How about an illegal that actually wants to earn their keep? (H1B, Canadian)

[bluejeans]

I've read a lot of posts in this forum that seem to point to illegal immigrants as going a long way towards CA going down the can. Namely, no respect for the neighbourhood and residents, taking advantage of welfare/food stamps as if it's their god-given right, escalating crime, trying to assimmilate the neighbourhood, etc. I'm just going by posts on here, as I've had no experience with illegal immigration in Australia - in my state, we don't have many immigrants at all, and with our mandatory detention policy, "we" lock them up (in guantanamo-type conditions, some say) for up to several years at a time before deciding on their case. In my state, I have found that a lot of people on welfare here share some of the traits of the illegals that seem to be plaguing CA. The funny thing is, I've never heard a taxpayer complain about all of this, in fact, 9/10 people I speak to say something along the lines of "they deserve it, particularly if they've had bad circumstances", "I don't care that my $10 a year in taxes goes to them" etc.

Myself, I'm actually thinking of migrating, legally or illegaly, to another country, for the reason that I want a life approaching the average joe (I understand that the middle class is disappearing in CA, and those who are, are really, really struggling) - to be able to work for a living and not have the taxpayer pick up the tab for my free ride. The whole thing is a long story, but basicly my parents are of the opinion that I should be on welfare and in public housing for the rest of my life. They know a couple of people in the state government who have made their "dream" possible. You probably won't believe this, but I'm actually barred from earning a wage - I can work, but I'm not allowed to receive my earnings, by law. This was told to me by a member in the state government, when I assumed that I'd be able to. I certainly have done nothing to warrant this and am not a criminal (which is the only thing I can think of that would bar someone working in their own country).

Basicly I'm at the point where I'm ashamed to show my face outside, because the majority of the street are paying for my free ride, and simply want to earn a living instead of being hand-fed (however hard it may be), yet I'm denied this, hence my coming very close to migrating. I've spoken to over 150 people, online and off, about my situation (in a lot more detail than I've given you so far) - about 5 have assumed off the bat that I'm insane, 5 or so have actively made suggestions or tried to help, and the rest have been shocked by the whole thing and offered suggestions that I've already tried.

I spoke at length to a man that was giving me a lot of ideas about being an illegal (which is something I don't want to do - for some reason, he - a taxpayer - sounded like he was really supporting the whole idea!) in his country, who was dumbfounded as to why I'd want to go from being hand-fed and given no responsibility to working and having all of the problems associated with it. I guess it's a cross between actually being proud of contributing to the community and having the perspective of someone being hand-fed.

Basicly, I'm asking, if I was to be an illegal or otherwise accepted immigrant in CA or the U.S in general, who treats being accepted into the country as a privelage and not a right, who wants to earn a living rather than sucking from the teet of Big Brother, respects their neighbourhood, and is willing to adapt to the countries culture rather than defiantly sticking to their own and expecting others to accommodate their needs as a matter of course (spanish-only signs and the matricula consular card come to mind) - how would I get along? If the benefits really are handed out like lollypops, would it be so difficult for someone like myself to survive and not give in to temptation in using said benefits until making past the welfare threshold?

I, too, come from a state that everybody says is a great place to visit, but there seem to be some people that live here that seem to be living in dreamland. (Warning, the following list is kind of long...) I'm sure none of these crimes come anywhere near to what you're used to hearing of, but they're pretty shocking for a city of barely 100,000:

Bus windows being smashed on a daily basis

Burnt-out cars being dumped into rivers in broad daylight, in the view of at least 60 houses

Police, called out to domestic violence disputes, waiting at the end of the street until it's all finished

People in the worst neighbourhoods acting as the police themselves because the police turn up about 5 hours later

Shoot-outs between 2 gangs over a stolen packet of cigarettes

Being assaulted in daylight for not hearing your assailant ask for the time

Public transport being treated like a party bus, complete with underage drinking, vomiting (on weeknights, I'm guessing it's standard on weekends anywhere else)

Said people routinely refusing to disembark the bus and threatening to complain, making the rest of us wait 45 mins until the police show up (and another 30 mins while they make up their mind as to what to do)

