> Milton Friedman noted that we can't have open
> immigration in a welfare state.

Right, so concentrate on ending the welfare state, which not only causes this problem, but many others you've blogged about. In a free market economy, open immigration isn't a problem but rather a boon.

Right, so concentrate on ending the welfare state,

Well, yeah.

I was planning on doing it with a snap of my fingers. What were you suggesting?

And what does Elena have to say to the American citizens who had their identities stolen by illegals?

I know of a young, single, American mom, who had her identity stolen by 10 illegals. She can't go to college because she is working to clear the mess up.

Too true Tom,
Identity theft is a huge crime in America, so is illegal immigration. And no one in the mainstream medai connects the two.

I can sympathize with the ones who were tiny babies when they were brought over... but still, no.

Sure, offer them a clear path to citizenship... the same one everyone else who comes here LEGALLY has to take.

I guess the author is a DREAM Act proponent. (I like the idea of citizenship through military service, but wholeheartedly disagree with people who think they should be given citizenship for attending college.)

"Identity theft is a huge crime in America, so is illegal immigration."

Actually, no. Illegal immigration is far, far down the crime ladder under the law, as it should be. Let's be honest with ourselves - the illegal immigrants aren't the bad guys here. They're lured here by economic opportunity. And there are plenty willing to put them to work, in direct violation of the law. Why is your anger vented at desperate poor people whose "horrible crime" is crossing a border and working hard for meager rewards?

We've got to get real in this country. If we want the cheap labor, then we've got to help them get here legally. If we don't want the cheap labor, then we have to crack down on employers. Our current policy is utterly hypocritical and detached from the reality on the ground.

15 years. My husband was in the states 15 years, 3 of which he was married to me, an American. No greencard!

Turned out to be a blessing in disguise, though. Turns out now that we've been moved a greencard would be a huge liability, bad enough that I'm a dual with American, if we both had such ties we never would have gotten a mortgage.

"Our current policy is utterly hypocritical and detached from the reality on the ground."

No. Our current lack of enforcement of the law is entirely cynical politics. Democrats seek new voters, businesses seek cheap labor. The wishes of the citizenry are entirely ignored. The taxes of the citizenry that pay benefits to illegals are not optional.

Time for regime change in Mexico. Conveniently located, too!

Too bad we can't keep Elena's "undocumented" college students and just kick out an equivalent number of legal Americans on welfare.

Seriously though, I'm very much against illegal immigration but it seems like there should be some considerations made for people who were brought over unknowingly by their parents, have lived here their whole lives, and have managed to earn a college degree. That shows much more initiative, hard work, and strong values than many legal Americans who would rather live off welfare than entertain the idea of taking a college class. Plus these students have already been educated on the taxpayer dollar; assuming they have a useful set of job skills shouldn't we keep them around rather than sending the skill set back to Mexico?

No Chris it IS a huge problem and should be way higher on the list than it is treated. As I said it is a main part in the identity theft in america. it is a problem with closing of hospitals,icreading government costs, and general crime rates.
When an illegal is hired for a job it is both the hirer and the hiree that is committing a crime, ignoring one is self destructive.
No I do not accept that excuse ( lured here ), just like I do not accept the excuse of I broke into that home and stole stuff, but someone told me it was ok.

Why is your anger vented at desperate poor people whose "horrible crime" is crossing a border and working hard for meager rewards?

The rewards can't be that meager, or they'd stay home. Besides, the proponents of amnesty want to gift them with citizenship.

And yes, those doing the hiring need to feel pain for hiring illegals. With escalating fines, and if they keep getting caught, eventually jail time for those doing the hiring and/or the CxOs.

You know the other thing that happens when you stop deporting illegals? you've now given the rest the green light to come on over.

"When an illegal is hired for a job it is both the hirer and the hiree that is committing a crime"

Joe, I'm not sure you know the difference between civil and criminal law. Believe it or not, being in the country illegally is not a felony. It's barely more than a traffic ticket. The most they can do to you is deport you.

"The rewards can't be that meager, or they'd stay home. "

IRA Darth Aggie - of course you're right - it's a big friggin' deal for them, which is why they're willing to risk the hardships of living underground in a foreign land. What wouldn't YOU do to feed your family?

As far as the drea act goes I would suppost it if it was whittledd down to two provisions.

1. Applicans had to serve a full 8 yr active term in the military, honorable discharge. If they want to reup at the end of their 8 yr term thats on them

2. their parents had to surreneder themselves for deportation and sign a waver disallowing them to ever recive citizenship.

Parents of these ilegals brought over as infants and toddlers claim they were doing it to provide a better life for their kids. I say prove it by sacrificing your own chance at citizenship

As a side note I only support this otion becuase I kno no politicain will ever have the political will to acctually enforce wholesale deportation.

Peronally I'd like to see an institution of a government simmilar to the one shown in Heinleins Starship Troopers where the only people granted the right to vote were those willing to sacrifice and, if need be, die to defend it

Well since you feel deportation to be no big thing the equivalent to the punishment for a traffic ticket. Then you should have no qualm about the government actually eforcing the laws and deporting them all.

I was planning on doing it with a snap of my fingers. What were you suggesting?

I suggest ....

..... the FLAMING SWORD OF JUSTICE!!!!!

That'll show 'em.

"The majority of my undocumented students were brought to this country as young children."

Is there a reason the government of the country of which these students are citizens won't provide documents for them?

Just wondering...

So to sum up:

Safety paranoia is demonizing men, infantilizing young adults and convincing people that "safety" can actually be had if government officials can intervene at every moment.
Professional "educators" are cheapening all levels of public schooling with useless trivia and political correctness.
Illegal aliens are lined up at the public trough with millions of others who pay no taxes.
The public has elected incompetent people repeatedly, and doesn't even have a notion of either the duties of government or the citizen, preferring to view themselves as deserving of something or other at all times.
Hard infrastructure, bridges and whatnot, are at the end of their service lives, coming due for replacement. There isn't any money for that - we're busy paying pensions.

And this is the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Hey, all we had to do is watch bad news continually. What better way to show the public that they cannot do anything right?

If you want to kill a man, it's easiest if you confuse or deceive him. Same thing if you want to kill a country...