By Fareed Zakaria, CNN
Lately, I've been thinking about how the United States is different from Greece. One of the biggest differences that sets the United States apart from every other rich country in the world is that America is demographically vibrant.
Almost every rich country in the world faces problems of the welfare state which are technically fixable by reducing entitlements, raising retirement ages and working healthcare costs. But the one thing you can’t change is demographics.
Almost every rich country in the world is going to get older and older and older.
All these older people are going to have to draw benefits and pensions. Even more importantly, this means fewer young workers will be on hand to pay taxes.
At the end of the day, this is why the Japanese system has found it so difficult to get growth back. It is the first major country in the world that is experiencing actual population decline. Italy is next on that list. Germany is not far behind. Even China is going to face a demographic challenge.
The United Nations just released a report, which said that in the next 30 to 40 years, China is going to lose 100 million people. No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant.
The United States is the huge exception to the rule of rich countries shrinking. The U.S. is going to be growing in population for the foreseeable future. By 2050, the U.S. will have 400 million people.
American demographics remain very healthy. While all the other countries go through this ageing cycle when they grow rich, America is the exception.
Why?
It’s entirely because of immigration.
There are two things that set the U.S. apart:
One is we still take in more immigrants legally than the rest of the world put together.
Two is that our immigrant population tends to reproduce at a slightly higher rate (they are still somewhat old-fashioned, if you will).
So those two things mean that our country is going to be demographically vibrant.
That has huge implications. Business people will tell you that one of the reasons they still look at the U.S. as a very attractive market for the future is it will have lots of young worker, producers, consumers, investors and spenders.
We have this huge strength in immigration. But are we managing it well?
Here, once again (alas), you have a case where American society is very dynamic and American politics is completely paralyzed.
We have been unable to enact sensible immigration reform forever because we have been hung up on a kind of theoretical debate - an almost theological debate.
No matter what people say, at the end of the day there is no solution to the undocumented workers issue that is going to involve mass deportation. The U.S. is not going to do that. We are not a police state. We are talking about an illegal immigrant population that is larger than the state of Illinois.
If it’s 12 million now, and we kick the can down the road for another 5 years, we are going to have 20 million undocumented immigrants at some point.
How does that make things better for people who want to deal with illegal immigration more harshly? If we can’t bring ourselves to deport 12 million people, are we really going to deport 20 million?
So it is in everybody’s interest that this problem gets solved sooner rather than later.
It seemed as though Washington had finally found a way to get its act together and come up with the only solution that could work - which would be a compromise. That is why the Dream Act was sponsored by Republican John McCain and the late Democratic senator Teddy Kennedy.
The Dream Act gave something to every side. It was a great compromise bill in the grand tradition of bipartisan bills that Congress once passed to deal with big issues on which people in our country of 300 million disagreed.
So what happened to the bill?
It got eaten up on both sides.
Labor unions destroyed it from one end. The people who oppose any kind of immigration reform on the hard right destroyed it on the other end.
The result was that the Dream Act collapsed even though George Bush supported it. Now President Obama is trying to revive the Dream Act in a different form and he can’t find 10 Republicans who will support it. Not even John McCain, the bill’s original supporter, will get behind it now. McCain is now backing away from his own creation!
We think we have all the time in the world to play around with this issue because we are so far ahead of the rest of the world. We think we are so enlightened and that we do immigration so much better than the rest of the world. And it’s true, but only as a backward-looking statement.
Look at what the Canadians are doing today. The Canadians have created a set of smart immigration laws that are much more welcoming to new immigrants and that focus on skill-based immigration. They allow people to self-apply for immigration so you don’t even need a company to sponsor you. The result is Canada is getting much more ethnically diverse and vibrant.
Look at Australia. Fifteen years ago, Australia was convulsed by a huge anti-immigrant tide. There was a serious political movement that was talking about deportation. Now about a quarter of Australia’s population is foreign-born. This is one of the highest percentages in the world and as a result Australia is booming.
Look at what Singapore has done in its ability to attract the best and the brightest. It’s turning itself into a financial capital.
Look at what London has done and completely transformed itself.
So, yes, as a whole America is still far ahead of the rest of the world. We still do immigration better than a lot of the rest of the world. But a lot of the rest of the world is copying us and is learning from us.
Meanwhile, we are bizarrely copying the immigration policies of continental European –countries like France and Germany - which have completely failed to integrate and assimilate their populations.
Unfortunately, this is a perfect picture of the new world where people are learning from our strengths while we are letting some of our most crucial advantages slip.
 |
Post by: |
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
"Meanwhile, we are bizarrely copying the immigration policies of continental European –countries like France and Germany – which have completely failed to integrate and assimilate their populations."
Whose fault is it? Sadly, both sides!
Here in Europe we have the immigration wave from the south – Africa – and the south-east – the Balkans and the Middle East via Turkey.
In the United States you have immigrants from all over the world, yet with a lion's share from South America.
The immigrants in Europe thus have a different cultural background than those who are in the U.S.
Hm, exactly what's your point?
This article is a descrase to journalism. 1, we are aproching 400 million, that is true, but only someone with a proimigrant slant could say haveing the population at 200% sustainable levels is a good thing. 2, the fact that imigrants reproduce at a MUCH higher rate than americans is also a very bad thing. Every point this baffon makes in this article is actualy a point that is hurting america not helping it.
The point is, cultural assimalation. I mean how many Americans do you see driving around with a Russian or Chinese flag on their car or how many homes do you see where someone is flying the Japanese or German flag? Not very many if any, but how many people do you see flying the national flag of Mexico? The point is iIf someone wants to immigrate to the United States because they love this country and the love our culture and way of life then great, they should be allowed to immigrate here and become American citizens at a rate which our nation can assimilate them in to our economy, but why on earth should we grant citizenship to individuals with a sworn allegiance and love for another country? I live in Washington and every day on my way to work I can count at least 10 cars with the Mexican flag on them. Not only that, but at my previous job, Cinco De Mayo was bigger than July Fourth, they even had to close down several of our manufacturing facilities because of the number of people who would call in sick. Heck when people are celebrating the independance day of a foreign government isn't that an indication of a larger problem? I mean how many people do you see celebrating Chinese communism day or German independance day in this country or better yet do they celebrate July fourth in Mexico or Cuba ? That's the issue, that's the point, cultural assimilation and right now our immigration laws are all messed up.
To MIckey: is 400 millions too much for America? Is the growth rate too much? Aren't reading carefully? This is precisely the reason why this is a GOOD SIGN that America has such growth rate. DIvide 400 millions by the square millage of this country and you'll get a number that is almost ridiculous compared with anybody anywhere.
To Kabel: The problem with assimilation is always left to immigrant and never people realize that perhaps it is also a matter of national interest. When you have 52 millions Hispanics, and from that 37 millions are from mexico, you should think that assimilation is a task for the country as well, and not the immigrants solely. There is nothing done to welcome the new immigrants that can make them proud to be here. The only incentive is the money they make on this land, but the Hate from the rest doesn't make things good for them to adopt this nation as theirs. I know the idea of making things more easy for the immigrant to adapt to AMerica might sound even offensive for some, but when you have already 52 millions inhabitant, things have to be seen as a matter or national interest.
Many would think we are loosing our traditional values and culture, while others might argue that our culture is always evolving, so whatever we have now is our culture. Either if you like the first position or the second one, something has to be done either to integrated or assimilate them, otherwise we could end up with a 2 culture country, 2 language country and 2 types of americans. A very radical "canadian type" society were you have a french culture and a british culture and never mix. The bad news here is that side who is getting older is not the immigrant side, and the side who is growing is the hispanic side, so in less than 30 years 35% of the country will be hispanic and many people agree than the future Hispanic president of US has already born, so number don't lie.
What a bologne. Where I live there are Italian restaurants and Irish pubs, flying their respective flags, yet there's no outrage for that. Now, there's more and more "Ramirez" and "Gonzalez" beefing up the USA military. And so that you know, there's no military tradition in Mexico; very few families have a member enrolling, unlike to what they do in the USA. If that's not love for the country, I don't know what is.
kabel i don't know where you live or where you hide but if you are gonna say that other cultures don't flair around their own culture you are wrong.... i dont know if you have ever heard of china towns.... and yes those are in the united states... how about little italy??? here in texas german towns proud brag about their german heritage... so to say that hispanics are the only ones that display their heritage is ridiculous... the united states has welcomed st. patty's day as such as cinco de mayo so lets not try to treat hispanics as well as we treat the other ethnic groups
The message: If your an Immigrant and illegally in this country, go home! If your an Immigrant and legally in this country, welcome to the U.S.!
Kabel's point isn't specifically about flags, it's about cultural assimilation, and while the flag example may have been poor, you've all ignored the point of his post.
The new hispanic population in this country is acting significantly differently than the historical immigrants to this country. Historically, immigrants came here for a better opportunity, and because they wanted to be American. The current wave of Hispanic illegal immigration has nothing to do with being American - it has only to do with the better opportunity. Take the Mexico vs. USA soccer match the other day - besides the stories about how it was overwhelmingly attended by Mexico supporters, the interviews after the game were astonishing. There was a common thread when Mexican Americans were interviewed after the game - and it was "I live and work in America, but my heart is in Mexico."
