Today is May Day, historically when immigration supporters rally and march in support of lessening restrictions on immigration. It appears as though those numbers are dwindling:
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Demonstrators demanding a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants rallied around the nation Tuesday, hoping to spur Congress to act before the looming presidential primaries take over the political landscape.Hundreds? Dozens? Those numbers are really small. The AP piece is typical open borders, give them citizenship fluff, but those numbers speak volumes (note this Reuters headline that can't deny the truth). The climate in America has changed and this is one issue the Republican's own. Everyone in America comes from immigrants, that's true. But most came here legally and not only waited for their citizenship, but assimilated into the fabric of our nation.From Phoenix to Detroit, hundreds of people carried American flags in the streets.
...Hours before the march was set to begin in Chicago, dozens of demonstrators began arriving carrying American flags, signs and placards, including one that read "We may not have it all together, but together we can have it all."
With the exception of Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter, the GOP field has been wary of entering into this very important debate. President Bush himself has hedged and has lost support of a lot Republican's because of it.
We need real immigration reform and we need it now. Real reform does not offer amnesty nor reward those who've broken the law. It does provide funding for real border security and it provides for consequences if you cross illegally. Reform also requires the U.S. to take a firmer stance with Mexico and calling for economic sanctions if they don't stem the flow.
I know they are just seeking a better life and money to support their families. I feel for them and wish their own leaders would provide them more opportunity. I believe in immigration if it's legal imigration where taxes are paid for services provided. I'm 100% against illegal immigration.
Previously on 'The Stump':· Will Farm Bill Increase Illegal Immigration?
· Bush Pushes Immigration Again
· Bush Finally Getting Serious About Illegal Immigration?
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 6)
46. If you're in this country illegally, then get out or else register using the proper means
giacomo at 4:17PM on May 2nd 2007
47. there is no other country on earth that allows individuals to stay without proper documentation
giacomo at 4:19PM on May 2nd 2007
48. After reading the posts, clearly those that try to shout down legitimate posts which support LEGAL immigration and DO NOT support ILLEGAL aliens, are filled with hate for "whites" and obscenities about "whitie" or the "white guy". That's how much they know about America. And that's one more reason to MAKE SURE they don't stay...we don't need racists here. What garbage. No other arguments, just pure hate for whites and racists remarks. People who post against illegal aliens in this country talk about the "ILLEGAL" aspect of the presence of these people in OUR country. They talk about the financial and community IMPACT of the ILLEGALS. What do the illegal supporters say? Hate for whites! For those of you in my country illegaly, GET THE HELL OUT OF MY COUNTRY!! I don't care what color you are, what language you speak, or what race you hate. I don't care if you came into this country nine months and one day pregnant so you could have your anchor baby! I don't give a damn WHY you came here, you BROKE THE LAW. If you DESERT your previous country, you would DESERT this one. You illegals are FAIR WEATHER citizens of nowhere. You have allegence to nobody or any country. GET OUT! Stand in line behind the LEGAL immigrants coming in!! I will work hard everyday to find you and report you. I'll have solid evidence when I do. I will call my Congressman everyday, until he does something about you. I will work very hard for penalties to be written into our immigration laws to hold citizens who knowingly provide assistance to illegal aliens be held accountable in a court of law. Look at that illegal alien march in L.A. What a mess. The gathering took place in a South American/Mexican gang riddled part of the city that NOBODY ELSE WOULD DARE GO TO without fear for their lives! That's the kind of neighborhoods have sprung up when illegal enclaves move in. Aren't we lucky. Sure, Americans want all of our cities to be like Juarez and Tiajuana and L.A. We can't wait. See how we line your march routes by the millions to welcome you and enourage you. NOT! Huge police presence there for this march because THEY KNOW IT'S THE WAR ZONE every other day anyway. Upside down American flags.....great way to earn the support of ordinary Americans! Raise your fists and DEMAND Americans give you rights, waiving your foreign flags! And tell me, for the Mexican citizens who are illegals, what does YOUR COUNTRY do about illegal aliens in MEXICO?! I know the answer, and SO DO YOU!! Great way to get the support of Americans. You can bet I am one American who just took on the full time job of making sure something gets done about the illegal alien mess in my country. It's a promise.
