Anti-immigration sentiment is rising in America?

[K-3 waiting waiting paying legal]

America is an immigration based country. I believe that most Americans are for immigration.

It is illegal immigration that is the problem.
Not illegal immigration of Mexicans but illegal immigraiont by anyone. Illegal immigration is an illegal act and bears directly on the character of the individual doing it.
True, conditions in the criminal's home land where ever it is on the globe may allow for a humanitarian nod. A statement we understand why you don't want to be in your home country and we are sorry for the conditions there. In fact the statement could probably include, we Americans send millions of U.S. dollars there to help.
But criminal is criminal.

[K-3 waiting waiting paying legal]

Jul That USC is not illegal. He is a free man of the U.S. If he makes no money why and how should he pay taxes.

You are saying being illegal is just like a race or some ethinic group. It is not. It is criminal.

I am bringing my wife here to America legally. It is taking years and lots of money to do it legally. She is speake English and is learning American history and civics. She knows what it means the work Illegal and criminal.

[Layla]

If anyone should be anti-immigration, it is the American Indian. Apart from that group, we were or are all immigrants. It has been said that there is none so holy as the newly converted. It is a saying that can be applied to those who attained USC status (either via birth/naturalization) and have forgotten what it is to be an immigrant.

This country's principles were founded on immigration. The US is all about change. It is a constant work in progress. A perpetual remaking of our culture through the influx, input and fusion of many different cultures. Can you imagine what would've happened if an American Indian had said to our forefathers when they landed here - "Go back to your country?" Not only would our forefathers have blasted them to smithereens, they would done what they thought was right and staked their claim on a new land and dug their heels in and demanded a piece of the American pie. And that is exactly what they did. Which is not at all different from what today's immigrant is doing.

For the people who are claiming that immigrants are taking their jobs and making our economy stagnate, I say this to you. When was the last time you saw a USC sweating in front of the stoves in your favorite restaurant and toiling under the boiling sun to cut your and your neighbors grass for a mere pittance? When was the last time you visited your local grocery store (at any time of day or night!) and saw a USC slaving away in the aisles trying to lay out the fruits and vegetables that some other immigrant's fingers have bled to pick for your enjoyment?

I live and work in a city whose bane of existence relies wholly on the input of immigrant labor. From the Chinese dry cleaner who makes me look presentable, to the Mexican who makes my breakfast, to the Indian clerk who makes my iced java in Dunkin' Donuts, to the African who takes me to the subway in the morning, to the Irish cop who ensures my safety on the platform, to the Polish train operator who gets me to my destination safely, I say to you all - thank you for doing America a great service everyday. It is each and every one of YOU that I, along with millions of others, rely on to make our daily life better. You are doing your part in making our country and economy better. Do not let any of these ignorant anti-immigration backers deter you from attaining what they've already attained - your dream of taking care of your families and making life better for them in the long run. As one prominently featured guy once said, "can't we all just get along?"

I'm tired of people talking c r a p about immigrants. If we were to do as many Americans who suffer from short-term memory loss about their origins in this great US of A, and send all the Pedros and Muhammads back to their countries, the great machine that is the American workforce will quickly come to a screeching halt and all but cease to exist. Afterall, in my experience, I have found many natural born USCs who are too proud and lazy to do the jobs that many immigrants will do just to eke out a living. I know that many of you will have all kinds of comebacks, but truth be told, if you look deep within and be totally honest with yourself, you will find that it's much easier to pass Juan a fiver under the table than mow your own **** grass!

