Poll: Immigration reform

No reason to deport them since the majority of them make up the working poor workforce. Some workers don’t want citizenships, so the most likely option is increasing legal limits & visa programs.

If we can agree to review our immigration policy lets do it.  First off turn off the spicket no immigration of any kind for five years, allow those already legally in process to remain on the list and process but add no one to the list.  After five years have a stand up vote on new policy.

AMERICA DOES NOT OWE THE WORLD A JOB!!!!!

Get all foreigners out now, legal and illegal until all Americans have jobs who want them.

Then we can talk about immigration.

That woman on the show who was on the board of the chicken factories should be forced to work in one herself. She needs to be taken down a peg or two. Who does she think she is anyhow?

The lady in red, Linda Chavez, is one of those criminal elite who think the whole world should slave for her.

When we see what immigrants have meant to this nation since our founding, it is imperative to continue to offer opportunity for those who want to come and be a part of us, and to do so in a responsible manner.

I think President Obama did the right thing.

They want to live and work here, but don’t want citizenship?? Why?? They could still go home to visit, etc., unless their home country would put restrictions on them..

What you missed in her comment was the fact that even offering higher wages and better job perks did not attract American workers.  The frustration is that the jobs are there, but who is going to pluck chicken feathers and pick tomatoes and peaches in the hot sun?.

Linda Chavez 1st time I see her and  hear her speak ,really smart, full of knowledge and wisdow.  She should be part of President Obama’s  advisory team on the immigration agenda.

With the outsourcing of American jobs overseas by large corporations to foreign countries, it should become crystal clear that many of those jobs are no longer available anyway.  Ever try talking to someone with a heavy foreign accent about your computer problems?  Get the picture.
We live in a world community not necessarily made up of exclusive Americans.

Is it true that the test illegal immigrants take to become citizens is so hard that many of us US citizens could not pass it? For example, naming all of the presidents? How many of us could do that?

I just can’t understand Washington. Illegal is illegal. The law is the law.  Hello does anyone understand this. 

Sorry, but one thing people don’t want to address is that in a lot of ways we want to be among our own. Most of the these people on the panel have an agenda based on who they are. If you want to cut through the PC crap and maybe expand your critical thinking skills, check out “amerika.org”. I don’t agree with all the post or comments (great dialog in comments by the way), but I am glad as heck people are talking. We live in a corrupt and broken society. Don’t buy the BS.

Yeah, we live in a corrupt society that is total BS. Crappy chicken factories. Eff those kinds of places. Yeah, she sucks trying to defend such a crappy industry. Stand by your own. Don’t buy the PC BS.

No, the test is something a 4th grader could do.

There are practice tests online if you want to try it out.

Hope one of those illegals takes your job lady.

Yeah, she would fit right in. Nothing like the criminal elite working with the criminal elite to destroy the middle class and the poor of America.

Enough of the decades of excuses why the ‘poor” Hispanics come to our country illegally, continue to break more laws to stay, work, and use our tax payer services for free.   No more “amnesty” of any kind.  Get out.  If I was caught illegally without papers in Mexico, it is a 20 year prison sentence.  Why are they so special….cheap labor.  Also, don’t give this garbage about jobs Americans will not do…the meat industry had unions and butchers, meat cutters got over $20/hr in 1980….Unions were crushed and they were all replaced with Illegals, making a high of $12/hr in 2010 ! 

I thoroughly enjoyed the program.  Unfortunately most of the panelists at one point or another used deceptive statements to float half truths.  

As an example, the border fence comment was a half truth.  Yes the fence was completed but only after legislation which shortened it from hundreds of miles in length to a few dozen.  

It was stated that the militarization of the border was proof that the border could never be closed.  I was once a border security worker and during the time I worked I was responsible for 88 km of border.  The people on the other side of the border did NOT cross my section, and they had guns, tanks and nuclear weapons.  I worked OP Alpha on the east/west German border and am a veteran of the 11th ACR.  Building fences and putting troops on the border absolutely DOES work.

I used to pour concrete in the Houston summer sun.  The people doing the grunt work building roads and houses were illegal aliens making no more than 11 dollars an hour and usually about 8.  Were American citizens willing to do the work?  Absolutely, but they wanted 15 to 20 dollars an hour.  Illegal aliens displaced American citizens by keeping the wages artificially low.

The laws need to be fixed.  Either allow open borders or create a workable system that does not reward criminal behavior.  Also, as a mechanic, I would prefer a proviso that work visas holders must be paid IN EXCESS of the prevailing wage.  You want to import skilled labor instead of hiring and training out of work workers that is fine, as long as you pay 125% of what it would cost to pay a local.

I believe that any agreement for amnesty will be abrogated if the amnesty is given before illegal immigration is addressed.  Want my vote?  REALLY close the border.  THEN give the amnesty.  It can be done, at least to the extent the problem is cut to a few percent of the current rate..   

Just to say to these people they interviewed I did many of these jobs when I was young  and poor  and the economy was terrible.

They are almost paying the same wages today for that work 30 years later!!!!!!!!!!!

And Americans can’t even get those jobs.

THe rich take all the money themselves now and want to pay everyone else nothing.

United States and the world are running out of space and commodities and water for crops.  Our population is mostly increased from immigration and the very high birth rate of hispanic-latinos in this country.  There are not enough jobs for the increasing population and the cost of commodities and other things like fertilizer will continue to go up from lack of resources, not inflation.

United States and the world are running out of space and commodities and water for crops.  Our population is mostly increased from immigration and the very high birth rate of hispanic-latinos in this country.  There are not enough jobs for the increasing population and the cost of commodities and other things like fertilizer will continue to go up from lack of resources, not inflation.

United States and the world are running out of space and commodities and water for crops.  Our population is mostly increased from immigration and the very high birth rate of hispanic-latinos in this country.  There are not enough jobs for the increasing population and the cost of commodities and other things like fertilizer will continue to go up from lack of resources, not inflation.

Immigration was pretty much wide open until 1921. At that time, quotas for each country were put into law. We are all immigrants,except for the Indians. If we deported 13 million people from the US our economy would collapse. I retired this year and I have learned to be open-minded about people different from myself. I too was once afraid of what I didn’t know, but I have come to embrace the differences. Many of these ‘illegal immigrants’ had no say in coming to the US and have been here so long that they have no memory of the country of their birth. They are American.