Look at other recent examples - like the children who got sent home from school for wearing American flag t-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, which upset Hispanic students. That's a solid example of Hispanic immigrants who value their home culture over their new country. A few of you brought up points about Chinatown, Little Italy, Irish pubs, etc - but there's a huge difference. While we may celebrate our cultural heritage, we understand that it is precisely that - our HERITAGE. It is not our current culture, our current culture is American. If any American citizen ever says "in my culture, we do this," your response should be "you mean your cultural heritage does that."
Immigrating to America means you're going to live by the same social contract that we all do. It means you're going to join our team and become one of us. By doing so, you have access to all the jobs and benefits that all natural born Americans do - but you have to commit to it. The current wave of Hispanic immigrants have very little intention of committing to that. There was an uproar recently when a Texas State Senator told a Hispanic man that was speaking to the Senate "Why are you speaking Spanish?" People found that racist; however, the Hispanic man had been living here for nearly 20 years. If you live in a country for nearly 20 years and can't speak the language fluently, you're not just "not trying" to learn - you're actually "trying not" to learn. Anyone who's ever done a year abroad in college knows that if you actually try, you can pretty much learn to speak a language within a year if you're living in that country. The only way it doesn't happen is if you couldn't care less, because you don't care about the country or its culture or traditions.
@Shofar
“To Kabel: The problem with assimilation is always left to immigrant and never people”
Of course it is left to the immigrant. What part of assimilation is confusing to you?
@ Johnny
“What a bologne. Where I live there are Italian restaurants and Irish pubs, flying their respective flags, yet there's no outrage for that.”
Fool.. that is their theme, a selling point for their business and completely unrelated to assimilating to the culture. Walk into any of those restaurants and I guaranty the server will speak English.
Iligal immigration don't help nobody is a Violation of laws of this country, so Why gift rights???
People who move to this country, many of them don't pay taxes have 5 o more children and they want rigths, Please go Home.
Welcome the ones who are legal pay taxes and don't abuse of United States.
Kabel. Mexican Independence day is September 16th.
@ Sean: What this is so incredible or difficult to see? As Donald Trump once said: If you own a bank 500 million dollars and you can not pay, this is not longer your problem, but also the bank"
The same thing. At the individual level, perhaps the burden is on the immigrant, but when you have 52 millions people, then it is matter of National interest. The magnitude of 52 million people is overwhelming. 52 million is a medium size country. 52 million can and WILL change America forever. It is foolish and a perhaps outdated to think " If they come they have to adapt to us" Not anymore. You can live your live plentiful and a legal way without having to say anything in English. 52 million is country living inside of America and it is no longer dependent of the traditional culture. Here is the danger , because it is alive and absorbing the traditional culture. Is not assimilating but transforming. If you don't teach your kids and grandkids to speak spanish, they will be the minority in the country and there is nothing you can do to stop it, because you think the problem are the illegals. Sir for every Hispanic Illegal there are 15 legals. In 2050 1/3 of the country will be Hispanic or about 135 million.
His point is that Europe has a multi-ethnic influx of immigrants from many locations on earth.The United States has a group mainly from south of the border who lacks higher education and is not willing to assimilate to make this the diverse country it once was with immigration from all corners of the globe.
When those that celebrate their nations holidays also celebrate our 4th of July equally (or more so), then will I start to believe that they came here for the American way. Till then, as others have said, they're not here for America.
These aliens are taking our jobs they are sucking the life out of our communities and the poor and working class are the ones who feel it the most !!! In regards to the dream act it is onely an invation for these aliens to keep coming !!!!! Get them the hell out of here !!!!
Kabel, Cinco de Mayo isn't their independence day. It marks a major upset victory over the French who were trying to collect on debt that Mexico had borrowed. And it isn't even celebrated much in Mexico. It appears that Americans and Mexicans living in the U.S. celebrate it more than the Mexicans in Mexico.
America is becoming a foreign country, to anyone who has lived there for 60 years. If you're not a racist, you've never lived in a foreign country before. The BEHAVIOR of other cultures is astounding. Read Burmese Days, by George Orwell ...it's free online as an e-book. This 3rd world mentality is coming to Small Town America. Black American culture ...RAP and Hip-hop and destroying US. Us/U.S. Look at Mexico. Do we want Mexico to move here? America is OVER. It is already too late.
Kable hit it on the head...too many mexicans do not want to assimilate. imho they fall into one of three groups: those who want the freebies our government provides, those who are looking for jobs, and the drug dealers.
i say set it up so the job seekers can get on the path to full citizenshiip and kick the rest back south of the border.
Immigration is not the problem. Illegal immigration is. When you need your 6 ea old child to translate for you at 7-11, there is an issue. When you come to my wife KFC that she owns and you speak no English, you will not be served. We do not hire translators. Learn the language, come here legally,than tell us of your rights.
I wish more business owners took your aproch, you are truely helping the country with that practice.
My Mother N Laws apartment complex is riddles with illegals now. Over 8 per 2 bedroom. I keep alerting ICE, I am hoping one day that ICE takes charge of this and the Apartment complex will care more about the US than the all might untaxed dollars.
Seriously? Your wife doesn't serve people who don't speak English? Do you really think that anyone who doesn't speak English is an illegal alien? Do you think all you have to do is WANT to speak English and you're magically able to do so? You need to get out and see the world a little bit. I imagine, though, if you went to a foreign country, you would be upset because the people there didn't speak English and you would repeat yourself a little louder thinking that would help them understand. I teach English as a Second Language and believe me, most people who come to the U.S. work hard at learning to speak English. People all over the world study English at a much higher rate than Americans study foreign languages. Right now, I live and work in Japan, teaching university students our language. I'm studying Japanese and do my best with it, but if I was required to speak only Japanese or leave the country, I would have to be on the next plane out. You, sir, are an ignorant person and give Americans a bad name.
Hey dunceofone, I know four different languages, learned them all here in the states, and they served me well in the Army. After reading your note, I have just reported to KFC (1-800-225-5532) to be on the lookout for your wife’s shop, and have just called to STOP an order we had with KFC for my company’s weekend 4th of July party. Going to Popeye’s. You and your wife be that way, And I will be sure to repeat it over and over again to whomever I talk to.
Hey Vacationers from other countries, DON’T GO TO KFC, they wont serve you if you don’t speak the language.
And if you speak English as badly as you write it, I know a lot of people who speak English as a second language who are a lot better at it than you are.
wwwebb--Seriously.......does my wife need to hire a translator to speak English. NOPE. Speak English or you do not get served, Who's fault is it if you cannot speak English and my Korean Wife who speaks English fluently since she was a child does not hire translators to speak Spanish or Korean???
ArmyofOne, you just demonstrated that the feelings towards new immigrants, legal or illegal have not changed here in many decades. It was like that for Italian Americans, for the Irish and so forth.... Now as someone said in one of the posts, we get the lions share of immigration from South America and so they have become the new scapegoat. Nothing new, it's just a cycle. I do agree with Fareed Zakaria, otherwise you are just blind and on the wrong side of history.
So you are saying the ones here illegally breaking the law should be given SPECIAL TREATMENT versus those who are here legally ?? Are you serious??
I'm glad your wife learned English at an early age. I'm surprised it doesn't make her more sympathetic to people trying to learn the language. I wouldn't think it would be that hard to understand someone who was pointing at a picture and trying to order food, anyway, but maybe that's just me. The point is that no one who travels to ANY country in the world is required to speak the language of that country in order to be allowed in legally. Be a little considerate of people who are interested enough in the U.S. to make the effort to get there and learn about the country AND spend their money in your store.
I really hope the news spreads about your KFC... So you lose money! That is no way to treat anyone! In the end Money is Money and if she doesn't take not very smart!
That is a very harsh way to deal with costumers. Doesn't make much sense to turn away a paying customer. I would say that I personally wouldn't want to patron a place that didn't serve ALL walks of life. If your wife doesn't serve people that don't speak English she most probably wouldn't serve a deaf person like myself who only signs even though I AM an American citizen.
Doen't matter how you feel, the reality is another one. The illegals are not he one complaining, is the rest of the country. Illegals are 3% of the total of people in this country, but it seems they are the cause of every single issue this country has. This is ridiculous and very sad for you as well. It is not their culture what is at risk , you know? They are fine. They are only 11 millions, but only 7 are latinos. However the country is becoming more and more bilingual. Do you really think it is because this 7 millions people???? You can not be that naive. You hate for illegals makes you say nonsense things. There are 52 millions hispanics in America! Wake UP It is not the illegals the one that are changing the country, but a WHOLE group of people. US is the second country in the world with the largest Spanish speaking population. Not even Spain has that many Hispanics. WAKE UP and stop blaming the illegals.
So she's only willing to clog the arteries of English speakers?
Move to Arizona, things keep getting better every day! Crime is dropping like a rock!
For somebody so intent on enforcing the English language, your grammar and writing skills are truly deplorable. Does your wife refuse to serve you, too? Practice what you preach!
So Mr. Army of One, I am going to have to go ahead and guess that you have never left your country...? Nor have you ever been ANYwhere that you couldnt speak the language??? Because now you really REALLY look like the fool in this "discussion."
To David Spencer– I HOPE YOU REALLY DID IT AND GOOD FOR YOU AND THANKS FOR POSTING HAT NUMBER.