[jlinjpn]

The history of the United States is replete with examples of intolerance, racial discrimination, exclusion, and oppression of its minority population. As early as 1729 native-born European Americans used nationalism and ethnocentrism against immigrants, and later, "In the early 1920s, the U.S. Congress passed extremely restrictive immigration laws creating a national origins quota system that discriminated against easter and souther Europeans and excluded Asians" (Ovando, Collier, and Combs, 2003, p. 52). While the mood of the American public swings like a pendulum over time as it varies the strength of its disdain for immigrants and minorities, the pendulum never fails to return to its nativist epicenter. The oppression of Native Americans and their disenfranchisement from their land in the name of Manifest Destiny, the hate crimes against German Americans and the internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II, and more recently, the special registration requirements currently being imposed by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the INS) upon alien nationals of Arab nations, remain trenchant reminders of American intolerance of minorities.

The character and execution of America's immigration laws today are decidedly mean-spirited and anti-immigrant despite the mantra that America is a nation of immigrants, as evidenced by the harsh provisions of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a public law that has brought misery to thousands of legal, law-abiding immigrants (Read et al, 2000). Likewise, passage of California's Proposition 227 in 1998 effectively prohibited additive bilingual education in the state (Crawford, 1999, as cited by Ovando, Collier, and Combs, 2003).

The seed of racial discrimination, exclusion, and oppression imposed upon African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Latinos, Jews, and most recently, Arab Americans, lies deep within an American psyche that is intolerant of differences. The clarion call to immigrants to climb into the American melting pot is but a euphemistic manifestation of an assimilationist ideology that seeks to overcome the influence of their ethnic history, language, and culture, for the survival and preservation of the status quo.

Resources

Ovando, C. J., Collier, V. P., & Combs, M. C. (2003). Bilingual and ESL classrooms. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Read, R., Walth, B., Sullivan, J., & Christensen, K. (2000). Liberty's heavy hand. Portland: The Orgonian. Retrieved March 24, 2003 from: http://www.oregonlive.com/ins/

[Natalia]

All of you who are saying that all immigrants should be deported are ignorant, racist and idiots. First of all i'm a permanent resident from south america, and from what i've seen is that 'so called americans' feel that we are a threat to their existence; but we're not. We pay taxes and work hard, if we so choose to send our money to our home country or return to our native land and live so be it!All of you who are anti-immigrants should go back to your country too,because if you're not a native american you do not belong here either! The black americans follow the whites and say 'go back to your country' but if the whites had their own way all black americans would be deported back to africa!To all european anti-immigrants, you should go back to europe!
Their are those who think that the term 'illegal immigrants' are only for the caribbean, spanish, africans and arabs, but there are europeans that are illegal in this country too, however nobody talks about them.
Some say that we are opportunist, but the americans are the true opportunist, they want cheap labour and they go to our country and bring our teachers here to teach their children; thus the poor countries have a high incidence of brain drain! Nobody talks about that though.The americans go to our country and exploit our gold and natural resources, but again nobody talks about that either!
Thank god that work hard and take all the bad talk, because in the end; we reap the benefits of our fruits. Also the americans are the ones who thought us how to sit on our asses and collect welfare! immigrants work hard and contribute to the economy, so that lazy americans can collect disability and welfare checks monthly. Why doesn't anybody mention that! To all african american, listen to the distinction that white america make about you, 'african american,' however for them it's caucasian! they would love for you to join us and return to africa, but just doesnt say it.
To all haters, immigrants have a rich cultural background and thank god we have a country to return to. Just over forty years ago black americans were treated like dirt by whites, but you're quick to forget!

[Lionround]

I don't believe that anti-immigration sentiment is America is rising. I DO believe that anti-illegal-immigration sentiment is rising and rising rapidly. I have absolutely no problem with anyone coming from anywhere to legally immigrate to this country. God bless them. They want to make a better life for themselves and their children and granchildren. I applaud them loudly.

My problem is with anyone coming here illegally. I don't see why the Hispanic community does not see what illegal immigration is doing to them. It has been said that illegal immigrants are "just taking jobs that Americans won't do." Well, if you are a legal Hispanic female immigrant who applies for a job as a housekeeper at a hotel/motel, your wages are going to be lower than they should be because there is an illegal alien waiting to take YOUR job at a lower wage. If you are an Hispanic yard maintenance worker, your wages are depressed because there is an illegal alien willing to take YOUR job at a lower wage. Restaurant workers, are you listening? LULAC and the other Hispanic political organizations are doing their members a disservice by not taking a stand on this.

