with health care, reform of immigration laws would be a good thing. Unfortunately, many in government over the last 50 years have doggedly opposed reform and prefer perversion.

The reform most needed is running proper background investigations on every person who wishes to enter the USA to make sure they're not inclined to initiate force or fraud. But to do that, we'd need to end the visa waiver program, fence all 6800 some odd miles of border and seriously defend it/them, and seriously track when people enter and leave the USA. (And then we could dispense with REAL ID and other assaults on the privacy of US citizens.)

There are already multiple paths for people to change their status from illegal alien to legal alien, permanent resident, and eventually US citizen. People already toggle back and forth in status, according to Guillermina Jasso, in a panel discussion published in April in the NY Times. http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/do-we-need-foreign-technology-workers/#more-2989

Private, voluntary efforts to provide illegal aliens water, food, and first aid in the desert (or elsewhere) is fine, as long as they're also given a ride back across the border.

S887 would be a nice gesture, though largely ineffectual, to curb 2 categories of excess immigration, but we should also cut back on E-3, student visas (F, including OPT), and exchange visas (J).

Naturalization Act of 1790 (required 2 years of residence before naturalization)

Naturalization Act of 1795 (approved 1795-01-29; required 5 years of residence before and declaration of intent 3 years before naturalization)

Naturalization Act of 1798 (required 14 years of residence, and a declaration of intent 5 years before naturalization; 1 year grace period for the already resident; registration of aliens and punishment of those who failed to register; oaths/declarations giving up foreign titles and foreign allegiances, and adhering to principles of US constitution; testimony of ethical behavior)

Naturalization Act of 1802 (approved 1802-04-14; restored conditions of act of 1795: 5 years of residence, declaration of intent at least 3 years before naturalization; registration of aliens and punishment of those who failed to register; oaths/declarations giving up foreign titles and foreign allegiances, and adhering to principles of US constitution)

14th amendment (really the 16th) ratified 1865 (see jus soli & jus sanguinis)

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1892; Geary Act

Anarchist Exclusion Act of 1901

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1902 (repealed 1943)

Naturalization Act of 1906 (required knowledge of English)

Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 with Japan

immigration bill of 1914; excluded "constitutional psychopathic inferiority" Immigration Act of 1917; (1917-02-05; 39 Stat.L. 875 section 3); Asian Barred Zone Act (required literacy)

Emergency Quota Act of 1921 (Johnson quota act; 1921-05-19; 42 Stat 5); limited new immigration from any country to 3% of the number of people from that country who were living in the USA in 1910; making a total annual limit of about 354,802

Immigration Act of 1924; Johnson-Reed Act; National Origins Act; (43 Stat 153); limited new immigration from any country to 2% of the number of people from that country who were living in the USA in 1890

Indian Citizenship Act (1924-06-02; 8 USC sec. 1401(a)(2)); granted USA citizenship to all Amerindians born in the USA

Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934

Filippino Repatriation Act of 1935

Bracero Program 1942-1964

Magnuson Act of 1943

Luce-Celler Act of 1946

INA1952 - Immigration & Nationality Act; McCarran-Walter; effective 1952-12-24 Truman's veto was over-ridden (created H visa); 66 Stat. 163, 8 USC 1101 et seq. Section 201 stipulates that an annual maximum of 366K immigrants may be granted permanent residence in the United States under family and employment-based preferences

NDEA1958 - National Defense Education Act

IANA1965 - Immigration & Nationality Act Amendments; Immigration & Nationality Services Act of 1965; Hart-Celler-Kennedy Act, INS Act of 1965; PL89-236; 79 Stat. 911; 8 USC 1255A?; 8 USC 1324a?; signed 1965-10-03 by LBJ; effective 1968-07-01; increased green cards to 290K per year, shifted preferences to favor extended family chain migration, abolished national limits

Higher Education Act of 1965

1978? "Congress combined all the provisions into one uniform, worldwide system"