The laws against illegal entry into this country, and hiring undocumented workers, have been ignored since Regan gave amnesty. That brought huge numbers of illegal aliens into the country, by both pro-slave corporations, as well as religious cult groups. Of course, the pay scales are still falling today when you figure in the cost of living.
These corporations and religious cults are responsible for millions of illegal slave aliens living in sub standard conditions. The majority and illegal aliens are receiving social services which should be going to American citizens. We now have millions more that need help, and deserve it, just as badly as any illegal alien.
With over a million new legal immigrants a year, the over-population of our country is having a negative impact on our resources, and all immigration should be stopped until the country gets back on track..

Your show on immigration was excellent. It should be repeated by all PBS stations.

We live in Mexico and see how the US immigration policies have effected people here.
Jose, a young friend, who had been brought to the US at age 7, was picked up for lack of legal documents and held in detention for a year before being deported 4 years ago with no money. He will have to wait 10 years before he is allowed to apply to re-enter the US where his wife and 5 year old son live. I weep for Jose and the many like him deported and separated from their loved ones.

This country has a method in place to become a citizen if a person desires. When we deviate from what has been established then you’ve in essence slapping everyone across the face who followed the established procedure and did it correctly. You don’t reward lawlessness! Ever.

Need to Know panelists brought up that point that illegal immigrants contribute to social security and unemployment, but never collect.   Illegal immigrants cost more than they contribute in health benefits, education. and other social services.  Children of illegal immigrants have ruined the California education system.  

I commend the President for taking a constructive approach to the immigration problem. My grandparents came to America seeking freedom from political oppression. The detials differ only slightly from my non-Hispanic colleages: stories of political freedom, willingness to enrich the opportunity for their children, and an enthusiatic participation in a society that respects the political philopsophy of its citizens. As I listened to your program I became clear that the dream has not changed. I congradulate your efforts to enrich the discussion of a shared dream.

All of these people have been in this country many years and NEVER made an EFFORT to become legal therefore they are serious law breakers and have NO rights to stay here whatsoever. The PBS program on this affair tonight is pure propaganda too as I saw it and it was B.S. propaganda and lies to justify lawbreakers who brazenly broke the law, period. And, NO they will not improve the economy nor make the economy better as we don’t have enough jobs for the people here now, legal, illegal or born here. What a very bad joke this is on this country. 

You live in Mexico because you want a cheap palace!  And if Jose misses his family so badly, he can have them move back with him!  I’m sick of immigrant law breakers getting off the hook. America can not keep absorbing all of the world’s poverty!!!

I
believe there must be paths to citizenship for people who are willing to learn
and uphold our values, responsibilities, rights, and language.

Although
there are some paths to citizenship, some of them have terrible flaws.
Take for example citizenship through marriage: there are unscrupulous men who,
for one reason or another fly to 3rd world countries to look for
submissive women to marry and bring to America. The sad thing is not that many women in those countries are
bewildered by the idea of living in America, “the land of the free.” The sad thing is that
marrying an American man is (almost always) the only path to America they will
ever get!

Having
been an “immigrant wife” myself, who lived under constant verbal abuse and
threats from a possessive, paranoid and addict husband (not that I would know
where I was getting myself into at the young age of 21), I met a few women in
similar situation. Some of them got pregnant as soon as they could, hoping that
through pregnancy and birth they would no longer depend on their husbands’
goodwill to get their green card. Some of them could not take their husbands’ abuse and left their home under (their husbands’) threats of being deported and never seeing their
kids again. A few went back to their countries, feeling hopeless and unable to
fight for their right to stay in America. Add that to the many “arranged”
marriages that go on for fees in the thousands of dollars, and we can see why
the current marriage path to citizenship needs revision. 

Give me a break!  The founding of this nation was done by a bunch of educated White guys with Western values. Not a bunch of illiterate Third World breeders. Why do think California is over crowded and drowning in debt? Third World immigrants take more than they give! And not only do most of them not pay taxes, they get the tax credit for all of those children they have and Medicaid picks up the tab for that!

Right on!  That’s exactly why California is an over crowded and financially doomed. Not to mention the growing gang problem, and over crowded jails. Yeah, Third World immigrants add so much to our nation.

Right on!  That’s exactly why California is an over crowded and financially doomed. Not to mention the growing gang problem, and over crowded jails. Yeah, Third World immigrants add so much to our nation.

article by Frederick Douglass from the August 17, 1871 issue of his newspaper, “The New National Era
Cheap labor, too, seems harmless enough, sounds well to hear, and looks well upon paper.

But what does it mean? Who does it bless or benefit?
The answer is already more than indicated. A moment’s thought will show
that cheap labor in the mouths of those who seek it, means not cheap
labor, but the opposite. It means not cheap labor, but dear labor. Not
abundant labor, but scarce labor; not more work, but more workmen. It
means that condition of things in which the laborers shall be so largely
in excess of the work needed to be done, that the capitalist shall be
able to command all the laborers he wants, at prices only enough to keep
the laborer above the point of starvation. It means ease and luxury to
the rich, wretchedness and misery to the poor. I can not even
touch this as it is as relevant today as it was when he wrote it.
Immigrants in the country should get amnesty as long as there not
criminal or suspected terrorist then any other illegal people found
after that instant deportation. Simple solution to a complex problem.

article by Frederick Douglass from the August 17, 1871 issue of his newspaper, “The New National Era
Cheap labor, too, seems harmless enough, sounds well to hear, and looks well upon paper.

But what does it mean? Who does it bless or benefit?
The answer is already more than indicated. A moment’s thought will show
that cheap labor in the mouths of those who seek it, means not cheap
labor, but the opposite. It means not cheap labor, but dear labor. Not
abundant labor, but scarce labor; not more work, but more workmen. It
means that condition of things in which the laborers shall be so largely
in excess of the work needed to be done, that the capitalist shall be
able to command all the laborers he wants, at prices only enough to keep
the laborer above the point of starvation. It means ease and luxury to
the rich, wretchedness and misery to the poor. I can not even
touch this as it is as relevant today as it was when he wrote it.
Immigrants in the country should get amnesty as long as there not
criminal or suspected terrorist then any other illegal people found
after that instant deportation. Simple solution to a complex problem.

The President is worried about getting re-elected and he’s sucking up to the Mexicans for their illegal votes. Why do you think Eric Holder is suing states for requireing photo I.D.s? Remember NAFTA?  Pres. Clinton told us it would fix everything!  Americans wouldn’t lose jobs and the Mexicans would have jobs and stay home. And just how did that turn out? And that was followed by Free Trade with China!  Stop fooling yourself, Globalization is nothing more than looking for the cheapest sweatshop at the expense of average Americans. Why do you think they want a borderless world? Corporations get slave labor and taxpayers get to pay for immigrant social services.