The most vulnerable people in society (those in wheelchairs, physical disabilities etc) being specificly targeted as "easy marks" when it comes to personal robbery

(I'm sure I can think of other examples, but not at 4am :P )

Some of the states problems:

Having the most energy resources in the country yet paying the most for power

Grocery prices 30% more than the rest of the country
A state that seems to reward the notion of easy money and no work (40% of the population are on some sort of welfare payment) while joe average is being financially driven into the ground

higher crime rate per capita than capital cities 30 times our size

judges handing out slap-on-the-wrist "punishments" for people having commited the same crime 5 times in a row (burglary, car theft, assault, drug dealing come to mind) - maybe I'm wrong about the work culture here, these criminals seem to treat going to court as having a daily office job

40 public housing units in a *single suburb* being vacant, yet the government say that the waiting list for public housing is 10 years long

As a friend said: "And we're trying to promote tourism! What are the tourists coming to see? Gang shootings, people driving like monkeys going beserk in cars, pine plantation tours *oh, don't look over there, that's a marijuana plantation*"

My state, on an Australian level, sounds like it's going down the can in the same way CA is. I'm interested to hear of your opinion at my considering migrating there or even to another country. Keep in mind that I'm not all that keen on the U.S, despite what might have sounded like a keen outlook on it - I mean, if I'm knocked back (In an asylum case - several people agree that I qualify for a hearing - apparent human rights violations are freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and inhumane/degrading treatment by the government - I can give details on request, there's just no room here, and the thing's long enough as it is), there's Canada to try, and that's about it, vs being knocked back in Europe - over a dozen over countries to try, and it's very cheap and easy to travel within the Schegen (sp?) zone. I don't want to enter a country for the purpouse of working and living in any other way except legally, but several people have been egging me on to do just this.

Opinions, anybody?

P.S, if ColdCanadian is about, he's heard the full extent of my story, and if anyone here knows him, it might be worth having a chat to him.

[JerZ]

I don't know why you're barred from earning a wage, but I have to say, and please don't think this is cold, no, I do not ever think it is a good idea, nor is it fair, to deliberately come to the U.S. not knowing whether you'll earn a wage.

I'm not sure what your reasons are for believing you could earn money in the U.S. when you can't in Australia, but it's my general feeling that if you already can't earn there, you're not going to suddenly earn here.

Just "wanting to" isn't good enough...IMO (as a citizen who has paid taxes for 22 years). Many people think the U.S. is the golden dream, or they wouldn't be arriving en masse. If it were that easy, or even if it were relatively easy, many, many of those people you are putting down would be earning.

I'm not trying to come off as a complete you-know. I just feel it is a huge mistake to assume: 1. That people complaining about immigrants have some sort of crystal ball into these people's heads and know for certain that they aren't looking for work; 2. that it's easy to find work in the U.S.--you just have to want to (if only!); or 3. that if you had such severe issues of one kind or another at home that you couldn't work there, you would be able to work here. (Also...I'm wondering if this post should be in the immigration forum.) One other factor is that if you already have such negative opinions of a large minority in the area you'd like to move to, would it really be that wise to move there? Just some things to think about.

[Colin Baugh]

Originally Posted by bluejeans

I've read a lot of posts in this forum that seem to point to illegal immigrants as going a long way towards CA going down the can. Namely, no respect for the neighbourhood and residents, taking advantage of welfare/food stamps as if it's their god-given right, escalating crime, trying to assimmilate the neighbourhood, etc. I'm just going by posts on here, as I've had no experience with illegal immigration in Australia - in my state, we don't have many immigrants at all, and with our mandatory detention policy, "we" lock them up (in guantanamo-type conditions, some say) for up to several years at a time before deciding on their case. In my state, I have found that a lot of people on welfare here share some of the traits of the illegals that seem to be plaguing CA. The funny thing is, I've never heard a taxpayer complain about all of this, in fact, 9/10 people I speak to say something along the lines of "they deserve it, particularly if they've had bad circumstances", "I don't care that my $10 a year in taxes goes to them" etc.

