James Meyer

Mr. Hawkins
Government
5/31/15
Pre-Knowledge

Immigration is an issue that has been amongst north america for

sometime now. We have our borders and our laws that prevent it, and yet we
still have a number of illegal people living here. What is the reason for this?
Well the main reason is that most people that illegally immigrate here have
horrible lives back in their own country and need to get away. This however
does not make it ok. If someone wants to live in america they should have to
go through the legal procedure and have all the paperwork done that gets
them into the country. It is simply unfair for illegals to be taking jobs, not
paying taxes, and using the free government programs to get their lives in
order. They would be more than welcome to come and live in the country if
they do it legally.
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-illegal-immigrants-be-made-legalcitizens
We are needed. The USA is nothing without immigrants, especially Hispanics
which do everything that an American won't do such as building houses and
etc, also immigrants want a future too and that's why people move from their
countries to have a better future that their country wont offer to them poor
citizens.
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Like Reply29
Yes it is only fair. Put yourself in their feet. How would you like it if you
couldn't do anything? You can't drive. You can't get a good job or got to
college. It is very depressing. Wouldn't you like to have a chance. I'm sure I
would. Then why shouldn't we give them a chance? They can help us a lot
more than we think. We shouldn't be selfish.
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Like Reply26
Everyone deserves a chance at everything! Illegal immigrants are people like

everyone else. They come here to live the dream, just like everyone else. It's
not their fault that you can't easily get a visa, its not their fault is cheaper to
come here illegally then legal. The world has many things we don't like so if
people would get along better then the world would be a happier place to
live.
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Like Reply25
After a certain time period illegal immigrant should become legal. One might
need to consider a few things to be accepted into legal citizenship, though.
SSI should check whether they have been paying their taxes, how much they
make, or their criminal records before admission into citizenship. All people
have a right to get help from the government, attend the college of their
choice, or get a driver's license if their criminal records don't prohibit them.
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Like Reply15
Yes Yes I think illegal immigrants should be made legal citizens, but I do not
think it should be automatic. I think they should have to have lived and
worked here for a certain amount of time. They cannot have a criminal
record, and they will have to go through the same process that others do to
get their final citizenship.
Posted by: angelalang24 Report Post
Like Reply Challenge24
Give people a chance. I believe that as long as the person has worked hard
and has no criminal record, why not let them become legal? Everyone
deserves a chance to make their life better. This isn't even our country of
origin. We too came from some far off land with hopes and dreams. The thing
is when we came here we came to the land and took it by force. Most of the
illegal citizens are just working hard and trying to make their lives better. At
least their not here destroying our civilization like we did to that Native
Americans. Everyone deserves a bright future. Everyone breaks a law so
don't try to use that as an excuse. Give people a chance to make their lives
and our country a better place.
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Like Reply34
Yes were all humans Wer all human being therefore we deserve a right to
work and be a ppart of this country and plus they dont cause any harm in

contrast immigrants help the economy and they work very hard. Everyone
has dreams as Americans we all have dreams such as working or getting a
good career well immigrants come here for one reason not to harm anyone
but to make their dreams come true.
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Like Reply13
Yes they should be made legal citizens I think they should be made legal
citizens so that way they can live a normal life. They will also be able to drive,
work and not worry about being deported and can also pay taxes. They can
contribute more to this country. Also they will be able to travel to see their
families that they haven't seen in a long time. Enjoy life more.
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Like Reply13
They Should Become Legal They should become legal immigrants because
they have fought to come to the U.S. And they wanted a better life. And isn't
this the "United States" and doesn't the Statue of Liberty stand for
something. Illegal immigrants should get documents. But just that there
should be a limit to the immigrants that come to this country
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Like Reply23
yes they should After a certain time period illegal immigrant should become
legal. One might need to consider a few things to be accepted into legal
citizenship, though. SSI should check whether they have been paying their
taxes, how much they make, or their criminal records before admission into
citizenship. All people have a right to get help from the government, attend
the college of their choice, or get a driver's license if their criminal records
don't prohibit them.
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Like Reply12
Immigrants should not become legal. I feel illegal immigrants should not
become legal. They do not contribute to the success of our country... They
make it worse. They come to the United States and use every government
assistance program available, but do not pay taxes. I feel all illegal
immigrants as well as their children should be sent back and then they can
go through the real process of becoming legal. If they are approved to come
into the states they should have to pay all taxes true Americans pay. The

