Ktsnake, the comment about america being the land of the free was a general comment.

I don't think that people should get a free ride at all. Of course, there would have to be some price to pay, taxes being one of them. But like I said, everyone's situation is different.

BTW, it's not easy trying to get a working visa in the states.

Obviously I am not talking about people making millions of dollars as illegal immigrants. Rather, I was reffering to the ones who come from war-torn countries, or countries with economical difficulties.

I think the working visa is one of the things Bush has recently put on the table for consideration. They are planning on making it easier for immigrants to get these types of jobs without federal interferance. The illegals are probably against this since it will force them to have to owe taxes. Will they pay? Probably not.

That's not neccessarly true. It's extremely easy for certain sectors of the job market (eg high-tech). All you need is a job in the US, and you'll get the visa.

At least, that's how it is here at UW.

Uhm most of the immigrants here are from countries like that otherwise they wouldn't up and come.

-Rudey

I just wrote my Congressman a letter about this issue today. I, for one, am sick of politicians bowing to special interest groups. If the President thinks that his immigration reform plan is so great, then I invite him to visit my neighborhood. It used to be a nice, well-kept, middle-class area until a few years ago when the booming construction in our county brought an influx of illegal aliens to the area.

The thing that has been occuring in our neighborhood over the past couple of years is this: a legal immigrant will buy a house and then send word to all of his/her family members in Mexico that it's safe to come over. Suddenly, a single-family home is invaded by 20 illegal immigrants and the house quickly gets run down because it wasn't intended to handle that kind of traffic.

Every day I pass houses that are poorly maintained. A duct-taped pillow covers a broken window in front of a house that is filled with numerous illegal aliens. I have to swerve around 12 cars and trucks that are parked on both sides of the road because the driveway is full -- and I know full well that the majority of the people driving those cars don't have licenses or insurance coverage.

Long-term residents of our neighborhood are moving out. Many of them haven't been able to sell their homes because they are too close to the eyesores that are the illegals' homes. So, instead, they are renting them out. Guess who's moving in? Yep, more illegals. It's a vicious cycle.

When I go shopping, I feel as if I'm in another country. To find someone who speaks English is a rarity. As an American citizen, I'm actually in the minority when I go to the mall nearest my home.

A friend who teaches in the local middle school is transferring to a new district next year because he's tired of trying to teach lessons to illegal kids who don't know -- and don't care to learn -- the language, and dealing with their illegal parents who complain that school information is not sent home in Spanish. One actually had the audacity to complain about the fact that our state doesn't offer college scholarships to illegal aliens!!

The sense of entitlement that I have witnessed is unbelievable. These people think that, just because they were able to sneak across a border, they should automatically be granted all the rights and privileges of a legal American citizen.

Meanwhile, we have Hungarian friends who have been waiting for years to get permanent residency status. They've filled out every form that is required of them, and done everything by the book. They have enough money to buy a home, but can't because they don't want to lose it if they are not approved for residency. They want a family, but are waiting to have children until they find out if they'll be able to raise them in America. They have made a point to learn English, and come over to our home regularly to practice it with us. They watch in disbelief as illegal immigrants all around them do all the things that they hope to do one day. And our government does nothing to stop them.

I personally think that President Bush is going in the wrong direction with his immigration reform plan. What we need is someone who will enforce the immigration policies that we have currently -- who will arrest illegals as soon as they are found and deport them back to their home countries. We need stronger immigration laws that will make someone think twice about sneaking across our borders, and we need to limit the privileges that illegal aliens currently enjoy.

Our schools and hospitals are being taxed daily by illegal immigrants who pay no taxes to help cover the services that they are provided. I am sick to death of it, and I'll vote against anyone who approves of the President's plan.

**Sorry for the rant, everyone. This issue just hits too close to home for me.**

Although you have a right to feel that way, would you feel the same way if they were from a "white" country?

-Rudey

In my area, the illegal immigrants are mostly Hispanic -- usually Mexican. I assume that's because it's easier for them to get here since they're the nearest country to us. However, I don't care what country they're from... If they're here illegally, then they should be sent home. If Sweden was on the other side of the border, and illegal Swedes were invading my neighborhood, then I'd have the same gripe.

I don't believe that personally but ok. If they were illegal Mexicans who kept the neighborhood looking nice, would you be against it? If they were Mexicans who spoke English and kept the neighborhood nice? If they were English, spoke the Queen's language, and kept the neighborhood nice would you still care?

What if it was just poor whites from another neighborhood?

-Rudey

I don't care if you believe it or not, Rudey. You're not living in my neighborhood, so you don't get to see the things that I see on a daily basis. BUT, to answer your questions...

If they were illegal Mexicans who kept the neighborhood looking nice, would you be against it? YES -- because they are here ILLEGALLY.

If they were English, spoke the Queen's language, and kept the neighborhood nice would you still care? YES -- because they are here illegally

What if it was just poor whites from another neighborhood? NO -- because they are here legally

I don't agree with ANY illegal alien being in this country. I don't care if they're black, white, purple or green. That's how I feel. FYI, I also have a huge problem with a guy that plays on my husband's soccer team. He's Hungarian and came over on a temporary visa. Right before he was suppose to be sent back home, he found someone to marry so that he could get a green card. He doesn't care anything about the woman, but stays married because he wants to be in the USA instead of Hungary. I don't agree with that, either, because I feel like he used a loophole in the system to stay.

If you only care about them being here illegally then why complain about everything else? Just icing on the cake?

-Rudey

Pretty much. Like I said in my first post -- sorry for the vent, but this hits really close to home.

Eh, but you saying it hits close to home is a problem of your neighborhood going down the bowl as opposed to an illegal immigration party.

-Rudey
--Do you see what I'm getting at or no?

I see what you're getting at. You're wondering why I named all the other issues instead of just saying "I think all the illegals should be deported" and leaving it at that.

The reason is that the other topics I touched on are things that piggyback on the larger issue of illegal immigration. Language barriers, the overtaxing of publically funded services, the problems that arise when illegals try to "hide" from the system by taking up residence with someone they know who is legal... all of these are sub-issues of illegal immigration -- and they are all happening in my area. They are problems that I have to deal with on a daily basis, and that's why I have such strong feelings about them.

Rudey - I do understand what you're saying - that would she be so upset if it wasn't happening in her backyard.

I get upset when I hear about anyone who is screwing our system - be it illegal immigrants of any color or people on welfare who keep having kids and live as a married couple but stay single to keep collecting welfare. Of course, I have to admit that a big part of the problem is that the system so easily allows itself to be screwed.