Does not matter how many of us could do it we were born here. The test is to weed out people who think they can skate into the country. People who come on political asylum do not take your so called test. The Ignorance of our own populace does not in an of itself give immigrants the right to be ignorant. How many people can even recite the preamble to the constitution I can I know my rights as a citizen. Anyone who wants to be a citizen should know there rights and learn something about the country there going to become a citizen of.  That just makes common sense to me whether everyone else knows it or not is irrelevant.

Right on!  Just wait till they start rolling out the Robots to replace more Americans. The biggest threat to this nation and the world is over population. And we can’t take in the whole damn Third World.

Right on!  Just wait till they start rolling out the Robots to replace more Americans. The biggest threat to this nation and the world is over population. And we can’t take in the whole damn Third World.

The funny thing about this whole discussion if these people were from England or Ireland we would not even be having this discussion. I hate it when bigotry and racism can be cloaked in political correctness these people deserve compassion and the laws should be changed to reflect who should be prosecuted the people that hire them. If you put enough of them in jail it would end illegal immigration. Don’t blame the victims blame the true guilty parties the people who profit from these people. Besides there breaking the laws too but you don’t see us deporting them or even putting them in jail and they break more laws than the immigrants do.

It may be your dream, but it’s becoming a nightmare for Americans. The middle class is shrinking, poverty is growing. And our resources are being strained. These people need to stay home and fix their own countries.

Our economy would not collapse!  Maybe if you still needed to work, your attitude would be different.

You are absolutely correct!  Just look at California, or should I say Mexifornia. This will be America’s Greece just wait and see.

You are absolutely correct!  Just look at California, or should I say Mexifornia. This will be America’s Greece just wait and see.

The same white guys who profited from slavery. The same white guys who imported the Chinese to build railroads and then denied them citizenship. The white guys who then imprisoned Japanese American citizens during World War II. Dude pick up a history book sometime where do you live in Texas or something, Western values you tout are the reason this country is in the trouble it is in, greed, avarice and elitist rhetoric you spout makes no sense to anyone but you.
Or at least give me the number to your hookup what he is selling you gotta be the bomb.

It’s easy for you to say you’ve become more accepting of immigrants since retiring.  You’re not the one who has to compete with immigrants in today’s job market

This whole immigration situation is bigger than what is being discussed and people should see the long-term results in the near future.  Don’t get caught up in one topic.  Examples of what illegal immigration can give:  -Mexico has epic rates of drugs and violence, and it is getting closer and crossing into the USA.  Anyone interested in an open border and for drug runners and violence in your neighborhoods like in Mexico?  Then allow illegals or open the border.  -California now spends more per student on resources to educate spanish speaking kids funded by citizen tax payers money in public schools than ever before.  Anyone interested in sending their kids for a poor education to these burdened schools?  With Mexico being the largest where immigrants are coming this trend is expected to continue across other states.   -Often Emergency and basic health care in USA hospitals more and more filled with illegals especially in border states since they lack good health care insurance.  This is causing some hospitals to have to close ER services or usually pass on the higher costs to honest working Americans that pay healthcare costs and insurance.  Anyone want higher health care costs/less services and insurance to pay for these non-insured illegals?  This often applies also to vehicle drivers who are not insured.  Anyone want to pay more car insurance and whoever hit you will not be able to pay for the medical costs/death or car damage?   -Businesses ultimately want the lowest cost on labor for higher profits (the only single topic that was discussed with input by the panel) to bring in the cheapest labor where it is found in the world with immigrants, and yes many are illegal and are aware.  Anyone want to compete for lower wage jobs and less worker rights?  Then allow illegal immigrants or open borders.  -Companies are already writing many basic items bought like milk in spanish and english right here in apple pie USA.  Even many public govt services are offered and written in spanish right next to english.   Want to learn spanish fast?  Allow illegals.   -To say that illegals pay into taxes would make no sense, there is no reason to since they are illegals, they have no legal documentation.  So this means less tax funds collected in total for governments, city, state, national, for all services.  That illegal could be building the bridge you just drove on but he didn’t likely pay as a legal taxpayer like the rest of everyone else did to make it.  Would you like less basic services for fixing roads, hiring policemen, firemen and other basic services? Then find a way to allow illegal immigrants or open the border!  The solution:  simple – follow the law as many other countries also enforce and enforce the borders as the Constitution states, follow application process for being legal citizen (maybe this is where the debate should really be in the process, and how to improve it) and get rid of the corruption that is in places.

You’re absolutely correct. Population growth does put a strain on resources, especially in the Southwestern US. The Colorado River serves CO, NV, AZ, CA and Northwest Mexico. As the population grows in these areas, water will surely be in short supply especially as we continue to have shorter, warmer winters and longer, hotter summers.

I have a couple of out-of-work friends who tried to get work at a local meat-packing plant. They are both US-born Hispanics yet they were not hired because they are not illegal immigrants, as most of the employees at the plant were. I know this because another friend of mine, who recommended they go apply, used to be a supervisor there and said the manager would only hire illegals because he could pay them less and not offer any benefits and they wouldn’t complain for fear of deportation.

I am always suprised when today’s labor unions come out in support of unfettered immigration, since illegal immigration is a big reason labor unions have been in steep decline for a few decades now. 

Remember, when Cesar Chavez started his farmworkers union, and his unionized workers started striking, the farm-owners started using cheap, illegal labor to repalce them. Over 40 years later we are still feeling the effects. 

It is truely unfair to reward those who are here unlawfully, while there are many who went through the long and tedious process of coming here legally. It is also unfair that at Colorado’s Metro State-Denver, they now have three tuition categories in the following order:
1. In-State (lowest rate)
2. Undocumented Student
3. Out-of-State (highest rate)
Guess which one a LEGAL immigrant student has to pay?….You guessed it, he or she would have to pay the “Out-of-State” tuition. How’s that for fairness?! 

As a former liberal, it always use to get me how liberals complain about the lack of accountability when politicians, bankers, CEOs, etc. don’t play by the rules/laws, yet when it comes to the issue of undocumented immigrants breaking the rules/laws (by being here illegaly), there is no outcry for accountability but, rather, an outcry to change the rules to accomodate the law breakers. Liberal hypocracy at its finest.

