A woman holds her certificate of naturalization after becoming a British citizen.
Photograph by Cate Gillon, Getty Images
Published June 30, 2013
The Senate last week overwhelmingly approved a bill aimed at comprehensive immigration reform. But conservative opposition to creating a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally gives the sweeping legislation an uncertain fate in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Eleven million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, but not everyone who leaves their native country for a better life aims to settle in America. Countries across the globe have had to decide who to let inside their borders.
As immigration reform comes to a head, we take a look at how other countries—those that have been recognized for having some of the most open, or the most restrictive, immigration policies—are dealing with their huddled masses.
Canada
To combat a shortage of skilled labor that has been stifling the country's economic growth since the 1970s, Canada has adopted one of the most open immigration policies in the world. As of 2010, the foreign-born population makes up 21.3 percent of the country's total population.
On April 1, the already immigration-friendly country launched a Start-up Visa Program in an effort to attract highly skilled foreign entrepreneurs. Immigrants with funding from Canadian venture capital firms or investment groups for a start-up business will be eligible for immediate permanent residency. If the new business fails, the entrepreneur will not be subject to deportation.
Japan
In a country where nationals favor a racially unique and homogenous society, the foreign population accounted for only 1.7 percent of the total population in 2010, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Japan's strict immigration—or, rather, anti-immigration—policies have drawn heavy criticism.
Like Canada, Japan is facing a rapidly declining population in which the low birthrate can barely match the death rate of the country's senior citizens. The population now sits at 128 million, but analysts estimate the number will have shrunk by a third in 2060, forcing the country to embrace more open policies.
Following the examples of Canada and the United Kingdom, Japan rolled out a new point-based system last spring to rate immigrants. Immigrants earn points based on their academic background and research or business experience, among other factors. Those who score higher—mainly professionals like professors, doctors, and corporate managers—will be given preferential treatment.
Australia
In 2012, Australia received a total of nearly 15,800 asylum claims, up 37 percent from the previous year, according to the United Nations. The country's Department of Immigration and Citizenship states that the Migration Act 1958 requires any noncitizen or person who is unlawfully in Australia to be detained. People without a valid visa are considered unlawful—including children. Migrant children, especially asylum seekers, have been detained in immigration detention centers for months or even years.
The Australian Government has responded to human rights complaints by removing children from detention centers and into community detention, or local housing. However, as of February 2013, there were still 1,062 children in the detention centers, according to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Amid all the controversy, reports in April indicated that preparations have been made to bring children back to the notorious Curtin Immigration Detention Centre, which closed down in 2002 due to riots and protests. It reopened in 2011 and currently holds only adult single men. A portion of the center could be declared an "alternate place of detention," which the government does not define as a detention center.
Denmark
Denmark's stance on immigration has often been considered controversial. The largely homogenous country has reportedly offered immigrants cash incentives to leave if they cannot assimilate into Danish culture. The incentive was driven by the far-right Danish People's Party, which states on its website that "Denmark is not an immigrant-country and never has been. Thus we will not accept transformation to a multiethnic society."
One of Denmark's most scrutinized laws on immigration is the 24-year rule, which states that in order for the foreign spouse of a Danish citizen to qualify for citizenship both the Danish spouse and the foreign spouse must be at least 24 years old. The rule's purpose is to limit the number of immigrants, prevent forced marriages, and create a better integration process, according to a report by humanityinaction.org.
However, the law has prevented families from reuniting, sparking a debate over possible human rights violations. There are special circumstances where the law can be waived, such as if the spouse is a refugee, has underage children with connections to Denmark, or is handicapped or seriously ill.
Sweden
Sweden, which ranked first among 33 countries in the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), is well-known for welcoming Muslim refugees fleeing war-torn nations like Iraq, Syria, and Somalia. But growing unemployment, which sits at 16 percent among foreign residents, and a recent string of violent riots have politicians and citizens questioning its open-door immigration policy.