I have recently heard Blacks complaining that the jobs that they would have, and the unemployment rate in Black America is appalling, are being taken by illegals. I haven't heard the NAACP up in arms about this.

Have a Green Card or a Student or Work Visa, welcome to America. Don't have one, can't get one, don't want one......GO HOME.

[JENNIFER702]

Hi I am new to this site. I just wanted to make a statement to all the ****s that think mexicans should not be allowed in our country! First of all I am a U.S. Citizen and I believe that this is a free country but for the past year or so my feelings have changed. I can not believe what is going on in this world. Everyone speaks of a free country well you know what this country can shove it! If it wasn't for those illegal mexicans coming to our country and working there would be a lot of business's out of work. Most people in our country will not work for what they will work for. All they want is a better life for themselves and their family and who are we to say they can't. GOD CREATED US EQUALY! WE ALL SHARE THE SAME GOD! SO I THINK ALL YOU ****S THAT WANT TO KICK ALL THE ILLEGALS OUT GO GET THEIR JOBS YOU WONT LAST FOR 2 DAYS! This was once their land and we took it. I say let them have a great life here in america. LEAVE THEM ALONE! If anyone that disagrees with me can contact me at txmama84@aol.com and we will discuss this! I may not be very smart and know everything but I do know this they work hard and only want to have a better life and support their family. Thank you for your time and again if you want to discuss this with me I will be more than willing to talk.

[junior1]

sometimes it scares me when i hear so much against illigals or overstayed cases

thank God that are still people who support a better life philosophy. nobody is harming nobody
love and peace to everybody

please lets help each other, i feel when i read so much hatred, like if you read member name Somebody12 he-she is writing terrible letters

its not about border, people invented borderd not God

when you are all alone without your family far away from home, a female its hard but there is always help

ANYBODY OUTTHERE DONT GIVE UP, there is always a solution and response, there will always be somebody who will help and haters


be brave and stay strong
love P.

[jmoita2]

Thisposting is to reply to Jennifer 702;i completely agree with you,Jennifer;this was once their country,and the US,as always,had to invade and take it from them,and now all you hear about is how the 'illegals'take all the welfare,all the jobs,all the medical care,schools,and etc;you are also right in stating that all the people calling for mass deportations will not do the degrading work that these people do for around five dollars an hour;its all about racism;americans want to use the public restroom,but dont want to see those'Mexicans',those 'illegals' cleaning it; i bet you that if these immigrants were German,English or Scottish, there would be no shortage of visas for them;as a matter of fact,isntead of armed 'Minutemen' harrassing and abusing them,you would find 'Welcoming Commitees' arranging for lodging,work and all types of assistance;these people only come here because they and their families have to eat,for in their home countries all they have are corrupt governments(propped up by the US),who steal everything they can get their hands on. So look at it this way: We invade Mexico and take most of their country from them,and install and support currupt and bloodthirsty governments that empoverish and oppress the Mexicans;and,to add insult to injury,we tell them that they cannot come here and work for starvation wages,doing all sorts of menial and hard labor;how,if we were Mexicans,would we feel?