Myself, I'm actually thinking of migrating, legally or illegaly, to another country, for the reason that I want a life approaching the average joe (I understand that the middle class is disappearing in CA, and those who are, are really, really struggling) - to be able to work for a living and not have the taxpayer pick up the tab for my free ride. The whole thing is a long story, but basicly my parents are of the opinion that I should be on welfare and in public housing for the rest of my life. They know a couple of people in the state government who have made their "dream" possible. You probably won't believe this, but I'm actually barred from earning a wage - I can work, but I'm not allowed to receive my earnings, by law. This was told to me by a member in the state government, when I assumed that I'd be able to. I certainly have done nothing to warrant this and am not a criminal (which is the only thing I can think of that would bar someone working in their own country).

Basicly I'm at the point where I'm ashamed to show my face outside, because the majority of the street are paying for my free ride, and simply want to earn a living instead of being hand-fed (however hard it may be), yet I'm denied this, hence my coming very close to migrating. I've spoken to over 150 people, online and off, about my situation (in a lot more detail than I've given you so far) - about 5 have assumed off the bat that I'm insane, 5 or so have actively made suggestions or tried to help, and the rest have been shocked by the whole thing and offered suggestions that I've already tried.

I spoke at length to a man that was giving me a lot of ideas about being an illegal (which is something I don't want to do - for some reason, he - a taxpayer - sounded like he was really supporting the whole idea!) in his country, who was dumbfounded as to why I'd want to go from being hand-fed and given no responsibility to working and having all of the problems associated with it. I guess it's a cross between actually being proud of contributing to the community and having the perspective of someone being hand-fed.

Basicly, I'm asking, if I was to be an illegal or otherwise accepted immigrant in CA or the U.S in general, who treats being accepted into the country as a privelage and not a right, who wants to earn a living rather than sucking from the teet of Big Brother, respects their neighbourhood, and is willing to adapt to the countries culture rather than defiantly sticking to their own and expecting others to accommodate their needs as a matter of course (spanish-only signs and the matricula consular card come to mind) - how would I get along? If the benefits really are handed out like lollypops, would it be so difficult for someone like myself to survive and not give in to temptation in using said benefits until making past the welfare threshold?

I, too, come from a state that everybody says is a great place to visit, but there seem to be some people that live here that seem to be living in dreamland. (Warning, the following list is kind of long...) I'm sure none of these crimes come anywhere near to what you're used to hearing of, but they're pretty shocking for a city of barely 100,000:

Bus windows being smashed on a daily basis

Burnt-out cars being dumped into rivers in broad daylight, in the view of at least 60 houses

Police, called out to domestic violence disputes, waiting at the end of the street until it's all finished

People in the worst neighbourhoods acting as the police themselves because the police turn up about 5 hours later

Shoot-outs between 2 gangs over a stolen packet of cigarettes

Being assaulted in daylight for not hearing your assailant ask for the time

Public transport being treated like a party bus, complete with underage drinking, vomiting (on weeknights, I'm guessing it's standard on weekends anywhere else)

Said people routinely refusing to disembark the bus and threatening to complain, making the rest of us wait 45 mins until the police show up (and another 30 mins while they make up their mind as to what to do)

The most vulnerable people in society (those in wheelchairs, physical disabilities etc) being specificly targeted as "easy marks" when it comes to personal robbery

(I'm sure I can think of other examples, but not at 4am :P )

Some of the states problems:

Having the most energy resources in the country yet paying the most for power

Grocery prices 30% more than the rest of the country
A state that seems to reward the notion of easy money and no work (40% of the population are on some sort of welfare payment) while joe average is being financially driven into the ground

higher crime rate per capita than capital cities 30 times our size

judges handing out slap-on-the-wrist "punishments" for people having commited the same crime 5 times in a row (burglary, car theft, assault, drug dealing come to mind) - maybe I'm wrong about the work culture here, these criminals seem to treat going to court as having a daily office job

40 public housing units in a *single suburb* being vacant, yet the government say that the waiting list for public housing is 10 years long

