What do "legals" in the U.S. think of

If an individual has been living in the US illegally for many years and has not committed any crimes, worked and contributed to the success of the business they worked for, some kind of amnesty is in order. Perhaps a slap in the hand in the form of a fine or/and a return to their native country for a period of time is not out of this world.

On this subject the following link shows how two American cities have responded to this situation.

Lured by cheap housing and work in nearby factories and farms, the newcomers from places like the Dominican Republic and Mexico rejuvenated a dying city. By 2006, perhaps 10,000 Hispanics had settled in Hazleton, comprising 30 percent of the population. Dozens of Hispanic-owned businesses opened.

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Townhall.com::The News::News Article

"A record number of immigrants are becoming U.S. citizens by serving in the armed forces. Some are granted citizenship posthumously after they are killed in battle. But most survive the perils of war and soon pledge allegiance to the red, white and blue.

More than 25,000 immigrants have become citizens and another 40,000 have become eligible for citizenship through the military since President Bush signed an executive order in July 2002 speeding the process.

"We've had a record surge of applications," said Dan Kane, a spokesman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Washington. Immigrants "can apply for citizenship immediately, the day they are sworn in as members of the military."

The 40,000 immigrants in the U.S. military can become citizens after only a year of active duty. The previous requirement was three years, Kane said. "


IBLNews

Don't bother me none, but I'm still thinking about what I did not get then that they may get know.

johne said:

What are the sentiments of those immigrants that entered through "the process"

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There is a feeling that cheating is being rewarded which takes all the sense out of doing things the right way.

Some people do everything they can to follow the rules and others do everything they can to break them.

The two types can't be treated with indifference.

johne said:

Do they feel that those that might be granted some form of amnesty is "fair and just"?

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I don't know if its "fair and just", but it sure makes one question of whats the point to subject oneself to the legal and tedious procedures when you could have done it the illegal way and still get away with it!

Not that the illegal way is easy or anything of the sort, but it can't be harder than the legal way. Otherwise, everyone would be legal, no?

johne said:

Do they feel that those that are following in their footsteps should be entitled to something that they didn't get 10 years ago

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The only people in the footsteps of people who entered the US legally are those forming a line at US embassies around the world and applying for visas and doing things the right way.

Those who are taking matters into their own hands, well they are following someone's footsteps but not the one's who did it the legal way, that's for sure.

It's a very controversial topic.

Basically, people who are legal oppose this notion of amnesty while people who are either illegal or who are legal but know people who are illegal generally support it.

And then there are those (an extreme minority, I would say, but they do exist) that believe that the entire existance of the US falls on Hispanics and because of that, Hispanics are the one's with the real power and control here and this immigration dilemma is a way for Hispanics to show the majority where the power really lies.

This group often polarizes the Hispanic community by claiming that those Hispanics who don't agree with them are "wannabes". In essence, their claim is that a true Hispanic is a person who supports amnesty and anyone who thinks otherwise is a sort of traitor to the Hispanic community.

They never make a distinction between illegal immigrants and legal immigrants; to them both form one giant group of people going through the same struggles - which is a lie because the people afraid right now are not the one's who are legal, unless they know someone who is illegal, etc.

Personally I feel that this topic is a complete mess and most Hispanics are following the general consensus that is repeated in all the media forms targeting the Hispanic community and that consensus is pro-illegal immigrants and pro-amnesty.

But then again, this is no surprise. Most people, irrespective of ethnicity, race, or nationality; don't really think for themselves but rather let others (particularly the media) do the thinking for them.

Anyone who thinks differently from the crowd is seen as a traitor or a wannabe.

I look at this issue in the most rational way possible and that leads me to conclude that people who follow the laws, who do things the right way, who go through all the trouble to respect the people and government of the United States ought to be treated with dignity and granting the same rights to people who took the relatively easy way to enter this country is an insult to those who stood in line and filled all the papers and maintained a level of respect to the laws and regulations of the United States and its people.

Only those who are willing to give their lives for the US ought to be given their citizenship with no hassles, but everyone else simply needs to follow the rules of the game.

That's my take on this.

-NALs

NALs said:

The only people in the footsteps of people who entered the US legally are those forming a line at US embassies around the world and applying for visas and doing things the right way.

-NALs

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If some of those people were poor and hungry and bordering the US instead of having oceans separating them, I wonder how many would be standing on line.

FYI - Everyone in the U.S. is illegal - besides American Indians..

On another note - what does Lic. mean when you receive a business card from someone in DR? Does it mean they are a lawyer? if so there are a lot of lawyers in DR. If not , what is the equivalent in the DR - is it a notary public??

Lic. (Licenciado) is used to indicate that the person has graduated from college. It is roughly the equivalent of a BA.

You might also see Ma. (Magister) which is the Masters' degree.

David34 said:

FYI - Everyone in the U.S. is illegal - besides American Indians..

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Guess what buddy scientist believe that at one time those indigenous people came from somewhere else, so are they illegal too. Anyway pretty much universally with very few exceptions the country you are born in you are not illegal.

Although I am not American, as a Canadian I do have several opinions on this subject as the same issue is up for debate here (although to a lesser extent). Also, I am married to a Dominican who came here the legal way and I will share his views and his family's views (who live in New York) on the subject.