Refugee Act of 1980 March; allowed admission of 50K refugees & 5K asylees per year

IRCA1986 - Immigration Reform & Control Act; Simpson-Mazzoli; PL99-603; 1986-11-06 (Visa Waiver Program, VWP; 8 USC 1187 section 217(c)); 5K visa lottery; 3M applied for amnesty and by 1993 Octber 88% of those (about 2.4M were granted green cards)

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), enacted in 1986, requires that every emergency department in the country treat uninsured patients for free. Fines of up to $50K are imposed on hospitals refusing to treat ED patients -- even when the attending physician examines and declares the patient's illness or injury to be a non-emergency. [15.53M admitted between 1966 and 1991.]

IMMACT1990 - Immigration Act of 1990; PL101-649, effective 1991-10-01 or 1991-11-29; (created H-1B visa requiring "specialized knowledge"); 1.88M admitted 1992-1993

AEDPA1996 - Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996

PRWORA1996 - The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, barred most illegal aliens from receiving most Medicaid benefits, but they are eligibel for emergency Medicaid services. 1996 welfare reform law PL104-193 made most newly entering LPRs ineligible for federal public benefits for 5 years; after 5 years, it allowed states to continue barring LPRs from federal public benefits, including Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); but non-citizens, regardless of status, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, are eligible for emergency Medicaid.

IIRIRA1996 - Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996; PL104-208; "Those who are unlawfully present for more than 180 days but less than one year and who voluntarily depart the country are ineligible for admission or re-entry to the United States for three years. An alien unlawfully present for one year or more who leaves or is removed from the United States is inadmissible for 10 years. These provisions are generally referred to as the 3- and 10-year bars." Authorized reimbursement of public hospitals and certain non-profit hospitals for emergency medical assistance to illegal aliens, and reimbursement of state and local governments for emergency ambulance services provided aliens injured while crossing U.S. borders while in custody. Division C made illegal aliens ineligible for post-secondary education benefits based on state residence unless equal benefits were made available to all U.S. citizens regardless of state of residence.

Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act; PL104-132

NACARA1997 - Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997

ACWIA1998 - American Competitiveness and Work-Force Improvement Act of 1998; title IV, PL 105-277; 1998-10-21; 112 Stat. 2681-641; Section 416(c)(2) requires USCIS to annually collect and present to the US Congress information on the countries of origin, occupations, educational attainment, and compensation paid to aliens whose employers successfully petition for their H-1B status.

Data Management Improvement Act of 2000; PL106-215 PL106-311

American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act of 2000; PL106-313

PL106-386 created T non-immigrant visa for victims of human trafficking

USA PATRIOT Act; PL107-56

Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002; PL107-173

Homeland Security Act of 2002 (PL107-296)

PL108-7 amended the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)

United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement of 2003; PL108-77, S1416, HR2738; passed in House 2003-07-24, passed in senate 2003-07-31, signed by executive 2003-06-06, ratified 2003-07-31; requires "highly" specialized knowledge

United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement of 2003; PL108-78, S1417, HR2739; passed in House 2003-07-24, passed in senate 2003-07-31, signed by executive 2003-05-06; requires "highly" specialized knowledge PL108-136, the FY2004 Defense Department Authorization bill, amends military naturalization and posthumous citizenship statutes and provides immigration benefits for immediate relatives of U.S. citizen service-members who die as a result of actual combat service. PL108-136 expands immigration benefits available to the immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents) of citizens, including posthumous citizens, who die from injuries or illnesses resulting from or aggravated by serving in combat. Such relatives would remain classified as immediate relatives of a U.S. citizen for immigration purposes, notwithstanding the death of the servicemember, and could self-petition for immigrant status. Certain adjustment requirements and the public charge ground of inadmissibility would be waived. In addition, children and parents, as well as spouses, of U.S. citizens who die during honorable active-duty service would be eligible to naturalize without prior residence or a specified period of physical presence in the United States. This includes survivors of posthumous citizens who died on or after 2001 September 11. employment eligibility verification pilot programs (PL108-156)

