Version: 2008

Comments on: Immigrants stand up to be counted

Thousands in S.F. join counterparts in cities nationwide as part of "A Day without Immigrants."
Photos: Immigrant-rights rally

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Where are the natives today?
by tblair76 May 2, 2006 3:18 PM PDT
Let them decide any immigration issues, or should I say labor issues. Who's got the right to say who can and cannot walk from one stretch of land to another, or who may cross the what ocean to land on what rock. Only God can Judge and today AMERICANS are showing their true colors. It really saddents me. This country so full of hate. If someone has a contract or a job, let them come and do their work. Let them be, maybe they belong here more than you and I.
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natives
by R Me May 3, 2006 9:10 AM PDT
The natives you must be referring to are all long gone dead. They were killed by what you happen to beleive are the original inhabitants of this land.

So you must be God because you are sure throwing a lot of judgement around.

Take a pill, chill and then plod on outa here with all you illegal immigrant friends.
Where is the hate?
by VI Joker May 3, 2006 9:27 AM PDT
Its not a matter of hate, its a matter of legality. Let the immigrants come into the country no problem there so long as they did it legally. If they are just coming to work and go back home let them do so legally. No one is judge, just applying the law. They belong here so long as they got here through legal channels.
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Make the borders like Ellis Island
by tblair76 May 2, 2006 3:24 PM PDT
The borders should be like Ellis island. You stand in line and if you are in good health, hey what do you know, come on in. That is all it took back then, I bet you did not know or don't care. I agree with everyone who says, "oh gee my family came here legally, why don't they?" . yeah well it was a very different process then, but I'll vote for that to happen again. Would be nice, give the land back to the those who it truly belongs to, those who work it!! Remember the natives taught the pilgrims how to survive on this land, damn mistake on their part, turned their backs and were butchered.
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go away
by R Me May 3, 2006 9:17 AM PDT
You really need to learn some things about this great country and human migration in general.

1. What is referred to as "Native Americans" are not.

2. The original inhabitants of every land area on earth have been killed off by those who came after them.

3. It is called manifest destiny and is still going on but in a more or less civilized manner on all continents except Africa where it is as it has always been, a very terrible bloody affair.
It's about the LAW!!
by wesferrell May 2, 2006 7:18 PM PDT
I'll probably get nailed for being whatever (racist, selfish,etc,etc) but for most of us, this is simply about breaking the law. 90% of the illegal aliens in the U.S. simply want to better themselves. Absolutly nothing wrong with that. But the fact of the matter is that they are breaking the law. Period. If you do something wrong, then you must face the consequences of your actions. Personally, if I were a LEGAL immigrant, I would be pissed off that these people are DEMANDING not ASKING that they be allowed to stay here and not have to go through what I went through. As far as these rallies went, my question to my illegal brothers and sisters is: "How come you didn't have rallies like this in Mexico or wherever you came from?" "Demanding jobs and a chance to grow?" Because you know that you would have been stomped to the ground or worse. But yet you come here and enjoy the things that a lot of people have fought, bled and died for(including MANY LEGAL immigrants)and you can't seem to figure out what the fuss is. So stop with nonsense and get LEGAL as the law stands now. Also you could help your cause by learning to read and write ENGLISH(the defacto standard of the country that you broke the law to come into!)Ok I'm done. Now for my tech tie-in: If someone is caught, a RFID tag will be inserted {please feel to put your own joke in here about where the tag will be inserted!!!} and if you are caught again without the proper paperwork {and tag}you will spend time in one of our fine establishments that have bars and no windows. Just my two cents.
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Immigration
by lazarus_vendetta May 2, 2006 10:06 PM PDT
Well sending these illegal immigrants back to where they come from really does not do anything but drain the cost of the INS and other services to send these illegals back. I think they should arrest the employers that hire them. If no one will hire them because they don't want to be arrested then they will naturally go back to thier country. Problem Solved.
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solution
by R Me May 3, 2006 9:23 AM PDT
Round em all up and drop them off on Irans eastern border. Tell them they can either gather and protest for the right to exist in Iran or can fight their way to Iraq where they will be granted citizenship after serving in the military for one year.
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duplicity
by R Me May 3, 2006 6:29 AM PDT
I was watching tv news last night. A female was being interviewed, she was from some latin american country, but a legal immigrant. She stated how great this cou try was. How great it was that she could participate in a rally such as this. How great it was to have freedom of speech,etc,etc,. How great americam is. How great it is here. How much she loved it here. She just gushed love for the good old US of A. Yet her last comment was this, "In my country they would kill me". Obviously speaking of reprisals for open demonstrations.