Some critics point their fingers at costly liberal policies that created an abundance of jobs and attracted a steady flow of immigrant labor from nearby European countries. When job creation slowed, working immigrants stopped entering the country while the flow of unemployed, government-dependent asylum seekers picked up. In 2012, the number of asylum seekers arriving in Sweden jumped nearly 50 percent from the year before—hitting 43,900, the second highest year on record.
Opposition to immigration may still be in the minority, but the need for a more sustainable immigration policy has shot the Sweden Democrats, the far-right anti-immigration political party, up to third place in the polls and may give them political momentum in the 2014 elections.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom saw a dramatic spike of immigrants in the last decade—from 4.6 million in 2001 to nearly 7.5 million in 2011, according to the U.K. Census. With the annual number of people entering the country far exceeding the number of those leaving, immigration has become the public's most important issue.
Adding to the problem, the U.K. Border Agency discovered last July that hundreds of thousands of migrants with expired visas may still be residing in the country, prompting the prime minister to call for tougher immigration reforms aimed at visa abusers. In late March, Immigration Minister Mark Harper announced that the government was considering a measure that will slap a £1,000 (U.S. $1,532) fee on migrants coming to the U.K. to work or study. The fee will serve as a security bond to be returned only when immigrants return home following the expiration of their visas.
Have you tried to immigrate to another country? Share your experiences in the comments.
Street gang that controls ALL of Orange County drug trade taken down: SWAT teams swoop on 120 members of the 'Mexican Mafia'
a total of 129 people have been indicted by county and federal grand juries alleging crimes including murder, drug trafficking and extortion
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-mexican-crime-tidal-wave-mexican.html
VIVAL LA RAZA SUPREMACY?
THE MEXICAN FASCIST PARTY of LA RAZA - FUNDED WITH AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS BY BARACK OBAMA.
LA RAZA OPERATES OUT OF THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE UNDER LA RAZA CECILIA MUNOZ.
“WE WILL TAKE CONTROL OF OUR COUNTRY (U.S.) BY VOTE IF POSSIBLE AND VIOLENCE IF NECESSARY!”
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/08/by-anchor-baby-breeding-illgals-voting.html
RAPE!
IT'S A LA RAZA MEXICAN’S SPORT!
Sergio Perez, an Obama voter and ILLEGAL raped a 93 year-old woman in her home!
EVERY DAY THERE ARE 12 AMERICANS MURDERED & 8 CHILDREN MOLESTED BY MEXICANS!
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/08/rape-its-la-raza-mexicans-sport-sergio.html
OBAMA PARTNERS WITH MEXICO to loot LEGALS!
President Barack Obama and Mexico Partner to Expand the LA RAZA MEXICAN WELFARE STATE in America through "amnesty"
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/05/president-barac-obama-and-mexico.html
Everyone would win but the American people: Obama gets his big second-term accomplishment, K Street gets cheap labor for their big-business clients, La Raza gets amnesty and Republican leaders would claim they have clean hands since they produced an immigration bill that a majority of Republicans voted for.
The only losers would be American taxpayers who would be saddled with trillions in new entitlement burdens and working class Americans who would see their wages fall yet again
I live in Vancouver Canada, and it's very easy to see how badly the Canadian Immigration policy has failed.
...49 more mexifornias to go.
the democrat party and the rise of the Mexican welfare state
THE DEMS’ WELFARE STATE of MEXIFORNIA
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-democrat-party-loots-california-to.html
MEX WITH 37 CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS FINALLY DEPORTED… wonder if he’s back looting already???
more at this link – post on your Facebook and email broadcast
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-la-raza-looters-mexican-with-37.html
In FY 2012, ICE says it removed 409,849 illegal aliens. Fifty-five percent of them (or 225,390) were convicted criminal aliens, the largest number of criminal aliens removed in agency history, ICE said.
If Their wasn't imperialism and Colonialism There wouldn't be an immigration problem. These nations that have exploited the wealth of other nations leaving them impoverished should recognize their self imposed dilemma that they have brought this on themselves.
