Missionary arrested because illegally in US...

[TripletDaddy]

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?

I don't think we have to make it any easier for people to come here. That statement can still stand as being true. Those that wish to come should be able to come. But they are still subject to the same processes as everyone else.

You are creating a strawman. As LA Ute has already pointed out, no politician is proposing a revolving door open border with zero restrictions, so the entire point is moot.

[JohnnyLingo]

I don't think we have to make it any easier for people to come here. That statement can still stand as being true. Those that wish to come should be able to come. But they are still subject to the same processes as everyone else.

So if I understand correctly, this is the course of action you advocate:

1. Amnesty for all illegals currently in the U.S.
2. Make no changes to current immigration law except that
3. You cannot be turned down if you want to become a citizen (assuming you are not a criminal).

Am I right?

You are creating a strawman. As LA Ute has already pointed out, no politician is proposing a revolving door open border with zero restrictions, so the entire point is moot.

Except that the above three points would essentially create an open border border. We've been over the zero restriction stuff... that wasn't in my question.

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?)

[Commando]

As an immigration attorney, I hope Obama does the right thing and gets this amnesty crackin so I can retire next year. That is all. Screw you minutemen.

[byu71]

I am not open to a free open border until America gets it's act together. There is something seriously wrong with us as a people. A large number of the jail population in Utah County for instance is hispanic. Until the people of Utah County and the rest of the nation learn to be better people, it is unfair for these folks to come to the US and be driven to crime.

[The_Tick]

Call me a mullah...

1. No Amnesty.

2. Get rid of the "You have a kid here as an illegal, the kid is a citizen" crap.

3. Deport offending people. Even if you deport the same person 12 times.

4. Fix the system for folks that want to do it legally. Don't make them jump through as many hoops.

[BlueHair]

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?

This country was built by immigrants. I'm not saying we should have open borders, but we need to make it easier to get these people legal. They are vital to our society and the economy. Right wingers want us all to believe that Mexicans come here to get free stuff and commit crimes. They come here for a better life and we should embrace them. I don't hear many people complain about immigrants from Europe. It's the brown ones they can't stand.

[TripletDaddy]

So if I understand correctly, this is the course of action you advocate:

1. Amnesty for all illegals currently in the U.S.
2. Make no changes to current immigration law except that
3. You cannot be turned down if you want to become a citizen (assuming you are not a criminal).

Am I right?

No you are not right. Current laws allow for people to be denied, depending on the situation. Why would we change that?

Is America the land of the free? Why do we use that term when we also put people in jail?

[DU Ute]

3. Deport offending people. Even if you deport the same person 12 times.

I hope you don't think taxes should be lowered, because this approach sounds pricey.

[The_Tick]

I hope you don't think taxes should be lowered, because this approach sounds pricey.

You wont hear me complain. There is a price for doing business.

Laws are laws though.

[wuapinmon]

As I figure I'm probably (one of) the most-sensitive person on the board about this particular issue, I have decided to not comment, because I have made my position clear other places. I will say only the following:

The rhetoric I see being thrown about is counterproductive. I often wonder what would the reaction be if we had a sudden massive Scandinavian immigration problem. All hot-blonde-chicks jokes aside, I do not believe the negativity would be the same because they look like 'us,' and we are more willing to help those who look like us. That is all.

[byu71]

As I figure I'm probably (one of) the most-sensitive person on the board about this particular issue, I have decided to not comment, because I have made my position clear other places. I will say only the following:

The rhetoric I see being thrown about is counterproductive. I often wonder what would the reaction be if we had a sudden massive Scandinavian immigration problem. All hot-blonde-chicks jokes aside, I do not believe the negativity would be the same because they look like 'us,' and we are more willing to help those who look like us. That is all.

That argument is old and bogus, in my humble opinion. Why didn't you wonder if a sudden number of Japanese or Taiwanese came. Would we have a massive immigration outcry. Last I checked asians are of color also.

I think your argument might be better served if the discussion was about a prejudice against the poor rather than a prejudice against color.

[wuapinmon]

That argument is old and bogus, in my humble opinion. Why didn't you wonder if a sudden number of Japanese or Taiwanese came. Would we have a massive immigration outcry. Last I checked asians are of color also.

I think your argument might be better served if the discussion was about a prejudice against the poor rather than a prejudice against color.

I disagree, completely. A Japanese and Taiwanese wave would not look like 'us' and would not share our culture. There would be many cultural conflicts. Scandinavian immigrants would share most of our culture and our looks.

They would be far more welcome than anyone of color. This is my point and my opinion, which, if I had the time to go and dig, I'm sure could be supported by numerous sociological and psychological experiments published in peer-reviewed journals. Maybe Babs could find something if she has a moment. I should be grading right now. Bye.

[byu71]

I disagree, completely. A Japanese and Taiwanese wave would not look like 'us' and would not share our culture. There would be many cultural conflicts. Scandinavian immigrants would share most of our culture and our looks.

They would be far more welcome than anyone of color. This is my point and my opinion, which, if I had the time to go and dig, I'm sure could be supported by numerous sociological and psychological experiments published in peer-reviewed journals. Maybe Babs could find something if she has a moment. I should be grading right now. Bye.

Perhaps the majority feel the way you do, but I don't. I would prefer a wave of Asians to a wave of Europeans. I think we are as a country liberal enough.

Arguing over the color of the immigrants skin is a false argument. The argument is over whether the immigrant adds to the society and economy or detracts.

[JohnnyLingo]

I don't hear many people complain about immigrants from Europe. It's the brown ones they can't stand.

It always comes down to playing the race card. Every single time. I'm tired of it.

No you are not right. Current laws allow for people to be denied, depending on the situation. Why would we change that?

So what are you saying, then? What is your stance regarding immigration?

This country was built by immigrants. I'm not saying we should have open borders, but we need to make it easier to get these people legal. They are vital to our society and the economy. Right wingers want us all to believe that Mexicans come here to get free stuff and commit crimes. They come here for a better life and we should embrace them.

I don't disagree with you, but you didn't answer my question. What if we opened the borders like I outlined above? Anyone and everyone is allowed in as long as they pass a simple background check. What would the effects be?

[The_Tick]

The reason most folks complain about Mexican illegals is the fact that really there isn't a border between the two countries.

The reason Waup, that your Scandanavian example isn't going to fly, is that they can't just swim over, or run through a tunnel, or climb a fence.

First they have to "sneak" out of their home country. Then they have to either fly (which you can't "sneak") or get on a boat (which you can't "sneak" onto anymore). Both of those take passports and identification to get onto and off of.

So you wont see a half million Scandanavians, or Japanese or Koreans sneaking into the country. Logistically it isn't feasable.

That is why you see the vitriol towards the Mexican illegal. They are closest to our country.

As long as someone does it legally, I don't care where they come from.