MPDIM2003 - Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003; PL108-173; signed 2003-12-08. It includes a provision to reimburse health-care providers for uncompensated treatment given to unauthorized aliens, aliens paroled15 into the United States for the purpose of receiving eligible services, and Mexican citizens permitted to enter the United States with border crossing cards (also referred to as "laser visas" and "passport cards")

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (PL108-193) changes eligibility for T status

SCAAP2004 - State Criminal Alien Assistance Program; PL108-199

IRTPA2004 - Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004; PL108-458

L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2004 tried to ban most used of L-1 visas by contracting/consulting/body shopping outfits

"Omnibus Appropriations Act of FY2005", "H and L Reform Act", "H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004"; 2004-12-08; section 212(n)(2)(C)(vi)(II); 20 CFR 655.731(c)(9) & (10) and 20 CFR 655 sub-parts H & I; $1,500 fee for employers of 26 or more FT employees; $750 for employers of 25 or fewer FT employees including affiliates and subsidiary firms; $500 fraud prevention and detection fee applicable to all H-1B sponsor transfers and most initial applications

H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004/Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, added 20K exemptions for those with master's and doctor's degrees from US colleges and universities, signed into law on 2004 December 8.

US-Australia Free Trade Agreement; 2005 May; created E-3 with limit of 10,500 per year

Export Administration Act of ????

see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_laws_concerning_immigration_and_naturalization_in_the_United_States

I don't recall any referendum being passed to the effect that america now agrees to take in every Third World unfortunate "because they are starving." Out domestic unemployment rate is approaching 11%. The middle class is being squeezed out of existence. Decent-paying blue collar jobs are no longer available to American citizens because greedy chamber of Commerce types would rather employ low-wage illegals (and pocket all the money they save in not providing benefits or realistic wages). Enough of this "let them become legal" nonsense. A worsening of the economy will make many, many Americans adopt an ugly mood - and they will not have any sympathy for semi-literate illegals. You want riots in the streets - an illegal immigrant amnesty will guarantee it.

Never in the history of this country has an ethnic group been as brazen and arrogant as the Latinos. Over 20+ million illegal aliens have invaded this country, at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to taxpayers for services provided to them by corrupt politicians. They demand we accommodate their language (to the tune of billions of dollars a year in costs associated with printed materials, ESL, "Press 2 for Spanish," etc.); refuse to assimilate; and expect us to accept their culture Vs us demanding they learn ours. People residing here illegally march down our tax-paid streets demanding rights to which they are not entitled nor deserve. Radical, anti-American groups, such as LaRaza, shakedown companies and the government in order to increase their threatening tactics and their officers have now infiltrated our White House. Legal Latinos are embarrassed by the third world thug tactics employed by these illegals and groups such as LaRaza.

The SANCTUARY STATE of California needs to be placed on urgent notice by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) The state seem to be untouched by ICE, perhaps because they have cohorts of Democratic-Marxists running the Sacramento Assembly. Certainly E-Verify, the highly successful inhibitor of illegal workers throughout America, conferred less of an impact under California's sanctuary city policies. But more likely because powerful House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been pandering overwhelming support of the illegal immigration organizations, that have been growing in leaps and bounds. California has done hardly anything to the detriment of real Angelino’s, mainly because of pathetic Governor, Mayors, judges, elected officials and police departments are conspiring insensibility or are completely indifferent to the progressive crisis. Although estimates of the illegal immigrant population are inexact, the best estimation suggests that California is home to about 2.8 million illegal immigrants back in 2006.