I was in Vietnam not long ago. KFC is actually the only American Chain I've seen there yet. I fought the urge to stop by even when I needed something "familiar"- and instead I went to places where I had to point, guess and be intimidated to try to eat. NEVER EVER did I feel discriminated against. SHAME ON YOU ARMY OF ONE, AND ON YOUR WIFE and on KFC IF THEY KNOW AND ALLOW THIS DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR!!!!
So Mr. Army of One, I am going to have to go ahead and guess that you have never left your country...? Nor have you ever been ANYwhere that you couldnt speak the language??? Because now you really REALLY look like the fool in this "discussion."
To David Spencer– I HOPE YOU REALLY DID IT AND GOOD FOR YOU AND THANKS FOR POSTING THAT NUMBER.
I was in Vietnam not long ago. KFC is actually the only American Chain I've seen there yet. I fought the urge to stop by even when I needed something "familiar"- and instead I went to places where I had to point, guess and be intimidated to try to eat. NEVER EVER did I feel discriminated against. SHAME ON YOU ARMY OF ONE, AND ON YOUR WIFE and on KFC IF THEY KNOW AND ALLOW THIS DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR!!!!
Yes, we have millions of hispanics immigrants and there aren't practical solutions to what is labeled as 'bad', but in the final analysis it would be more benficial to the country to have millons of friendly immigrant wanting to embrace the country as their own, than having millions of immigrant hating the country. Millions of talented minds might rise from those populations. Don't believe..simply do a search.....Walter Disney....yes Walt Disney...was born Jose Girao....from Spain..and adopted by the Disney family...after a car accident where Jose's family died.....the best Ford Motor Co.. designer is the son of Colombia parents, as well as hundred of scholars and scientists...that have been born from immigrants from all nations.....making this nation...a nation of talented people....from Enrico Fermi to Oppenheimer to Eisntein..all immigrants that enriched our nation. Hispanics aren't any different in IQ.....but lacking opportunities. Be certain cowboys...and ...hatred-filled rednecks never invented anything.....but the KKK and racism..!
I have been to many other countries. Hence the name. Funny how everyone is quick to talk smack about a soldier, his country, and what he or we do for the millions of illegals who hide and suck off the US economy. I am sure that out of EVERYONE in this forum, I am the ONLY one who has been to more countries (unless you are SPEC OPS or NASTY GUARD who is full of crap. However, whatever your argument is, I am sure you have been a SPEC OP soldier!!! So please tel us of all your years of the SPEC OP WORLD!!!!
Everyone, leave Armyofone alone, he served this country, and you can have nothing but respect fo him. Shame on anyone for actually calling KFC, its HIS business, and HE can run it the way he wants. I may not totally agree, but I also see his point. There are people in this country who refuse to learn english and live off of our government, and those are the type I hate. I also dont like illegals either. Armyof One maybe has taken it to the extreme, because cmon, you dont know if their just visiting, or if they are trying to learn english. So you really shouldnt do that since you cant make a distinction between the people that want to learn and those who dont to those who are visiting. I do feel sympathy to those that are visiting or learning, but I would NEVER feel sympathy for someone who refuses to learn english here that gets turned away for service. I get what you are doing, but like I said, no distinction. Thank you for your service, and I bet you have been around the world. I will be serving in due time as well. And people, this isnt english class, no need for perfect english here.
Do tell us Armyofone. How many languages you speak? You mentioned your vast travels. Give us a run down of how you order a meal in, say, five different languages. Must be a breeze for you.
ArmyOfOne: A little more tact and diplomacy before offering your opinion, as you are acknowledging your profession in a public place.
-Two other servicemembers (one in the Nasty Guard)
Seems the author missed the point you make- the problem is not with LEGAL immigration it is the illegals and it is because of the illegals ( mostly from Mexico ) that all latinos feel disliked- if not for the illegals there would be no problem with anyone from anyone- and yes if want to live here and make a life learn the language- funny someone mentioned that most Europeans ( that don't even live in USA) know English yet immigrants (legal and not) don't even try to learn enough English to get by day to day they expect everyone else to learn Spanish (or their variation of it) instead
Armyofone it is called DISCRIMINATION you twit!!!! Well said wwwebb and David S!
Shawn, I'm sure KFC has a right to know that armyofone is turning customers away. I don't think they would like that very much.
ARMYofONE... I am on your side. I am a vet and have been to several countries and have lived in several parts of our nation. My wife is a LEGAL immigrant from the Philippines... she speaks 4 different languages. She believes that the US is too soft on the illegal population... She is actually worse than I am in her opinion of them. Yep, I said them... I agree that it shouldn't cost you extra money to serve someone who is unable to speak English. It may be cold, it may be hard and it may be a lost sale but it shouldn't cost you money. Illegals are not tax payers.... They actually decrease our tax payer pool by taking up jobs and lowering wages. It is a double hit. Legal aliens make our country great... Illegals make it a crap hole.
I'm immgrant myself. It takes no more than FIVE days to learn how to order food in English – "number four combo please"? You teacher working in Japan, how long it took you to learn how to order in Japanese in a fast food? I paid the attorneys, got my American pasport and I'm proud of leaving here, speaking fluent English, working and paying taxes. Immigrants coming from Mexico and other countries should be THANKFULL to US for the safety and security it offers, and keep their flag and language at their houses, like I and many of my friends do. Way to go ARMYogON!!!
ArmyofOne,
I agree that it is difficult to conduct business with someone who doesn’t speak the language, even when their kids act as interpreters. But it is still worth trying. We have a large Hispanic population and my business does a considerable amount of business with them. Some are fifth generation Americans and some recently managed to sneak into the country. I find most to be hard working people who just want to make a living. I’ve stood on the other side of the counter while visiting Peru. Try explaining that you did just steal something when your cell phone sets off the store’s anti theft alarm and you’ll understand some of their frustration too. I immediately wished I knew more Spanish and our interpreter was no where in sight. Thankfully one of their people knew enough English and I knew enough Spanish that we could communicate and sort it out.
I agree that illegal immigration is bad for the country, and it is bad for society in general because it creates situations where essentially slave labor can exist along with the other problems. We need to do something about that and at the same time welcome people who come here through the legal processes with open arms.
That should have read, did not just steal something.
As a business owner, it has been worth my time learning more Spanish. Immigrants have money to spend and they might as well spend it in my store.
Yes, learn the language! It was good enough for my great-grandparents. Then again, they came here to build the country and did so LEGALLY, not popping out a baby once they crossed the border to roll around in all the free benes.
Maybe you should learn to write English a little better baby killer.
Guys...Don't forget.. You all are children of immigrants and English is not even your language
I call bull$hit. ArmyofOne is your typical racist whitey with an asian fetish. his wife is a cold b!tch, and he probably never served in the military.
Immigration is not a problem, illegal or not. That is the point of the article.
i think white people are going to have to start battering as a way to exclude minroties........and create our own economy.
Tell me where your kfc is located so that I can tell everyone. Your Business will lose a lot of costumers. Not everyone is racist like you.
I am sorry to everyone else, but i am with Armyofone and his wife. If you have translators everywhere-they will NEVER learn English. I want to go into a store and be Served in English-Not Another Language. I did NOT see anywhere in his comment that said his wife Refuses to serve someone who does not speak english-she does not have a translator there-so they must order in English or not eat..(How hard is it really? They have Pictures with almost everything now and days)
To everyone who says immigrants should learn English:
English is NOT the official language of the United States. We have no official language.
ARMYOFONE- Its is one thing to visit a country, or live in a country in an army base and be sheltered with the support of the US military, and another to go on your own and live with the people and experience what they went through. Your post on no one else having the same experience as you internationally, is incredibly arrogant. There are many students who probably have had more experience than you since they had to backpack or experience the reality of a foreign country without the support of the US army. I did that, then as an international business man I lived in about 8 countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia, on my own and experiencing a people without a uniform and living amongst them. Dont be so arrogant, people have different experiences, and just visiting a country, or experiencing it from the safety net of the US military does not mean you are the only one who knows what is going on.
well sorry to say but that is just pure stupidity. YOUR WIFE IS LOSING BUSINESS. Example Arizona,Mexico is its largest consumer. Mexican go there to buy products. They spend over 20 billions dollars. America first language was not english, it were the different dialect that the native americans spoke. English was forced. Its time to become fair. Its all about service to the customers. What if the person is in the u.s legally and they just moved in you want them to learn how to speak english in an hour. If spanish becomes the next universal language so what. Stop being proud and learn. the funny thing is people like you go to mexico or dominican republic and ask if anybody speaks english. You like going to Cancun like going to Dominican Republic like going puerto rico learn to speak spanish. It will benefit you in the long run. Also at the end immigrants who learn english actually can sometimes spell better and speak better than most kids in school.
good luck with ICE coming to help out ARMYofONE.
To those who say "we are in America speak English" . The last time I checked your right about we are in America and in this country we have rights like free speech. Which mean's citizens like my self and many others from all walks of life are free to say what we want and how we and to say it in whatever language. We are all immigrants here, That is unless your last name is Light Foot, or Black Bear.We have illegal immigration in this country but it's been that way since 1492. I will continue to speak to my family in Spanish while out it public because I'm an American and it my civil right to do so...If you don't like it then your the anti-American, anti bill of rights. I'll stop now because I have more class then that.
Actually, my wife hires citizens. And they speak English. As for those who speak Spanish.......oh well. We DO NOT hire translators. You speak English to order or you go elsewhere. However, McDonald's is well knows for its illegal hiring.
