[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

and we can debate the academic / philosophical issue all day, but the bottom line is that there are illegal immigrants here, be they brown, white, black, what-have-you, with money or no money, and the issue will need to get resolved.

There is nothing academic or philosophical about what I typed and you are not going to reduce my comments to that. The bottom line is that you now grasp the point that country of origin, race and ethnicity, AND socioeconomic status matter in the illegal immigration debate.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I can tell you that on a practical day-to-day basis I don't think people are really worried about the socioeconomic concerns. I think all they see are people moving in their area who they are already suspicious about, and the fact they the may not be legal presents a problem.

My idea of practical day-to-day completely differs from yours. Do you not listen to the things that people say about illegal immigrants? The things that people say go far beyond whether or not someone has a visa or have overstayed their visa. And the issue of suspicion goes back to racial and ethnic profiling because it mostly occurs in areas with brown and black immigrants regardless of visa status.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

For me personally, what I see is increasing violence coming out of Mexico, pushing its way to the US. I live in a border state, and I'm about 6 hours from the border, so the issue literally is hitting close to home to me. I don't want that violence here. If it takes tougher immigration laws to help stop it, then I'm going for the tougher immigration laws.

As I said in the post that you quoted: "Facing the inequality of the immigration debate doesn't mean that we agree with illegal immigration and are opposed to regulations. It means that we are being HONEST about the issues at hand and the pros and cons of the laws that are enacted. Put our brains and social consciousness to good use."

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Now, to be completely flippant

Don't be. Anyway, this is now a very circular discussion.

LET THE PARTY BEGIN http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/07...ed-illegal-im/

The FUN thing about this list is that some of the people on it are here legally. Woohoo! Ain't no party like an immigrant party, 'cause an immigrant party don't stop!