What’s worse is that as the CA Legislature raises taxes on the middle and upper classes to close the growing budget defecit, these people will leave, shrinking the tax base. The biggest chunk of public education funding comes from local property taxes, this is why more affluent communities have better public schools and poorer communities have severely under-funded schools. That being said, as the poor, immigrant population grows they will continue to live in poor communities with low properties values and, therefore, lower property tax revenues will be collected. This will continue the cycle of immigrant children and the children of immigrants attending under-funded, crowded schools with few resources and poorly trained faculty. CA’s future will not be bright if we continue down this path of political correctness and cultural diversity at the expense of mainstream American culture.  CA cannot afford to serve everyone in the nearly 200 languages spoken by its native-born and immigrant-born residents. In fact, I hear that at LA Unified, the district has had a hard time trying to communicate with Mexican immigrants who are not the usual Mestizo, but are full-blooded Native Americans who do not speak Spanish but rather their native-Indian toungue, which the interpreter has to translate into Spanish and then English and vice versa. That is another financial burden this state cannot afford.

I am outraged and will not vote for OBAMA this time. He just lost my vote, he cares nothing for disabled Americans and never has even mentioned us. These illegal kids who are complaining, they can organize, get attention,make a really big stink and go on a hunger strike unlike disabled people who have no voice. I am a disabled person, living in California, my family has been in this country since the 1730, has fought in almost every war defending this land. Disabled persons living in State Disability now live on $845.00 a month due to state huge cuts in income, that is 70% below the poverty level by the way. They am not eligible for Food Stamps, and did you know that Seniors who receive the lowest Social security have to pay for Food stamps? ( do I need to add up how many Mexican families get them for free??or how large incomes are?? Way more than mine ) Or how many use fake or relatives ID’s to to get benefits and housing and lie about incomes, because they are paid in cash. Disabled medical/Dental care has had huge cuts but has been increased and given instead to every low income Mexican Kid here in California between 0-21 years old. How many have overstayed visas and green cards and hide??I have to wait in line BEHIND them at the Food Banks because they push forward in front of me. They have homes and big cars even if they came over the border illegally just because they had a child. I don’t have either. I have witnessed and experienced antagonism, hatred; discrimination and racism coming from thier side. I am not kidding here because this is a very serious issue that has affected many Seniors and Disabled persons lives in California and I wonder about other states.The politics of this country and especially this state reek. It is absolute BS that the Latino vote is going to matter that much, they can’t even get along with each other do you believe they are going to all vote the same?? If the US is afraid of being attacked from the southern border then say so. Face it and fix it now because we can. Do not give in to any threats from the President of Mexico. I am not going to be sacrificed for some illegal who hates me and my country, my family has given to much and I have stock in it.We need to have standards in this country. Why hasn’t Need to Know done a documentary on how poor disabled persons and seniors have been affected by the illegal population? Maybe I will go to Obama’s office and have a hunger strike on behalf of the disabled.   

I am outraged and will not vote for OBAMA this time. He just lost my vote, he cares nothing for disabled Americans and never has even mentioned us. These illegal kids who are complaining, they can organize, get attention,make a really big stink and go on a hunger strike unlike disabled people who have no voice. I am a disabled person, living in California, my family has been in this country since the 1730, has fought in almost every war defending this land. Disabled persons living in State Disability now live on $845.00 a month due to state huge cuts in income, that is 70% below the poverty level by the way. They am not eligible for Food Stamps, and did you know that Seniors who receive the lowest Social security have to pay for Food stamps? ( do I need to add up how many Mexican families get them for free??or how large incomes are?? Way more than mine ) Or how many use fake or relatives ID’s to to get benefits and housing and lie about incomes, because they are paid in cash. Disabled medical/Dental care has had huge cuts but has been increased and given instead to every low income Mexican Kid here in California between 0-21 years old. How many have overstayed visas and green cards and hide??I have to wait in line BEHIND them at the Food Banks because they push forward in front of me. They have homes and big cars even if they came over the border illegally just because they had a child. I don’t have either. I have witnessed and experienced antagonism, hatred; discrimination and racism coming from thier side. I am not kidding here because this is a very serious issue that has affected many Seniors and Disabled persons lives in California and I wonder about other states.The politics of this country and especially this state reek. It is absolute BS that the Latino vote is going to matter that much, they can’t even get along with each other do you believe they are going to all vote the same?? If the US is afraid of being attacked from the southern border then say so. Face it and fix it now because we can. Do not give in to any threats from the President of Mexico. I am not going to be sacrificed for some illegal who hates me and my country, my family has given to much and I have stock in it.We need to have standards in this country. Why hasn’t Need to Know done a documentary on how poor disabled persons and seniors have been affected by the illegal population? Maybe I will go to Obama’s office and have a hunger strike on behalf of the disabled.   

 Great email comment thanks.

We can spend more than the next 10 plus countries building weapon systems and growing our military, and we can spend billions rounding up and deporting “illegal” immigrants, but seemingly the same people that support those policies can’t find it in their hearts to feed the hungry, or give medical care to the old and/or poor, or protect the environment, or invest in our countries infrastructure, or fund public education.  I’d say our priorities are a little skewed.  The Border Patrol is the largest Federal Law Enforcement agency already, and we are already deporting people at record levels, so obviously that isn’t working so well, is it.  Not only that, but let’s lay to rest the big lie that illegals take jobs from Americans.  The fact that fruit and vegtables rotted in the field in the south and chicken processing plants in that same area had to shut down recently when “tough new laws were inacted” shows that American’s weren’t lined up just waiting to have their chance at those jobs.  You can’t have a debate when one side won’t engage in the debate in a reasonable manner. Acting with hate and ignorance in your heart while wrapping yourself in the flag does not make you a patriot.   

Immigrants are the boogey man for modern day American society.  Our State and local governments have failed us by consistently underfunding projects and not looking more than one election cycle down the road, and on a Federal level we see the end results of several decades of laws being enacted that only favor the richest of the rich, then we turn around and blame immigrants for the problem.  Pretty disingenious. 

By making them resident aliens, they will pay taxes on their income. If all of these aliens were deported, the economy would collapse. Are you ready for that? Quit looking for the negative, because that’s what you will find, and start looking at the positive, that is what God does.  BTW immigration into the US was unlimited until 1921, Too many Europeans were coming to the US after WW1, that made Americans uncomfortable. (Sound familiar). Eventually they will be assimilated into the melting pot we call the USA.

I am appalled at all the hate comments. Did you know that Mitt Romney’s parents were born in Mexico? His grandfather moved to Mexico so he could have multiple wives, you don’t hear much about that do you? Look it up , it is true. If you claim to be Christian, try to be more accepting as Jesus and the apostles were. “Love one another as I have loved you” 

Require learning the ENGLISH language!     