Owing to the Southern border fence being nothing more than a phantom of what was originally planned, millions more poor humanity have likely swept across in the last decades. California has become a refuge for anybody who has reached the United States, and it estimated that ONE IN ELEVEN WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA IS AN UNDOCUMENTED ALIEN. Because of the travesty of our misguided laws, many pregnant women slip through the loose net of the Border Patrol, or airport inspection and can then immediately declare their baby is an American citizen once born? Under the refuge umbrella of the Sacramento retards, government entitlements have reduced California to near bankruptcy. Arizona has learned the hard way as a border state for being a financial sponge of the illegal immigrant invasion, and has introduced E-verify as a strict enforcement law. Arizona is just one state that has an employer sanctions law, intending to restrict any employers in the State from knowingly or intentionally hiring and/or employing illegal workers.

As of January 1, 2008, all employers in Arizona, regardless of size, are required to use the federal E-Verify program to identify the status of new employees. Thirteen states have passed laws that have mandatory laws relating to the operation of E-Verify, with strict ruling, with others states pending. California seems to be living in an unreality of costs to its legal population. In hosting America's largest population of illegal immigrants, California bares a huge cost to provide basic human services for this fast increasing, low-income segment of its population. The expenditure according to (FAIR) in the costs of education, health care and incarceration of illegal aliens, and concludes that the costs to Californians is $10.5 billion per year. Among the key finding of the report are that the state's already struggling K-12 education system spends approximately $7.7 billion a year to school the children of illegal aliens who now constitute 15 percent of the student body. CAN WE EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE GROWING COST BEING AT THIS LATER DATE?

California's addiction to 'discount' illegal alien labor is bankrupting the state and posing gigantic impediment on the state's shrinking middle class tax base," stated Dan Stein, President of FAIR. “California voters rebelled and overwhelmingly ratified Proposition 187, which sought to limit liability for mass illegal immigration. Since then, state and local governments have blatantly disregarded the wishes of the voters and continued to disburse publicly financed benefits for illegal immigrants It should be noted the Prop 187, was never allowed to reach the Supreme Court regarding whether it was constitutional? Today, California communities have been reduced to third world population, of illegal aliens families crammed into home garages and unscrupulous illegal alien landlords living on the proceeds.

We cannot accept our politicians paying lip service to the American population. Neither party has followed the true wishes of the majority of the US people? They have succumbed to the greed of special interest lobbyists and the open border Marxists. The Democrats have been infiltrated by anti-American, anti-sovereignty personages such as Liberal Billionaire George Soros. I watched the History Channels presentation of Second World War. Millions of American lived through the carnage in Europe and in the Pacific and now veterans remain homeless, while illegal alien families get priority in low income housing? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS OUTRAGOUS PICTURE? This is the exact same story in the Great Britain and the rest of Europe. Now the President Obama wants to open the doors to this nation even wider, by forcing upon us another financially crippling AMNESTY? Does he not realize that millions upon millions more indigent people, will try to reach America before the Democratic Congress finalizes this so-called Comprehensive Immigration reform?

Read about corruption and sanctuary city policies at JUDICIAL WATCH. CAPWEB, ALIPAC, CAPSWEB, AMERICAN PATROL & THE DARK SIDE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. Hunt down you politician either over the phone at 202-224-3121, or go their in person. Tell them that they are--OUT--if they vote for any kind of AMNESTY. Tell them E-Verify must be made permanent, to start the "ATTRITION" enforcement procedure for every illegal worker in America? What can you do for AMERICA? We cannot afford overpopulation growth, or corrupt politicians pandering to illegal immigrant open border fanatics?

To quote Hollars, "The DREAM Act provides student aid to illegal immigrants who are not taxpayers, which gives them an advantage over legal citizens"

I'm not sure I follow Mr. Hollars' logic regarding taxpayer money and aid to undocumented students.

First of all, I'm not sure if he is familiar with Plyer v. Doe (1982) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plyler_v._Doe

It actually makes less sense to send these students back to their home countries for the reason that taxpayers have already helped to fund their K-12 education. If these student's statuses are not adjusted to allow them to become taxpayers themselves, then taxpayer money has been truly wasted. If we have already invested in their K-12 education and they have proven to be capable of attending an institution of higher learning like Mr. Hollars, then why not help them become working members of society.

Just Saying....