As a friend said: "And we're trying to promote tourism! What are the tourists coming to see? Gang shootings, people driving like monkeys going beserk in cars, pine plantation tours *oh, don't look over there, that's a marijuana plantation*"

My state, on an Australian level, sounds like it's going down the can in the same way CA is. I'm interested to hear of your opinion at my considering migrating there or even to another country. Keep in mind that I'm not all that keen on the U.S, despite what might have sounded like a keen outlook on it - I mean, if I'm knocked back (In an asylum case - several people agree that I qualify for a hearing - apparent human rights violations are freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and inhumane/degrading treatment by the government - I can give details on request, there's just no room here, and the thing's long enough as it is), there's Canada to try, and that's about it, vs being knocked back in Europe - over a dozen over countries to try, and it's very cheap and easy to travel within the Schegen (sp?) zone. I don't want to enter a country for the purpouse of working and living in any other way except legally, but several people have been egging me on to do just this.

Opinions, anybody?

P.S, if ColdCanadian is about, he's heard the full extent of my story, and if anyone here knows him, it might be worth having a chat to him.

That is the best single report on the state of the United Kingdom I have read for a long time.
Keep up the good work.
You don`t need to go illiegal....."more than one way to skin a cat"

Good luck

[kettlepot]

Different people definitely read things different ways. Jerz, I didn't read Bluejeans post at all in the way you did.

From what I read Bluejeans WANTS to earn a living. The only question really is does he have any marketable skills. Probably not, unfortunately. As for reasons why he can't work, I can think of one right of the bat, if he earns any money, it will count against his parents income cap, they'll be thrown off the dole, and they'll lose their "dream" of a lifetime of welfare dependency which is the dream Bluejeans despises.

But like Jerz said, I would discourage the illegal route. First, because it's illegal. Secondly, it will open you up to exploitation by your employers. Thirdly, you'll probably have to commit other violations of the law to function, such as driving without a license, lying on all sorts of forms and applications, driving without insurance. No doubt there are many more.

I can't offer you any insights into the legal route. I know nothing about it. If we still had country of origin immigration it would probably be easy as there would probably be lots of unused Australian slots. But I don't know how it works now. There's the visa lottery of 50,000 visas worldwide, but how many millions of people apply for those? I've heard there are temporary work visas that allow someone to come to the US and work for 6 months just to sort of check things out, but I don't know the truth of that.

If you did make it to the US legally and don't have any skills I would suggest getting a job at the Outback Steakhouse as a waiter. It's an Australian themed restaurant chain that might actually WANT to hire someone with an authentic Australian accent. And if you can play a diggeradoo, they might even sponsor you for an H1B whatever visa. (ok that's stretching it)

I do finally have to make a comment about crime and the police reaction to it. I'd have to say that in the 70's and early 80's the US seemed to be trending that very same way as crime increased. The big city politicians wouldn't support police action to combat crime for fear of angering segments of the electorate, but the broad populace wanted something done. Just witness the Dirty Harry movies, and Charles Bronson's movies. Then finally all the tougher sentencing laws started to kick in, and along with improved policing techniques US crime stats have been declining for 15+ years. For Australia to improve the public will have to WANT to put criminals into prisons for VERY long terms and believe they deserve to be there. They'll have to support cracking down on nuisance crimes like vandalism because things like that set the stage for more dangerous activities. It's what Giuliani did in New York City. And now NYC has become a livable city.

And California can still support the middle-class, just less and less of them can live in single family detached subruban housing. California's urban areas are becoming like the big cities of the northeast. No one lives in single family houses with yards in New York City. California's cities are becoming more and more like that. The other costs of living aren't really that far out of line except for housing.

[midnightbirdgirl]

Illegal is illegal. Anyone wiling to break the laws of our country from the get go, does not deserve to be here, period. No matter what their intentions are!