citizens of United States of America should not have to learn Spanish because
that is the only way to get a job. Illegal immigrants are coming to the states
without knowing English and is taking all the jobs from Americans because
business have no choice but to hire you to serve you. All illegal immigrants
should be sent back as well as their children because if the parents were not
here illegally they the child would not have been legal to begin with. I will the
government and law makers would go ahead and make the right decision, so
our country could get out of this economy issue and become the country we
once was.
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Like Reply49
Price of food. With illegal citizens becoming legal they would feel that they
should have the rights as normal American citizens, thus making employers
pay the citizens the same as everyone else, making the price of products
increase. Plus, will the normal citizens go out and pick fruit and vegetables for
minimum wage? No.
Posted by: Jables12 Report Post
Like Reply Challenge03
Illegal immigrants should not be allowed in the United States. They should
not be allowed in the United States because there are many people in the
world who are waiting for their visas and green cards so they could come to
this country. Is it fair that we let those people in line be cut by people who
might have not even applied for a visa? In addition, jobs in the U.S. are
becoming rare as the days go by. Every job counts and if we let people who
are illegal in the country get these available jobs, how about the people who
are legal. It is not fair!
Posted by: Matchanickal32 Report Post
Like Reply Challenge03
Bad for the economy When they come over they don't pay taxes in fact they
use the itin and get money back because of their kids they had here.
Secondly haven't you seen the people that gotten run over and the person
just drove off a lot of the hit and runs come from illegals because they too
scared of getting deported. They get on welfare because they have someone
helping them out and helping them break the law. I have seen so much stuff
and if you think by giving them citizenship is going to better the country your
wrong. I have to learn Spanish just to keep my job. It's ridiculous they only
hire they're kind and look at you crazy and talk about you in their face cause
you don't know the language. Why should they have it easy when they

majority of other races did it the right way and they get a free pass. If they
could break the law once you don't think they'll try and break it again on a
much larger scale... Hmmm
Posted by: Kim_1990 Report Post
Like Reply Challenge03
Not Even An Option The illegal immigrants (especially Mexicans) pass right
through the American legal system and set a bad example for those who
follow. If the illegals are to be eventually given citizenship, what's the purpose
of having the citizenship process at all? The other immigrants get to sit idly
by and watch the illegals waltz right through to America without a single
worry.
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Like Reply02
They're breaking a law just like a prisoner, so should we set prisoners free
and reward them? They're breaking laws coming into the country, but
rewarding them is insulting those who waited for their visa. They broke the
law just like a prisoner, so should we set the prisoner free and give him a job?
A lot of you are supporting the fact the illegal immigrants are coming into the
country for a better life, but they should come into the country like everyone
else.
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Like Reply12
It's not fair to be handed US citizenship on a plate for entering the country
illegally. I am a legal green card holder and came to this country legally. The
green card process is long, expensive and difficult, so to see illegals come in,
not pay taxes, and then expect citizenship for no reason, is beyond belief. For
some reason they have a sense of entitlement and are always using the
excuse that Americans are lazy. How can you generalize an entire country?
Americans are not all lazy. If that's the case, then their "legal" children, who
were born here are also lazy. It seems a bit extreme, but to discourage future
illegals and send a message, they all need to be shipped back , and then they
can apply legally like the rest of us.
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Like Reply12
America is a COUNTRY Many people seem to think that our ancestors
(European ancestors) came here illegally. Seeing Native Americans had no

technical claim on the land, it wasn't illegal for Europeans to be here. In order
to be in violation of immigration laws of another country, there needs to be a
country. The United States of America has an internationally recognized
border and very clear laws making it illegal for people to come here without
proper paperwork. "We're all humans" is a completely invalid argument.
Murderers are people. Rapists are people. But they don't get a second chance
because they broke the law. They're felons. While most illegals aren't here to
rape and murder, that doesn't excuse the fact that they're felons. They broke
our laws and should not be allowed or rewarded for their actions.
Posted by: American59 Report Post
Like Reply Challenge02
It isn't fair. These law-breakers come in and expect to have a free pass.
Everything that has been said on here is completely true. Others have to go
to tons of trouble to actually earn citizenship, while these people just waltz in
and expect to get a free f****** pass. NO! Come back when you are willing to
make contributions and go to the trouble of earning your rights.
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Like Reply02
I don't think so! Why should they be allowed to move into our country, take
our jobs, and take our welfare? The welfare that AMERICAN CITIZENS pay for!
The right people that need help in this country have a hard time getting help
so why should they suffer because illegal immigrants want to have our jobs
and aide? Let them stay in their own country and get money from their
government.
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Like Reply01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/should-illegal-immigrants-becomecitizens-lets-ask-the-founding-fathers/2013/02/01/ec3cca66-6bba-11e2-bd36c0fe61a205f6_story.html
Elizabeth F. Cohen, the author of Semi-Citizenship in Democratic Politics, is
an associate professor at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School of Citizenship
and Public Affairs.
Who deserves to be a U.S. citizen?

