Do we need more (legal) immigrants? (English, Mexico, biased, representation)

[WazzuCoop21]

Okay guys, now let's get away from illegal immigration and let's talk about legal immigration for a minute. I've advocated for a temporary moratorium on all immigration, illegal and legal. This is mainly due to the fact that I am of the opinion that we should give the country some breathing room and allow some of these new citizens to assimilate into our culture. Here's some figures from the DHS in a Washington Times article about legal immigration of the past year (2006):

CIS said 721,268 immigrants, including 9,374 military personnel, became naturalized citizens last year. That is a 22 percent increase over the 2005 numbers, when 588,994 immigrants became naturalized citizens.

Now, I'm curious how this country expects to keep absorbing this many people and whether they expect to continue this trend of increasing the number of naturalized citizens every year. Has anyone ever thought to themselves, "gee, we need more cars on the road", "gee, there's just not enough people around", "gee, I wish there was more traffic"...if you never asked yourselves those questions, then I would assume that you were as shocked to see figures that were close to 3/4 of a million people in 1 year as I was. Any thoughts?

[MoMark]

We always need legal immigrants because they tend to be educated and professionals drawn to the U.S. for job and career opportunities. That's the thing, it's very hard to get into the U.S. legally. We're among the tightest and most difficult of any major western country to legally migrate into. We accept people who are rich above a certain amount who can prove their means of self-support, and we bring in professionals. However, we have short lists and don't offer enough spots. Marrying an American is no guarantee for the foreigner either. If you try to legally migrate to the U.S. and you have no skills...you might as well look for Santa Claus' workshop in the North Pole...you most likely will never get in. If you're Laotian or come from a war-torn country, you might be able to get in by lottery. If you're European or Canadian, forget it. The system is biased against you.
That's the irony. We make the U.S.A. one of the toughest countries to legally migrate into even if you have a skill we need and can immediately begin contributing to our society, yet you can swarm across the border with no education, skills, money, or anything to offer the U.S. and be home free. Just sneak in, steal a SSN#, apply for a job at Swift Meat Company, have a baby on American soil, and in 10 years the government will offer you amnesty but the list of legal hopefuls remains just that..legal hopefuls.
We've got it ass backwards, as usual.

[mark6052]

seems like alot of people coming in, do those numbers reflect all that died for one reason or other? Most of the illegals could not qualify to make it in. for those that do it legally, welcome. I know its a hard process, my grandfather explained it to me.

[christa17]

To be a legal immigrante you must be willing to assimilate(by definition at least) and yes we MUST WELCOME all who want to come legally(assimilation is key to legal)dont believe it read the imm. law

YOU ARE WELCOME AS NEW AMERICANS

[Las Vegas Dude]

No, I think we take far too many in. In fact, the majority are NOT the educated elites but rather the uneducated. The majority of our legal immigrants come from Mexico and other Latin American countries and are not exactly educated. In fact, we even allow legal immigrants to get welfare handouts.

The American identity that was developed is rapidly being destroyed by immigration without assimilation.

We do not need new immigration, and certainly not of the type that is rapidly turning areas of the United States into some Third World indigenous area of Mexico. They don't want to be Americans, they don't want to learn our language or culture. In fact, many are downright filthy.

Check out what's happening in LA with the Blacks and Hispanics shooting each other up, it's a representation of the country in which these groups are dominant. Is this the diversity we want? Is this going to benefit our children?

[James T]

Originally Posted by MoMark

We always need legal immigrants because they tend to be educated and professionals drawn to the U.S. for job and career opportunities.

Actually, they displace American workers from their jobs, such as the case with the H-1B visa program that has effectively killed software engineering as an American occupation right here in the U.S. For more info see:

http://www.zazona.com/

We certainly do not need any immigrants whatsoever at this point in time. The only reason continued immigration into the U.S. is being permitted is to cheapen the labor value of America's middle and working classes, to the benefit of corporatists and other gated community transnationalists.

That's the thing, it's very hard to get into the U.S. legally. We're among the tightest and most difficult of any major western country to legally migrate into.

You must be joking. That is absolute nonsense.

[James T]

Originally Posted by christa17

To be a legal immigrante you must be willing to assimilate(by definition at least) and yes we MUST WELCOME all who want to come legally(assimilation is key to legal)dont believe it read the imm. law

YOU ARE WELCOME AS NEW AMERICANS

Why? Is it written somewhere in the U.S. Constitution that we're obligated to welcome everybody who wants to enter this country?

[ArrowThruTheMoon]

If we don't have legal immigration, the US will be left behind (economically speaking). Sure, speak english and appreciate being american than you're welcome!

quick FYI for those against legal immigration: most nobel prize winners are US citizens who were born somewhere else! (true with many other important professional recognitions).

Legally naturalized citizens don't take being american for granted like many who were born here. Fact!

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by Las Vegas Dude

Check out what's happening in LA with the Blacks and Hispanics shooting each other up, it's a representation of the country in which these groups are dominant. Is this the diversity we want? Is this going to benefit our children?

Thugs and gangmembers have nothing to do with diverse peoples.

[lulu]

Well, my thoughts are quite simple. I feel that if a human being feels threatened, or fear for their lives in their home country, I most certainly will welcome them with open arms and will willingly help them. These refugees I find are the most grateful and definitely add to this country's strength. This is not a hotel where you come & go like going to Disneyland, this is serious business here and it's land of opportunity for people that need that second chance.
Anyway, as for filling unwanted jobs, they can fill them for awhile till they get their two feet on the ground and go on... We also have always had plenty of unemployed people from all races, cultures right here at home that need & want jobs Some say, well they won't do it.. How do we really know if we don't give them a chance?? Anyhow, I'm sure they will when there are no more free rides.

And for the the person that said that most Nobel prize winners were born elsewhere...most certainly. And let's not forget that our first U.S. President's were also born elsewhere, too.