Forum I: Immigration Reform

Yes, if they willingly come forward to reveal their status, and can illustrate ties to the community they live in, I do believe we should allow them to stay in the country with the caveat that they have to pay the same taxes as any other American citizen.

Absolutely, providing a forum in which illegal immigrants can reveal their status and go through a fair process in order to achieve amnesty is the way to go. However, I disagree with the penalty or restitution clause, although most of the immigrants I know would be happy to pay it in exchange for the peace of mind that amnesty would bring. Many illegal workers have been contributing to the tax and social security systems for years by way of false social security numbers. And those who are hired as illegals are usually paid unfair wages under extreme working conditions, with the result that consumers are able to enjoy lower prices at the grocery store and other unseen benefits. So yes, charge a fee to cover the expense of the amnesty program, but I feel that the idea of trying to force them to make restitutions is unfair.

I do believe a system needs to be put in place for illegal immigrants. If you are an illegal immigrant and are willing to come forward to "make things right" a policy should be put in place. If not, there needs to be a plan in place to deal with illegal immigrants that are not following the rules we all have to follow as citizens - such as pay taxes.

Denying immigrants the right to come to this country to pursue the dreams our ancestors did seems a bit hypocritical and borderline racist. The policy needs to be structured to allow immigrants, that are willing to pay taxes and contribute as citizens of this country, the right to make a better live for themselves and their families as generations before us did.

The question that is presented to us proposes only one criterium for qualifying to gain legal residence ... a one-time monetary payment.

So, in that scenario, there is nothing preventing the situation from repeating itself (again) and ending up back where we are now. Should we repeat this solution every 20 years or so? (The last time was 1986 for "only" 3 million.)

I'm willing to consider proposals with additional stipulations, but if the *only* thing being proposed is a payment to gain legalization ... and no other changes to prevent it from happening again ... then I don't see how this would solve the problem. It would just keep happening again and again. (Unless, of course, that's what we *want* to happen.)

I suggest the person who crafted the question come back with a proposal that addresses more than just a single aspect of the problem. As is, it's not comprehensive.

While I am amiable to the idea of allowing amnesty to illegal immigrants, I am certain that will never occur even if illegal immigrants are required to pay some sort of fee. The issue of illegal immigration has become deeply politicized and amnesty will probably not occur until a comprehensive plan is created where all political parties are satisfied. A possibility of a compromise appears to be a dwindling proposition as the country becomes more divided. A comprehensive plan, in and of itself, would be a challenging undertaking even if all agreed that amnesty should be allowed. There is little agreement, however, and that is why we continue to deal with a problem much worse than problem - millions of illegal immigrants with little opportunity for them to become naturalized.

Currently the immigration process is too expensive and too difficult for the average immigrant to afford or obtain. Illegal immigration has become the new age slavery. Illegal immigrants perform jobs at much lower pay (in many cases lower than minimum wage) work longer hours, no days off. I know of many teenagers who have come here illegally working for companies full time (more than full time) only recieving $100-$200 per week! Most workers use false social security numbers (in many cases employers help with obtaining this) which means taxes are taken out, but the illegal worker does not qualify to file taxes so they get no benefit back. The government is already winning in a sense off of these workers for this reason. The gov't is recieving money from the employment of the illegal but the illegal is recieving nothing in return ONLY abuse from their employer and fear of deportation! Then how about the child who is brought here by his/her parents? He/she is undocumented;however had NO say in where they've ended up. Why should these people have to pay a penalty or a fine? I know of individuals who were brought to this country as young as 9yrs old, who are in their mid to late 20's, now have children of their own. They work, recieve NO gov't assistance and live in fear! Fear because NOT ONLY do they force deportation back to a country they know ABSOLUTLY NOTHING about but also fear that their children will be torn from them! What has this person done wrong besides NOT have the funds to go through the process legally and in the case speaking of she doesn't even qualify too unless she were to marry an american. I do NOT feel this is fair! This is ALL she knows. She knows NOTHING about her home country. She has been raised here, and lived here almost 20 yrs. Why is she treated like an outlaw when she had NO say for her own life at the time she came here? I am sorry I do not think a fine or penalty is the answer. But I do believe the process needs to be simplified. Too many families are currently being torn apart in many cases causing more and more people to go into welfare. Children being torn from their parents and placed into foster care, both of which are paid with tax payer money! Not to mention the prisons used to hold these people. I can see if they are doing something wrong, but there are too many numbers from what I am seeing and witnessing where people are doing NOTHING wrong. ALL of these that I have witnessed do NOT ask for gov't help, they work harder than ANY American I know, and love and support their families while being mistreated themselves. YES if they are willing to come forth and admit they have been here illegally and become documented they SHOULD be granted amnesty! It is time for racism to end and this is a form of RACISIM! This country was founded on immigrants. Unless you are 100% Native American Indian your ancestors were immigrants themselves. What have we as a nation become, we have forgotten what our forefathers have faught for in the first place! We criticize those who are here illegally, yet speak up against dead beat parents and child labor, yet those same people speaking against these things are the ones tearing families apart taking away hard working, loving parents and putting people back where children as young as 7 yrs are forced to quit school to care for their families. People come here to create a better life for themselves and their families! Why shouldn't they be allowed to?