RAPE
TEXAS – UNDER LA RAZA OCCUPATION.
A DOZEN MEXICAN ILLEGALS GANG RAPE A 13 YEAR OLD CHILD FOR HOURS.
THESE ARE THE ANIMALS THAT JUMP OUR BORDERS TO LOOT OUR JOBS, WELFARE AND VOTE DEM!
*
more at this link – post on your Facebook and email broadcast
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/07/mex-infested-texas-really-want-amnesty.html
mexico's PRE-AMNESTY invasion is going well.
FEW ARE CAUGHT!
OBAMA’S OPEN and UNDEFENDED BORDERS… the invasion gets worse!
People pour out of suspected human smuggling truck in Texas
http://mexicanoccupation.blogspot.com/2013/07/mexicans-pour-over-open-texas-border.html
THE ADMINISTRATION MAKES IT TOP PRIORITY TO ! not ! KNOW HOW MANY FUTURE DEMS ARE CLIMBING OUR BORDERS TO LOOT!!!
E-VERIFY WOULD STOP THE MEX INVASION. THIS IS WHY HISPANDERING OBAMA and THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAVE PROMISED LA RAZA NO E-VERIFY WILL EVER BE EMPLOYED!
Despite efforts to shore up the U.S.–Mexico border, including 650 miles of fence, 21,000 Border Patrol agents and $18 billion spent on enforcement in 2012, a recent report states that only about half of all unauthorized immigrants crossing the border from Mexico are caught.
SALINAS... is what happens when LA RAZA occupies! (mexifornia)
SALINAS CALIFORNIA -- A LA RAZA-OCCUPIED MEXICAN DUMPSTER CITY IN AMERICAN BORDERS. . . MUCH LIKE MANY CITIES IN CALIFORNIA!
Migrating from the Philippines to the United States came after receiving a proper visa to relocate to the country. Following migration, later became eligible for Permanent Residency, afterwards, Citizenship -- seems there is already a "path to citizenship" in place.
Later, was able to claim dual citizenship with the United States the Philippines, and also have a work visa for Australia.
All were acquired by complying with the laws of the respective nations.
It saddens me to hear Republicans who despite their religious and conservative beliefs view legalizing nearly 12 million people from all parts of the world, not just Mexico, as something that is not a positive move for this country. They are not taking into account that all these people are already here and are in our society contributing in so many ways to the country's economic growth as well as socio emotional development. They are here and politicians should cut the bull **** about that if they broke the law, they don't deserve to be recognized as members of our society as if they never break any laws when they go to other countries and kill their people and destroy their homes but hey as long as you have a good reason for doing it and you are the United States, it's okay right. Not! Our society is so entitled that is so sickening and poisonous to the development of our present and future generations. The reality is that we are all interdependent for growth and survival and people need to get over their stupid nazi like mentality. We don't want another holocaust to happen again do we?
I agree that there needs to be regulation in immigration laws but Americans must see the issue as it is and i think that legalizing those who are already here and are productive members of society is the best way to go for the country and its citizens. Our society will be safer also because we will be able to identify and prosecute those who are committing crimes. Also, the number of immigrants who open small businesses is a lot higher than Americans so our economy will benefit greatly if the government granted a path to citizenship to those immigrants.
Americans, read this: highlights from Mexico's immigration policy:
- An illegal immigrant who sneaks into the country, or fails to file his papers, will face fines, jail, deportation, or a combination of the three.
- An illegal immigrant who forges his documents, or falsifies them by lying when he fills them out, will face fines, jail, deportation, or a combination of the three.
- An illegal immigrant who takes a job faces fines, up to six years in prison, and deportation.
- All immigrants must provide proof of their legal status if the authorities demand it. Failure to do so will result, once more, in fines, jail, deportation, or a combination of the three.
(copy & pasted from: "The Daily Caller" /Robert Laurie)
Mexico says: "Hey you Gringos-do as I say not do as I do".
