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GOVERNORS OF CALIFORNIA ,NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND ILL

If you can get rid of the Governors of California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois for being stupid, why can't we get rid of the Governors of South Carolina and Louisiana for being stupid? The people of these states need the stimulus money. If you will go to the internetfree press, you will find out more than you know.

The climate for "comprehensive reform" will _never_ be right.so long as a majority of the American electorate regards "amnesty" or a "path ot citizenship" without a "touchback" and going to the end of the line before returning as fundamentally undemocratic and rewarding criminality. Why should criminals be accorded special treatment when the rest of us are held to compliance with the law?

Seal ALL the borders except for legal commerce. Use troops and whatever resources are available. THEN talk about what to do with those already here. Otherwise all this time is wasted discussing these lawbreakers.

Don't we already have laws against hiring illegals?? The people should not fight eachother; illegals come to this country because this is where the jobs are, or were. When businesses stop hiring them, they stop coming. Many may even return to their countries. I attend a state-funded university; nearly every cafeteria worker speaks Spanish only. If we enforce laws, there would likely be a whole lot of job openings. Please don't insult us with the B.S. that we don't want those jobs. We want those jobs, we just expect a decent wage. Employers always find excuses to keep wages low. Hiring illegals is their answer. As a New Mexican–I have no relatives from Mexico; never have. I am mestizo, Natives intermarried with Spaniards a long time ago. Bottom line is, we have FINITE resources. I don't think we should allow any more people from ANYWHERE to come in. When do we get realistic and say no more?

We as american citizens need to contact our congress-person and our senators – this can be done by e-mail – we can get the illegals returned to their homes; removed from welfare roles- which reduces taxes for americans

obama needs to follow the law.....send these folks home and let them apply to become american citizens....take their children with them as well.....this problem is what has bankrupt the state of california....people come here and have babies then take advantage of the welfare system....someone has to pay for this expense and it is the taxpayers of california

Let all the people in jail out first
then we can talk about the other jail birds that are here breaking are laws

I would venture to say the majority of these immigrants would be happy with a "work permit" that allows them to work without fear of arrest, pay income taxes, and have a driver's license so they can get to work. The economy will gain by having this income taxed. And our security will be increased as the work permits will create a way in which they can be located and counted.

Immigration is great for this country. We must pro-rate races of the world. It is a strong, a great and a robust nation because of immigration. You want a strong America? Then you need a strong spectrum of different races.

One of the reasons that illegal aliens take jobs away from American citizens is that greedy U.S. employers are willing to pay them wages without paying the required social security taxes and medicare taxes, not to mention unemployment, disability insurance, and workers comp. I am not absolving the illegal aliens of blame. They are here illegally, so by law, they are comitting a crime. The advocates for these people should be working to change the system, to make it more workable for people who want to come here legally to work. They should not be spending all of their time trying to make us overlook the law. At the same time, our government should be coming down hard on employers who make illegal hires and evade taxes. Large fines and jail time might serve as a deterrent.

What's so difficult about immigration reform?

Illegals are called illegal for a reason, and they should be treated like the criminals they are.

If things are so bad in Mexico, why don't they stand up and fix it, instead of flooding America with their crime and violence? When I look at Mexico, all I see is a nation of cowards who run away, instead of taking back THEIR country, instead of taking OURS.

Gather them up and ship them out, on their feet or in bags. They're not American citizens and should not be afforded any rights under American laws.

pelosi said illegal is patriot and very special as long you vote for democraps

more illegal more new democrats votes..hungry power freak to all liberal,destroying economy moral and law

The only "reform" is to send them all back and start all over again.

I know that America has let in the most desperate European settlers no matter how poor. However, the past is the past.

In 2009, we need to secure the border and control access to our country.

Among illegal immigrants, we need to give preferential treatment to those that are contributing more than they are consuming. Those that are brighter than the average American. In short, in addressing the 12M people here illegally, the US should require every illegal that is given a path to citizenship should raise the stature of America.

