16. Inmigration is a very complex situation. People come here because they want to have a better life. Outsource is one of the main triggers in this case, when they pay in third world countries misery salaries, when these companies brive goverments and politicians in order to keep their status. The USA should legalize people with no criminal reccords and then close de borders.

Josue Carias at 10:08AM on Sep 12th 2007

17. There are two issues where Guiliani loses me as a supporter. These will change my vote.
His inability to accept the fact illegal aliens are illegally here. Coming into this coumtry not thru regular procedures by waiting in line. Insteasd they crossed the border surreptiously, decietfully, with no regard to the law. They are criminals by that act alone. This makes them a one step terrorist. What will make them respect the law now that they havbe had sucess avoiding it from the start.

If I broke a law would I be granted amnesty? Would my punishment be access to healthcare, SS money, foodstamps,drivers license helping avoid detection

WE can find and deport them by waiting for them to surface in some crime be it misdemeanor or a tragic
felony, or access to social services, hospital teatment and best of all Employers hiring only carded
people and huge fines for not supporting the law.
What laws do we support and which do we ignore?

Send illegals back and let them enter legally!!!

R Ryll at 12:46PM on Sep 11th 2007

18. 12 million illegals? No problem. A country of 40 million (we are 300 million) while figthing a war on two fronts and having cities bombed out of existance from the air and without the benefit of computers nor the infrastructure we enjoy, deported and did so much worse to six and a half million. Our goverment just hasn't the inclination to address the problem.

badger at 10:49AM on Sep 11th 2007

19. Here's a copy of a letter I recently sent to a University Of Northern Iowa department that's named "Iowa Center for Immigrant Leadership and Integration":

What is your motivation for betraying fellow U.S. citizens and U.S. workers? Do you or your school get paid by Big Business (meat processors?) to import and coddle the ILLEGAL ALIENS? That's right, they're not "immigrants", and you're not the "New Ellis Island". The ILLEGAL ALIENS are criminals because they broke our laws getting here (sneaking across the border), and they steal our social servicesl: law enforcement, educational, welfare, medical, etc.. I, a U.S. taxpayer, have to foot the cost of these stolen services. How are they some important asset?
You can look forward to your region lagging behind the rest of the U.S. for a long time, thanks to your ILLEGAL ALIENS. They create a pool of cheap, unskilled labor that drives down wages for U.S. citizen workers; they certainly undermine workers' unions and rights. Who meets the immediate costs of the schooling, doctors, etc., that these low-wage ILLEGAL ALIENS need? They can't afford to pay for these services themselves, of course, because they don't make enough. I would guess that you have a shortage of doctors in your region, due to the lowered living standards ILLEGAL ALIENS bring for the general population. Are your public schools stressed out, by any chance? How do your Social Workers feel about the increased caselodes ILLEGAL ALIENS bring? How do your Law Enforcement people feel about the increase in crime? As far as I can tell, the only ones who benefit from this cheap pool of labor - workers who can't speak up for themselves because they are ILLEGAL - are the rich and Big Business (meat and other big agribusiness concerns in your region, I guess). Do you think U.S.citizens would take these meatpacking, etc. jobs if these unscrupulous companies were willing to pay a living wage? I believe so. But Big Business would rather hire ILLEGAL ALIENS at a pay scale that makes it necessary for them to live many families to a house, many people to a room. I'm sure you see that frequently in places like Marshalltown, Ia. - we see it in NY, where 20 ILLEGAL ALIENS or more may live in a small apartment. Is this what your Corporate Masters want for U.S. citizen workers?
I certainly wouldn't want to live in your region: it sounds terrible there, unless you are one of those profiting from these ILLEGAL ALIENS. I'd rather hire a genuine U.S. citizen (not one with stolen or faked IDs, like your workers there - they stole my SS#), at a genuine living wage. Perhaps you're not aware of studies done by our own Federal Government, which clearly show that when minimum wages are raised, all boats float higher. You seem to support the reverse of that principle, and you are helping drive down wages of U.S.citizens, undermining workers rights, and guaranteeing a widening of the economic gulf in the U.S. I have to ask you if you believe you are breaking Federal law by propounding ILLEGAL immigration? You seem to work against existing law. How do get away with it? Does your foundation contribute much to Bush and the Republicans, who would like nothing more than breaking the U.S. worker and unions ( I'm not a union member, nor do I work for a union)?
I think what you and others are doing to aid, abet, facilitate and promote ILLEGAL ALIENS is prosecutable, and should be brought to the attention of I.C.E. They certainly should pay your region's Big Businesses a visit! You are all blatantly breaking the law and adding to our economic woes. People wanting to come to the U.S. for their own benefit to work doesn't justify their and your breaking the law.