But it was her statement, "her country". I thought the US was her country, but guess not. She should go back to "her country".

What the illegals really want is thier own autonomous country within the borders of the US.

The real truth is that the illegals are demonstrating themselves into a worse position than they are now. As it stands you can hire an illegal and pay they what is called a sub-standard wage. But wake up! These wages are CASH. So turn it into a real wage, someone makeing $6.00 cash is equal to someone making a real wage of $9-10/hr. Many non-immigrants struggle their entire lives at these wages, without any help. Yup, they are white, black, brown, and yellow, and all in poverty. So now that immigrants have legal jobs and shady employers and day hirers now must be careful because any bill passed to make them legal will surely have huge penalties for employers that will make it prohibitive not ot follow the employment regulations. So answer this: Will the employer want a real american or an immigrant. If I have to pay real wages and benefits to someone they are going to speak english, and an english I can easily understand. All the jobs they are here for will now go to lower income class americans and the leftovers will go to the "new legals". Who will in the end be much worse off than they are now.
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"THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE!!
by caringhuman May 3, 2006 6:37 PM PDT
"THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE!!

About Jobs taken by the SO called " Illegal Immigrants take from "Americans , this is not true, I had many Americans not wanting to work in my warehouse, for minimum wage, that is all that I could be give, due to competition from aboard, mainly the far east.

It is not the poor Illegal that comes to feed their family across the border for 4 bucks and hour, ( also if you pay 35 bucks and hour to for picking lettuce, think how much it would cost you to eat ?) then you would blame the government. Stop blaming either the government or the immigrant. Each person is to blame for their own success or failure. I am a Immigrant that came here Legally, I owned a corporation before I even landed in JFK, and my corporation employed 70 Americans. My question is simple, Show me an American willing to work for minimum wage?

The Corporations have outsourced the jobs overseas because of one thing, COMPETATION " HERE IS A SMALL BREAK DOWN, The countries in Asia basin are trading within themselves, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand etc.. Europe, has UNIFIED and are trading within themselves, they have even made their monetary system unified the EURO Dollar. The Arab nation started dealing within their own countries, what's left is Africa who is a poor nation economically, They have many natural resources, yet they have to learn to come together and start using their natural resources. Then there is our Good Old USA:) Which I LOVE AND WILL GIVE MY LIFE FOR

. We cant compete because the Corporations are forced to show profits and meet the estimates on their stocks every 12 weeks, which dose not give them a long term investment strategy, the labor costs are high, heating, insurance, social security, the unions, leasing, Research & Devlopment, production costs are high, advertising, state, city and local taxes, Payroll, by the time the corporation finishes paying all these , there is nothing left to show as Profits, SO WHY SHOULD THE CORPORATION KEEP FACTORIES IN USA?? SHOW ME ONE GOOD REASON ? heck, Even FORD is closing factories and moving them overseas, that is what's HURTING AMERICA, "NOT" THE POOR MINIMUM WAGE IMMIGRANT,

There must be a change in our own perception, First We the People must be willing to roll up our sleeves and do what's needed to bring back our Nation on track, which might include, , learning the skills for today's job requirements, Learning skills that employers look for when they bring in one million Professionals every year.