How insanely hypocritical of Mexico to ask America to give Mexicans- who routinely steal into our country-a free ride & immunity from prosecution.
For the past 6 years I have lived in Vietnam. I am married to a Vietnamese and we have a child. I am required to hold a valid passport and visa, report to the local state police every 3 months for a passport stamp and have periodically been visited by the local police at my residence to ensure I am not doing anything illegal. My landlord must get approval to be allowed to rent to me. I cannot work unless I apply for a work permit when I am hired by an employer, I have to have the job first. I can never become a citizen(usually). I cannot own property independently or start a business of my own. If I commit a crime I am subject to deportation, fines and jail. I can attend school if I pay for it. I get no subsidization of any kind, I pay for my health care expenses. I am paying a 10 to 15% sales tax on everything. As an expat these are accepted rules and I have become used to these requirements and the bureaucracy that employs them. The violation of these rules will garner stiff fines, detention, deportation or a ban from future entering the country. I don't feel unusually discriminated against as these rules apply to every expat. I think it is a reasonable system. I knew these were the rules when I came here.
It is my belief that if the US would implement similar rules, immigrants would accept and abide by these requirements as just a part of life. Those that don't should be subject to similar punitive treatment as in Vietnam. The beauty of the US is that eventually an immigrant/expat can become a citizen and an immigrant can work and start a business and pay their own way from the minute they are allowed in the country. Think of the number of US citizens who could work as complience employees if this system or one similar were to be employed. The bureaucracy to employ these rules already exists.
As an Australian, much like the rest of the developed world, I believe that we, as people born with opportunities due to where we live, don't have a right to restrict migration to a point where people in need of asylum or refuge can't come to our countries. Where for me it becomes a problem, much like the reference of Swedish riots in this article, these immigrants begin to cause problems and strife in their new resident country, then it becomes a issue of security and safety of the people. I believe a countries interest must lie with what the people need, and if immigration is going to bring civil unrest to a country then it is a hazard that needs to be slowed, but otherwise, we have little to no understanding of what they are going through and the struggles they are facing in their own countries. For people to get on a boat not knowing if they are going to get to their destination, just with the severe desperation of getting out of their own war torn homes, that it something that can not be held lightly by any politician.
I'm from Canada the article does not state all the facts immigration in Canada has been tougher for them to enter The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminal just got passed any immigrant that has a criminal history commits a crime while here that requires 6 months jail time or more is removed from the country with no appeal and anyone that comes over from a safe country will not be able to appeal or come over for compassionate and humanitarian grounds and in the work any terrorist activity on record and has Canadian citizenship will be stripped of it and deported and heath care has been stripped to immigrants and non citizens will pay for medical out of own pocket why should the get gold plated health care when Canadians who were born here like myself do not get that luxury at least minister kenney is putting us first for once. Canada has to many immigrants and it is about time things change for these immigrants and permanent residents. fixed the dependent age to 19 instead 21 so that means they would be on their own instead of a parent sponsoring them and for their parents to have to make 50,000 CAD a family to support their elderly parents for sponsorship and they can not live on welfare and have to be a citizen for 10 years before they can collect unemployment insurance or a pension Thank you Mr Kenney for getting this right it is the best thing the Harper government has done.
I'm from Canada the article does not state all the facts immigration in Canada has been tougher for them to enter The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminal just got passed any immigrant that has a criminal history commits a crime while here that requires 6 months jail time or more is removed from the country with no appeal and anyone that comes over from a safe country will not be able to appeal or come over for compassionate and humanitarian grounds and in the work any terrorist activity on record and has Canadian citizenship will be stripped of it and deported and heath care has been stripped to immigrants and non citizens will pay for medical out of own pocket why should the get gold plated health care when Canadians who were born here like myself do not get that luxury at least minister kenney is putting us first for once. Canada has to many immigrants and it is about time things change for these immigrants and permanent residents. fixed the dependent age to 19 instead 21 so that means they would be on their own instead of a parent sponsoring them and for their parents to have to make 50,000 CAD a family to support their elderly parents for sponsorship and they can not live on welfare and have to be a citizen for 10 years before they can collect unemployment insurance or a pension Thank you Mr Kenney for getting this right it is the best thing the Harper government has done.