Its a question President Obama and Congress are trying to answer. But its

also one weve been grappling with since our countrys earliest days. The
founders had a clear answer: People who immigrated and spent years
building lives in this country deserved citizenship. They were also keenly
aware that making new immigrants wait a long time for citizenship denied
them the very rights that Americans had just fought to claim for themselves.

Todays complex visa system and lengthy wait times, which for many people
stretch from 10 to more than 20 years, stray from these roots.

During the 18th century, there were no illegal immigrants in the United
States, but there was a large group of people who posed a far more noxious
threat than those who overstayed a visa or crossed a border without an
inspection. They were British Loyalists men who had taken up arms against
the American revolutionaries and risked their lives to undermine the very
foundation of our union.

(Edel Rodriguez for The Washington Post)

Loyalists actions prior to the founding could hardly be called exemplary, yet
they sought citizenship after the nation was established. They and their
families made up approximately 20 percent of the population, and most of
them stayed here after surrendering, despite hostility and episodic violence
against them.

In 1805 the Supreme Court heard the first case testing whether members of
this population could be considered citizens. The court stated that, because
the former Loyalists stayed while the states were debating and ratifying the
Constitution, they were qualified for citizenship. This and later decisions
showed how, over time, the country exercised reason and consent to create
citizenship even allowing the original sin of fighting against the formation
of the nation to be forgiven.

The court decisions created a sort of temporal formula: time + residence +

good moral character = citizenship. We have always imposed a probationary
residential waiting period on anyone wishing to become a citizen. For much of
our history, that period held stable at five years.

Like the court, the nations first Congress saw the wisdom of requiring
probationary residence before naturalization. Rep. James Madison of Virginia
spoke eloquently in favor of such trial periods. He thought these wait times
were the proper prerequisite to ensure the naturalization of only
immigrants who would increase the wealth and strength of the community.
Agreeing with him, Rep. Theodore Sedgwick of Massachusetts said the
probationary period would ensure that immigrants shed the prejudices of
their former regimes, exhibit that zest for pure republicanism which is
necessary in order to taste its beneficence and acquire civic knowledge that
would make them good citizens.

During House debates in 1790,Rep. Thomas Hartley of Pennsylvania stated

that an actual residence of such a length of time as would give a man an
opportunity of esteeming the Government from knowing its intrinsic value,
was essentially necessary to assure us of a mans becoming a good citizen.
Hartley, who had served as a colonel in the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War and as a delegate to Pennsylvanias constitutional
convention, recognized the same fact that the Supreme Court did: Over time,
people who are living somewhere are transformed into citizens by that
experience.

It was vital to the founders that the probationary period be brief and apply
identically to all immigrants; they avoided creating a patchwork of different
statuses. It was a courageous position, and not everyone agreed that such a
simple formula was right. Shortly after the passage of the First Naturalization
Act in 1790, the nation experienced a time of extreme xenophobia. In
reaction, Congress raised the probationary period to 14 years. In a speech to
the opening session of the 1801 Congress, Thomas Jefferson pleaded for a
repeal of the extended waiting period, painting it as denying asylum and
the privileges enjoyed by his and his colleagues forefathers. His arguments
persuaded Congress to return the probationary period to its original length.

Our conundrum today is remarkably similar. Backlogs in the immigration

system have effectively reinstated waiting periods that are as long as or
longer than the ones Jefferson decried. And while the first Congress had to
protect our fragile young democracy from monarchists and people from
illiberal regimes, today legislators fear that immigrants are taking American
jobs and violating immigration procedures. Then and now, some have

responded by advocating very long probationary periods or even a perpetual

guest-worker statusthat will never reward service with citizenship.

Ultimately, the founders recognized that they needed to avoid re-creating the
circumstances that led us to rebel against the British in the first place:
taxation without representation. Jefferson argued fervently against creating a
class of semi-citizens that would have no political voice and persuaded his
fearful peers to settle on a relatively short probationary period.

Of course, there were notable exceptions to the founders rule that time,
physical presence and good moral character were sufficient to earn the rights
of citizenship: Women, indentured servants and many racial minorities
werent eligible. Each of these cases is now a source of national shame. So,
too, is the indefinite delay or denial of citizenship to todays immigrant
workers and their families.