I am sorry for your situation. However it is not the immigrants fault. It is your government officials. The lack of immigrants will not change the rules that you are forced to live by. California is a victim of good weather. Try to live in Iowa. If these people are illegal, then they can not receive the benifits you claim. They live many people in a household and pool their money. They work long hours for low wages. I urge you to check into this. You may be surprised at what you find. Don’t rely on someone elses say so. Yes we have latino communities in some citites here. The headstart program is full of their children with no room for white children. One particular town, is becoming prosperous after the packing plants and feed manufacturing plants closed because the latinos are working and opening businesses there. Are there problems? Yes, because they are different. Mostly in their culture.
Voting for the republcans will only make the problem worse, because they want cheap labor so the employers can make bigger profits. The republicans have consistently allowed illegals to stay and be employed by them. Even Romney had to tell his gardener, I believe, to get rid of illegals because he was going to run for president!

I couldn’t agree with you more. We do need to cut our military budget, drastically. How many people does our country employ from other countries to keep up the operation of US military bases located in foreign lands? Let’s close those bases and hire our citizens for the bases here.

bs. They don’t need to learn English. Have you ever been to Walmart? How about tried to phone your bank. Go to the hospital? Multiple language documentation, press 9 for English.. You dont have to learn English to be here. A country is defined by its borders, language Nd culture. The ‘undocumented’ workers do not want to assimate. Tom, you live in a dream world obfuscated by religion and liberalism.

Increasing path to citizenship AND increasing immigration limits would offer solutions to those who are here and expand opportunities for more immigrants to come to the U.S. As a nation built by immigrants, we need to look at the contributions made by the hard working immigrant who is willing to come to out country, work hard and participate fully in community and country. We would develop more loyal Americans and remove the stigma of the ‘illegal.’ We need the energy brought to our country by hopeful immigrants.

All of this with proper documentation and information would screen out those who might wish us harm.

Increasing path to citizenship AND increasing immigration limits would offer solutions to those who are here and expand opportunities for more immigrants to come to the U.S. As a nation built by immigrants, we need to look at the contributions made by the hard working immigrant who is willing to come to out country, work hard and participate fully in community and country. We would develop more loyal Americans and remove the stigma of the ‘illegal.’ We need the energy brought to our country by hopeful immigrants.

All of this with proper documentation and information would screen out those who might wish us harm.

The drugs in Mexico are produced for U.S. consumption…supply and demand, you are being sold a bill of goods about how evil Mexico is, it is actually a country and culture of beautiful people.

I am U.S. citizen living in Mexico, it is a place where I can actually afford to retire overlooking my own little beach. I have made wonderful friends in the local community.Today I will go down to the local vegetable market and pick up organic veggies for a fraction of what I would pay back in the U.S.. I love it! I have been meeting folks here freshly deported that speak very little Spanish, they have lived in the States so long that were totally assimilated, educated and hard working. The amazing thing is that they are starting all kinds of new businesses here and bringing the fire in their bellies back to Mexico. Mexico will be the winner in this.

Excellent immigration show.  So glad Obama made it easier for at least some immigrants to stay. 

I am sick and tired of people saying that the United States has to be ‘humane’ to people who have sneaked into our country.  Other countries are not humane.  Why shouldn’t we protect our borders.  As far as the children of illegals are concerned, suppose a child’s parents held up a bank?  Should we say that the child should keep the loot because it was through no fault of their own?  I say send these people back to their own countries!!!

Betty, did you recheck this information yet on these higher wage jobs?  Like how long were the job posted?  What type of benefits were given?  Were these temporary or permanent jobs?  The lists goes on….Somehow I don’t believe this at face value

IMMIGRATION AND POPULATION
Re: Ray Suarez’  NEED TO KNOW roundtable on immigration, 6/15/12
From: K.C. (Chad) Murdock, Ph.D., Pearl River, NY, 6/16/12

Perhaps the most important and least appreciated part of the immigration problem is its ballooning effect on the U.S. population.

Our rapid and unsustainable rate of population growth is almost all due to immigration, at least half of it illegal. What would life be like in a United States with a billion people? We think of India, China and mandatory one-child families. We picture mega-cities such as Calcutta, Shanghai, Mexico City and Cairo.

We see intolerable congestion and misery, gross pollution of air and water, lost forests and fisheries, chronic shortages of fresh water and fuels, mass unemployment, crime and epidemic disease, plus wars for scarce resources. Is this the heritage we want to leave for our grand- children and their children?

Even without new amnesties for illegal immigrants or overstayed “guest workers,” our present population growth of about 1% a year would double our population in 72 years and lead to well over a billion people in 144 years, less than two lifetimes from now. By then there would probably be no humane remedy.

It is already high time for our state and national leaders to show political courage, do the responsible thing and develop long-range policies for the future:
1) Fully fund and enforce existing immigration laws.
2) Defer any new legislation accelerating population growth.
3) Immediately establish a high-level, independent commission, perhaps through the National Academy of Sciences, to issue a report in two years or less recommending an optimum (not maximum) range of population size for the U.S.

This optimum is to provide the best sustainable quality of life for the nation, carefully considering our environmental impacts, including our inordinately large energy use and effect on global warming.

There are limits to how many people can live decently in our homes, in our country or on our planet. Those who advocate colonizing other planets should first help us demonstrate that we can be responsible stewards of this precious, beautiful country which we each share as a loan for a few, brief years.

OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STOP KISSING THE BACKSIDES OF ILLEGAL ALIENS AND START KISSING THE BACKSIDES OF US THAT PAY THE TAXES AND MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT!  AMERICANS MUST BE PUT FIRST OR WE LOSE ON EVERY TURN!  i don’t think people understand that to give amnesty to these young people mean their entire family including those remaining in their homeland are automatically eligible to be here.  Just like the loophole on the child tax act, they are claiming their nieces and nephews, etc and children they don’t even have just to defraud the IRS and because they can get away with it.  ILLEGL IMMIGRATION IS THE TROJAN HORSE OF THE USA!  I am sick of the crap where someone says of these kids that  they don’t know any other language …BULL SHIT…where are you in the grocery store…they speak two or more languages…get real!  Their parents want to earn money send it home then once they have ‘earned’ enough they will go back and live like the rich, WHILE AMERICANS ARE PAYING TAX DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THIS BEHAVIOR AND TAKING JOBS AWAY FROM AMERICANS.  In a video I watched they interviewed illegal aliens and asked, don’t you fell bad about taking a job away from an American?  And the answer was, “someday the American’s child will come work for me in my country”, REALLY!  