I am Jacob Hollars. I never said round them up and send them back using tax payer dollars, it would cost a ton of money and potentially split families. I in fact said, if we do in fact give them citizenship (although not through an express track, but by making them wait at the end of the line), then we should also severely punish every single one of them, through fines and other non-incarcerating methods (actually making the state money). My logic with the statement is that the DREAM Act would allow illegal immigrant students to obtain federal subsidized loans and other forms of federal aid (excluding Pell Grants). None of these students, nor their parents, have paid taxes, in many cases, and they do not deserve the aid of the state if they have not contributed to the state. If a private lending institution wants to grant them a deferred loan, that's their business, but no law-abiding, tax-paying citizen (or child of a taxpayer, as some children have not worked or get much of their taxes refunded each year), should be required to subsidize a criminal's education. And they are criminals, no matter how you slice it. And I have no respect for Warren Burger's court; his court ruled on Roe v. Wade...

Unless you are Native American, we all are illegal immigrants. Europeans came on this land and committed genocide and ethnic cleansing on those who were here first. To the person who said Latinos are so brazen and arrogant, you are so bigoted and hateful. My father did come here illegally, but is now legal. He wanted a better life for himself, and I was given a better life being born here. We all strive for better lives. So please think next time that we all want to be successful and happy, immigrants are just like me and you, and they're not ALL from mexico, they're from everywhere. The world would be a better place without all your hate and bigotry

"I am Jacob Hollars. I never said round them up and send them back using tax payer dollars, it would cost a ton of money and potentially split families." .....OK....

I never said you said that...so..?

Either way...let me ask you a question. When you say, "None of these students, nor their parents, have paid taxes, in many cases, and they do not deserve the aid of the state if they have not contributed to the state." What do you mean by taxes? Estate tax? Income tax? Sales tax? property tax?

Even if a person is undocumented, they pay taxes one way or another. Every time they go to the store and buy a good, they pay a sales tax. Whether an undocumented immigrant owns or rents a house/apartment, they pay property taxes directly to the city or via their landlord through the rent they pay. Also, many many many undocumented immigrants pay income taxes. If they want to become legal residents and U.S. citizens, they must show that they have a record of paying their taxes, that is just the way it works. Even those undocumented students who have attended, currently attend, and will attend U of I have all paid taxes when they pay tuition/room and board and all the additional fees that go along with attending our university.

One more thing, if these undocumented students become legal residents or citizens, then they would be entitled by their status to receive resources from the state and from the fed. Otherwise, we can also argue that a baby born in the U.S. is not entitled to these resources because they haven't contributed to the state.

How are Latinos invading again (a true invasion is what is going on in Iraq...remove a government and install your own)? Who is still in power and continues to be in power even as demographics shift? To the idea of assimilation, it's quite the fallacy because no matter how much a person of color even tries, they will not be accepted and that is true. Those who argue for this idea, you will never experience it since you probably are already accepted in the mainstream. People of color will continue to be marginalized no matter how much they try.My dream would be to have all those undocumented individuals halt work for a week then tell me who needs who.

To the idea of culture, what is the American culture? take power and give it to the few (oligarchy)? Celebrate 5 de Mayo when hardly none know what it means (ignorance)? Celebrate the amiss of Columbus day or even Thanks4taking? Yea, this American culture you speak of...really doesn't have any legitimacy but you love to spew it and call it truth.

To the idea of ESL, isn't it funny you want to rid of a program that educates English...the idea of assimilation? And to limit education to English only is funny to the fact that some institutions require a foreign language in hs. and college? Hypocritical...the American way!

So copying and pasting a wikipedia page makes you an expert on imimgration?

Wow, I can't believe these hispanics just keep asking for more and more. The nightmare act would only work to provide more of an incentive for people to come to the United States and then be undocumented, meaning one more person hiding in the shadows not paying his/her fair share of taxes. It's bad enough that a lot of documented people who do not deserve to be at the University are already taking up space, we would then have to worry about those who have never even contributed to the funding of the school through taxes. Lastly, I find it absolutely ridiculous that there are individuals around campus that actually support the nightmare act, or better yet, the amnesty for the illegal youth act of 2009. We wouldn't let a rapist go free, why are we letting these criminals go unpunished?