What Can WE DO to KEEP Those 1 Million jobs here? moving to another state, Relearning new Skills,etc.. How can America start its new journey into the New 21 St century and be competitive? This is what we should concentrate on as a Nation. We have lost our world market shares and now need to Regain it FAST, Which will not be easy. Fighting over Immigration is not the answer to Americas woes, Building the proper Economic infrastructure for competing with the upcoming world economies, China, India, Europe. I know this that anyone that wants a minimum wage job will always find it. Those that want job security are looking at pink clouds, Those days are gone. THERE IS A FEARCE WORLD COMPETATION From upcoming nations that have over a billion low wage workers.

We must FACE the realities of TODAYS ECONOMICS and stop blaming others and other nations for hurting our economy, THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE!! Lets Stop The HATRED,We are a NAtion Of Compassion, Lets not forget that, and start looking for solutions. "

According to forecasts based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the domestic labor-force must expand over the next few years in order for the United States to maintain at least 3 percent annual growth in its GDP. Since not enough people are being born to sustain this expansion, there's then a demographic challenge. The natural candidates to fill the gap are immigrants.

Additionally, guest-workers and immigrants are good for the economy. With a low 4.7 percent unemployment rate, current workers, including illegal migrants, have been clearly absorbed by the labor market. And guest-workers who work for lower wages keep costs down, passing the benefit to consumers. Immigration isn't all blissful: Unlike commodities, newcomers bring cultures and hence potential complications, which is partly why assimilation and accommodation are essential. On the whole, however, immigrants bring many benefits.

Although restrictions are necessary and punishment is needed for those who have broken the law, the case for welcoming new guest-workers and regularizing the status of illegal immigrants is compelling. It has to do with growth and competitiveness.

The debate on immigration reform shouldn't be about ethnic identity, voting blocs or entitlements. We'd be far better off by turning to hard work, opportunity and prosperity. That's what immigration has brought to America and that's what it can still contribute by setting the sight on the future.
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Solutions, please.
by fakespam May 3, 2006 11:08 PM PDT
Stop it, and work on solutions.

Illegal "aliens" (not immigrants) aren't acknowledged to exist by
the Constituion, ergo, have no Rights given by the Creator.

I say, what the hell, I'll just say it since the majority of people I
talk to in my city (Las Vegas) think it and tell me about it:

Open concentration camps and give the illegal aliens the Final
Solution. Since our Laws doesn't acknowledge them in the first
place, legally, we're not "soluting" people, but some form of
animal that blasts circus music that makes too much use of the
trumpet.

Wait, how about shooting them dead? Where they stand, then
burn the houses they're living in, and rebuild those houses with
legal workers. That'd be good for the economy.

No, I got it! All Conservatives should move to Wyoming, Idaho
and Montana and form a pro-American, English-only Utopia and
oust the current Marxist way of life being forced upon us by TV,
rock music, and CNET!

Seriously, get real. Here's the solution: Civil War. It's about time,
anyways.

Besides, has anybody acknowledge that the illegal aliens and the
Iraq War (soon to include Iran) is actually a Snow Job by Bush for
Hillary in '08, to hold her to all the problems that are occurring?
She'll get in and have to reform everything, somehow, with 2/3
of a hostile Republican Congress. Nice con, Mr. President.

Give solutions, please. I can two rascist answers and anti-Liberal
answer with a observation of what I think Bush is doing.

Stop insulting each other, and post viewpoints from YOUR
viewpoints.
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Rhetoric & Reality
by brothermoon May 4, 2006 12:40 PM PDT
The truth is that the issue here is illegal immigration and the demands by those who have broken the law to receive citizenship. Clear, simple, and lucid - no pandering to the right or left and no political correctness.

Various people and groups continue to 'redefine' this reality by omitting the word illegal. This blindly disrespects those who have gone through or are going through the legal process of becoming a U.S. citizen. It mocks the rule of law in a civilized society. It ignores the economic principles in play when social services are granted to those who do not contribute into the general fund.