Jean at 4:30PM on May 2nd 2007
49. I'm an illegal immigrant who was brought here at the age of 8yrs old. My parents didn't ask me if I wanted to come here, I had no say, I didn't even know what was going on or why we were living our home in Mexico. Since my parents committed a crime by comming here illegally I have to pay for it. My husband and I are in the process of getting my residency, I don't mind paying all the high processing fees or any other fines for being here illegally, I just don't want to leave to Mexico to complete the process because I don't want to leave my family(my husband and children, even school).. I didn't commit the crime but I have to pay for it, I just wish it would be a little easier, I don't want to get special treatment over others, I don't want to cut in line, I just want to go thru the process.. But it's hard and a very long wait.. I pay taxes and have proof of it, people my wonder how if I don't have a ss# but the IRS gives you an ITIN# to declare and submitt your taxes, if you owe to pay more they send you a bill and if you over payed you don't get anything back, but it doesn't matter as long as I could work.. I'm a college student and pay for my own tuition and books, I want to have my residency by the time I get my Masters Degree in Education so I could work in the field I have picked.. Not all illegal immigrants are here by choice(like me) or to commit crimes, they just want to give their children a better future something they can't do in other parts of the world... The United States is the (utopian) "City upon the Hill" and everyone wants to climb there.
~Brenda McLain~
Brenda McLain at 5:23PM on May 2nd 2007
50. The contributions of the illegal aliens in the United States have been the loss of many hospitals who could not continue operations after treating illegals; the artificial depression of wages because illegals will work for substandard wages; the diminishing of our school performance on the world's stage, where more is spent on teaching in Spanish and less is spent on helping our own children to keep pace in the world; Diseases long since eradicated in the United States (tuberculosis, leprosy, etc.) are making a fresh appearance from across the border;
The time has arrived for citizens of the United States to demand that their government cease applying a selective standard on which laws to apply. If we laws on the books apply them, if the government will not be consistent then an enviroment will be created where other laws are flouted and ignored. The "undocumented" label is the most ridiculous standard applied by the pro-lawbreaking club. The illegal aliens have documents, the problem is that they are fake, forged, and fraudulent. All of which are additional crimes committed by the illegals.
They take jobs that Americans won't? Sure because they artificially depress wages. It used to be that teens would work at Burger King and McDonald's. Now illegals do. If we can't fully staff these fast food joints than maybe we would not have as much junk food to eat and Americans would be healthier. The same goes for mowing your lawn or cleaning your house, get your butt off the couch and do it yourself, illegal labor is not needed. The businesses and employers in this country need to be charged fines and criminal penalties for perpetuating this low wage culture and for hiring illegal aliens.
David at 4:52PM on May 2nd 2007
51. What part of the illegal’s are not understood?? They are ILLIGALS and should be deported ASAP.. that’s the law and anybody involved with them should be sent right along with them. Heck corporate america has moved many plants to mexico so the jobs are there and if the mexican’s are not please with their govt then demand your rights from your homeland government not mine. US Corporate America wants cheap labor and the mexican give just that to them in order to work for them. But corporate america doesn't pass the savings on to the US consumers. Corporate America provides golden umbrellas for their top executives with millions of dollars for many retired executives for years after they leave a company and many live in mexico and own property there.
Now if a mexican thinks you can come into my country and demand any rights from me sense "WE THE PEOPLE" are the Government not just the people in Washington, DC then you better learn our history pal, and as a tax payer (and not just one that pays sales tax) you people have been a burden for years to the USA. I'm telling you to pack your bags and go back to your own country and if you are not happy when you get there then you demand your rights from your government and tell them what your demands.If you’re not happy with your mexican govt then change it like our fore fathers did in this country but you have to be there to do it. Don't come into my homeland and demand anything. Your just a visitor and you vacation is up. Stop your bitching.."We The People have more power in this country than you plus we have allowed you in these country to help you make money because your to lazy to fix your own govt problems. So now’s the time has come for you to go home and make your land as free as mine. I will not give you anything especially now sense you think you can demand something that you have no right to demand in the first place and deserves have's nothing to do with this. So Get Out of My Country and take your demands and your families with you and don't forget your friends and all the pregnant women that we have given sanction too because their baby wasor will be born here in the USA. Take them too. The government tit has gone dry. I am tired of picking up the checks. We The People are tired of listen to your demands which you won’t get as long as We The People can vote. We will not be held hostage in our own country. GO back to mexico. Make your demands there. We will find some others to work the farms and field as some have mention above which must be mexicans. There is some one that will work your jobs nowmatter how bad your say it is.