I find it strange that American's seem to have amnesia when it comes to the history of immigration to this nation - every immigrant group from the Germans, to the Irish, to the Italians, to the Poles has been demonized when they arrived to the United States. It was said that they were here simply to use social services, it was said they were going to destroy America's way of life, that they refused to learn English, and history has taught us that NONE OF THIS WAS TRUE.

The reality is that Latinas/os have been in the U.S. for over 400 years (yes, before the U.S. even existed) and that the only way the current wave of Latina/o immigrants differ from past immigrant groups is that... THEY ARE PICKING UP ENGLISH (AND LOOSING THEIR NATIVE TONGUE) FASTER than the Italians, Poles, Germans, etc.

This ridiculous talk of walls, deportation, etc. needs to talk - the basis for such views (and any related) policies is not fact but racist fears (just like the racist fear that once existed for previous immigrant groups).

America's strength is that we are a nation of immigrants. If these undocumented immigrants could have come here with documents, they would have done so, they can't (just like Morones correctly points out). Let's craft sensible policies that create pathways to citizenship and bring workers out of the shadows. Long live the USA!

"Enough of this 'let them be legal' nonsense." Economic troubles aside, there is an aspect to this ongoing argument that has been overlooked, and I find it incredibly disturbing. Have you people no sense of compassion, no sympathy for your fellow man? Are you so cynical and bitter for the economic crisis that you have forgotten the countless people in this world that are suffering tragedies worse than you will ever face in your lifetime?

"They demand we accommodate their language (to the tune of billions of dollars a year in costs associated with printed materials, ESL, "Press 2 for Spanish," etc.); refuse to assimilate; and expect us to accept their culture Vs us demanding they learn ours. People residing here illegally march down our tax-paid streets demanding rights to which they are not entitled nor deserve."

Notice the use of "they" and "we." Two important principles in America is supply and demand and democracy, obviously, the voice of the majority. Pressing 2 for Spanish or ESL reflects the demands in society, how can you possibly blame that on an ethnic group? It's absurd, it's a concept that this nation was founded on. And can you please explain to me what gives YOU the right to say they demand rights they do not deserve? Because you were fortunate enough to be born here? Are you entitled to rights that are deemed humane and fair then? Does a girl born in Afghanistan not deserve those rights then?

This kind of stark and ignorant racism is actually what is preventing actual improvement in our immigration reform. Maybe if you looked at immigrants as actual human beings and not animals on the wrong side of the border, you would understand where the 'other' side is coming from.

Professor8, Kathleen, and others,

There is an undeniable relationship between the North American Free Agreement, the US invasion of Mexico, and unauthorized migration. Deep entrenched interests on both sides of the border are involved in maintaining a separate but unequal work force, vulnerable to policing and a range of other sanctions.

Flip calls like to send them back, deport them all, or "give them a ride," back to Mexico, are short sighted. The law once justified slavery and the subordination of women. In this particular scenario, it is inextricably tied to the colonial roots of the United States and perpetuating inequites.

Professor Rosas

This country is NOT a dumping ground for every Third-World resident with a hard-luck story. The time is long overdue for American elites to start worrying about their own citizens - or they may no longer be American elites. And who the bloody h--l are you to label as racist and ignorant anyone who is sick and tired of having to pay increased taxes, welfare costs and police bills to accomodate unwanted immigrants? What was valid in 1909 is irrelevant in 2009. We don't need illiterate strong backs anymore - heaven knows we already have enough of a poorly educated underclass that has to be taken care of. If you feel in such a generous mood, how about you physically hosting a dozen or so of these people? Put your resources where your mouth is or be silent.

