These people are going to stay here. It's impossible to turn back 13-15 million people when this country left the front door open for them to come in. Heck you would have come here if you had the opportunity too. This is America. Sure, businesses benefit, all businesses. Most of them seem to be hard working, pay Social Security, federal and state taxes and raise their families just like the rest of us. You don't like Spanish, get over it. The majority of the people who came to this country from the mid 19th century on spoke their native tongue (French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Russian, etc) for at least a whole generation and into the next, while trying to learn English. They settled into different sections of this country and mixed their wonderful traditions with ours. This is what America is all about, diversity. Enjoy it, embrace it, it's wonderful. Don't let a few ruin it for all of us. Do the Christian thing. I guess these Republicans want to make a line in the sand and do battle. Where would you like us to go back to, 1960, 1860?
I know when I talk to other Republicans; I am not alone on this issue. I'm not sure what I will do on Election Day. I can't in good conscious vote Republican and let it continue with more of the same. The crowd that's in office now has to go. We made a mistake. We were blind in the path they were taking us. This time I believe I have to vote for the Democrats just to change things for awhile and hope we Republicans can get back on track in time for the next election.
I can sympathize with people who don't want 12-15 people living in a crowded home next to them. I can sympathize with local businesses who don't want day laborers out in their parking lots trying to get work, while inconveniencing and intimidating customers. I can understand why some people aren't comfortable with having their local healthcare systems burdened by providing non-emergency services to illegals (note: before I am accused of being heartless, I have no problem with emergency care to save someone's life), and so forth. Some people are tired loitering and public urination. These issues involve "quality of life".
To that end I have no problem with deporting illegal adults who aren't citizens. I am sympathetic, however, to their children who didn't have a choice in their decision to come here. I totally have no problem with someone brought here as an infant, growing up his/her entire life thinking that s/he is a US Citizen, only to find out otherwise upon reaching adolescence, being allowed to stay provided that s/he isn't in the juvenile system or has committed violent crimes.
As for not wanting to learn English that's a right-wing myth. If you go to any community college in the area, if you go to Kaplan, if you go to non-profit organizations, if you go to government agencies that provide this service, you'll find out that there are very long waiting lists to learn English. There is very high demand to learn English, so that argument is a myth. Immigrants don't want to learn English.
I also agree that Stewart et al have not focused enough on the employers who hire them. The problem is that no one has proposed making it as economically unfeasible as possible to hire illegals. In addition, although it won't happen, the law needs to be changed to where employers who hire illegals will actually go to jail. When that happens perhaps there will be some change in that regard.
I really have issues with the "progressive" view on illegal immigration. To me it's tantamount to advocating not enforcing the immigration laws that we do have because "they wanted to come here for a better life". That doesn't justify not following immigration law. In addition, having illegals here lowers wages for US citizens and takes jobs away from those who need them.
Finally I would be open to some sort of program that isn't amnesty. Perhaps I could support putting illegals on a track to legal residency if there is a requirement that they spend two years involved in some sort of public service. That could be the military, Americorps, working for a non-profit agency serving those in need, or working in a New Deal program such as the TVA or CCC helping build America's infrastructure. They would also have to pay a fine and undergo a background check.
What bothers me is the seemingly arrogant self-entitlement complex that illegals have. They act like they are entitled to be here because they came here illegally. I just reject that argument because it violates our laws and because it is unfair to those who have followed the rules.
1. The anti-immigrant movement is fueled by racism
2. Support the candidates of the racist anti-immigrant movement
What??? Why would anyone support a movement that you yourself say is fueled by racism?
Hey, I am sure that some people 50 years ago were actually worried about the constitutionality of state rights. However, the bulk of state rights champions were segregationists.
Are these the people that you want to identify with?
P.S. You say that you are half-Hispanic. Where is your family from? :) ¿Hablas español?