I'm from Canada the article does not state all the facts immigration in Canada has been tougher for them to enter The Faster Removal of Foreign Criminal just got passed any immigrant that has a criminal history commits a crime while here that requires 6 months jail time or more is removed from the country with no appeal and anyone that comes over from a safe country will not be able to appeal or come over for compassionate and humanitarian grounds and in the work any terrorist activity on record and has Canadian citizenship will be stripped of it and deported and heath care has been stripped to immigrants and non citizens will pay for medical out of own pocket why should the get gold plated health care when Canadians who were born here like myself do not get that luxury at least minister kenney is putting us first for once. Canada has to many immigrants and it is about time things change for these immigrants and permanent residents. fixed the dependent age to 19 instead 21 so that means they would be on their own instead of a parent sponsoring them and for their parents to have to make 50,000 CAD a family to support their elderly parents for sponsorship and they can not live on welfare and have to be a citizen for 10 years before they can collect unemployment insurance or a pension Thank you Mr Kenney for getting this right it is the best thing the Harper government has done.
It is very interesting that liberals, "progressives" and illegal aliens all remember to lock their doors when they leave the house. If sincere, they would leave them unlocked, and the doors open. Someone just needing food or "looking for a better life" might need access. But somehow these heartless liberals all insist on locking those " desperate and needy"people out. Why is that?
mexico's looting of America, by invitation of the DEMOCRAT PARTY has now spread across the nation and cost Americans (Legals) BILLIONS.
MEXICANOCCUPATION.blogspot.com
..come to CALIFORNIA... mexico's looted welfare state where virtually all jobs go to mexians using stolen social security numbers.
CA PAYS OUT $22 BILLION PER YEAR ON THE STATE LEVEL ALONE with counties paying out more on top of this staggering amount. CA HAS NEARLY THE HIGHEST STATE TAX RATES IN THE COUNTRY TO PAY FOR MEXICO'S LOOTING.
private enterprise hospitals are forced to hand LA RAZA $1.4 BILLION DOLLARS in "free" healthcare.
ACCORDING TO CA ATTORNEY GEN. KAMALA HARRIS, nearly half of all murders in CA are by MEXICAN GANGS.
there have been more than 2,000 CALIFORNIANS murdered by Mexicans that fled back over the border to avoid prosecution.
VIVA LA RAZA SUPREMACY? then push 2 for English!
THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES HAS GONE FROM 200 MILLION IN 1960 TO OVER 300 MILLION IN JUST 50 YEARS. MAINLY DUE TO IMMIGRATION. WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO BECOMING ANOTHER OVER-CROWDED MESS OF A COUNTRY LIKE INDIA, MEXICO, BRAZIL, ETC. DOES NO ONE CARE? STRICT IMMIGRATION IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SAVE US FROM THAT FATE...
Loose use of the term racist is just one more attempt to shut down debate, just like Harry Reid did in the Senate last week. Americans are not racists, as witness the election and reelection of a black President. Giving up on the word of law to get low-priced produce is not a fair deal.
What does it mean, the word "illegal" ? It means against the law.
If sir, you are a strawberry picker, and want a bunch of benefits, Mexico should pay for them since the country gains by exporting most of its potential troublemakers.Everything in the world is not racism if we want the strawberry pickers to come in through the front door. Racism simply is a word- like illegal. Use it too much, and it loses something.
What does it mean, the word "illegal" ? It means against the law.
If sir, you are a strawberry picker, and want a bunch of benefits, Mexico should pay for them since the country gains by exporting most of its potential troublemakers.Everything in the world is not racism if we want the strawberry pickers to come in through the front door. Racism simply is a word- like illegal. Use it too much, and it loses something.