First of all, although many illegals may contribute for years to a legal business, generally they are getting paid cash or some type of payment "under the table" that in Canada and surely in the U.S. is doing good, law abiding citizens out of jobs. Those who may say that law abiding citizens would not take those jobs ought to consider that the reason for that is because businesses can unfortunately get away with paying illegals less than minimunum wage because they cannot find work for more than that without proper papers. Therefore, if there were no illegals, thousands of uneducated legal immigrants to either the U.S. or Canada would be afforded more opportunities for work than they are now. As well, although illegals may contribute to a society, they are not paying taxes to upkeep our cities, pay for public healthcare (in Canada), pay to fund public education and or roads, etc.

My husband, a Dominican who did it the legal way, feels sorry for fellow Dominicans, as do I, who cannot leave his country but he still feels that if he did it the legal way and had to study English, get his driver's license, pay income tax, pay Canada Pension, pay property tax, etc., but does not feel kindly towards those who came here illegally and have the prospect of having "freedom" handed to them without going through the hoops he had to go through to get where he is.

As well, a large part of my husband's family live in New York City in the Bronx and they got there by fullfilling their legal obligations to obtain permanent residency. They look down on Dominicans (or other nationalities in the U.S.) who are in the U.S. illegally. They will not, for example, date an illegal resident as they consider the prospect that the person could be using them solely for residency status, etc. and they reflect upon the fact that they had to stand in cue and pay their dues and money to get themselves to where they are and that anyone being afforded the same privilege should jump through the same hoops.

Another issue that comes to mind is this... if the U.S. or Canadian government grants all illegal residents amensty or legal residency, where will we be in 25 years when there is a new generation of illegals in either country. Will our governments simply have a policy of granting amnesty every generation or so. I certainly hope not. This is not to say that I am without compassion for what illegal residents to the U.S., Canada or any country encounter or fear on a daily basis. I would be desperate too if I was basically trapped in my country of birth with no future prospect of earning a decent living, etc. However, I still feel we must govern ourselves accordingly and protect what freedom we do have and not just open the flood gates simply because people from less fortunate countries want to stay.

Fact is, the more illegals enter the US, the harder it gets for legal permanent residents to bring their loved ones due to quotas, population control, employment opportunities, etc. If you are in the country illegally you should be escorted out if caught just as if you were to illegally enter someone else's home, property, business, etc. - you are breaking the law and the same rules should apply.

i have stood in the line many times at the US embassy in SD and gone up to the window and gone through the "process" with Dominican family and friends. what amazes me is the sight of total slimeballs, men and women, getting the OK and really good people being denied. these, now legal, pieces of dirt, i wouldn't trust to clean up after my neighbor's dog. i'd much rather have 10 good illegals around me than 1 "legal" ladrone. so what? you got a piece of paper that says your "legal", that means you got to the US the easy way.

amparocorp said:

these, now legal, pieces of dirt, i wouldn't trust to clean up after my neighbor's dog. i'd much rather have 10 good illegals around me than 1 "legal" ladrone.

... that means you got to the US the easy way.

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Anyone who has gone through the immigration process the proper way with a spouse or family member or themselves knows that that is certainly not "the easy way". There is nothing easy about it when you consider the information that has to be gathered to properly complete the immigration papers, information that in the DR can sometimes be next to impossible to track down. Not to mention the cost and stress involved and the incredible amount of perseverance that is put in by both the immigrant and the person sponsoring them (if applicable) both during the process and after when the real work begins in adapting to a new country. As well, my husband and I would love to have some friends and relatives visit us here in Canada but the many illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic who have come to Canada on a visitor's visa in the past and never left have made getting approved next to impossible.

Also, you speak of "legal pieces of dirt"... what about all the illegals that resort to dealing drugs, guns and other illegal forms of making a buck because they can't get a job the legal way. They are the "pieces of dirt" who are getting law abiding citizens killed and bringing violence to our streets.

i have gathered the documents, stood in the line for hours, gone back with more papers, letter from my congressman, deposited the money in the bank, been denied on occasion and given the OK on others. that is the easy way.

apply for mexican visa, fly to cancun, met by coyotes, bus ride 2 days north to the border,(alone), robbed by mexican police, robbed again, safe house for 5 days getting ready to cross over, little food, not safe to go outside because even though you speak perfect spanish, you are not mexican, and are a target, raped by owner of safe house because he wants more money and he thought you would be there only 2 days, cross border at night, bloody feet, 4 day bus ride to NY alone. have to take horrible job because of illegal status, can't work in burger king, no papers. live in cramped NY city basement apt. that is the hard way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

all illegals are not dealing drugs, most dealers, muggers, gangbangers are legal young men who are looking for the quick money and they wind up shooting other drug users-dealers-gang members..............."1 out of 5 construction jobs in the US is now done by an illegal mexican.......US dept of Labor oct 2006"

when i have no food, when my mother has no food, when my nieces have no shoes the "proper way" to the US is "anyway"............

johne said:

I trying to get a consensus of what legal Dominicans (in the United States) feel about the immigration policies of the U.S.

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A bit of interesting information is that nearly half of the 10 million to 12 million illegal aliens now in the United States entered the country legally, but never left although the media focuses on the Mexicans crossing the border.:ermm: