Missionary arrested because illegally in US...

[fusnik]

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12223689

It appears the church wants the use of these young men without the liability.

[LA Ute]

I used to work with the Spanish language ward in our stake (now we have an entire Spanish-language stake), and remember when the policy was that "undocumented" missionaries had to go to their home country and leave for their mission from there. My guess is, that policy turned out to be unworkable or something along those lines. I think this is a real problem for the Church, and will be until the US figures out how to give illegals who are here a path to legalization and eventual citizenship. I'm a lib on that one.

[JohnnyLingo]

until the US figures out how to give illegals who are here a path to legalization and eventual citizenship. I'm a lib on that one.

What a slap in the face to the people trying to gain citizenship legally.

"Oops, sorry! Yeah, we know we told you you had to fill out all these forms and pay money and deal with the bureaucracy of our immigration process for a few years, and even then, we might not let you in. We lied. Really, all you had to do was wander across our border and you're good to go!"

Such a move by the U.S. only further increases illegal immigration.

However, if you believe we should have open borders anyway, disregard this post.

[LA Ute]

What a slap in the face to the people trying to gain citizenship legally.

"Oops, sorry! Yeah, we know we told you you had to fill out all these forms and pay money and deal with the bureaucracy of our immigration process for a few years, and even then, we might not let you in. We lied. Really, all you had to do was wander across our border and you're good to go!"

Such a move by the U.S. only further increases illegal immigration.

However, if you believe we should have open borders anyway, disregard this post.

The only real question is: What do we do about the illegals who are already here? That is not a simple problem, and the extreme views on both sides turn the problem of finding a solution into a political nightmare. I personally think we need to find a path to legal status that minimizes the encouragement of future illegal immigration. I'm not sure that's possible.

Assimilation is more important than legal status, in my view, but that's another subject.

[DU Ute]

What a slap in the face to the people trying to gain citizenship legally.

"Oops, sorry! Yeah, we know we told you you had to fill out all these forms and pay money and deal with the bureaucracy of our immigration process for a few years, and even then, we might not let you in. We lied. Really, all you had to do was wander across our border and you're good to go!"

Such a move by the U.S. only further increases illegal immigration.

However, if you believe we should have open borders anyway, disregard this post.

I don't think LA was suggesting that people here illegally be given a free pass. They should have to fill out forms, pay money and deal with the bureaucracy as well, we just need a system in place for that to happen. We don't have the resources to do much of anything else with them. I'm very liberal on this issue as well, which apparently makes me a minion of Satan, at least according to some people.. I would point out that this clown is probably a huge BYU fan, but I don't see how that is relevant to the issue at hand.

[Surfah]

Having served a Spanish speaking mission stateside I am very liberal on this issue as well. I just don't know how you do it though.

[BlueHair]

What a slap in the face to the people trying to gain citizenship legally.

"Oops, sorry! Yeah, we know we told you you had to fill out all these forms and pay money and deal with the bureaucracy of our immigration process for a few years, and even then, we might not let you in. We lied. Really, all you had to do was wander across our border and you're good to go!"

Such a move by the U.S. only further increases illegal immigration.

However, if you believe we should have open borders anyway, disregard this post.

I've never been able to figure out why we limit immigration. If someone wants to move here and become a citizen, I think we should let them. Making them jumps through all of these hoops is dumb. Americans are afraid that immigrants will be better employees than they are.

[JohnnyLingo]

Americans are afraid that immigrants will be better employees than they are.

Well, I guess that's a less offensive attempt at psychoanalyzing a few million people than the classic "you're all racists" argument.

Can you think of a successful society that implemented completely open borders? I ask because I can't think of one.

[LA Ute]

Can you think of a successful society that implemented completely open borders? I ask because I can't think of one.

I think you're right, there isn't one. But only hard-left groups are promoting completely open borders. I don't think that's a policy option that is being seriously considered anywhere.

[JohnnyLingo]

I think you're right, there isn't one. But only hard-left groups are promoting completely open borders. I don't think that's a policy option that is being seriously considered anywhere.

If someone wants to move here and become a citizen, I think we should let them.

I may be wrong, but this feels a lot like an open-border policy to me.

[TripletDaddy]

I may be wrong, but this feels a lot like an open-border policy to me.

That statement doesn't imply a lack of restriction or regulation.

[JohnnyLingo]

That statement doesn't imply a lack of restriction or regulation.

If it is implied, I don't see it.

If someone wants to move here and become a citizen, I think we should let them.

I see no restrictions here.

[TripletDaddy]

If it is implied, I don't see it.



I see no restrictions here.

Consider the following similar and accurate statements:

If someone wants to go to the temple, we encourage it.

If someone wants a drivers license, they can have one.

In America, we are free.


All of the above statements are accurate and true...to a certain extent. Yet they are not all-encompassing in their accuracy. There are still requirements and restrictions.

Someone call feel that we should accommodate people that want to come here but also feel that they should have to apply and fill out forms like everyone else.

Strait is the gate and narrow is the path, but all are still welcome.

[JohnnyLingo]

Someone call feel that we should accommodate people that want to come here but also feel that they should have to apply and fill out forms like everyone else.

I'm still waiting on BlueHair to clarify his statement.

So say we make it a million times easier to get citizenship in the U.S. All you have to do is fill out a one-page form and pass a basic background check (have you been convicted of a felony in your home country?) and you're good to go.

What effects do you think that would have on immigration numbers?

[beefytee]

I've never been able to figure out why we limit immigration. If someone wants to move here and become a citizen, I think we should let them. Making them jumps through all of these hoops is dumb. Americans are afraid that immigrants will be better employees than they are.

I can see a big reason for the hoops. (Ones I've jumped through by the way).

Canada has a more liberal immigration policy and it ran into issues when Israel attacked Lebanon.

A bunch of Canadian citizens received help evacuating the country only to move back there when things settled down. Many of the "citizen's" have never lived in Canada. This cost the country a lot of money.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadians_of_convenience

I know that Canada is changing it's citizenship laws to only allow foreign born citizens one generation abroad.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules-citizenship.asp

I definitely see value in making it a challenge to become a citizen. I also think that it is a good idea that all citizens have a tax burden whether they are a resident or not (as the US does and Canada does not) considering the situation related above.