I dont know what wrong with people these days hating on illegals! When in reality there the ones that do the jobs the most people wouldnt even do! There the ones that work in fields daily! I am proud to say that im a daughter of illegals and i was born here in the U.S. My dad is one of those many illegals that work Mon-Sat. to bring food in our tables! The only ones that need to get out of here are the ones that have done really bad things like killing or done harsh crimes! The ones that need to stay are the hard working ones that are no harm to the U.S!!!!!

People prone to or willing for whatever reason to break the immigration laws of The United States of America promote and further among their “American” advocates (and others) – a significant number of whom are scofflaws and self-promoting; be-damned the laws of the country; take-it-back Marxist gimme-gimme types — erode the most frail but important underpinnings of American free society…it’s foundational precept that the Country is of law and not men.  In as simple language as I can make it, illegal immigrant amnesty of any type makes a mockery of the laws of The United States whose immigration laws are already among the most liberal anywhere and certainly those of Mexico and China.

Politicians use immigration as a wedge issue.  They are not seeking solutions.  Mr. Obama change in deportation policy of US raised children is the right move, but it has come late in his first term.  He has yet to propose a truly comprehensive policy.  What has happened to the idea of regularizing bringing immigrant workers to fill agricultural or other jobs?  I hope for better after the election, but I see no true breakthrough.

“Sneaked”?

Yes, that’s what our population growth is due to…immigration. Not the Duggars or other Americans…ALL people in the US are the results of IMMIGRANTS.

Um, some folks are caught in a level that you haven’t addressed. There ARE folks here that ARE paying taxes but are considered illegal due to visa status. I don’t think YOU understand immigration and what this country was founded on and by whom.

Absolutely, Ana! I don’t see many “Merikuns” pounding at doors to pick crops, clean, provide child care, etc.

Really? It makes it a mockery? Who founded this nation? Legals? Or illegals?

Agreed that it has come late, but he’s been a bit busy fighting the Repubs on many fronts;)

And to Adacorsica…spoken like a true “Injun.”

The choices are too narrow. Some should get a chance to become legal. Some should be deported. You can’t pick one size fits all solutions

I have family that couldn’t get work because they couldn’t speak Spanish. My son lost a job because he was under bid. When he met the replacement crew only one of them could speak English and just barely at that. All my great grandparents were LEGAL aliens. Can you guess why some of my family feel strongly about illegals?

INTERESTING HOW THIS WEBSITE HAS REMOVED MY COMMENTS!  SO NOW I WONDER DID THEY ALSO REMOVE MY VOTE?????

my comments were removed, i didn’t use profanity, they were relevant to the topic ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION how should the US handle immigration.  It wasn’t hate speech nor did i promote a business or raise money.  My remarks did include that illegal aliens are the USA’s TROJAN HORSE and that illegal aliens are like termites, in that they come here, use our resources and keep moving and destroying brining little good to our nation.  OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN’T A FREE SPEECH PROGRAM AND FOR SOME REASON PBS NEED TO KNOW DOESN’T WANT TO ADDRESS SUCH TRUTHS AS my comments who represent many.  If you can’t stand the fire get out of the kitchen!

I completely disagree.  Americans against illegal immigration do not care where they come from nor the color of their skin!  We care that they are breaking the law and our country supports this behavior with free this and free that.  We are against illegal immigration because WHEN LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE they destroy our society via education in our schools, our medical system, and take from us what should belong to taxpayers.  AMERICANS MUST COME FIRST FOR A STRONG NATION…but this government keeps kissing the backsides of illegal aliens and kicking Americans to the curb.  There is something very wrong when we have VETS and ill Americans that cannot get the help they need but an illegal can walk into any hospital and be seen and well taken care of…it is wrong when an illegal alien can file for IRS child credit for children he doesn’t even have and make a lot of money off the system.  I could go on and on but now I hope you get the full picture of the devastation they are causing.  We are not against people we are against the behavior and the fact that our nation refuses to fix a truly broken system that was meant for good.  Americans should not have to suffer at the Trojan Horse of Illegal Aliens!

Hello I’m. What you would call part of the religious right. We SHOULD find away to citizenship. If. The rest would just read their Bibles. They would find that God Himself commanded to be kind to aleins and. Strangers and to treet them as native born. In this Mr.Obomha is heading in the right direction. I never thought I would say this but He. Did it right this time

ok, so a ‘balanced” discussion: 4 of 5 participants either have latino last names or are obvious minorities. Ha! Question: How would Mexico feel if they had 32 million blonde illegals in their country?
Hmmmm…..

What we have here is a desperate president attempting to be re elected. This has a lot less to do with immigration and a lot more to do with politics. I voted for Obama the first, never again. He has been a disaster.

Immigrants are an essential element of any society.  I am a first generation “Legal” immigrant, a naturalized citizen.  There is a distinct difference between those of us who follow the laws of the nation to gain a legal entry into the country, vs, those who take short-cut and violate the laws of the nation. It is sad when it takes a spouse of legally naturalized citizen 9+months to join them in this country, while the “Illegals” have no reason for wait! It is not just the Hispanics who have crossed the border illegally, it is also those with student visa who overstay their visa by joining employment under disguise of “research”. 

It is a difficult topic, however it should not be the term “Illegal” has a very simple and clear definition, irrespective of what context it is applied in!  Let’s take a pledge to uphold the laws of the country, let’s not cheat those who have followed the laws by making it easier for those who have chosen to break the law, including the Immigration Law.

Your select panel never touched on the most important point on illegal immigration (or undocumented aliens) and that is until we can as a nation identify who they are , in what numbers they are and where in our country they are.  How can we possibly speak with any authority on the  problem, to say nothing about putting forth viable solutions. We must first set in motion a mind set that encourages undocumented visitors to become documented. Programs that allow undocumented visitors to lead a normal life while remaining in our country undocumented such as  free education grades 1-12, free indigent medical care and access to all social welfare programs, do little to solve the problem and much to legitimize it. Continued access to these programs would go along way in convincing undocumented visitors to become documented. Once we have an idea of how big this problem is, then and only then, can we develop comprehensive, humanitarian and cost effective measures to solve this problem once and for all. I give President Obama an A+ in identifying  800,000 undocumented visitors who now will be documented.   This alone is step in the right direction.  How they came up with the figure 800,000 remains to be seen and will only be validated in hindsight. But at least it is a start.