GO BACK TO mexico. March down your own country streets and cry "I demand my rights"
Just Go.............................................
Joe
Joe at 4:58PM on May 2nd 2007
52. I notice alot of people labeling whites as racist for denouncing illegal immigration. I am a black man married to an asian woman. Both of us and all of our friends (of various races) know that illegal immigration is wrong. Why would any rational people and\or country support illegal behavior, especially if the illegal behavior is detrimental to the masses. This country does not need millions of uneducated people pouring into it taking jobs, reducing wages, and/or destroying the countries quality of life. Legal immigration is more than welcome but the media tries to mix the two, we all know what is right and what is wrong. All illegals need to go home, no amnesty what so ever. Militarize the border and secure it like the other countries do including Mexico.
Robert at 5:26PM on May 2nd 2007
53. To Alexandria; From a Black American;
This country was not taken from anyone. Technically, when the Europeans landed here yes there were indians but no government. The counrty was occupied but scatter groups of indians, who had no government.
As for taking the southwest actually the same applied, besides if the southwest was now a part of Mexico it would not be what it is today and we all know that. This area would simply be another hell hole belonging to Mexico, with people sneaking over to Oregon and Canada vs. trying to change their own country. Also remember 10-30 Million illegals granted Amnesty equals 100-300 Million sponsered uneducated non english speakers arriving within yrs.
Robert at 5:36PM on May 2nd 2007
54. This is for #23, "Mike".
I'm not white, and I don't want illegals here, and neither does anyone I talk to about it (who are many differant shades of BROWN).
My grandparents on both sides came from differant parts of the world and became LEGAL CITIZENS. They didn't come here ILLEGALLY, STEAL PEOPLE'S IDENTITY, LIE, COMMIT FRAUD, FLY THE FLAGS OF THEIR OLD COUNTRIES, GET IN OTHER PEOPLES FACES, DEMAND RIGHTS THAT THEY DIDN'T DESERVE.
So, Mike, who are they that they think they deserve better than my grandparents, who were BROWN AND LEGAL???
Patricia Hoskins at 5:49PM on May 2nd 2007
55.
Mike#27,KG#32,Alexandra#34
How in Gods name did Black and White get into this discussion? This isn't about Black, White, Oriental or any Religion. This is about an illegal activity being brought to light. Mike, you have a nerve calling anyone a racist your comments show just how racist you are. We are not perfect, and for a country that is meddling in the affairs of other countries; that is the choice of our Politicians and that also is being brought to light. How can you call us racist when Blacks, Whites, Orientals, and people from all walks of life are running for political office at this very moment? Racism, "As is your hate and racist attitude" are personal agenda's and not what this country is all about. You accuse Whites of racism and all you have done in your comment is spit out racist hate and filth. YOU ARE THE REASON WHY RACISM AND HATE WILL ALWAYS EXIST.
Kg; for your information, the reason illegals were allowed to work in this country untouched was for the cheap labor and no other reason. If they were stopped at the border, the big corporations would be forced to pay a reasonable wage and that is something they don't want to do. And if you were born were and are a citizen, then stop waving the Mexican flag in our face. You can always take that flag and wave it in Mexico and no one would object to your leaving.
And aren't you being presumptuous to think that illegals do most of the work in this country?
Get a life.
Alexandra; I observed that your comment started with "I disagree with the majority". Get it the majority that is how we run this country "Majority rules". You can go back to all the history you want, the fact of the matter is we are not living in the past and we are not responsible for what took place then. We are deciders of what takes place now. I never beat raped or traded slaves so don't go there. I just don't understand where some of you are coming from.