I agree with “Tired of my pocket being picked,” I also don’t recall any referendum being passed about America agreeing to take in every Third World person because they are starving. But I will say, I do recall NAFTA back in 1994. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that people are starving? As Professor Rosas has stated, “There is an undeniable relationship between the North American Free Agreement, the US invasion of Mexico, and unauthorized migration…both sides of the border are involved in maintaining a separate but unequal work force.” So this whole “send them back, it’s us versus them” rhetoric is not justifiable, because whether you like or not, we, as American citizens, are involved and it is our responsibility to find a solution to the unequal work force that we have contributed to.

And perhaps, we should start by taking a closer look at our current policies and the implications that our actions have on other countries. Do you honestly think exploitation of third world countries does not have any drawbacks? There’s your 11% unemployment rate, there’s your middle class being squeezed out of existence, there’s your 12-14 million undocumented people within the United States. So instead of utilizing victim blaming as our defense mechanism for our share of responsibility for the unequal work force, let’s start by finding realistic solutions. An immigration reform is a realistic solution, wishing the issue to go away by saying we should just “send them back” as we hide under the covers with anonymous blogs and endless discussions of who has legitimacy and claim to being a real “American” is not only an unrealistic solution but backwards mentality.

“Undocumented workers are among the most vulnerable and exploited workers in America. They are often victims of unpaid wages, dangerous conditions and uncompensated workplace injuries, discrimination, and other labor law violations.” http://www.workplacefairness.org

It is the work of immigrant workers that has built and continues to build the foundation of our country, not only within this side of the border but on the other side as well. This is not about sympathy, this is about Equality. Why are you punishing and criminalizing the undocumented worker who just wants to feed his or her family but the society and the corporations who reek the benefits of the exploitation go noticed? Because that would entail blaming ourselves? If we are going to start pointing fingers and criminalizing those darn “illegals” then maybe we should start by looking in the mirror and analyzing how we have also contributed to the unequal work force.

“The Land Belongs to Those Who Work It” – Emiliano Zapata

I agree with “Tired of my pocket being picked,” I also don’t recall any referendum being passed about America agreeing to take in every Third World person because they are starving. But I will say, I do recall NAFTA back in 1994. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that people are starving? As Professor Rosas has stated, “There is an undeniable relationship between the North American Free Agreement, the US invasion of Mexico, and unauthorized migration…both sides of the border are involved in maintaining a separate but unequal work force.” So this whole “send them back, it’s us versus them” rhetoric is not justifiable, because whether you like or not, we, as American citizens, are involved and it is also our responsibility to find a solution to the unequal work force that we have contributed to.

And perhaps, we should start by taking a closer look at our current policies and the implications that our actions have on other countries. Do you honestly think exploitation of third world countries does not have any drawbacks? There’s your 11% unemployment rate, there’s your middle class being squeezed out of existence, there’s your 12-14 million undocumented people within the United States. So instead of utilizing victim blaming as our defense mechanism for our share of responsibility for the unequal work force, let’s start by finding realistic solutions. An immigration reform is a realistic solution, wishing the issue to go away by saying we should just “send them back” as we hide under the covers with anonymous blogs and endless discussions of who has legitimacy and claim to being a real “American” is not only an unrealistic solution but backwards mentality.

“Undocumented workers are among the most vulnerable and exploited workers in America. They are often victims of unpaid wages, dangerous conditions and uncompensated workplace injuries, discrimination, and other labor law violations.” http://www.workplacefairness.org

It is the work of immigrant workers that has built and continues to build the foundation of our country, not only within this side of the border but on the other side as well. This is not about sympathy, this is about Equality. Why are you punishing and criminalizing the undocumented worker who just wants to feed his or her family but the society and the corporations who reek the benefits of the exploitation go noticed? Because that would entail blaming ourselves? If we are going to start pointing fingers and criminalizing those darn “illegals” then maybe we should start by looking in the mirror and analyzing how we have also contributed to the unequal work force. We need to find a practical solution to this issue and right now the most feasible and fair solution is an Immigration Reform.