For those who can outlast the lengthy wait for legal status and citizenship,
another hurdle exists: the cost of sponsorship and processing visas, and any
fines potentially levied on aspiring citizens. One reason the founders were
committed to awarding citizenship based largely on time-in-residence was
that it fit with the American belief that citizenship should not be for sale or
restricted to the affluent. Time, in the form of uniform probationary periods,
translates this belief elegantly by allowing anyone, rich or poor, to become a
citizen.

For the founders, Obamas call to reward people for playing by the rules
would require rewarding citizenship to continuous residents who have
invested their labor and affections in this land, rather than punishing them
with fines and lengthy waits for legal status. The Obama administration has
strengthened immigration enforcement more than the George W. Bush
administration did, reaching most of the goals laid out in a 2007 immigration
bill. Despite this, we find ourselves no closer to living in a country of political
equals.

Our system should value the time of todays immigrants, just as the time of
our forebears was valued. And this should hold true for everyone not just
agricultural workers, students or members of the military, but also people

who process meat, teach in universities, work for small businesses or care for
children.

Today we live in a robust democracy, not in a fragile young republic. Yet many
people are afraid that naturalizing undocumented or temporary workers who
have lived here for years will trivialize our immigration laws. We might learn
from the example of our founders, who conquered a far greater fear when
they gave citizenship to former Loyalists and created rules for naturalizing
new immigrants. People become citizens when they invest years building
their lives in this country. Denying them naturalization or selling legal status
only to people who can afford high fees and legal expenses doesnt make our
border-control and immigration laws stronger. It makes them unfair.
http://www.civilrights.org/immigration/care.html
Immigration policy affects all aspects of society. Regardless of status,
immigrants have always played a central role in the life and growth of our
nation. Immigrants contribute $10 billion a year to this country's economic
growth. Unfortunately, in the wake of September 11 terrorist attacks,
immigrants in the United States have increasingly been targets of
discrimination and suspicion. Our country must be defended, but one must
not forget this nation's commitment to the ideals of equality and freedom for
all peoples. The Palmer Raids, the McCarran-Walter Act, the Chinese Exclusion
Act, and Japanese internment all serve as painful reminders of how our
overreactions can have drastic implications for the civil rights of those who
are not perceived as being fully "American."

Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Q: What are The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' priorities
for comprehensive immigration reform?

The Leadership Conference supports the following key principles:

A Path to Permanent Residency: Hard-working immigrants who are

contributing to this country should be encouraged to come out of the
shadows and regularize their status. Forcing millions of undocumented
workers to hide in an underground economy, as H.R. 4437 does, hurts the

health, safety and welfare of all Americans. Proposals that would create a
legal but permanent underclass would be equally unfair and discriminatory.
Our goal should be to integrate immigrants into the United States, once they
meet reasonable requirements like background checks and payment of back
taxes. This can only be done by providing them with meaningful opportunities
to become lawful permanent residents and eventually United States citizens.
Firm and Fair Enforcement: Our nation's immigration policies must be
consistent with humanitarian values and with the need to treat all individuals
with respect and dignity. Any proposal that would criminalize undocumented
immigrants, encourage state or local police to enforce immigration laws, or
penalize individuals for providing humanitarian assistance to their fellow
human beings must be strongly opposed. Criminalizing undocumented
immigrants or the people around them with new punitive measures will not
deter illegal immigration; it will only drive it further underground.
Enforcement policies should focus on the critical task of establishing a safe,
orderly system of entry into the United States that meets the needs of
families and businesses alike, with a priority on identifying and preventing the
entry of terrorists and dangerous criminals.
Restoration of due process: In 1996, Congress enacted immigration laws that
drastically affected the rights of immigrants. The laws imposed an extremely
harsh new system of mandatory detention and deportation for immigrants
with prior criminal offenses, even legal permanent residents with very old or
minor infractions. The term "aggravated felony" is now applied in immigration
law to go far beyond what most members of Congress contemplated, to even
include misdemeanors, and to curtail many forms of judicial review. Any
immigration reform proposal that fails to address - or even worsens - the wellpublicized, unfair impact of the 1996 laws would raise serious concerns.
Immigrants facing deportation for any reason must have access to fair,
humane and common-sense procedures.
Family Reunification: Our family-based immigration system needs to be
significantly reformed. It can often take years, even more than a decade, for
close relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to obtain immigrant
visas, which simply encourages people to overstay temporary visas or find
some other way to illegally enter the country. In order to reduce backlogs,
any proposal should stop subtracting the visas given to immediate relatives
of U.S. citizens from visas available to all family immigrants, thereby
artificially depressing the number of visas available to other close relatives of
U.S. citizens and permanent residents. We must also stop preventing U.S.
citizens and permanent residents who can support their families at or above
the poverty level guideline from reuniting with their families.
A Meaningful Way to Address the Future Flow of Workers into the U.S.: Some