Robert Bruce Cruickshank at 11:00AM on Sep 11th 2007

20. The government CAN fight illegal immigration by imposing huge penalties on those who hire, house etc. these illegals. When people stop hiring and housing them, they will get the message.

TERRY BRESLIN at 11:07AM on Sep 11th 2007

21. Illegal immigration is ruining our country. I am tired of hearing politicians and some others say "these are hard working people" and they are "undocumented workers" when:
1. Some so-called workers don't have any skills at all and hang out on street corners - NOT WORKING.
2. Their wives (spouses) often stay home to watch or HAVE children. These folks are NOT WORKING.
3. Their children go to our schools. These children are NOT WORKING.
4. Jailed illegal aliers are NOT WORKING.

I am tired of having politicans and some others say these illegal aliens "pay taxes" when:
1. Many get paid cash. When that happens NO TAXES ARE PAID.
2. Many who do pay taxes through their employer (e.g. MediCare or Social Security) then turn around and get the EARNED INCOME CREDIT and basically get back the money they - in another form - from the feds. The result: NOT TAXES ARE PAID.

I am tired of hearing politicans and others say "they are UNDOCUMENTED workers" when:
1. They came here ILLEGALLY.
2. If they do work, other than as a day laborer, they must use a Social Security card which would have been obtained ILLEGALLY.
3. The inmates in our jails in California consist of inmates 23% of whom are ILLEGAL aliens.

I am tired of policitians and others who say "we must keep families together "for the good of the children."
1. Babies born to illegal aliens have been declared by the policians and judges to be American Citizens. Although you will not find that to be allowed anywhere in the Constitution.
2. Essential all such babies born to illegal aliens are paid for at their hospital stay by MEDICAID funds folks - that is our TAXPAYERS (you and me!).
3. This part of society is the fastest growth rate of babies born in the USA.

I am so tired of politicians and others saying "they come here to better themselves" when:
1. The truth is our schools in California are made up of a rapidly growing percentage of children born to illegal aliens and it is DUMBING DOWN our schools. OUR TAXPAYERS are paying for this.
2. A high percentage are on public school meal programs. OUR TAXPAYERS are paying for this.
3. Such students are dropping out of high school at record percentages.
4. We are creating a major underclass without an education. DO WE REALLY WANT THIS?

ngumpert at 12:48PM on Sep 11th 2007

22. fast food joints making us fat? oh please.... its the lazy slackers to sorry to pick up a pan and cook a delicious nutricious meal that is making americans fat. we live in a rich country that has enabled up to become lazy. i commend TJ yu are right all our forefathers came here from other countries. we are all the product og garbage coming out of other countries. wise up all you holier than thous.

lynn at 11:10AM on Sep 11th 2007

23. Some of your readers' comments are quite correct and explain real frustrations with our immigration problems.
My grandparents and their six children came to America in 1915 for a better life and education for their children. The rules were: You must bring in a certain amount of money (something like $20), be examined to reveal any disease or mental incompetence, and GIVE A NAME WITH ADDRESS FOR YOUR FINAL DESTINATION. They went through the process of applying for citizenship, and after a certain number of years, they had to pass a citizenship test and pledge to relinquish citizenship of their mother country and promise to support the United States. They became good citizens, worked hard, and produced fine educated citizens who contributed to the welfare of their new homeland, the United States.
It seems that the new breed of immigrants don't want to go through this process. Why? Is it because they have no money? Or, is it because they are CRIMINALS or have DISEASE or simply want FREE MEDICAL CARE? The number of pregnant women, I understand, is enormous and they are bankrupting our hospital systems because they do not pay into the system for the free delivery of their babies - and those babies in turn produce more babies who expect free delivery and create more burdens on our health system.
I definitely am opposed to illegal immigration and vote to deport those who abuse our legal system. Many times this country has had quotas of certain nationalities of people coming into our country. That's what makes our country strong - diversity. That's the American way and should be respected.

frfemme at 11:39AM on Sep 11th 2007

24. I would like to see you folks work in the agricultural industry. I don't see many citizens that are willing to work from 3 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. picking crops.

bob at 11:47AM on Sep 11th 2007

25. There is absolutely no way to round up 12 million illegals. I think it is more like 20-25 million by now. However, what we can do is make it difficult for them to function here and most will self-deport. If we take away the welfare, achor babies, education, jobs, or any other service available to them, they will find that it is easier to stay in Mexico. Everyone talks about our ancestors being illegal immigrants. One could say that, although no laws were written as such back then. The biggest differences between the two are...back then they came here to start a new life and contribute, assimilate, learn language. Not come take, take, take, and then wire money home and then one day return home. Back then there was more than enough land and resources for the mass influx of whomever wanted to come. Now, our system is overrun and failing due to the mass influx. One has to draw the line somewhere. We cater to these people, they don't need the english language, spanish is on every product. More and more employers are hiring bilingual American's(just another way that these illegals are directly hurting our workforce). They live amongst each other in many cases, so they really don't have to assimilate. They just move their culture to a different piece of land. That land which belongs to the American taxpayer. Mexico needs to take care of their own. The corruption is so rampant there though. They have tremendous resources there. Oil, fishing, tourism, etc. They could easily build up their economy without America. The funny thing is, they rely on the 20 some odd billion dollars wired home from the border jumpers. Still their economy suffers. Anyone of importance is on the take in Mexico. There is no incentive to build it up. We need to give them some tough love. It is like the 32 year old son or daughter that has a drug problem in and out of jail, and mom and dad just let him keep returning home whenever. Instead of cutting him off. That would create incentive. Same goes here. Make them have to build their own country.
Most of the Latino population legal or illegal are good people, I don't mind their company in general, and have nothing against them at all as a people. It is just wrong, the way they go about getting here. Does anyone ever hear from the MSMedia that many hospitals have closed from non-payment of these people? The insured American gets charged way more because of it. That is another reason the insurance rates are high. It just goes on and on. The trickle down effect is a damning path of destruction. The path leads only to the falling of our soveriegnty. We must do something. First we have to stop the flow. But we won't....
By the way, there are Irish illegals here as well as many other nationalities. This applies to all. I use Mexico as an example because by far it out weighs all other nationalities that are coming in illegally.

Jack the Pumpkin King at 11:49AM on Sep 11th 2007

26. It boils down to the two major ideas, and neither one is pulling enough support from the middle. The NeoCons want to save our present collectivist system from illegals who draw on Govt support, the NewLeft want to streamline immigration to collect more taxes. Neither fanatical idea is gaining support. Seems to me we have too many unassimilated Americans in these extreme ideas. Talk about Illegals when we have UnAmerican ideas is quackery.

DL at 12:24AM on Sep 12th 2007

27. I was going to vote for Giuliani but after reading the interview I have changed my mind the illegal aliens should be sent back to where they came from and if not sent back by a prescribe date then declare open season on them and hunt them like wild animals also any person or persons hireing the elligal aliens should be brought to justiced fined heavily and put in prison that is my belief and I am sticking to it

Lenny at 12:26PM on Sep 11th 2007

28. That's funny, Maggie. I live in NYC and I DO think Rudy should be elected president. He made this city safe to live in. There has been a downside of course. Do I hate paying $2000 a month for 350 square feet of living space? Yes, of course I do. But I'll take that over rampant crime any day.

Alex at 2:14PM on Sep 11th 2007

29. We wont have to deport them if they can't get jobs. Illegals are ruining are economy, health care and education system. Wake up before is too late.

Lee at 2:52PM on Sep 11th 2007

30. Rudy is a fake just as much as Hillary is. Rudy made himself a hero of 911, he said he did more work saving people than the 911 workers, then he left the bodies of fallen fire fighters and other victims in the 911 rubble after he had his gold bars collected. Rudy is scum trying to look like he's strong on terror. If he was strong on terror, 911 wouldn't of happened killing 3,000 Americans. Hillary voted for Bush's war allowing him to kill over 4,000 of our troops for nothing. Both Hillary and Rudy can kiss my ass. I'm voting for Obama!

KineticSunGod at 12:44AM on Sep 12th 2007