#1-Many people in the world are fighting and struggling to come to this country.
#2-Many of those that came here entered legally
#3-I am sure that the majority of the people in this country have no problem with those that enter our sovereign country legally.
#4-What I read and understand is that those who are here illegally are "Demanding" that we change our laws to suit their needs and wants.
#5-In making these very demands they, illegals are waving the Mexican flag.
#6-There are those that are making "Demands" who are calling us racist.
#7-You have those that are actually threatening and cursing us while they are making these "Demands".
Now just exactly how do you think the American people are going to respond to this? I would like to keep the hard workers, but how do you determine who should stay and who shouldn't? And reasonably speaking, we can't give a blanket acceptance of all illegals. Mike is a pure example of that.
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched
rrm12 at 5:44PM on May 2nd 2007
56. Mike, people come here for two reasons:
1. Their country sucks.
2. They suck and can't make it in their own country.
If you are so damn proud to be Mexican, then be Mexican in Mexico. Why are you so proud of being from such a backwards country anyway? Besides you didn't earn anything, you were born Mexican; that's hardly a reason to be proud.
Illegals should be a little smarter then waiving the Mexican flag and at the same time demanding rights.
And, in case you don't know, Mexico arrests and jails people who enter their country from their southern border. If its good enough for Mexico, why not us.
You see, there is a reason each of us lock our houses at night: Because we like to control who comes in and out of our houses. Should are country be any different.
TJ at 11:57PM on May 3rd 2007
57. T J , you have it right! ! ! !
T.V.
t2s1here1 at 6:13PM on May 2nd 2007
58. last time i checked it was illegals driving drunk,hit and runs , gang banging,not paying taxes,getting food stamps,and anything else that was free. you may not be hitting trade centers but you sure are hitting us in our pockets.go back to your country and break all the laws.yes,you illegals are dirty people.No want asked you to come over here and pick any kind of food for us to put on our table.You illegals are some nasty people thats why we have been getting sick over here with the vegetables.wash up illegals i no you are not use to running water. put that in your pipe and smoke it.Lynn
cveney at 6:45PM on May 2nd 2007
59. Illegal immigrants already have rights in this contry but, now they want more I know some illegal immigrants who come here and get every benefit Americans do welfare ,public housing,foodstamps ect. while Americans have had to fight for these rights they come here and want to be handed citizenship. When they don't pay taxes and their money goes right back to Mexico they work here and use up American resources and then try to make their country stonger . Well I think it's time we stood up and said no more it's time we focused on whats good for our country and not what is best for others. They are always complaining about something and that has got to change . Don't come here and protest on rights you did not fight for stay in your country and fight for rights you feel are owed to you.
Amanda at 6:32PM on May 2nd 2007
60. I agree with all the comments about the illegals.They complain about working jobs no one else will work. Well someone worked them BEFORE THEY CAME HERE. It was their grand scheme to work for less and steal jobs from americans and now they complaiNIng. I too get up at 3 a.m. and I work long hard days the fact still remains that YOU ARE ILLEGAL!!!.And as far as that if you are illegal and you have a baby here in my eyes that baby is ILLEGAL TOO! How dare you come here and lie steal and cheat people that have been here and belong here. How dare you overcrowd the school systems to the point that education has become a joke with overcrowding and busing. How dare you claim you pay taxes when 90% of you work under the table. You are the biggest racist and liars I have ever seen, you have exhuasted the medical system the welfare system the food stamp system the wic program all these things were meant for AMERICANS AND THEIR CHILDREN. If you would put this much energy in your own country which you claim you love so much since you like to work so hard maybe Mexico would be a better place to live. I hate to see a Mexican standing on the corner selling oranges and flowers. You have brought TB back in this country at an alarming rate yet you still claim you are entitled to life here as an american. You take your money and ship it back to mexico How can you say you deserve to be here when you are draining our economy?Pretty soon the United States will be just as poor as mexico. STOP HAVING SO MANY DAMN BABIES!!! AND STOP WITH THE DAMN GRAFFIT!!!!!!!!!!
rose at 1:32PM on May 4th 2007