I lived in LA for 12 years,Left a year ago,The mexicans run LA,I had a friend murdered while having a cigarette on his front porch,waiting for his girlfriend,Gang banger slaying,Unsolved,that was 09.
My experiance with them,Is this,The parks we use to picnic in with our families are gone,Now The mexicans have taken over,They will run over you to get what you have,They dont care about us,or what we have created for our plesures,Case in point,The violence at baseball games,Their there with guns,When you see them all tattooed up?Their gangbangers,Theyve tasted blood,what does that mean?Theyve murdered or were party to a murder,an Unsolved murder,No,I say deport them all,Do you know what sorcerry is?,Thats witch craft,Most Americans arent looking around,What is a Palm reader? you see them all over your town,Its a form of sorcerry.
Our schools used to be number one in the world,Now were in the 30′s,Why?Because were trying to not only teach english,But the Teachers God Bless them,are having to teach at their speed,slowing down our childrens ability to grow.Now,What else can I say,most Americans are on birth control,Most,the mexicans are having kids at an alarming rate,Every mexican chick I saw was pregnant,and pushing a stroller with 2 or 3 kids,Do you know why they wont learn the langauage?,So You wont understand them,.Look at all of the hospitals that have shut there doors,Bankrupt,Trying to do the right thing,Shut down,cant help anyone now,Hmm.
Prisons are over crowded with mexicans.You also have to consider this,Their a barbaric race,Their cousins,brothers,kids in mexico,are Beheading people,Now if thats not evil,I dont know what is,And their living here among us.
Ive seen em,Ive been around them,Their a Vile Race,Ive been wanting the oppurtunity to say something,America is asleep,Americans are worried about jobs,their job,Their worried about their mortgage,Retirement,their bank accounts,They let these strangers slip in,Bank of America,You can thank them for financing their homes,How can someone here illegally get a loan,I had to show 2 ID’s to open mine.
Obama has sold us out,For votes,I spent some time worshipping in Black pentecostal churches,was baptized by them,87,They have strong christian values,When Obama said he supported same sex marriage,Im sure he lost some votes.
Americas changing,The Bible teaches,love your neighbor as you love yourself. This isnt possible,they dont speak my language,and Their not really going to try.
Is it a possibility Im being to hard,No,I watched Santa Monica,and Venice Beach get taken over by mexican gangs,I used to love to walk the boardwalk at night,youd meet some interesting people,But Its not safe anymore,The parks have been taken over.
I would like to say something a little different,Were having smuggilers smuggle in marijuanna from mexico,decriminalize it,Make pot legal,The govt spends billions upon billions to catch pot heads,so what,If it were legal here,the cartel would only be smuggiling in Meth,Cocaine,and Herion,Now,those are Class A Narcotics,Those ruin lives,those destroy familys,Those Kill,We could stimulate the economy by retraining our law enforcement to better be able to seize those,Those are the cartels drugs,Their smuggling so much meth into this country,and their family is already here covering for them,America really needs to wake up,Clayton527

Didn’t we end this problem in 1986?  People had a choice to register before a certain date.  One would think a government who thrives on making laws, would adhere to them.  People need to apply for a green card if they want to work here.  How disrespectful of our laws. 
Maybe time for the courts to step in, with heavy fines for those who failed to enforce current immigration laws, and work year by year to current & see how fast things change.
This country was built with hard working, lowly skilled, those are the ones who should be allowed green cards.   A way to make sure they are treated fairly in the work force.
Most important – two unimportant pieces of info needed……security & health clearance.
HAVE WE ALREADY FORGOTTON ABOUT 9/11, being born in NYC, I haven’t!!!

My grandparents arrived here in 1928-1929. Both my Grandmother and Grandfather obtained their Visa and later became citizens. The thing here was they were both here legally. Why should we allow people who we do not even know who they are take jobs from other citizens. not only are some here illegally, but also are receiving rent  assistance, welfare, bridgecards(free food) and free health care. Plus their children are getting a free education and we the tax payers are paying for it all. This needs to stop, Turn in the illegals and stop the madness. have them deported and maybe the United States will stop being in such debt. The private sector is not fine and we need to stand up for our rights as citizens. Illegals need to go back where they came from and get their green cards or visas that are up to date. Children graduating from public schools need to prove they are here legally.All children who are in our public schools need to prove that they are here legally. Those who harbor illegals need to be punished with large fines and jail time to show we mean business. 25 years of prison time is the minimum for harboring an illegal, and $25,000 fine for each person..    

Why are people coming here illegally?  Employers convince legislators to underfund enforcement because it limits profitability.  The undocumented workforce only exists because greedy employers want to undercut the legal workforce and sidestep all labor protections.  Ensuring a safe work environment “costs too much” and the undocumented won’t complain.
Document that workforce: impose fines for illegal entry, collect back-taxes and conduct background checks that the immigrant pays for, ergo not amnesty.  With documentation comes minimum wage and safety protections, the immigrant earns more and pay those fines as well as eliminates exploitation incentive for employers to hire undocumented over the native-born.  This plan is a win for both sets of workers and the treasury collects more revenue (without raising taxes on citizens).

The Mexicans were in California long before there was a United States, then white men came and took their land and drove many away killing thousands, You nrdeed to learn the facts before you spout your bigoted hate. There have always been gangs in large cities, (Did you see the movie “the Gangs of New York”? This movie is based on historical fact! Yes, there are white gangs…long before there were Black or Mexican gangs. The Bible says you have to love you neighbor, not like them. The New Testament was written in Greek, which has many words that translate to ‘love, one of them is ‘eros”, this is where the word ‘erotic’ came from. There is another word for love between friends, another for love between parents and children. President Obama did not sell us out, I too was anti-gay until I got to know some (at a Catholic church), their faith and love of God for each other and for humankind humbled me. I changed my opinion after that. You need to educate yourself, for education is the answer to bigotry, hatred, poverty and being able to discuss topics in a proper manner. You don’t need to be a citizen to buy property in the US, people from around the world own property in countries other than their own. BP gas is British Petroleum, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen,Fiat, all own property in the US. Many US citizens own vacation homes in foreign countries. Please for you own sake, get an education and read about anything that you are interests you. The more you learn, the more you will realize you don’t know, and that will only make you want to learn more. Peace and Love.

The debate is not about immigration anymore. Is clear that this is a racist country and see hispanic immigrants different than italians or german immigrants. We are ALL equal and if we are here its because big corporations from this country go to our countries of origin and take all the resources and dont invest on anything and let us poor and with no jobs. Thats why we come here. 

Under our laws illegal immigrants are criminals so yes, their punishment for breaking our laws should be immediate deportation. That said, I do favor a dream act for young adults with the proviso that illegal family members must be deported to their home country. It’s not right that the parents, grandparents, older siblings, etc., who smuggled these children get off. They deliberately placed these children at risk and they must pay the consequences. Giving everyone a pass will do nothing to discourage the perpetuation of illegal immigration.