Oh my, it seems you two have an attitude problem
ARMYofONE,
could you ask your wife to teach you how to write better English? I think, even as a foreigner, she must have better skills at spelling and writing quality than you demonstrate with those comments.
I honestly would be highly embarrassed, to require others to speak English, while you as a native speaker have issues with spelling.
Way to make a fool out of yourself man.
Maybe you are smarter than the thousands of big chains that are using 2 languages for their business. Perhaps they don't know how to make money and you do. The truth is immigrants WILL GO where things are better for them because their money is as green as yours and they are going to pay, they can ask the service as they please. That's why this is a free country and not even the law tells you what language you should use.
You think somebody with a broken english is not a smart person because, in your little mind, you believe this person doesn't know how to speak. However, have you ever thought that this person DO know how to talk and what is trying is to talk to you in your language? The person is a bilingual person trying to talk to you in your own language. You have to be really smart to do that. Can you speak another language????
Actually, my English is fine. But since it does not add up to your English 301 course you teach, I can see where you would be upset. LMAO, if you do not speak English how would my wife understand your order? However, if you come there and do not speak English You can GUARANTEE you will get whatever they think you are ordering. Now matter the price. They do not understand you and are trying to translate what you cannot speak in English. So tough CRAP.
LMAo......Shofar my wife only knows English. She is in America. And as far ad the THOUSAND of fast food chains that speak a MULTITUDE of languages, well, it is not the case. Maybe wherever you live they learn to conform to the illegals and the others here illegally but I am sure we are on the right track with only allowing those here LEGALLY to work and enjoy our country and our way of life. If you break the law, you go to jail. Or did we change the law so that some who break it is ok, others are not??
Shofar-Thousands of Big Chains huh?? Name 50!!!!!!!!! Tell me all the big chains that are Multi Lingual-in the US!!!!
As a Bilingual and Bicultural Spanish/English my brain has expanded not only because It has had to learn hundreds of thousands of words, meanings and cultural icons and norms -which a person who only speaks English did not- but also because in the process of inter change and cross over of ideas and expressions I have not only one wealth of information to use to find solutions but actually two. Speaking other languages make immigrants better able to be open mindedm think outside the box; better fit to innovate, produce, sell, invest, buy, teach, etc. Important skills and abilities badly needed for the US to remain competitive in an ever expanding global, knowledge and invention based economy.
I do agree that if I want you to give me your available job -hire me- I need to be able to communicate effectively in the language of your choice and impress you in every other possible way (besides proper English, maybe a well rounded Anglo Culture knowledge and sensitivity. On the other hand, if it is you who want me to give you my dollars (my business, hire you temporarily as your customer, etc) than you better impress me with good customer service and sensitivity for my cultural/language background, that means being smart about how you treat my family, my community and my Latin Persona to, better if you make an effort to speak to me in my mother language Spanish, play some latin music and other motifs in your points of sale to make me feel more comfortable and want to buy your prods, services, and make my overall experience more appealing for me to leave my hard earned dollars in your establishment. If you do not want to do that, treat me with that much respect, or cannot impress me, I will find some one else who will and will buy from them loyally forever and tell my friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and all to patronize that good cultural sensitive great bussiness.
When Americans go to KFC in China, they don't need to speak Chinese to order, even though the people working there don't speak English. With a bit of pointing, it is possible for people of any language to order food in almost any restaurant.
Sounds like your wife is just plain racist. We are not only a nation of immigrants, we are also one of the world's leading tourist destinations. If everyone behaved like your wife, our country would be unable to attract the immigrants we need to keep our country going, and our tourism industry would suffer as well. Your wife is an embarrassement to our country and a pathetic excuse for a human being.
ARMYofOne: I am right with you. I will not go into a resturant where the people working there do not speak english. Your right that McDonalds is one of the worst .There were two McDonald managers in Savannah, Ga that were stealing ID information from non-hispanic people applying for a job and giving the ID info, Social Secrity #s etc to illegals to hire. Bottom line is illegal is illegal. It is a federal crime and illegals are ciminals. You can sugar coat this anyway you want but the truth is the truth. By the way there is no such thing as an undocumented .
ArmyofOne: You are thick and blind: Well no surprises here: Do you want 50? Simple. Have you ever dial a company 1-800 number and had to dial 1 for English or 2 for Spanish? How high can can you count? Your utilities company in your state, your hospitals, your food chains, supermarkets, credit cards, all your banks everybody has bilingual services IN SPANISH. Not in Vietnamese or Russian, but in Spanish. School in your School district have services in Spanish. Even the Federal Government and the US Military as well, and I KNOW THIS VERY WELL. Every company slowly and silent is becoming bilingual right infront of your eyes. Wal Mart, target, Home Depot, Lowes, Khor, Sears, JC PEnny, Macis, Newman Marcus, Apple, IBM, Dell, Verizon, ATT, Google, tmobile, Firestone, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, etc, etc, etc,
Even the American Red Cross asnswer in Spanish. Everybody is adapting their business model to cater the Hispanic market In their own language. (Even the Army is recruiting in Spanish) Sir. You are just a cranky man that no longer knows where he lives. WAKE UP! The country is Bilingual and you still talking about how bad the Illegals speak English.
Finally I didn't ask if your Wife is Bilingual but if YOU are. Stop using her to cover yourself.
well it looks like your wife it is going to lose a lot of money , because this country is multicultural, there are white, black legal and illegal but there is also tourist who do not speak english so what your wife is going to do "hey if you dont speak english you have to leave" well she is going to loose there. and then you asking why the economy is bad (because your wife is not good on customer services and trying to help people)
What a shame that your wife does not know Korean. Being bilingual is one of the greatest assets a person could have, not only in also establishing a connection with where she came from. I mean, how can you know where you are going, when you don't know where you have been, or where you are from. Pride in your ancestry goes hand in hand with your citizenship, even if they are not the same place.
Actually, the majority of immigrants in the US come from Mexico, which is in NORTH America.
Acutually about 30% come from Mexico and 60% from South American and 10% elsewhere. Mexico is the largest country but most come from south america.
60 % from South America of which 60% are from Mexico. The other 40% of the illegal immigrants are from the rest of the world of which 60% are from European countries.
The real question regarding immigrants, is do they contribute more than they take from society? Another issue is the more people that reside in the U.S., the lower the quality of life. Unless you love overcrowding, pollution, and horrific traffic, we should be aiming for negative populaton growth. The Earth only has so many resources and we are quickly using them up.
Now hold on a second! You are making WAY TOO MUCH sense to be on CNN!
The point of the article is that the more immigrants taht reside in any country the higher the standard of living. Why didn't your read the article?
Immigrants are probably the group who contributes the most to society while taking up the less. The educated immigrants, who come in here with diplomas and training from abroad, are a huge bargain because we didn't have to pay for their education (think elementary and high-school). The uneducated immigrants generally work low paying jobs, so they contribute their work but get almost nothing in return, only the basics.
If you're looking for someone who contributes modestly but is taking a huge lot in return, look over at Wall Street.
Legal Immigrations is U.S. Strength without a doubt. However, when you have the illegal immigration that suck billions off an economy, it is hard to justify those illegals in a legal sense. Why harbor a fugitive or hire one?? Seriously? When does your country matter more than those who you pay less than half??. Illegal Immigration is what costs us millions, and weakens our economy and schools.
Don't equate not knowing English with illegal immigration. People coming into your wife's KFC could be perfectly legal immigrants and be trying very hard to learn English, but she would turn them away because she doesn't like the progress they've made in using the language. On the other hand, there are certainly plenty of illegal immigrants that CAN speak English. What you need to do is check for proof of citizenship before you serve anyone. That'll sort'em out. Not American? No chicken for you. By the way, I eat in KFCs in Japan every once in a while when I'm a little lonely for home. Even with my limited Japanese, not once have I received anything but smiles and friendly service and help, if necessary. The same thing is true for any and all other places I been here, without exception. Your wife should be a little less judgmental about people who wish to give her their money.
Before anyone points it out – I know. It should be '... places I have been here'. A typo, not incorrect usage...
I am sorry, I was one of them and I spent 1300 dollars per month in USA for bills and stuff like that. I did job which US don´t want to do. So do you think I didn´t bring the money to your country?
I'm sure glad the people working at KFC in China aren't as racist and ignorant as your wife, or I wouldn't be able to eat there. I'm sure your wife wouldn't turn away a German tourist that is struggling with English. She likely only hates people that don't speak English and are not white. Your wife sounds like a pathetic excuse for a human being.
wwweb knowing basic English is a requirement to gain legal citizenship. Stop berating ArmyofOne, it is given right ask that his customers order in English. We are relize the great service across the globe teaching Japanese people English and what not, but seriously shut up.