MBG

[bluejeans]

The only thing barring me from working here is a silly law that by all rights shouldn't have been applied to me. The problem with my mother is that she goes taking action in other peoples' lives without thinking about the consequences of her actions. This is an example. JerZ, in this case, I have to disagree with you - though wanting to work doesn't mean you'll get a job, the fact that I can't work here doesn't mean I can't anywhere else. I've been prepared to work in another state, with 2 job offers (cash, to defeat the "can't work" law), but had my cell phone stolen with the contact details of these two prospective employers (the merits of pen and paper! ).

I certainly do not see the U.S as a place where dreams are made, in fact with current events and opinions, I'd be hard pressed to think of anybody that does still see the U.S in this light. Then there's the fact that nowhere's perfect and anyone tuned into the news will know the reality of the situation there re: the american dream. As for the opinions on minorities, they're not mine, I'm guess I'm pandering to the group on here that complain about them. I haven't had experience with immigrants treating their neighbourhoods in the same way some allegedly do in CA, so even if I had that opinion of "them" myself, I wouldn't know what to expect.

Colin Baugh: Well, most of us are descended from British criminals, what do you expect? :P

I've never seriously considered going illegal. It's just from all I've been hearing on here about illegals supposedly getting the golden treatment, I thouht, wow, why not? Of course, this isn't black and white, and the subject of illegal immigration probably has more shades of grey than most. I brought it up as more of an act of desperation than something I'd seriously consider. Mind you, I have lived in Sydney for 3 months similarly to how an illegal might (sleeping on trains, etc) - not that any of that could prepare me for L.A!

Apart from an I.T certificate, I'd fall into the category of skills that I actually have, but don't have a piece of paper for. So apart from going the asylum route (again, this is something I don't want to do in the U.S due to the lack of surrounding countries that consider harbouring refugees under their U.N obligations), there's not much choice other than illegal, and I'm pretty sure it's not as easy anymore as walking through a Mexican border footbridge and happening to be white.

midnightbirdgirl: I'm interested to know if you have any personal feelings to fuel this opinion. Is it your tax dollars, experience with illegals, the principle of it, or all the above?

kettlepot: Thanks for the suggestions.

So, in conclusion, things for illegals aren't as easy as they sound? The government doesn't hand out benefits left right and centre, so much so that you hardly need to lift a finger? Marticula Consular isn't a card that is a proverbial unlimited ATM card? Sorry about challenging your beliefs - I've just heard so, so many people on here claiming that life is easy for illegals, that I want to hear the other side of the story.

I will tell the full extent of my story and my reasons for needing to get out of here (I haven't even scratched the surface yet) after giving the chance to people to reply, if anyone wants to.

EDIT: There just might be a legal route:

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...agreements.htm

I have one of those pensions. I've just never believed it to be as easy as turning up and saying "Ok, I want to live here now, my country is going to pay my way partly as per your agreement with them". I haven't gotten into contact with any of the overseas offices for fear that someone might be tipped off that I want to leave the country (As much as that sounds paranoid, apparently I can be stopped from leaving the country by force - again, without being a criminal - though apparently it's a power that hasn't been excercised to date). Using this service would be a kind of safety net until such time as I could secure employment of some sort. This might contradict my saying I don't want the taxpayer to pick up the tab, but they are atm in any case, and it's a legal foot in the door. And if I don't want a free ride here, I don't think I'll want a free ride anywhere else. Doing things that way makes me feel dirty, to be honest.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by bluejeans

.

Basicly, I'm asking, if I was to be an illegal or otherwise accepted immigrant in CA or the U.S in general, who treats being accepted into the country as a privelage and not a right, who wants to earn a living rather than sucking from the teet of Big Brother, respects their neighbourhood, and is willing to adapt to the countries culture rather than defiantly sticking to their own and expecting others to accommodate their needs as a matter of course (spanish-only signs and the matricula consular card come to mind) - how would I get along?

You sound like a very respectable human and I'd be glad to have you on my block!

[midnightbirdgirl]

bluejeans, there are so many reasons. First, my husband is a CBP Officer (Customs and Border Protection, ie Immigration).
I just generally have an issue with anyone who starts of with a disregard for American law. It shows you do not have any respect for our country. Either do it right, or don't do it at all.
As far as the vast majority of illegal immigration, it is mostly from Mexico here, as I am sure you know. But that does not mean that we do not have our share of issues with OTM (Other Than Mexican) illegals. There should be no exceptions. With the Mexicans, the illegals do not want to assimilate and want us to accommodate them, and expect full civil rights protections. Well how can one have civil rights, if they are not a citizen? Makes no sense. How can someone demand I pay for their education, health care, housing, etc when they disregard the laws of my country??
So, yes, to answer, all of the above.
You started by saying:

The only thing barring me from working here is a silly law that by all rights shouldn't have been applied to me.

Who are you to discount an American law? Who are you to say it is silly??
If you already have no respect for our laws, why on earth would you want to come here, and why on earth should we welcome you?
MBG

[LOVE THE U.S.A.]

Originally Posted by bluejeans

I've read a lot of posts in this forum that seem to point to illegal immigrants as going a long way towards CA going down the can. Namely, no respect for the neighbourhood and residents, taking advantage of welfare/food stamps as if it's their god-given right, escalating crime, trying to assimmilate the neighbourhood, etc. I'm just going by posts on here, as I've had no experience with illegal immigration in Australia - in my state, we don't have many immigrants at all, and with our mandatory detention policy, "we" lock them up (in guantanamo-type conditions, some say) for up to several years at a time before deciding on their case. In my state, I have found that a lot of people on welfare here share some of the traits of the illegals that seem to be plaguing CA. The funny thing is, I've never heard a taxpayer complain about all of this, in fact, 9/10 people I speak to say something along the lines of "they deserve it, particularly if they've had bad circumstances", "I don't care that my $10 a year in taxes goes to them" etc.

Myself, I'm actually thinking of migrating, legally or illegaly, to another country, for the reason that I want a life approaching the average joe (I understand that the middle class is disappearing in CA, and those who are, are really, really struggling) - to be able to work for a living and not have the taxpayer pick up the tab for my free ride. The whole thing is a long story, but basicly my parents are of the opinion that I should be on welfare and in public housing for the rest of my life. They know a couple of people in the state government who have made their "dream" possible. You probably won't believe this, but I'm actually barred from earning a wage - I can work, but I'm not allowed to receive my earnings, by law. This was told to me by a member in the state government, when I assumed that I'd be able to. I certainly have done nothing to warrant this and am not a criminal (which is the only thing I can think of that would bar someone working in their own country).

Basicly I'm at the point where I'm ashamed to show my face outside, because the majority of the street are paying for my free ride, and simply want to earn a living instead of being hand-fed (however hard it may be), yet I'm denied this, hence my coming very close to migrating. I've spoken to over 150 people, online and off, about my situation (in a lot more detail than I've given you so far) - about 5 have assumed off the bat that I'm insane, 5 or so have actively made suggestions or tried to help, and the rest have been shocked by the whole thing and offered suggestions that I've already tried.

I spoke at length to a man that was giving me a lot of ideas about being an illegal (which is something I don't want to do - for some reason, he - a taxpayer - sounded like he was really supporting the whole idea!) in his country, who was dumbfounded as to why I'd want to go from being hand-fed and given no responsibility to working and having all of the problems associated with it. I guess it's a cross between actually being proud of contributing to the community and having the perspective of someone being hand-fed.

Basicly, I'm asking, if I was to be an illegal or otherwise accepted immigrant in CA or the U.S in general, who treats being accepted into the country as a privelage and not a right, who wants to earn a living rather than sucking from the teet of Big Brother, respects their neighbourhood, and is willing to adapt to the countries culture rather than defiantly sticking to their own and expecting others to accommodate their needs as a matter of course (spanish-only signs and the matricula consular card come to mind) - how would I get along? If the benefits really are handed out like lollypops, would it be so difficult for someone like myself to survive and not give in to temptation in using said benefits until making past the welfare threshold?