The astonishing factor is the proud claims by political leaders of hispanic decent that their numbers are growing and that they will rule states like California in their 'reconquista' or Aztlan movement. This exposes their true motives and loyalties - they are Mexican nationals at heart.

The failure of the federal government to uphold its Constitutional charges for border security and INS enforcement, and the apathy of the general public to enjoy their lower prices and tune in to entertainment has delivered us into the hands of where we are today.

Strict enforcement of labor and employment laws with fines and jail time as penalties, tight border control, and a guest worker program for a maximum of 6 months without citizenship is fair, reasonable, and even gracious for those who do not deserve to be here and certainly do not deserve special status or amnesty over those who have immigrated by following the rules.
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HERE IS THE BEST SOLUTION :)
by caringhuman May 5, 2006 5:54 AM PDT
200,000 Minutemen & the Mothers aginst Illegal alien IMMIGRANTS, WANT THEM OUT, SO HERE IS THE EASIEST SIMPLEST SOLUTION TO YOUR ISSUE. GO TO WORK IN THE FARMS THEY WORK AND WORK INSTED OF THEM TO FEED OUR NATION AND TO EXPORT, like this You will be picking our food, and "THEY" THE ILLEGAL ALIENS wont have work, AND will go back home, Isint that what you want ? Go TO WORK INSTED OF THEM & TAKE AWAY THEIR INCENTIVE TO BE HERE!!!

LETS SEE WHOS GOING FIRST? THE MINUTEMEN OR THE MOTHERS AGINST "ILLEGAL" ALIENS??
MY GOODNESS WHEN & WHWRE DID WE LOSE OUR HUMANITY AS A COMPASSIONATE NATION? UNTIL THE 40S THIS NATION WAS IN DIRE STRAITS, HAVE YOULL FORGOTTEN? READ MY ARTICLE BELOW MAYBE YOULL UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE AND WILL KEEP ON CHANGING IN WORLD GLOBLAZATION & ECONOMICS, SO BE WISE AND DONT CUT OFF YOUR OWN FEET :)
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HERE IS THE BEST SOLUTION :)
by caringhuman May 5, 2006 5:57 AM PDT
200,000 Minutemen & the Mothers aginst Illegal alien IMMIGRANTS, WANT THEM OUT, SO HERE IS THE EASIEST SIMPLEST SOLUTION TO YOUR ISSUE. GO TO WORK IN THE FARMS THEY WORK AND WORK INSTED OF THEM TO FEED OUR NATION AND TO EXPORT, like this You will be picking our food, and "THEY" THE ILLEGAL ALIENS wont have work, AND will go back home, Isint that what you want ? Go TO WORK INSTED OF THEM & TAKE AWAY THEIR INCENTIVE TO BE HERE!!!

LETS SEE WHOS GOING FIRST? THE MINUTEMEN OR THE MOTHERS AGINST "ILLEGAL" ALIENS??
MY GOODNESS WHEN & WHERE DID WE LOSE OUR HUMANITY AS A COMPASSIONATE NATION? UNTIL THE 40S THIS NATION WAS IN DIRE STRAITS, HAVE YOULL FORGOTTEN? READ MY ARTICLE BELOW MAYBE YOULL UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN THE PAST DECADE AND WILL KEEP ON CHANGING IN WORLD GLOBLAZATION & ECONOMICS, SO BE WISE AND DONT CUT OFF YOUR OWN FEET :)
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SHARING SOMETHING ABOUT BORDERS :)
by caringhuman May 5, 2006 3:05 PM PDT
L
ast week Senate Republicans passed an amendment diverting $1.9 billion from securing Iraq to securing Arizona. The new money for border security, New Hampshire's Judd Gregg explained, will pay for "the unmanned vehicles, the cars, the helicopters which are a critical part of our fight in the war on terrorism."

Senate Democrats generally opposed the diversion. But they wholeheartedly agreed that defeating terrorism requires more enforcement along the Rio Grande. As Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts recently put it, America's immigration problems "directly threaten U.S. national security."