I find it funny that most of these anti immigration comments have more to do with "whites" not being the majority in this country in the future. Let's call it what it is, thinly veiled racism.
"Well if these Mexican strawberry pickers wouldn't be here, Americans would do the job" - yes and you would be paying a dollar per strawberry!
"Well they overload our schools and hospitals" - Yes, so let's do the smart thing and NOT allow them to pay into them buy collecting taxes from them and forcing them to live in the shadows.
I'm an American citizen living in the Philippines. I can't buy land, I can't open a business, and I can't work.
I hope one day the U.S. will enact a mirror policy that reflects back whatever the other country does to Americans.
America must close its borders and stop all immigration, legal or illegal. It must then spend whatever is necessary to deport any and all illegal immigrants.
Only then, when construction costs spiral out of control and labor costs make lettuce and apples too expensive for the middle class to purchase, will the nation see just how necessary immigration truly is.
At that point we can move forward to enact true immigration reform including a rational guest worker program.
I served as a missionary for my Church in Mexico. While I was there, I had to carry a copy of my passport and visa everywhere I went just in case "la migra" of Mexico stopped me. If I was stopped and could not prove that I was there legally, I would have been detained and then eventually deported. Mexico does not have very nice immigration laws.
My word...did NatGeo accidentally get featured on the White Supremacist Network? What's with all the xenophobic reactionary hate-mongering?
This article is totally irrelevant to the US immigration issue. None of the listed countries is being overrun by non-english speaking illegal immigrants from the 3rd world. Nat Geo should look at the immigration policies of Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador, Guatemala, Ecuador, and all the other countries whose citizens illegally sneak into the US and then demand US citizenship. Ironically, every country south of the US border is a major human-rights abuser with Mexico being the biggest abuser of all...it's very much "do as we say, not as we do". They want us to treat their citizens kindly while brutalizing their own illegal populations.
I lived in Central America for 3 years and was shocked at the degree of corruption that's almost endemic to the culture itself. So I'm somewhat indifferent to the plight of illegal Latinos here in the US.
My new attitude is simple; if it sucks so bad in their own country, then maybe they should work towards improving the political and economic conditions within their own country, rather than sneaking into ours.
@Peyton Smith Another self-hating tree-hugging marxist...
The last country Sweden has invaded was Norway in 1814.
I'm sure the Norwegians have gotten over it by now.
@colin jones Not all immigrants are like that. I just want to study and go to college. Is that so bad?
@Paulo Loreto Lim MEXICANS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN BECOMING CITIZENS.
THEY STAND IN FRONT OF THE LINE AHEAD OF LEGALS, AND ALL OTHERS.
THEY KNOW TO WHAT DEGREE THE DEMS WILL BUY THEIR (ILLEGAL) VOTES.
MEXICANOCCUPATION.blogspot.com
@Rosa Mejia Thank you Rosa for telling "we" Americans what we should and should not stand for regarding the laws of our country. This is our society and if you are not interested in what our society has to offer, by all means, please see yourself back to the wonderful country from which you so happily defected. Yes you are welcomed to come here and enjoy the benefits which come from becoming an American citizen, but please just say "Thank you" and quit being so critical of a party of which you obviously know nothing of. By the way, I am a Democrat!
@S Robins We should adhere to the Rule of Law and
not give millions of illegals free unexamined citizenship
and Carte Blanche for every benefit we in this country,
used to, enjoy. What was wrong with legal entry as
every other lawful citizen has had to perform?
Nut this has been the tactic of the radical left,
flood our land with Democratic voters and create a
crisis that they can then take advantage of..
As Saul Alinsky advised in his book, Rule for Radicals. This has and is being done.
@Steve Fee But, Liberal Marxist Radicals have infiltrated our halls of learning and positions of gov. and have convinced the " useful Idiots" that this is the humane
way to go.
@jacob gyzen Why didn't they think about that with the aboriginies. Your people have literally decimated them.