Leadership Conference members believe that future labor needs can be met
through guest-worker programs that include meaningful labor protections and
provide immigrant workers with a clear path to permanent residency and
citizenship. Others disagree that future flows should be addressed through a
guest-worker program, and believe that future workers should be admitted as
full partners into our society and our workplaces through the current "green
card" employment based visa system, rather than through guest-worker
programs - which they believe to be inherently exploitative. Under either
framework, any program designed to meet the proven needs of employers for
new labor must fully protect the rights of both immigrant workers as well as
those already here. A proposal that simply forces established workers to
leave the U.S. after a short period of time will only encourage them to remain
here illegally.
Q: Do undocumented immigrants pay taxes?

Undocumented immigrants pay taxes in a number of ways, including income

and sales tax. The majority of undocumented immigrants pay income taxes
using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), although some use
false Social Security numbers. All immigrants, regardless of status, will pay
on average $80,000 per capita more in taxes than they use in government
services over their lifetime. The Social Security system reaps the biggest
windfall from taxes paid by immigrants; the Social Security Administration
reports that it holds approximately $420 billion from the earnings of
immigrants who are not in a position to claim benefits.
Source: The National Council of La Raza

Q: Do undocumented immigrants receive public benefits?

Undocumented immigrants are eligible for a small minority of state and

federal benefits, such as emergency care and certain types of welfare.
Undocumented immigrants are only eligible for public benefits that are
considered important to public health and safety. In fact, many documented
immigrants are also ineligible for most federal benefits. As a result, health
care spending for immigrants is approximately half that of citizens.
Source: The National Council of La Raza

Q: What type of access do immigrants have to public benefits?

An immigrant's access to federal public benefits depends on his or her

immigration status and the date of entry into the U.S. Undocumented
immigrants may only obtain emergency health care and very few other
services. For legal permanent residents, eligibility for some benefits depends
on whether they entered before or after the passage of the 1996 welfare law.
Though immigrants share the obligation to pay taxes with native-born
Americans, their access to public benefits is much more restricted.
Source: The National Immigration Forum

Q: What are immigrants' rights to "due process"?

While immigrants are inherently treated differently under our laws from
United States citizens, The Leadership Conference strongly believes that
immigrants are still entitled to fundamental fairness and common sense from
the laws that govern their admission and removal. Particularly as a result of
sweeping immigration reforms in 1996, however, immigrants are often
subjected to arbitrary and even cruel laws and procedures.
As a result of the 1996 laws, refugees fleeing persecution are now much more
likely to be sent back by low-level immigration officials. American families
have been torn apart because legal immigrants who had minor brushes with
the law years ago can be locked up and deported with no chance for bond,
limited access to attorneys, and without any second chances.
Source: The National Immigration Forum

Common Terms to Know

Immigrant: Under U.S. law, a foreign-born individual who has been admitted
to reside permanently in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident (LPR or
"green card holder"). Informally, the term is often applied to any foreign-born
resident or long-term visitor, regardless of legal status.
Naturalized citizen: Lawful permanent residents may apply for U.S. citizenship
through the naturalization process. To qualify for naturalization, legal

permanent resident must reside in the U.S. for at least five years (three if
they obtained their green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen) and must
not have committed any serious crimes, must show they have paid their
taxes, and are of "good moral character." They must also demonstrate
knowledge of U.S. history and government as well as an ability to understand,
speak, and write English.
Legal Permanent Resident: A person who has been admitted to reside
permanently in the U.S. Also see "immigrant."
non immigrant: A person who is permitted to enter the U.S. for a limited
period of time but is not admitted for permanent residence.
Undocumented immigrant: A person who is residing in the U.S. without the
permission of the U.S. government. Undocumented immigrants enter the U.S.
either illegally, without being inspected by an immigration officer or by using
false documents, or legally, with a temporary visa and then remain in the U.S.
after the visa has expired.
Refugee: A person outside the U.S. who seeks protection on the grounds that
he or she fears persecution. To obtain refugee status, the person has to prove
that he or she has a "well-founded fear of persecution" on the basis of the
person's race, religion, membership in a social group, political opinion, or
national origin.
Asylee: A person who has already entered the U.S. and who fears persecution
if sent back to his or her home country can apply for asylum in the U.S. To
obtain asylum, the individual has to prove that he or she has a "well-founded
fear of persecution" on the basis of the person's race, religion, membership in
a social group, political opinion, or national origin.