This is firm but fair position. It is race neutral. It will allow some Mexicans to become citizens. It is conservative and it puts America 1st.

jim April 10th, 2009 5:32 pm ET

IF it is so bad In Mexico, Why do the mexicans keep having more litters of puppies that they cant feed.

IF it is so bad In Ireland, Why do the Irish keep having more litters of puppies that they cant feed.

- jim, circa 1845, proud member of the Know Nothing Party

The government needs to remove the incentives for illegal immigrates
come to this country, make it harder for them to get job and services, also stop giving citizenship to illegals children that are born it this country. Make the parents prove they are citizens or their children are given a birth certificate that says "NONE US CITIZEN".

IF it is so bad In Mexico, Why do the mexicans keep having more litters of puppies that they cant feed.

This is not the time to reward illegal immigrants with unemployment growing higher and higher. Our workforce is destablized enough as it is. FDR sent over a million packing homeward during the Great Depression cause he knew American jobs were at risk. Lopez is
wrong.

We've got a national security risk with a porous border and ports. Secure the Border. This is INDEPENDENT of Immigration reform.

If latinos object to efforts to secure the border, we've got to question they devotion to this country. Part of being an American is to adopt American values, regardless of your ethnic background.

The climate will never be right as long as people enter this country illegally and then demand rights they have not earned.

Ronald Regan tried amnasy but he didn't follow through with securing the borders.

What ever the president does he has to secure the boarder and keep more illegals out or in a few more election cycles we will have to fix another mess.

A road to citizenship is fine but without securing the boarder is asking for problems. A road to citizenship for those here already that is reasonable and NOT a short cut is fine.

BUT without a secure boarder anything tried will doom to fail.

I have been disappointed for may presidential election cycles with the failure of dealing with illegal immigration.

I do hope any Obama plan will work but history has shown politics gets in the way of any great plans of mice and men (regardless of party)

When President Reagan granted amnesty to all the illegal immigrants here back in the 1980s, one of the conditions was that the US/Mexican border would be secured. We were told that this amnesty was to be a one-time thing. However, nothing but pay lip service has ever been paid to securing our borders and illegals have flooded over our borders in hopes of being given amnesty. Now, we are supposed to believe that if we give this bunch of illegals amnesty, this will be the last time. It won't be until politicians start taking our border security seriously.

I am sick and tired of folks proclaiming that those illegals now with families in the US should be issued automatic amnesty. Listen, they knew they were illegal when they entered thsi country and decided that since they were receiving govt assistance why not have children to increase the aide. Then fill the public school system with children who come from english-broken homes, which later effects American children whose educations are being delayed while they wait for those others to catch up. Then use us govt housing and food programs to assist their children's children. Listen, we have Americans who already abuse or programs funded by tax payers. Now should we be content with illegal immigrants doing the same. Don't reform the programs or imigration. Just start returning folks to their countries. Thanks, but no thanks. Us Americans have our own problems now.

There are NO winners in the immigration discussion. Realists know that there are approximately 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States and that there is NO way to round them all up and deport them. So what do you do? Building a 700 mile fence across a 2500 mile border like Bush did is a joke. Build any length fence is a joke. There is water at either end of the border and, believe it or not, Mexicans can swim and do have boats.

The only answer is to make employing illegals a large, punishable offense and enforce the heck out it. Will that happen? Naw ... the Republicans would scream if we punished businesses. So ... what is your answer? Frankly, I haven't got one.

Not as long as some continued to call the solution "amnesty."

If you listen closely, those opposed to "amnesty" are saying that a penalty must be paid by all who are here now and undocumented. That's approximatly 12 million people. The practicalities of the situation therefore call for 12 million people to volunarily come forward to pay a fine, or, law enforcement rounds up 12 million people and deports them. Both are nothing but laughable.

The solution is to let them come...legally. That way they will be documented when they arrive. Red tape and fines and threats only serves to perpetuate the problem.

When you have a border between two countries – one with an income 20 times high than the other, PEOPLE WILL CROSS THE BORDER.

DUH.