This guy is still talking? I have a better idea, which is also ridiculous, but why don't we just eradicate all of the ignorant people in this country. I don't have statistics, but if I were a betting man I would wager that uneducated, self-absorbed, useless people of all races are a larger drain on our countries resources than theHispanic population (illegal or legal). Take a look at welfare and disability statistics, the largest population recieving these entitlements is certainly not the hispanic population... and most of these people are just looking for hand-outs (again no statistics but it's pretty much obvious in my city). The funny thing to me is....most of the immigrant I know (lllegal or legal) come here because they believe the inherent laziness in Americans give them a better chance of working their butt of to make a good living. MY overall point being...The country is flawed in many ways so stop scapegoating the Hispanic population for all that ails us. Many people do things here that are not coducive to the betterment of society and one of those things, ARMYofONE, is being a racist prick with no courtesy to the overall wellbeing of all humans.
need to said yes on the bibble to be american well to the president of united states of american im jewish french artists agress by dealers of drugs from holland and france involds with music with durtch and french police all my family get blood poion and teeth dammage can we immigred american flag joelle esther benyayer i asark expertise by la cour des comptes for the french sacem some police dutch and french put they nose and kills jewish artists it happen in amsterdam also in var too often joelle esther benyayer for me impossible to get audience by journalists
Are you saying immigrants from Latin America are not as "vibrant," intelligent, hard working, young, healthy, good learners, producers, entrepreneurial, inventors, sellers, investors, consumers, buyers and supporters???
Nice to see that Fareed is able to pull 376 comments on his post. This proves his popularity , and he is good for CNN and the Time group. Of course , his posts are based on his own expat experience, but that should be a plus for his host country where he has become a naturalised citizen. This shows that America, Canada, UK, EU are matured democracies where their immigrants are treated like humans in a very fair manner.
I know of many countries in this world where immigrants might spend over 3 decades , and their children grow up in the new country, and these children themselves have children. But the host country refuses to give them any form of nationality. They have to renew their visas every 2 to 3 years , and go for insulting health checks even after 30 years, whereas the locals might have Aids but they still have no such check-ups. Americans should consider themselves blessed. Their healthy democracy and demographic growth will ensure their success in the coming years. Only they should learn to extricate themselves from fruitless wars that drain their valuable resources.
This is the most poorly written article I have seen in a long time. Fareed Zakaria should use an editor before he posts anything on the internet – he must have written this when he was about to fall asleep.
Laura, I do not know where you get your data from, but Fareek Sakaria is one of the most finest journalists in CNN and in the whole world. He is not only extremely educated ( and educated in the USA in Journalism schools) but is the most wise and educated journalist on CNN. And I am not even a fan of Fareek Sakaria, but the truth is the truth ( he is the best!). And you Laura, you most be either a poorly educated and frustrated journalist, or a red-neck journalist, or a pathetic looser (or all of the above).
laura you should know by now latinos are always right about everything. and we whites are just the deposed majority....waiting to be replaced....lloll
oscar day 1 i would remove 10 million latinos from the u.s. and drop 50 ,000 soilders on the border. repeal every work visa from every hispanic here. luckily for you.....white people dont got that kind of spinal cord no more. Or who knows maybe there some one out there that does. i dream of the day nafta is repealed. and dream of the day when illegals are deported.....
ron- Maybe its because most white people have more of an education than you. You do understand that hispanic is really not a race right? Or maybe google it so you can learn something. There are white hispanics. Anyway if people like you are a minority and disappearing, then good riddance. This country will only get better then.
What?!?!?!
yes, you are right. The most great thing is that immigrants in USA are there for a while till they have a job and when they are getting older they are getting back home. They have no money to stay there. So, US immigrants are young people and they are working and making country nice. Some of them spend all money there. It´s helping the economy more than american people without job just staying home.
elena...you sound like a member of generations who have done just that, move here increase the population, send money home, leave your children and grandchildren to finish what you started....and i'll bet a dollar to a donut, you have many "family members" who do just that stay at home and do NOTHING, which they have done for a few decades now...oh and by the way, how many have 5-7 children sucking up the system with no marriage license to show..and of course still don't know speak ENGLISH...get out of my face....you don't want to get me started....
you mentioned old fashioned, as being the reason why the population of immigrants is increasing. i beg to differ. i have met hispanics living together in a "marital" relationship who are 50-60 yrs. old and have been in this country since the '60s. the men are still using "green cards", the women have had at least 6-7 children (grandchildren outnumber the man, woman and children put together), the woman went from welfare to ssi, once the children reached a certain age, the children never got beyond at least 7th grade, some of the children are no receiving ssi benefits....come on old-fashioned, in book the old fashioned american way means, work hard, educate your children, be good teachers to your children and most of all don't move here to use the system.
Immigration is not an "advantage:" Immigration destroys the social fabric and sense of community. It only benefits big business through low wages and increased consumer demand. Nobody in my neighborhood speaks English. Why does this benefit me? Who wants to live in a country where you can't even communicate with your neighbors?
Spoken like a true Xenophobe Tony. Isolationism is what destroys a country – look at your history.
Funnies thing about the comment by Kavel,,he say that Latino or Mexican show the heritage in they car and celebrate cinco de mayo,,here is some information..cinco de mayo is not the Mexican independence day, it is a US holiday sponsor by beer companies....another thing i work at the US embassy in the Dominican Republic,,i think you should come down here to see how Dominican culture celebrate Thanksgiving and that is not a Dominican holiday, it is a US holiday at any giving day you will think you are in New York or Miami with all the shopping done for a Non Dominican Holiday outside the USA. This melting pot goes both way.
Mexico is not in South America.
The flawed and uneducated basis in this article and others is the assumption that we would have to actually deport 12-20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS. This is not based on reality. If you cut off the ability of ILLEGAL ALIENS to get a job, to get free healthcare, to get a free education, and/or otherwise leech other people's money, they will deport themselves. End of story.
The "Dream Act" (Nightmare Act) is just another ploy to circumvent the complete package on immigration reform. ILLEGAL ALIEN lovers are attempting to pick off the low hanging fruit which leaves less leverage on the balance of related issues. Congress might be ethically challenged but they are not stupid.
We tried ILLEGAL ALIEN amnesty before when Reagan was President letting in 3 million ILLEGAL ALIENS. All that did was ring the dinner bell for a substantially increased ILLEGAL ALIEN invasion. There is absolutely zero doubt about that. Whatever immigration reform might pass, when the smoke clears fewer than a million law breakers should get in with the vast majority of other ILLEGAL ALIENS hitting the road back to wherever they came from. Otherwise, the dinner bell will continue to ring with more and more and more ILLEGAL ALIENS continuing to invade the country.
As long as the Feds dither on real immigration reform (not mass amnesty), the states will continue to take care of business on their own leaving less and less leverage by the Feds to do their job. Eventually, the majority rules and the majority of citizens who vote clearly want the ILLEGAL ALIENS out right now. That is the reality so get use to it and no article by ILLEGAL ALIEN advocates is gonna change that.
Don't know where you got your numbers from. The estimates at the time were similar to now–about 10 MILLION to 12 MILLION were let in under Reagan and we were promised by Congress that this would never happen again due to the laws on Social Security, Employee verification, etc–just what we are being promised AGAIN. The numbers that actually came in are estimated to be over the 12 million that they said. The numbers now are probably more like 23 million or so. They try to quote a set of numbers that will not make us panic but anyway you slice it–to allow amnesty in any form is to condone this kind of illegal immigration, because you can be sure that both the communities these illegals run to and the families who help to aid or send for these people will only exponentially be multiplied and where we have 18 million trying to get in, we will have many, many more. The only way to stop all of this is with 0 tolerance.
Kudos to our government who have shown their true hand by trying to stop states from handling the matter and who now grant illegals the same rights and consideration as citizens–the only difference is citizens are compelled to pay taxes and the illegals may or may not depending on whose social security number they use and what their employer makes them do.
It's easy to blame the parents of the illegal children... but what about the children themselves? What do we do with them? They never asked to come here. What if you were brought across the border at 1 year old, grew up in the American school system, and then wind up an adult in this country without an SSN? What would you do then? Your whole family is in the US, you can't get a decent job, you can't go to college, you can't get health care, you can't drive a car, you can't travel, you can't DO ANYTHING. I feel terrible for the kids who are my age (21) who are the victims of this. They are put in a terrible situation. They know English, they know their American History, they've lived here their entire lives. But now they can't progress in life. A very sad situation indeed.
Like most places –children go where their parents or those who have legal responsibility are. I was born in England. I had to stay there because my parents were there. When they came to the states, even though technically I was an American (US) citizen (both parents were US citizens) I was told that I had dual citizenship but had to give up (renounce) my british citizenship or possibly be deported back to England. That was before the global community and the US allowing people to have dual citizenship. I had to give up my British citizenship–I did this so there would be no doubt where my loyalties lay and because most of my family was in the US.
The same should be for children of illegals. They should go back to the country with their parents and have the option of accepting US citizenship when they are 18–if they want to–but until they are capable of legally taking care of themselves–they and their parents should return to the country of origin. We need to stop thinking the child of an illegal is anything more than the child of an illegal–we should instead think of the US born child of an illegal as a potential future citizen of the states–provided they file the correct paperwork when they reach 18 and wish to come back to the states to live–that way–we accept and invite the child but the parent is NOT invited due to the method they tried to use to stay here. It really makes sense to see that an apple is an apple no matter where it falls on the ground and if we want it as an American apple, it can only be so–when it can come to America which of course means it has to be no longer tied to its source or the tree-ergo when it MATURES and falls away from the tree–only then.
What do we do with the childrens? We EAT them, my Precious.
Diane, I agree it's a terrible situation – but I still blame the parents 100%... by choosing to give birth to a child in the US when the parent is illegal, they knowingly create the situation in which these children find themselves. It is no more traumatic for a teenager of illegal parents who must be deported back to their native country than for a child whose parents legally relocate to the US from Mexico when they are teenagers, or American kids whose parents relocate out of the US for a job.