@colin jones No your crooked wall street and military spending has cost americans millions. why don't you go back to Europe
@Gerard Mathias I care. And just an FYI- the U.S. population was actually around 160 million in 1960. It's absurd for the most advanced country on the planet to double its population in just two generations. It's all about greed and, "getting to the top". What better way for those already here to get on top of the heap than by allowing in tens of millions of low-cost laborers. IMO, that's what it's really all about. It certainly isn't about compassion, that's just what the elites try to fob off on the general public.
@Gerard Mathias next to DRUGS, POVERTY and CRIMINALS... pregnant women are mexico's largest export.
THE COUNTY of LOS ANGELES puts out $600 million per year to illegals for ANCHOR BABY BREEDING = 18 years of welfare.
many americans still seem to think illegals do not collect welfare... OR VOTE.
DO A SEARCH FOR ANCHOR BABIES
MEXICANOCCUPATION.blogspot.com
@Rick Villarreal Very tired speal Rick. Lets talk about the construction industry and stop hiding behind the fat strawberry. Now, before you go on a tift about how Americans don't do hard labor, let me add that i've made my living as a carpenter for twenty five years. Started as a laborer and slowly moved my way up the skill and pay scale. Never once saw a shortage of citizen men and women of all races and ethnicities getting filthy on the construction site to pay the bills. Furthermore, the agriculture industry employs only 3% of the entire illegal worker population. Yet, you and your ilk endlessly burp up the pricy fruit and veggie song. Give it a rest, slick.
@Richard Draucker during Obama's FIRST TERM, 2/3s of ALL jobs went to immigrants, both LEGAL and ILLEGAL.
OBAMA SABOTAGED E-VERIFY, AND FEDERAL WORKPLACE ENFORCEMENT PLUMMETED 70%.
his sec. of (illegal labor) was LA RAZA SUPREMACIST hilda solis... his current nominee is LA RAZA SUPREMACIST Thomas perez.
VIVA LA RAZA SUPREMACY? LOOK AROUND YOU... why is it all the jobs are filled with Hispanics???
the entire basis of OBAMA'S AMNESTY HOAX is to keep wages depressed, BORDERS OPEN and legalize mexico's looting of America.
@Zachary Wheeler Wow for a missionary you seem to forget a lot about what Jesus said about turning the other cheek, loving your neighbors and your enemies. Yes, Mexico doesn't have very nice immigration laws so lets follow their bad lead.
@Zack Becker I think they were super soft on Canada. They have open policy only towards the ones with PHD and not school drop outs. It is next to impossible to live in Canada illegally.
Europe is dealing with huge immigration problem as well because there are immigrants and there are suck-on-litchis that know how to use the countries welfare.
And stop with your grand words "xenophobic reactionary hate mongering" because nobody gives a rats ars to your fake statement. countries face huge problems with immigration and people like you keep playing their pretend i-care-so-much game.
@Peter Jones I really hate to get involved in these things but I can't honestly agree with your statement there Peter. "None of the listed countries is being overrun by non-English speaking illegal immigrants" You are aware of the size and diversity of Europe and the current immigration problems that the UK is suffering, taking into account our relative size in comparison to other countries in the world. The Human Rights violation that you speak of is a little misguided as the US is one of a handful of countries that openly passes laws or policies that purport to legalize or normalize either torture or cruel or inhuman treatment of prisoners. That's a violation of Human Rights. I'm not going to make an argument out of this but a bit of perspective might help.
@Peter Jones You're right. And that endemic corruption south of our border all the way to Tierra del Fuego is due largely to the legacy of Spanish colonialism. The English did it right. The general success and prosperity of the U.S. and Canada, as well as Australia, are proof enough of this assertion.