Rarely have the two parties been so united in a belief that is so wrong. Stopping terrorists from coming across America's southern border would be an urgent concern - if any were actually coming. So far, however, there is little evidence they are.

Using newspaper reports and government documents, Robert Leiken and Steven Brooke of the Nixon Center have painstakingly compiled a database of 373 known or suspected terrorists in North America or Western Europe since 1993. In a forthcoming essay in the journal Terrorism and Political Violence, they disclose their findings: Not one terrorist has entered the United States from Mexico.

And they're not the only ones who have reached that conclusion. As a recent paper published by Syracuse University's Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism notes, "It does not appear that authorities have apprehended even a single terrorist trying to cross over the southern border into the United States."



Immigration scaremongers like to note that more than 150,000 OTMs -"other than Mexicans"-were caught crossing the southern border in fiscal 2005. What they generally don't say is that the vast majority of them - as much as 99 percent - come from other Latin American countries. The number hailing from "countries of interest," i.e., Islamic countries that produce a lot of terrorists, is in the hundreds, if not the tens.
Does that mean it's impossible for a terrorist to enter the United States from Mexico? Of course not. But consider the odds. The United State posts more than five agents per mile across our southern border. By contrast, we post less than one agent every five miles across our northern border.

What's more, as the United States has cut off urban crossing points in places such as El Paso and San Diego, it has forced many illegal immigrants to go through the Arizona desert - a brutal journey, particularly for someone with no knowledge of the terrain. Would-be terrorists coming from Canada are not only less likely to be caught, they are less likely to die along the way.

There also happen to be many more potential jihadists in Canada. Unlike Mexico, with its negligible Arab and Muslim population, Canada in recent decades has welcomed large numbers of immigrants from the Middle East. And while the vast majority are law-abiding, Canadian authorities estimate that roughly 50 terrorist groups operate in the country. In their study, Leiken and Brooke identify three suspected terrorists who have tried to enter the United states from Canada, including Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian native arrested in December 1999 on his way to blow up Los Angeles International Airport.

On national security grounds, then, if America wants to build a wall along one of our borders, it should be our border to the north. More practically, the best way to prevent terrorists from entering the United States, according to experts such as Richard Falkenrath, a Brookings Institution scholar and former deputy homeland security adviser, would be to invest in a state-of-the-art terrorist watch list complete with biometric screening. After all, terrorists are most likely to enter the United States the same way the Sept. 11 hijackers did - through airports.

Over the past four years, politicians have tried to fold every issue imaginable into the "war on terror." The temptation is understandable. It would be wonderfully convenient if America's disparate problems all had the same solution - if the government could ease Americans' economic and cultural anxieties about illegal immigration at the same time it safeguarded them against the jihadist threat.

Unfortunately, it can't. And when politicians conflate immigration and terrorism, they not only subtly tar illegal Mexican immigrants as violently anti-American, which they are not, but they also give Americans a false sense of security. Sinking billions into enforcement along the southern border may or may not safeguard American culture and American jobs, but it will do precious little to protect American lives.
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National Security
by mattehood January 3, 2007 2:10 PM PST
All of the issues before us today on immigrantion are the same as yesterday. Everything was considered and dealt with during the Reagen adminstration. Where is the logic in rehashing the same argument. The law as been written. The only thing left is to enforce the rule of law. You can not rewrite and change the law every other week every time people chose to ignore the rule of law. That equals choas!
If this nation can't enfore the law it has written, it makes no difference to rewrite existing law that has been written. The point is moot.
The deportation of 150,000 OTM,s is why the law was written. What is the point? It should be 30 million! Playing the devil's advocate to justify lawlessness only leads to the destruction of law.
On that faithfull day when the serpent said to Eve that thou shalt not die; she ate of the apple ignoring the consequence of her actions. Her actions effected all of her decendents.
Our country has no security unless the rule of law, the law of the land, is enforced willingly or by force. Our National security and the survival of our nation depends on this belief; no mater if 9-11 had happened or not!
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