What is it about Obama that makes him want to reward bad behaviour? Run a company into the ground we'll give you a bail out, buy a house you can't afford then we'll renegotiate your mortgage for you, try to kill American citizens and we'll release you from Gitmo and break into our country and violate our law we'll give you citizenship. I think that Obama is only doing this now so he and the Democratic party can claim the loyalty of the new "citizens" – and their votes.

nope...it never will be time...that is why we must do it...same with health care.

The climate IS right! Obama must have been born under a lucky star. I think he will get about 85% of what he wants while POTUS. I am not sure what his immigration policy will be, but whatever it is, the party of "NO," will scream loudly!

Funny that conservatives don't seem to care that the US grants automatic citizenship to any Cuban who washes up on a Florida beach. So, don't give me this crap about legal v. illegal immigration.

I think what the president is doing on immigration is right.People enter the country illegally and thats wrong ,but they have family to feed and bills to pay,so why not make them work legally and earn a honest bread? i think as a result the crime rate among illegals would decrease and it will benefit the U.S. in the long term economically.

ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. They broke our laws, and you want reward them. I don't care how long they have been here, how many roots they have set down. They broke the law when they entered our country. They need to go back to their own country. Laws are laws. We need to enforce the laws we have in place and adhere to them. If we give them AMNESTY it will pave the way for more. What about all the people in this country who have lost their jobs? They will do the jobs of the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, they need to put food on their table. What about the overcrowding of our school system? What about the many hospitals that have closed their doors because the Illegal immigrants do not pay for their health care? There are too many who broke the law and are taking our social benefits. They need to go back home.

@Pauladia: The climate is right now. I recently read an legal brief which states we have an illegal immigrant in the White House!
____________________________________________________

No, honey. You must mean an illegal alien. And that alien was in the White House for the past 8 years. His name was George W.

The thoughts of amnesty of illegal immigrants, this adminstration , needs to be realistic. its bad enough for ameicans being unemployed, and jobs going to illegals , who will work for peanuts we have to offer the same benefits to them such as free medical , housing food stamps. just another burden on our economy, sad that american citizens , who need help and can not get it , but we can offer illegals , everything with open arms, how many billions more do we need to shell out, enough is enough.

If you support the Minuteman Project take a moment to follow the bouncing ball:

Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, willingly and knowingly allowed members of the National Alliance to participate with him as members of the Minuteman Project, and even allowed them to distribute literature at meetings in Tombstone and Tucson.

Dr. Jerome Corsi, who co-authored with Gilchrist as 'Minutemen: Securing Our Nation's Borders' and last year wrote 'Obamanation' is also a member of the National Alliance, and used to appear on the online radio show of Stormfront.org.

National Alliance and Stormfront are White Power Neo-Nazi organizations.

Still feel comfortable supporting the MInuteman Project?

No too many purist in this country to recognize the impact these people have made to our great land!

The climate is right now. I recently read an legal brief which states we have an illegal immigrant in the White House!

The response from the american people will probably be the same as it was last time when you cram something down someones throat when they seriously do not want it you get what you ask for you enflame the passion of the american people.

Obama wants their votes. Plain and simple.

Yes, Immigrants in fact are the engine of development in this country, but they are legal immigrants, not illegal. And yes, illegal immigrants are a drain on the economy. There is quite a difference. Unfortunately this article fails to address that!

Illegal aliens should take some blame for unemployment, depressed wages and high housing prices. Every job that an illegal alien has is one that a US citizen can't have. When illegal aliens work for less than a US citizen would work and their employer doesn't pay income taxes, it drives the wages a US citizen would earn lower than they would otherwise be. Finally, illegal aliens need a place to live and their being here increase demand which increases prices. These three reason are enough to make the case against allowing illegals to stay here.

Wanting illegal aliens removed from the country isn't about finding a scapegoat for our economic crisis, it's about upholding the law, defending our economy and keeping criminals out of our country.

IMMIGRATION REFORM....gotta love the sugar coated words, call it what it is.....Amnesty for all the people here illegally. Rewarding those who broke the law. The cost put on the tax payer is billions every year, just take a look at California and the taxes we pay. To say they contribute more than they cost is a downright lie. I am for anyone coming here legally who can support themselves and not be supported by the tax payers.

Will this be another crisis that will cause the country to collapse unless congress votes it in his way without reading it?

It seems to me that serious debate needs to happen in this country about the truths of immigration. I believe that there are too many prejudices fueling the attitudes toward immigrants.

The climate is right now. I recently read an legal brief which state we have an illegal immigrant in the White House!

No, it won't. Not because there are two sides, but because there are FOUR, none of which will ever agree with the other.

Here are the four groups in this debate:
1. Full amnesty for all illegal aliens regardless of situation
2. Partial amnesty for illegal aliens who have families in the US
3. Round up, send back all illegal aliens, let them find legal path to citizenship.
4. Round up everyone with a Hispanic surname whose family entered the US after the 1846 US-Mexico war.

I align myslf with group 2.

STOP!!! Saying illegal immigrants are not a drain on the U.S. economy is a lie. It's like saying a good for nothing drunk is not a drain on his family because the wife works really hard and is able to keep the family financially stable. Define success. Most Americans want to kick this drunk, (illegal aliens,) out of the house! By God, it's our house, our decision. However, amnesty supporters, and it seems most politicians, want to keep this drunk in the house and try and rehabilitate him. Let him rehabilitate outside on his own, and then we'll invite him back into the home. You can't fix a problem if you're not willing to fully admit that you have one. This article makes a serious flaw, it states that immigrants drive our economy, this is true, however it equates immigrants with ILLEGAL immigrants. Illegal immigrants do nothing positive for our country.

"He's not the Messiah you know, so he can't fix everything instantly!!"

"He didn't completely fix the economy in just 2 months so he's a complete failure!!"
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"He's doing too much and spreading himself too thin, so he should do less and try to accomplish less because he's not concentrating hard enough on each thing!"

"He needs to do immigration reform along with everything else RIGHT NOW!!!"
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Anyone else starting to see the pattern here?

The climate will never be right. But we need to fix our immigration system to make it skill based and not familial based. America needs skilled and educated workers, not people coming in to our country because they have a 'cousin.'

As long as wingnuts fear that immigrants will take their white collar jobs, there will be no reform.

Wow... here is the mindset of educators (like Obama):

"I worry that in the context of an economic downturn, the cultural response of that economic downturn will be to search for someone to blame, and that someone usually turns out to be a foreigner or someone perceived as foreigner," he said.

Yeah.... Let's give AMNESTY to illegal aliens because they need "protection" from disgruntled Americans??

Yo Professor – if it's SO SCARY for illegals ... SEND THEM BACK and they'll be REALLY protected from disgruntled Americans.

Nahh... such an idea would NEVER cross your mind. It would mean ENFORCING the laws.

obama needs to stop waffing and do something about this serious situation. Starting with his aunt, who is illegally in our country. She should be used as an example. I think it's BS, that he didn't know that she is illegally here. This country should be ONLY taking care of legal citizens and not illegals in this country. Thats Mexicos problem NOT the US. So stop making excuses and do something about it already.

12 million potential immigrants! NEVER !!

breaking the law is just that .......BREAKING THE LAW!!
illegals should be sent home an apply like others that have spent money and time waiting to come to this country.
the hospital in my community is going broke because of so many welfare cases. we pay our dr.s and emergency rooms dearly for being sick,and a fortune for sending our kids to school, it is time for the government to get tough with any persons here not paying their fair share, i for one am sick of footing the bill for illegals.

Will the climate ever be right for immigration reform?

Not until immigrant laborers demand and receive the same wages as domestics.

Follow the money, peeps.

I understand why people are easily upset by the so-called “amnesty,” but its time to stop this fighting and be realistic about immigration reform: millions of families have set down roots and become productive members of our society. For the most part, they are God-fearing and hard working people with strong family values. I would like nothing more than to see these decent folks come out of the shadows, start paying taxes, and contribute to the recovery of our economy.

This won't happen until close to the next election when he needs the votes. The socialization, some might say communisation of this country is the Obama administrations first priority. George Soros needs that first so he can make more billions.

Either side you are on... you can't fix a sink with the water running.