That is really grouping it all, I dont feel that it is the answer. I think there needs to be more of an individualization than just saying oh yes everyone come on board. First off, some of the people that have meaningful ties in the USA have already been deported, so what to do with these people when you are giving others a free pass, no I dont agree. First off, anyone with family as in with an American citizen should be granted citizenship without question or substaintial legal fees. That issue has been totally abused. Second there should be interviews held, and individual investigation into the lives of the person that is applying for amnesty if that be the case. There needs to be a reason for them to stay to appease the side that is against the immigration reform, the people who are not contributing or who have nothing to really tie them to the USA, they should not be granted citizenship. There also needs to be a protection for the people who were raised as Americans brought in as children. Those are the people who I see as undocumented Americans, truly.

Somehow, I can see the good effects of this reform. Immigrants who deserve to stay should be remained, while those who have bad records must be expelled. This is what the new policy is about. A new deportation policy was announced by the Federal government Thurs. Many of the immigrants facing possible deportation -- almost 300,000 cases will be allowed to remain in the U.S. and apply for work visas.The administration will even focus on weeding out and deporting those undocumented immigrants who are convicted criminals or who may pose a threat to the public. Each case will be reviewed separately.

Yes, I do think if immigrants come forth then they should be granted a certain level of residence or citizenship and should be made to pay taxes, especially if they have a family in this country. Life is already hard for them with an illegal status. To intend to push for a certain penalty, for me, is too harsh because they are probably collecting below the minimum wage for working more than 8hrs a day. They are not getting paid for over time and are being mistreated. And in order to get anything done, as in the process to become a US citizen, is made harder for those who are not from here and its truly expensive for anyone living minimum wages could make it possible to sustain.

I think that illegal immigrants should pay some sort of fee once they reveal themseles because many of they come to America for better opportunities and for certain rights that tha wouldnt have recieved in the country they may come from. I dont think illegal immigrants should come to america and be able to pick and choose what benefits the gain from being here. They should pay taxes like everyone else if they want the same benefits as everyone else.

I believe that it would be beneficial to be proactive about sending illegal immigrants back to Mexico when they are pulled over, arrested, etc. Aurora, CO is the major place that illegal immigrants live in Colorado. They go there, because they know that all the other illegal immigrants are there and they have less of a chance of being deported. I know this because I have two friends who married illegal immigrants. They went from living in a nicer part of town to Aurora, because their husbands would have less of a chance of being pulled over. However, when pulled over or arrested, they are let go as if nothing ever happened. Cops are not enforcing the law as they should and that is why there are still so many illegal immigrants are over here.

I do believe that current immigrants who have been here for so many years should be granted amnesty. The ideal of them paying penalties is brilliant because it gives the notion that they still committed a crime by coming to America illegal; however, we are recognizing that we do have a weak system of protecting our boarders.

I think there should be a way for all immigrants who are currently here to come forward and register with the government - receive a social security card and made to pay taxes and instead of having to pay a huge fine up front have them pay back taxes. The amount of back taxes that one would have to pay would be figured up according to how long they have lived in the country illegally. The focus should be on tightening our borders to try to prevent illegal immigrants from entering into the country rather than focusing on kicking out the immigrants who are currently here. Trying to get people out of the country is a waste of government funding and prevention would be a better use of funds.

Yes I believe that illegal immigrants who are already in the United States should be granted amnesty. Although they have come here illegally America is most likely home to them and their extended family. By them being obligated to become legal citizens and pay some type of fine or back-taxes then I believe that they would have earned their right to stay in the U.S.