@Todd Bowling @Rosa Mejia It's a tough one but if you go to any other country out there, they are not going to simply let you stay in their borders if you're found to be there illegally. Mexico is one of the most brutal when it comes to immigration policy as well. I think the issue is so passionate is because illegals were harbored here for so long that when you look at the human factor, you're ripping people out of lives they've build up. But honestly they committed a crime via breaking our immigration law by border jumping or staying in with an expired VISA while millions of actual American citizens who are on welfare or unemployment benefits find it much harder to get a job nowadays. Those born here do need to have priority at those jobs. The 'unwanted' ones can simply be given to the unemployed to help contribute to the welfare program. Finland has a program like that in which if you collect welfare and are not enrolled in school, it's something like every 6 months you're required to work for a 3-4 month period in a job you're placed in (usually given a choice from some select ones that you would more or less qualify for). The aim of the program is helping to better sustain the welfare program through labor and less through taxes while also providing an opportunity for a permanent job. If nothing, it gets someone work experience. I'd argue we need something like that here.
However Rosa, you bring up an invalid argument in the sense that when you break the immigration law of any other country out there, you are arrested, sometimes for years, and then you are ultimately deported. The United States should not be an exception to common law regarding illegal immigration and grant a free pass on those that have violated our laws. Did you know that in many countries if you are found there illegally you are permanently banned from entry? It's true. Look it up. I'd argue that the best way to handle current illegal immigrants is to in fact deport the ones who have committed other crimes while here and the ones here do need to pay for their crime of illegally entering the country in some fashion.
I guess it's a very Republican way of thinking despite the fact I identify as a Democrat. But people are getting too passionate about people who have broken our laws and stayed here illegally. We have millions on welfare who can replace these workers who are here illegally and citizens MUST come first in any society. That's not saying that we should close up our border or make it impossible for anyone to immigrate here. But Canada for example is one of the easiest countries to get in to and you still cannot simply go there with nothing and stay. You have to have money to prove you can sustain yourself for 2 years, you have to have a minimum of 2 years of actual employment there to even be considered for a permanent resident permit. If you can pay for your own schooling, you might get an easy in on a student VISA but suffice to say, immigration is not generally an option for the poor. Nor should it be in a country that has a pretty damn high unemployment rate. My vote is to make those of us on welfare go to work as they do it in Finland and to severely hamper the practice of labor outsourcing.
@joseph yechout I'm Democrat and I agree with you on this. You go to any other country out there illegally, watch what happens when you're caught. If you're lucky, you're not jailed for long and simply deported. In some countries you can spend years in jail. I do not agree with amnesty for millions of people who violated our immigration law nor should their children be allowed to stay hands down either. That loophole needs to be shut tight especially as it's not really humane to separate a family anyway.
The argument that they are doing jobs most Americans don't want to do is not a valid one, especially considering we have millions on welfare and unemployment who need to be working. In Finland they have a program in place in which every 6 months you're on welfare and not enrolled in some sort of school you are placed in a temp job, usually something menial and low skilled but they do try and match you up with something you can actually do. The point of the program is assist in maintaining the welfare program beyond tax dollars, give an opportunity for a permanent job (some people do get hired on by the employer permanently) and if anything else, you get some work experience.
So yeah those staying home collecting a welfare check who are truly able to work need to be put in these jobs that illegals are being allowed to do unchecked. This would also help reduce the class warfare that exists against the poor. Not much but it would be a start.
@Rick Villarreal @Zachary Wheeler Okay Loverboy, while you're busy turning the other cheek, answer this,.. how many people on planet earth would you assume live in deep poverty? And of those, how many do you suppose would come to the United States if it was easy and a sure bet? Go on, a ball park figure is fine. Now Rick, You seem like an intelligent person, surely you understand that immigration law is an essential policy designed to control the ebb and flow of massive amounts of humanity across the border. And without it, the crush of hundreds of millions of people from around the globe would be swift and overwhelming. Indeed, the great immigration from Europe of yore was surely loaded with many illegal aliens. However, the population then was a fraction of what it is today. At any rate, when you're not regurgitating catchy quips about strawberry's and Jesus, try using a little common sense.
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