A country’s economic success is limited by the cognitive ability of its workforce. In other words, when you import Third World people you become a Third World country. But better to pour trillions into futile reforms than to broach taboo topics

The topic is more complex than the three options in the poll. As noted in the discussion, a relevant question is what is the US interest. It is in our interest to control our borders, and as an independent nation we have the right to control our borders. It is not in our interest to round up illegal immigrants and deport them. But if the Federal Government is not willing to enforce or control our borders, is it in the interest of the individual states to do so? in my opinion yes.

We clearly need to find a humane way to address the current problem of 12 million or so illegals. But if every 20 years we grant amnesty we have no immigration laws and our borders are not sovereign. This must stop. We must control our borders and it is our right as a sovereign nation. It is in our interest.

Zifr

Larry, not so simple. I am a first generation hispanic American. My father and hs brothers and sister were born in Mexico. I am not a racist against hispanics or Mexicans. My wife is 100% hispanic. We have two children. The US has the right to have rules on immigration and control our borders. This country belongs to us. My father’s current wife believes thic country belongs to those from south of the border — all the way to Argentina. She is wrong. This is a sovereign country that is made up of its citizens. The citizens decide what is our interests and what are our laws. That is not racism.

Zifr

That’s a dump point of view. Because “Americans” are less educated (as this previous post shows) the US has to bring people from “third world”. Your stupid comment shows that you do not know the meaning of “third world”. Do not worry, racism and xenophobia are at rise in this country, so you are not alone. But as long as your “American” youth prefers McDonald’s jobs versus go to college, the US HAS to bring educated people without caring if they are for the “third world” or any other world . BTW, companies are asking to increase the number of working visas that eventually it will happen.

Ray asked the best question: Who is immigration for? the immigrants, or the host country? Only the “anti-immigration” guest answered directly, stating that it needs to be for the host country. I agree: US immigration must first be good of American society, not for the immigrant. The only exception to this is humanitarian immigration of “refugees” who are known to be in dire need. We must respond humanely to this need. But we shouldn’t become sentimental about immigration, extending it, as though it were a right, to those who simply demand it.

This just shows how racist and ignorant you are. BTW, not all of them are Mexicans. But who says Mexicans are a barbaric race, Americans? Seriously? Who is killing people all over the world to take they resources as oil(Irak)? Who were the white starving immigrants that were given land and money and they payed back stabbing the country that fed them? Who killed millions of natives to take their lands? Who is sending “American” jobs out of the US? Are you planning to harvest produce? Are you planning to have an engineering degree? Are your children? I thought, talk and be a racist is cheap.

Mexicans Pack I hate to think what will happen if there is a major disaster in California in a large Mexican area wit the number of guns. And yes, they do behead people a young homeless girl was beheaded in the community I live in. The people who responded in a negative way to your comment are either Hispanic or live in a dream neighborhood protected from them by money. Thanks for telling it like it is and it really is true what you have said. Racism no, it is not it is about behavior and mentality.

Linda Chavez is so insulting. 96% of illegal immigrants work in construction, factories, lawn care and service industry (hotels, restaurants, nursing home care, daycare); the majority of these jobs are filled by Americans so how is it that Americans won’t do these jobs? . …. Nice completely unbalanced panel……..

We already have an alphabet of legal work visas. The number of Ag visas is UNLIMITED!  Farmers can get an unlimited number of workers….. but it’s cheaper to do it illegally. ..You don’t have a right to a criminal business plan!

Barbra Jordan , under President Clinton, wanted to reduce all immigration and deport those here illegally. We still do not enforce the laws that were passed in 1996! We have no idea if anyone who comes “temporarily” leaves! …..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMywOal05s0

Significant crimes????? Drunk driving and menacing oK!…. Of course felony document fraud and tax evasion is always ok.

Illegal immigration is a felonious activity—period. That makes illegals felons. Get it???? Prosecute all immigrants without proper, thorough credentials and deport immediately if they do not qualify. Now there are your “shovel-ready” jobs. Go back home folks, and fix your poor, nasty, corrupt countries. You did not want to assimilate anyway. If they did there would not be any debate about “english” as the national language. Plus that, we have more than enough criminals in the U.S. already.

I love your show and I thought this discussion on immigration was well balanced and civil.  Something sorely lacking in our nation today.  As an American of European descent I find it hard to begrudge to others what my own ancestors came to find.  And yet, our history is full of periods where those of us who were here and benefiting wanted to closer the door on others.  It really is sad.

Border Patrol, the largest law enforcement agency in America.  Coincidentally operating with almost zero outside oversight.  Record numbers of deportations annually, past few years running.  Obviously the current system is both a waste of time and money, so how about a dialogue amongst our politicians on what might be an alternative to current policies.  It’s can’t hurt to try something different. To continue the same tactics while expecting/hoping for a different outcome is insane. 

Only 1% or the population of the US based on the 2010 census are Native Americans.  That means that the remaining 99% have ancestors that came here from other countries and are therefore, immigrants.  Likely, many of them may have even been illegal.  We need to find a way to welcome these hardworking people that want a chance for their children to have access to a good education, helathcare, and a better future - just as our ancestors hoped.

it would be wonderful to see them have a path to citizenship so that they could begin to live freely and add to the economy.  Its America about freedom.  why are we cruel to others.

illegal immigration is bad for all poeple in this country whether your legal immigrant
or us citizen , from what i’ve seen in my lifetime illegal immigrants have changed
from what they used to be, they all are not these humble hard working poeple
anymore, now  most of them are very arrogant because they know that most
business onwners perfure them over us citizen because “yes” they work harder
but the reason most of them do they have more incentives to do so.
most get payed under the table (cash) so they don’t pay personal taxes
also most that have kids recieve walfare also families that have been here
long before them that allready own houses build illegal unpermited homes
for them, rather it be a garage or add-on to there home and on the business
side, business onwners benifit the most they don’t have to pay for health
insurance or workman comp insurance for illegal immigants also just like
i said they work hard so we all have to, but for us legal citizens we don’t
get paid any more for it and even thow we know who we are working with
(illegal immigrants) we all can’t say a thing ,not good for this country.

pbs need to know producers pulled my comments when i made an analogy in retrospect to a certain colony of insects that eat away at wood just like what is happening to our country…they also probably didn’t like my referring to illegal immigration as a specific horse in history that held an army of men to destroy a country.  Maybe this remark won’t be take as CRUDE!