Skin color doesn't have anything to do with it....

It is becoming an American citizen and supporting the country that you choose to live and work in.

And yes there are living expenses, you are right....that is why that have "crowded" living arrangements...so their living expenses are the bare minimum..to send the rest back to their families.

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The color of skin isn't the issue -- American's paying taxes, taxes and more taxes because people don't come into the country correctly is the issue I have. If people were coming in here illegally from Canada I'd say the same thing.

Yes, thank you. You said it better than me!!

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I couldn't care less what color someone is... it's their actions that count. Yes, living conditions are deplorable in the countries where a large percentage of the immigrants are coming from (such as Mexico), but the United States cannot and should not be responsible for every other country in the world. I have this discussion quite often with a friend of mine who works in a zoo. She has traveled to Africa and seen the disease, terrible healthcare system, etc. She believes the US should pay for that country's AIDS medication like they want us to, since AIDS is rampant there.

It seems many countries have their hand out to the US for help. I believe we should help where we are able but our first responsibility is to legal citizens of our own country. There are homeless here, people without healthcare here. I truly feel for the immigrants who brave the desert to enter the US illegally to work. They are driven by the need to support their families, but it's still illegal and cannot be allowed. I was watching some show recently on this issue and the immigrants truly believe they are doing jobs Americans won't do. That may be true but they need to come here legally.

IMHO- there is too many "gray" areas for me to really post my opinion! I know that a lot of them will work at jobs that us Americans would refuse to do for the pay (ie; working in fields). I don't know- I have noticed a lot lately there being a lot more immagrants in our area- I guess working on houses (which my DH does). If they are coming here to help provide a better life for their families though- I understand, I would probably do the same thing to help provide for my family. Please don't flame me though!

My mom used to be an immigrant until she become a US citizen (naturalize) she used to send money to the philippines and she still does. That's because third world countries does not have the luxuries that Americans have ex..(car,TV,microwave,air conditionair etc..) So for them to come to America is like searching for a better life to support their family back home. I'm sure any parents would do the same thing if they have kids back in another country because you want them to have a better life and a good education. There's nothing wrong with that. That's why I see lots of them works in a cheap labor earning $7 or $5 because that's all the job that are available to them. They are sacrificing for their family so that they can have a better future. I would do the same thing too for my family. Are they hurting the US economy? of course they are but some of them are illegal immigrants who does not have any benifits whatsoever so if emergency comes up and they have to go to the hospital the taxpayer are going to pay. But I don't think they are doing it on purpose for coming here they are just looking for a better life. I can't really blame them if they are earning more here in the US than back in their own country. I know in the Philippines a lot of doctors are becoming nurses because they are a lot of shortages in the wealthier countries. Those doctors doesn't get paid much over there a person works in McDonalds (US) gets paid more than those doctors so why stuck in a country who doesn't appreciate and doesn't pay you well and you have a family to support when you can go to a country that does?

I totally agree with Calimari.

I would like to respectfully point out that Bucsnpats never mentioned the color of anyones skin...but you did.

Ok, here are my 2 cents:

First off, the facts are this: when an "undocumented worker" is employed by a company, the company withdraws ALL Of the same things from the immigrant's taxes that it would from you or I. That means FICA, social security, state tax, and, everything else. Most of the immigrants claim single/ 1 dependant. (there is for some reason the belief that they are less likely to get in trouble by doing so). All of this money that is paid in annually is never collected upon, because they can't report taxes at year end. As of 2003, the annual revenue from uncollected taxes suspected from undocumented workers was of $30 million. If you do a search, you can probably find updated numbers. This is why the government doesn't really want a blanket "send them back" rule.

Secondly, While the government would have you believe that they (Latinos from Mexico) can just apply for a visa and wait for one, that is simply NOT TRUE. Mexico is not eligible for Visas. IT has not been since early 1990s. They "award" a very small amount of Visas to waiting immigrants once a year. It is on a lottery system. Currently, if you marry an American citizen, you have to report back to your country and wait for an approval from the US to come over and apply here. This wait is anywhere from 3-7 YEARS! Not a realistic option for someone who has a family. If you doubt any of this, please look up and call your local immigration office and listen to the message- enter information for mexico.

Last, allow me to point this out: living conditions in Mexico are horrific. While you may be familiar with the questionable areas of Cancun, Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta, allow me to assure you that these places are VERY cleaned up for American approval. You would not be vacationing if you could see children walking with no clothing, bathing in a fountain, and, sniffing glue to hide the hunger they suffer from. The conditions of the areas that most Latinos from Mexico are coming from are beyond frightening. The majority of the Latinos (at least in this area) are from Oaxaca, Mexico City, or the Yucatan peninsula. The first and the latter are so many years behind us it is like stepping into a time warp. Some of the cities are lucky enough to have electricity or running water (Oaxaca the city- is different than the state). When you go through these areas in a car, they gather to watch. In these areas, the families are starving. The gentlemen that come from there talk about needing to send money so that thier child can eat, or, their parent get medicine. Diabetes is fatal in Mexico, the common worker can't afford the medicine. People die from illnesses like diarrhea and you can be shot and not operated on if you don't have cash. Please consider what these people go through to get here. There are illegal people smugglers that will kidnap them and charge family members $4k or kill them in the desert. Please consider how terrible things would have to be in your country to give up everything you know- your family, your culture, your language and venture on a 4 day hike over mountains where you know you may die. How bad would it have to be?

People I know send money home so that mom can get the surgery she needs, or baby can be born in a hospital, or, so that baby sister doesnt have to sleep under the bridge anymore. So, no, I dont believe that what they do negatively affects our economy, but, my basic point would be this: if my standard of living were to be lowered a bit so that a child in another country can live, I will gladly take that big step down. I have more than enough. I have been blessed- with health, and, children, and friends and family. I want to increase that blessing throughout the world.

Just my 2 cents. A

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I don't think its just Mexico too. Other countries face similiar problems. What I don't understand really is that if they are the one whose doing the "cheap labor" in America how is that hurting the economy? I think the businesses are saving money by doing that. I guess its the same category about "exploiting" these people but if you come to a country illegaly what choice do you really have?