[jmoita2]

WAY TO GO, NATALIA;I,TO,AM FROM SOUTH AMERICA,BRASIL, AND COULDNT AGREE WITH YOU MORE;APPARENTLY ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE FROM MEXICO(FOR AMERICANS,WE ARE ALL MEXICANS);THEY WANT TO USE PEOPLE AS SLAVES,BUT NOT RECOGNISE THEY EXIST,MUCH LESS GIVE THEM ANY RIGHTS;AS FAR AS GEOPOLITICS ARE CONCERNED,FROM MEXICO TO ARGENTINA,EVERY TIME WE WERE ABLE TO PUT AN ABLE,JUST AND HONEST GOVERNMENT TOGETHER,UNCLE SAM MANAGED TO DESTROY IT AND REPLACE IT,ALL IN THE NAME OF 'FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY',OR 'THE FIGHT AGAINST COMMUNISM';THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IN BRASIL IN 1964,AND UNTILL 1988 WE WERE GOVERNED BY WHAT HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE MOST BLOODTHIRSTY DICTATORSHIP IN LATIN AEMRICAN HISTORY;SAME THING WITH ARGENTINA,BOLIVIA,PERU,GUATEMALA,NICARAGUA,COLOMBIA,ETC,ETC,ETC.AND WHEN WE LEAVE OUR IMPOVERISHED,WAR TORN COUNTRIES OUT OF SOMETIMES DESPERATION,ALL WE FIND IS RACISM AND HATE. AS FAR AS AFRICAN AMERICANS,THEY APPEAR TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT IN AFRICA EXISTS A COUNTRY FOUNDED FOR THE SOLE POURPOSE OF MASSIVELY DEPORTING THEM ALL BACK,AT THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR;ITS CALLED LIBERIA,AND IF THE WHITE LITTLE ANGELS HAD THEIR WAY,EVERY SINGLE BLACK WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT THERE A LONG,LONG TIME AGO...PEACE TO ALL.

[Marco]

we need to learn to tolerate other people.
look out for your fellow man, give them a chance

[littlefella]

First post. I saw where in some posts, the immigration potential to America, is implicitely made similar for Ireland as for other countries.
I'm Irish by heritage and know that the island is only as big as North Carolina geographically and holds 5 or 6 million people, including the occupied Northeast section. You hear about Irish this or that so often, you might think it was as large or populous as as say Poland or Italy, etcetera, but in fact just get out an atlas and check the geographical and popoulation sizes of the various nations and you may find a number of surprises. Thank you.

[tonto]

To Jen 702
You couldn't be more wrong. Illegals not only take good paying jobs from americans, they also drive up the cost of housing, insurance, education, etc. taxes go up to pay for their illegal presence in our country. As to the historical perspective, might makes right. Th epeople who were here prior to the Europeons were conquered or anihilated. That ends their claim to anything here in the U. S

[tonto]

To Natalia
Go back home where you belong!
I am Cherokee and am very tired of you illegals coming into what's left of my country. Don't like where you live? Make it better, stop whining that you deserve the benefits of someone's else sacrifice to make this country great.Guess what? Our people were defeated and deprived of our land, and the very worst among us cry that what happened hundreds of years ago is hurting them. Bull****!

[wake1up]

A lot can be said about illegal Immigration, the fact is Illegal immigration is wrong, it undermind the intregrity of our Country, to allow it to continue is to suggest that our laws mean nothing, There is an argument that America need Illegal immigrants to do the work that American want do, that is a bunch of bull.Another argument is that Mexicans are only taking back what belongs to them. American belongs to Americans, and Mexico belongs to Mexicans. The time is coming when Americans of all races will unite, and do what ever is necessary to correct this injustice.
When an illegal alien have her babies here in the United States she and all of her Children should be deported. Citizen group are now planning to make this a reality. I think that any illegal alien should be arrested, her property confiscated and sold, the money used to fund his or her return to where ever they came from.If an illegal alien received state aid, it should be charged back to them. no longer should any legal person living in the U.S. pay for any illegal alien. Americans who truly want immigration reform must focus on ideas like these. Write you law makers demand a change in current policy. Get involved with "unite to fight", or Wake up America", or the minute man project. I am not against immigration, but I am against illegal immigration; which is an illegal invasion. If you are from a hispanic decent or from mexico or some other latin america country you might as well get it through your head. The United States is not your Country, and you would probably lose what you do have trying to take the U.S.( block busting is exposed)...