As long as the Mexican government incentivizes people to work in the US and send money back to Mexico, we have no hope to get their help to educate would-be illegal immigrants on the hard truth of living illegally in the US and giving birth here. The Washington Post ran an article a while back documenting how the MExican Government offers rural Mexican towns $3 in infrastructure investment and schools for every 1 US dollar renumerated by Mexicans in the US. At the same time, Mexico has 'sealed' its own Southern border against 'illegal immigration' from the rest of Latin America, for the same reasons we're trying to stop it here.. Ironic, huh?
are you nuts you wanna load this place up with even more people.....there is nothing that stops these globalists.....americans vibrancy does not come from immigrants. it comes from production and employment and sustainemnt. you cant have that if theres to many people here. immigration is for expansion , not for making globalists happy. there is no expansion. immigraiton must be stopped for 20 years.
Extremely short sighted ron- Where do you think that vibrancy and innovation come from. Immigrants, are really that blind and misinformed. Everyone in this country is a descendant of immigrants, it was bringing in those different cultures that motivated our industry and brought new ideas. Do you really think hot dogs and hamburgers where created in the USA?
If it was not for immigration would we have been fortunate to have Albert Eisntein? WAKE UP and get educated.
Immigration legislation in the United States dates back to 1790, where the Naturalization Act of 1790 laid down the rules for naturalized citizenship, as delineated in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. At the time, no restrictions were placed on immigration but citizenship was limited to white persons. By 1795 and 1798, Naturalization Acts were enacted that required individuals to establish the date of initial residency as well as lengthening the required period of residency before becoming a U.S. citizen. In the 1800s, several legislative acts were enacted that placed restrictions on immigration. The Page Act of 1875 was the first federal that prohibited the entry of immigrants considered to be “undesirable.” This included anyone from Asia coming to the U.S. as a contract laborer and all people considered convicts in their original country of residency. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 became the first race-based immigration legislation that suspended Chinese immigration and the ban was meant to be in existence for 10 years but was not repealed until December 17, 1943 by the Magnuson Act.
Yeah. Those were the good old days.
Americans ABSOLUTELY need immigrants and there are MILLIONS that have been waiting in the LEGAL immigration lines–they just cannot get in due to all of the ILLEGAL ones who think it is all about them and that somehow they have a right to cut in that line and commit crimes (like identity theft) in order to stay here and prevent Legal immigrants from getting in.
(for those who do not know–we still have a quota system based on specific jobs and professions–when it is filled, we do not let more people in with those subset of skills–for every hard working illegal, there is probably a hard working legal immigrant–one just obeys the law and so does not get in and the other disregards our laws and is here.)
America ABSOLUTELY does NOT need anymore immigrants. We have enough to last us several decades, thank you very much.
Europe's migration is primarily from FORMER COLONIES. Having capitalized on local resources both natural and human, it is only feasible and justified for those under former colonial rule to seek asylum or expanded homes from their former rulers. America, on the other hand is being colonized by people who IGNORE the Legal methods of immigration. Why would they do that? The moment we started granting amnesty for illegals was the moment we gave the green light for EVERYONE to ignore the rules and to try to get in illegally. They have figured out that once here, we almost always we grandfather people in and ignore those languishing for YEARS in the legal line. This will never stop–what used to be just a Hispanic wave is now a multicultural wave with people often coming from Africa, Asia, Europe AND Mexico/Central America . After all, Reagan's gesture proved this is the immigration model that works: F–k the real line and the people in it–if you can sneak in and get a job then you probably can stay–we should NEVER wonder how it came to this point–failure to enforce our own laws and certain groups looking for political advantage and cheap workers through this route have brought us here. as our schools go down, our social programs and hospitals are overtaxed and groups gain more and more advantages at the cost of our present culture–all of those who think this is the right way to do it –REMEMBER THIS MOMENT–remember it when you lose your job and compete for much lower wages because demand for jobs is greater than supply–remember it, if you get some rare or exotic parasite that is only here because of poor hygiene and the failure to vet or quarantine the ill from other cultures–remember it when we begin to have ethnic and internecine disputes due to not knowing exactly who or why certain people are coming here–ALL of those ills and more will be a direct result of a no holds barred pro illegal pattern that will not only fail to keep the riff raff out, but will encourage only the brazen to seek us out and only those with no respect for our laws to begin their new lives here by ignoring our laws.
Ahhhh....Okay?
I hate all foreigners.
I could not disagree with this article more. Steady, careful immigration is what Australia has. Immigration chaos is what the United States has. We have 12 million illegal aliens, an invasion! No, get ready for laws that makes these people self-deport, as they did in Arizona and now in Georgia and Alabama. Get ready for significant reductions in legal immigration in 2013.
I hope Fareed gets to see this. There is one fundamental difference between the US and all other countries regarding illegal immigration. The US has a very porous southern border. Canada, Australia, and ALL others do not. It is a fairly simple act to control borders with limited access. It is a very different problem to manage a southern border the encompasses the complete land border between any other countries in the entire world. To qualify this, it is only among the richest countries in the world that are included in my dissertation. A diverse population is indeed the only true path to long term success, but the massive illegal immigration of aliens that take jobs (many unwanted in general) must be controlled. Too many il,legal aliens now transport tons of narcotics each year to pay for their passage.
We have a chance, as Fareed says, to affect some controls for this, but closing the uncontrolled border is the only way I see for applying some level of common sense to this huge and growing problem.
Where did the "Meanwhile, we are bizarrely copying the immigration policies of continental European –countries like France and Germany – which have completely failed to integrate and assimilate their populations."
As far as "immigration policies" are concerned, this is about as far from the truth as one can get. The Germans have mandatory registration for ALL residents and, being on public ground leaves requires you to carry ID (yes, there are frequent checks by police). France does only the latter and both countries do not have automatic citizenship through birth. Immigration policy therefore is well regulated and there is little chance for illegal immigrants to not get deported. As for amnesty, it doesn't happen. America has little control over its overstays and illegal entries. This latter does not allow for much of a policy at all. Either the illegals are being included in the quotas for legal immigration allowances or they are being ignored and immigration as a whole, in both cases, dos not allow for any workable policy.
Germany has been forced, since WWII to take on more asylum seekers than other European countries (added to the German Constitution by the Allies as a condition to allow then Western Germany to set up a constitution at all) and France has had its share of ex-colony nationals.
One of Germany's top immigrant population appears to be Turkish. Many workers came during the economic boom and stayed here (yes, here, because it's where I live). If anything, it caused a copy of the US and not vice-versa. German isn't exactly the easiest language in the world and lower educated workers lived together in lower income areas. The result is obvious. They remained among themselves, created a sub-culture and are now (2nd, 3rd gens) starting to become part of the respective societies – without, however, being citizens (not automatic / by birth in Germany). Furthermore, true of Germany, France and US, the populations witch least assimilate are those with the lowest education and closest geographical location – easy, they're too close to home and basically get by without further efforts.
With the lack of fossil fuels in the US to sustain its current population and the competition for food products with the new energy sources, how can population growth be helpful? Although population growth has been a sign of prosperous nations, it has also been the destruction of others (where food, water and energy are lacking – see parts of Africa). Population growth might help pay for pension plans (due to the ageing population), but this requires an employed population. Otherwise, it would appear that those who advocate population growth are about on the same level as some religious leaders who wished for the same. For religion, it means more followers and perhaps more donations. Nevertheless, even the current Catholic Pope (Benedict / Ratzinger) showed signs of agreeing that there are advantages to using condoms.
Have you actually been to Germany? There are PLENTY of illegal Polish and Turkish immigrants, and I'm sure others.... having a policy means nothing, especially when many EU borders have no checkpoints – I can drive from Germany through to France and into Austria, and down to Italy without a single border check.... Why would you think people would not migrate illegally there just because Germany requires papers?
You are right but nothing can stop now US economy from being plummeted for complicated various reasons unless some totally honest and drastic changes in our old-styled secret policy making takes place. More with details will be written later. It won't be an easy thing as you may try to guess now.
However, Our united North America will shine again after this inevitable fall and it will be possible only for the strengths of diverse nationalities in the fabric of our population.
This article is exactly what Bernie Madoff would have said. "We just need some new people to keep the investments coming in!!"
Once again we miss the whole point. The US was built on immigrants and continues to do so. What "we" are talking about is "illegal" immigrants, not "immigrants. Use the word "illegal". And then we have to pay for their illegal kids to be born and sustained? Cmon, the illegals from wherever cost the average US citizen hard earned money in bad economic times. Again, one more time, the word is ILLEGAL, not IMMIGRANT.
america need high quality immigrants, not the one just doing labour grabbing jobs from local people, and need only legal immigrants!!
