i used to work with somebody whose parents are 'illegal' immigrants from Russia. They came here during the late 80's before the USSR fell. He was just a baby when they came over...therefore, he was 'illegal', too.
So, now it is all of these years later. He found a company who would sponsor him for a work Visa...after graduating with an IT degree from a local community college. He worked at the company for about five years when I met him. He hated his job. He was WAY underpaid, compared to others at his level...and he was required to do work ABOVE his title. I asked him why he didn't just find another job...he had the skills. He said it was nearly impossible because companies do not normally want to sponsor a work Visa. I asked why he doesn't become a citizen....and he laughed at me, saying the politics involved makes it nearly impossible for him to go that route, and several other guys from India agreed with him. This was also around the time of the "Dream Act"...and he was cautiously optimistic about it...and was just as worried about being added to a list of people who the government could easily target, and it was all politics and political trends change on a dime.
So, there is your example of "broken immigration" system. A kid who is tied to his parents decisions. A kid who grew up in the US, went to US schools, even graduated in a US college, but has no real path to becoming a citizen. And, he is a skilled worker, contributing to society and NOT relying on the government to 'take care of him." In fact, he said all the money he pays to SSN and other taxes, he will never see any benefit of it.
I see NOTHING wrong with allowing a person like I describe above become a citizen. In fact, it is a bit disapointing that politics has to play such a huge role in their lives...and they become pawns in a stupid game. It's shameful really.
It also doesn't matter what percentage the above represents...the fact is, they exist, and how we are treating the situation is wrong.
Boomchild wrote:So B.O. was spouting off on what he is going to do about our "broken immigration system". The funny thing is, he as well as others are not very specific on pointing out how it is "broken". Maybe this is because it is not broken. It's is not properly enforced. We tried granting legal status before that was to "fix" the illegal immigration problem. What was the result of that? The government never completed securing our borders as they stated they were going to do therefore people still are illegally crossing our boarders to this very day. It did little to nothing on stopping people from illegally entering the U.S.. B.O. says he wants to grant legal status to the highly skilled illegals. I would love to know what the ratio of "highly skilled" to "low or non skilled" illegals entering the U.S. is. I think the later is the majority. According to B.O. they are supposed to "pay their fair share" of taxes. Just how is this going to be determined? I would think those that are hiring known illegals are not keeping detailed records. How long are they going to be given to pay their "fair share" of taxes?
There is no need to give illegals living here a break. It didn't work in the past and it is not going to work now. If they are struggling here that is their own fault and not the responsibility of our government to take care of their problems. It is the responsibility of our government to properly prosecute and deport illegals when caught. Period. That is the law. It should not matter whether they are committing crimes or not. The simple fact that they are here is a crime in itself. Illegals do not have rights to make demands on a country to which they are not a citizen. As long as our current immigration laws are being obstructed, no deals should be made to change it. In addition Congress should not grant funding for any of the actions B.O. is attempting to enact through executive order. I hope they are also going legally challenge B.O.'s actions.
During a Brookings Institution panel in April 2006, then-Sen. Barack Obama claimed he had “stolen” ideas from a gang of liberal economists and academics, including the now-infamous Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber.