“The Land Belongs to Those Who Work It” – Emiliano Zapata

Why is it that every time immigration reform is being discussed those opposed to it think that it's only Latinos who wants and are going to affected by it. They are not the only undocumented race here. There are illegal aliens here that are of different color - white, brown, yellow and black and they did not all come from Mexico nor did they all just crossed the border. Some came here legally and tried to become legal but because of the broken system, before they could become legal they already became illegal and run out of choices. There are also a lot here that has more degrees than this letter writer, more skilled and speaks and writes english better than him/her. And these kids that will be benefited by the DREAM ACT will not be getting aid from the government but would instead be giving back to this land they now call home. Getting a degree and later on getting a decent job or serving in the military would be their way of showing their gratitude to this great country founded by immigrants. Besides, these kids didn't come here by their own choice. They were minors that had to come with their parents who are looking for a better life in this country. Stop calling them criminals because they are not and stop looking at them as if they are no better than animals.

Dear Daily Illini,

In her article, Lori Bell portrays the classic positions of the Right and the Left on immigration. The Right wants a slower influx of immigrants, and wants measures in place to ensure that they will not receive government aid. The Left wants more immigrants to come to America, and wants every single one of them to be offered a full slate of government aid. The two sides present their positions as if they were the only available options, with disregard to any other solution.

The Left’s position is clear: Americans—the haves—ought to sacrifice their own well being for the sake of foreigners seeking to immigrate—the have-nots of the moment. The Right’s position, however, is much more hypocritical. The Right alleges that it is concerned about the economic toll that increased immigration will place on Americans. But if this is really the concern, why not advocate for free immigration with no welfare for immigrants? Such a plan easily addresses the alleged problem—it requires no sacrifices from current American citizens, and allows immigrants to enter the country freely to produce and trade.

The United States is a free country built by the pioneering immigrant spirit that yearns for freedom. “Receive the fugitive,” Thomas Paine implored Americans in 1776, “and prepare an asylum for mankind”. Paine recognized that part of being a free country is the right to let people come and work as they wish, so long as they respect the law. How could one claim to stand for freedom, while denying others the right to be free?

Sorry to say for the Right, but to stand for freedom while opposing free immigration is a contradiction in terms. You can’t be an advocate of freedom while forbidding your own citizens from employing and trading with men cursed to be born in non-free countries. (And sorry to say for the Left, but freedom does not mean the right to take things from hard working Americans and give them to the “needy”–whether American or not.)

Many on the Right argue that immigration would cost Americans jobs, money, or their culture, but this is a smokescreen. No American has a right to a job, or to a wage, or to make his neighbor speak his language. He has a right only to his life and what he can produce, so an immigrant takes nothing from him. And by allowing more immigrants to enter the country, Americans invite more competition, more opportunity, and more people of ability into their borders. Furthermore, without welfare, immigrants would work to support all the institutions and businesses Americans already enjoy, thus strengthening the economy.

To oppose free immigration is to stand against the very idea of freedom. Freedom is not a nationalistic dogma, it is a philosophic principle that should know no borders, and it should certainly not be limited by an artificial cap. It is a right all men have, and Americans should be the first to offer it to them as the champion of personal liberty.

Sincerely,

Daniel Casper

The Undercurrent, Guest Editor www.the-undercurrent.com

You run a good argument but you are on a slippery slope. You take away our right to consider ourselves Americans. You want us to consider ourselves still an open land without pride rights. That was over 200 years ago. I am an American. I live in America. I have the right to live among law abiding American citizens. You try to paint a picture of hardworking illegal citizens trying to sneak into all this wealth for a better life. What we have in our local county is mexican gangs, drugs, rapes and robberies with little consequences. No. Send them back and have them wait in line like everyone else. Those background checks are in place for a reason. American safety. If there's a reason why you deem them unfair then repeal them legally, not sneak more illegals across the border to bolster polls.