I, too, come from a state that everybody says is a great place to visit, but there seem to be some people that live here that seem to be living in dreamland. (Warning, the following list is kind of long...) I'm sure none of these crimes come anywhere near to what you're used to hearing of, but they're pretty shocking for a city of barely 100,000:

Bus windows being smashed on a daily basis

Burnt-out cars being dumped into rivers in broad daylight, in the view of at least 60 houses

Police, called out to domestic violence disputes, waiting at the end of the street until it's all finished

People in the worst neighbourhoods acting as the police themselves because the police turn up about 5 hours later

Shoot-outs between 2 gangs over a stolen packet of cigarettes

Being assaulted in daylight for not hearing your assailant ask for the time

Public transport being treated like a party bus, complete with underage drinking, vomiting (on weeknights, I'm guessing it's standard on weekends anywhere else)

Said people routinely refusing to disembark the bus and threatening to complain, making the rest of us wait 45 mins until the police show up (and another 30 mins while they make up their mind as to what to do)

The most vulnerable people in society (those in wheelchairs, physical disabilities etc) being specificly targeted as "easy marks" when it comes to personal robbery

(I'm sure I can think of other examples, but not at 4am :P )

Some of the states problems:

Having the most energy resources in the country yet paying the most for power

Grocery prices 30% more than the rest of the country
A state that seems to reward the notion of easy money and no work (40% of the population are on some sort of welfare payment) while joe average is being financially driven into the ground

higher crime rate per capita than capital cities 30 times our size

judges handing out slap-on-the-wrist "punishments" for people having commited the same crime 5 times in a row (burglary, car theft, assault, drug dealing come to mind) - maybe I'm wrong about the work culture here, these criminals seem to treat going to court as having a daily office job

40 public housing units in a *single suburb* being vacant, yet the government say that the waiting list for public housing is 10 years long

As a friend said: "And we're trying to promote tourism! What are the tourists coming to see? Gang shootings, people driving like monkeys going beserk in cars, pine plantation tours *oh, don't look over there, that's a marijuana plantation*"

My state, on an Australian level, sounds like it's going down the can in the same way CA is. I'm interested to hear of your opinion at my considering migrating there or even to another country. Keep in mind that I'm not all that keen on the U.S, despite what might have sounded like a keen outlook on it - I mean, if I'm knocked back (In an asylum case - several people agree that I qualify for a hearing - apparent human rights violations are freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and inhumane/degrading treatment by the government - I can give details on request, there's just no room here, and the thing's long enough as it is), there's Canada to try, and that's about it, vs being knocked back in Europe - over a dozen over countries to try, and it's very cheap and easy to travel within the Schegen (sp?) zone. I don't want to enter a country for the purpouse of working and living in any other way except legally, but several people have been egging me on to do just this.

Opinions, anybody?

P.S, if ColdCanadian is about, he's heard the full extent of my story, and if anyone here knows him, it might be worth having a chat to him.

i HEAR THAT NEW ZELAND IS NICE. GOOD LUCK AND WE UNDERSTAND

[bluejeans]

Originally Posted by midnightbirdgirl

bluejeans, there are so many reasons. First, my husband is a CBP Officer (Customs and Border Protection, ie Immigration).
I just generally have an issue with anyone who starts of with a disregard for American law. It shows you do not have any respect for our country. Either do it right, or don't do it at all.
As far as the vast majority of illegal immigration, it is mostly from Mexico here, as I am sure you know. But that does not mean that we do not have our share of issues with OTM (Other Than Mexican) illegals. There should be no exceptions. With the Mexicans, the illegals do not want to assimilate and want us to accommodate them, and expect full civil rights protections. Well how can one have civil rights, if they are not a citizen? Makes no sense. How can someone demand I pay for their education, health care, housing, etc when they disregard the laws of my country??
So, yes, to answer, all of the above.
You started by saying:


Who are you to discount an American law? Who are you to say it is silly??
If you already have no respect for our laws, why on earth would you want to come here, and why on earth should we welcome you?
MBG

midnightbirdgirl, you misunderstand me. The only thing barring me from working here - Australia, where i am now, is this silly law, which is half the reason I want to get out in the first place. I have no idea how you assumed I was talking about this U.S - I started this thread by saying that I lived in an Australian state and am barred from working here, and somehow you think I'm discounting an American law