Failure to integrate rests with the immigrants themselves. Our previous immigrants, including my grandparents, strived to integrate into American society. Today, they want to speak their own native language exclusively and demand public services (courts, schools, etc) in those languages. Enough! The real issues our Congress needs to resolve are birth right citizenship (if you're born in the USA you're automatically an American-change that in the Constitution as it's long out-dated), a federal ID card that unequivocally says who you are and can't be easily faked coupled with enforcing a law that says anyone else in the USA has to carry their passport and/or papers that prove they are in the USA legally. This last one is how most modern countries operate. It is not unreasonable. And employers should be held accountable for who they hire, that said, the federal verification process they use has to work properly, quickly and without expense to employers. The above will send a message the USA does not want illegal workers/anchor babies in our country; if we need temporary farm workers then set up a functioning work visa program for those needs. Those visa holders still have to carry proper documentation at all times. This will fairly end the debate. While congress is at it, make English and perhaps Spanish the official languages of the USA, most countries have an official language, NOT having one is an undue financial and logistical burden when minority language Americans demand teachers or public services in their native tongue (non English). Oh, and no amnesty for those already illegally present, they don't get to be rewarded for breaking our laws!
Norway just found out what happens when a government forces violent immigrants on their people. And the US federal government is doing the same thing to us with illegal immigrants. We saw the Norway attacks coming from postings on Storm Front. The same desperation is posted there by US citizens.
As a White Nationalist the killing of innocent people is unacceptable. Unfortunately the feds are preventing non-violent resolution through rule of law at a state level. When non-violent resolution is not possible then only violent resolution is left. The coming storm is obvious and none can claim ignorance when it hits.
ARE WE REALLY THAT STUPID?
Strange that those Georgia farmers are not saying that when an illegal worker falls sick;
he transports him/her to the emergency room? This could be the same crisis that would hit Utah,
if the Guest Worker program materialized in the Mormon State? That means his liability
to the sick/injured Guest Worker is void and becomes the financial burden of the US taxpayer
whilst the hospital passes on the fee. Then we have the children of the agricultural workers
who taxpayers are forced by the judiciary to support their education. Then under the 14th amendment
a female when a baby is born becomes an instant citizen collecting cash payments,
food stamps low income housing and free natal care. All this cost is assumed from your taxes
and is in the hundreds of billions a year. Outside of farm workers are the economic illegal
aliens who come here to have their babies, and place an unimaginable strain on our schooling system.
But this is just part of the layers upon layers of foreigners, who are indirectly stealing tax
payer’s money.
Another great fraudulent game is illegal nationals, paying nothing into the tax system,
but collecting up to $5,600 dollars per household. More than one in four immigrant households
received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in 2009—nearly twice the 13.2 percent rate
of households headed by Native Americans. And since immigrant households are larger
(primarily because of higher fertility rate), their EITC payments are larger
than those received by citizens and naturalized citizen households.
“The Earned Income Tax Credit and Illegal Immigration:
A Study in Fraud, Abuse, and Liberal Activism”, by financial analyst and
economist Edwin Rubenstein. This is not a myth, but fact about the
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest anti-poverty program in the United States,
which is the “most illegal-immigrant friendly,” explains Edwin Rubenstein, author of the new report.”
In 2007, more than 23 million households received more than $47 billion in the EITC payments.”
He Rubenstein said “between one-quarter to one-third of all EITC claims are
‘improperly paid’ according to the General Accounting Office. The EITC – like most of the tax code,
operates on the honor system. The U.S. Congress allows and supports one of the most fraudulent
taxpayer misuse schemes ever conceived within the Federal Government. It’s time the administration
eradicated this program, allowing millions of aliens who entered American soil, while draining
billions out of the United States Treasury. Tax relief” goes to people who never paid a cent in taxes,
and may have already defrauded the government of huge sums each year. Bring this abuse to the attention
of your Federal, State politicians about this fraud which illegal aliens are stealing from you.
Expenditures of more than $55 billion per year, is a combination
of EITC spending that is associated with traditional welfare programs.
Don't be a typical and stupid Republican. If you had ANY knowledge of the IRS Tax system, you would realize that ANYONE who provides a FAKE Social Security number, OR an ITIN OR lists a dependent who doesn't have a Social Security number OR is MARRIED BUT FILING SEPERATE loses ALL EIC!!! Seriously, it's people like you that are so uninformed and uneducated AND start spreading hate...Man, I don't even know why you don't learn how to read or at least get your high school diploma!
With millions of citizens out of work, the US needs to suspend all legal immigration until the economy recovers. We cannot afford to take these millions either economically, since most use social services. or environmentally, since there is a limit to the populatioin the country can support. Where is the water going to come from or the food? We are draining irreplaceable ancient acquifers right now to support irrigation. Our own citizens need work. We cannot continue to take so many immigrants. Don't get me started on the illegals.
I agree with Mario!!!! I'm a natural born citizen married to an illegal immigrant. We were married in May 2010. When I did my taxes, I was supposed to get the maximum EIC but I was not eligible because my husband had no ssn! He has an ITIN which disqualified us for the EIC. Even though he had no income (and no he is not on any public assistance) it was all my income and my EIC that I would have gotten if we had not gotten married! And getting married didn't help his legal status at all either!
Perhaps it is because they know that many ARE bringing in some sort of income, it is just not officially reported income. Does your husband fall into that category.
If they get caught, but since the majority of taxes are automated, and not double checked, they do get away with it. You are just a bleading heart LIER.
YES MARIO! you are absolutely right!!! good to hear some common sense
It's not Hate it's just Facts!
Hmmmm so you marry someone Illegal and expect some kind of break in taxes since you decided to support someone who breaks the US law? I can see how you were ignored. How about the numerous amount of children in the US illegally that suck our educational funds dry, or their parents who wish to lie to our government or work without even paying taxes?? If the ICE was larger, we would be able to handle all the calls in regards to violations. Since when did it become bad to be a American who pays taxes and earns a good wage to be denied a job since you claim taxes and cost your company more???
its great to see miss-informed people get the true facts. just on the side, it is interesting that the chinese and viet peoples get better tax benefits than most coz of treaties; but i beg to digress... the british empire was 'coz of the people it controlled (the 7 seas), ussr was a superpower 'coz of its pop size. Once these disintegrated, they also fell from grace. The british protectorates gained independence, USSR dissolved. If the US rids of people, its fate too is sealed. Human resource drive economies. there are uncharted regions in the US, there are also shrinking cities, and ghost towns. The US need people. find a way to make this world a better place, for u&4me. i am because U R. u r so I AM!
Spreading malicious hate and misinformation only destroys what we both love. its a typical ancient solomonic wisdom thats needed to solve the immigration imbroglio. cutting the child in half, after the fact juz kills the future. We need to grow up and face challenges like a superpower, mopping over spilt milk only lets japan produce the fastest machine, and china the fastest bullet train and stealth plane.
if we can't get our act together, other countries will learn from our successes and capitalize on our mistakes to beat us!
ArmyOfOne:
I know working for the military is great. You get your housing and food supplied for you and you take home a hefty paycheck with medical coverage thrown in almost for free. I don't know how involved with business you are, but any employer who is paying wages without paying taxes out of them is going to have the IRS (and soon INS) breathing down their necks. So illegal immigrants are not working tax free. If they are, they're being paid under the table by a small company that would probably pay any of its employees under the table, immigrant or white teenager. The jobs I've seen that can get away with this are neighborhood pool-cleaning businesses and lawn services. If you know of a way that big companies are getting away with it, you should move somewhere with a high immigrant population and make a killing before whatever loophole you know of gets shut. But anyway, continue spouting away from your morale high ground. Just don't turn around and realize that more and more of your fellow soldiers are immigrants, that would be inconvenient for your world view. Especially the ones that don't speak English when they first join.
You get no EIC and thank god you don't. He is NOT legal, what part of that don't you understand!!
SomeRandomGuy .... I live in AZ and see people at larger businesses get paid "under the table" all the time. You see, they use someone elses SSN and then they rack up the number of dependents that they have so no taxes are taken out of their pay check. So you understand now? They are getting paid under the table. The government doesnt enforce the tax laws against the company that the illegals are working for.... it is up to the person filling taxes to make sure all of the info submitted is correct. It is a joke.
There is a difference between a racists and a realist. A realists knows that the problem with immigration legal or not has nothing to do with race. A racists believes that the problem with immigration has everything to do with race. Most Americans are not racists, they are realists. YOU are the racists.
This article is gibberish.
Right you are. If MORE PEOPLE EQUALED MORE PROSPERITY, INDIA & CHINA would be the richest countries instead of the POOREST. The highest standard of living in US History was achieved when our population was HALF its current size. There is only so much AIR, LAND & WATER. Peace & Love, Bread & Justice.
I agree with you totally. Our government is losing sight in handling illegal immigrant issue. We are a nation of subsidy out of compassion. It may be fine to run the nation this way, when the nation is wealthy and strong. It is wrong to run our nation this way by borrowing our children's future to pay for these illegal immigrants and their children. We should take care of legal immigrant just like we take care of U.S. citizen.
Notice that Libtardians like Maid Marion, once faced with the awful, ugly truth, immediately resort to name calling, lacking a legitimate counter argument,immediately launching into race baiting rants, realizes that there's no winning when faced with the obvious. Thanks for helping Marion see the light.
The sad thing is, I am a liberal, just I only think it should be aplied to americans. Social programs for americans A++, social programs and leanintancy for illigal immigrents, BAD DEAL. Sorry Mario you are a looser
That's what losers do! They can't explain their point they resulted into name calling......typical Libtards what a loser.
And what did the Republicans do about this since the 50th?
Nothing – no regulation – the market will regulate itself.
Where are the Republicans going against companies who hire illegal workers
with below minimum wage pay checks?
Don't point the fingers at those who come to the US because they need jobs.
Point your aggression against the political system that you support which only
fools you.
Educate yourself first – then judge.
LOL
Sir. You talk too much using a flawed argument. The truth is if his worker falls sick he could simple DO NOTHING and that's it. There is another immigrant ready to take the job, so the whole bla bla about the burden and the avoiding responsibility is just nonsense. Why take responsibility and drive the injure to the hospital while he could just simple say, it is not my business?, if you're hurt , just go yourself. The simple answer is really the real one. The guy do care and it is the minimum he can do for them.
If we can't have immigration, how are my rich republican friends going to find slaves to take care of their kids and houses? Conswelo! Get me another drink you lazy a$$ illegal!
The present situation presents many opportunities for abuse. The illegal is afraid to report crimes or is abused by the employer. I only employ people with work permits and I have to inspect it. I pay well and I treat my people well. Thus far, there have been no complaints. I will not do business with those who hire illegals if I can avoid it.
If you wanted to do the right thing, you should only hire citizens of this nation. By providing nitches for illigals, who EVENTUALLY get legalized, you are saying that that rout is the right way to go.
Mickey she's hiring people with LEGAL work permits. I am sure she hires them based on their qualifications and what she can afford to pay. If a citizen wanted to work for the hours/pay she is able to give, I don't know why she would be against hiring them. She isn't doing anything wrong. People on work permits pay taxes to either their home country or the host country (in this case US) on income earned. How do you think the US gets all those skilled laborers or creative and educated minds If it wasn't for the idea of work permits, we'd be in dire straits in finding ways to maintain and expand our economy and our country.
It is sad that the media an people bash the weak link, the illegal immigrants, but not those who hire them and exploit them.
Thank you for not doing it.
It might be harder for you, put you into a business disadvantage, but you know you do the right thing.
Sharon- it sounds like you specialize in hiring foreigners with work cards. any reason you don't hire US citizens if the pay is as good as you make it sound?
@Narator – sometimes even if you wanted to you will not be able to find any US citizen for many high skill jobs.
LIbtardian SP, are you still baiting us out, please stop annoying the rest of us. Go away.
It's spelled "Consuela/Consuelo." And no, immigrant domestic workers aren't usually "slaves." If they don't want the job, they can find another. Grow up.
Awwww darn Ms Palin without illegals just who is going to vote for your unrealistic false utopian loving Liberals oh wait just let the illegals STAY with the liberals all is solved.
Sharky, I am, this fun loving hard working, 7th Genereation Texan, Republican.
You want to know why, Sharky boy, becuase I can not stand by and vote for these forked tongue, Koch Brother Puppets, dark skin haters, that cant count past ten Republicans.
Having multiple cultures is a strength only if you let in the brightest and most talented. If you just let anyone in, your country will diminish over time. Sorry the truth hurts, but our innate ability is a good part of what makes us successful.
And in our case, most of the imigrants are the lowest and the worst, not the best and brightest.
Right because all the advancements we've made in medicine, science, astronomy, engineering most often are headed by people with foreign names (i.e. not typical American names like John). We rely heavily on the minds and skills of foreign workers to advance ourselves. We are currently facing a crisis in that department because many of these foreigners are getting their education (which is paid for by them) in our universities and headed back to their countries. We're missing out! While our American born children don't seem to have the means and/or desire to want to graduate high school!
Indeed the majority of immigrants in the U.S are low skilled, uneducated, can't read and are putting an increased burnden on welfare programs. From medicaid, food stamps, WIC, section 8 housing and incarceration. America is bankrupt because they are spending more to care for the immigrant needs than they are collecting in taxes from these immigrants. Illegal immigration is a contributer to America decline. Liberal ideology will not help. Christy in NJ is the man to reshape this country.
HOW CAN WE GET HIM TO RUN IN 2012?
We need to stop growing, our society and definitely the poor, ignorant ones. We need to stop taking their 'dirty laundry'. America (and Canada, where I live now) are not the same places they were 300 years ago.
LEGAL immigration is our greatest strength of all.
Illegal immigration makes us a slave state, banana republic, hypocrisy.
Only a barbarian does not follow his own laws, an unreliable person.
What value does our word have if we lie, as a policy, to our own people about their own nation? None.
That is so true. Illegal immigrants are people that shortcut laws hence it does not take much to them to become criminals. Legal immigration is an issue too, because it is a nightmare of bureaucracy, expenses and waiting times. I am a European citizen living legally in the US. I have two degrees with Honors in Engineering and I am about to complete my PhD in Computer Science in a top US school. The procedures to become permanent residents in the US are so long and the path so absurdly full of restrictions that I am considering going back to Europe after my Phd. And since not too many Americans have 3 degrees in Engineering plus job experience by the time they reach 30, I think it is absurd that people like me have to leave the country just to have a decent life and not be treated like slave-terrorists.
Join the firckin' Army Navy Coasties. They'll give you US citizenship for just signing up.
potaotsacker: yeah, I know there are expedited ways to get citizenship that way. I just dont feel its worth risking to get shot in the mid of the sand box (also because I do not support many of the military involvements of the US abroad) when I can find tons of decent opportunities in Europe (which is actually doing way better than the US right now).
If it was not this insane, I would probably stay.
Think that, just to make an example, with a student visa and with a work visa one cannot even work part time, or sell on ebay, or advertise on youtube, or play a lottery.... People cannot get a single cent from anyone that did not sign their visa, even if they are not paid enough to make a living. That is absurd.
Exactly- Illegality is the concern. Not immigration. The failure of the Federal Government to defend our borders. Why don't we just ask China and India to send us a billion people or so, that will stimulate the economy, just think of all the forest we can clear cut to reach the demand of housing and just think of all the desalination plants we will have to build and all the schools we can overcrowd and then on top of all this we can set up a tax system that allows the rich to pay no taxes, besides most of them are wealthy enough to live someplace else in the world. There will always be an abundance of people in the world and the US has plenty of diversity, we don't need more people. it's our country to run, not the United Nations.
exactly, if they are willingto compermiseon some laws, where does it stop? with drugs? with violence? ILLIGAL is ILLIGAL, Get the f out of our great nation.
How many of you would let 5 bums into your home? ... bums with no skills, no money, no support system, etc, no matter how nice or hardworking they were?
And you could safely say none. Hypocrites, all of them.
If they are hardworking and nice, then they are not a bum are they?
actually, a bum, by definitoin is a homeless person, so ya, a nice hard working bum, IS STILL A BUM. And not your responsibility.
Our societies actually need to stop growing, whatever the Corporations tell you. Growth is not good. Legal immigration has many benefits. I have no idea what you people are thinking with the illegal immigration you allow, especially with that country below you!
Thank you. It is ONLY the big business that think that this explosive groth is a good thing.
Why on earth does every person in the media keep mixing up Legal Immigration vs Illegal Immigration. Yes legal immigration of people with skills and knowledge is fantastic for this country. People from India and Japan come here and become professionals and open businesses. However illegal immigrants mostly from South America are poor and uneducated and do not value this country or it's laws and mainly drain the budgets of cities and commit crime. It's a fact. So please stop interchanging both of them. legal immigrant with skills should be encouraged and promoted. But illegal immigration of the poor peasants should be stopped and they should not be rewarded in any way whatsoever.
Chang sounds like name from a poor peasant Chinese village.
Your racist point being..?
You probably right but he is here legally not like you!
And I bet Mr.Chang pays his taxes too. Do you? Oh wait, Mr.Chang taxes must have paid for your illegal family welfare too.
Chang is right on the point.
They are not mixing it up; they know exactly what they are doing. It's marketing. They obviously think some Americans are too stupid to know the difference. Sadly, they may be right.
agreed, and to josie, why dont you juan pablo and jesus go back to picking peppers you bean eaters.
And people from China enter the US illegally by the thousands each year. Oh, you forgot to mention that...?
They're not "mixing it up." It's the way progressives deliberately use language to try to gradually change policy. Hence, illegal aliens=illegal immigrants=undocumented immigrants=undocumented citizens (I actually read this term for the first a couple of weeks ago!). From there it's a tiny jump to citizens.
"llegal immigrants mostly from South America"???? Are confusing Central America with South America just because Mexico e cia is right under US on the map, Mr Chang??? Do some research or some World Map studying before talking nonsense. The latest data shows that China alone is number 3 in immigrants in the US, South America doesn't even make top 10.
Btw I should help Mr. Chang a little more and tell him a secret: Mexico is part of North America.
Wow! Your tendency to generalize and form stereotypes shows me that you must be one of those "less educated immigrants." Our society is made up of very diverse individuals... please, do not make everything so black and white. There are many poor and uneducated Asians who are illegal immigrants, just as there are many resourceful and educated South Americans who are legal immigrants. In addition, do not forget that Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Argentina have a significant number of wealthy individuals. Finally, as Silvia said, do not confuse Mexico or Central American countries with South America.
The problem of the US is not immigration. The problem is ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION and the influx of muslims from the Middle East. One group are blood sucker darlings of the liberal set and the other are islamic fundamentalist xenophobes who can't get along with anyone and who only want to kill and institute their fiendish and occult theocratic form of government in every country in which the enter. European immigration is what made America great and anything else is just human refuse.
Did you ask the Native American Indians?? I didn't think so. Stupid comments like this emphasizes how out of touch you are.
Truly Jon you are an idiot.
The whole thing about Muslims want to impose their will on the rest of the world is a lie.
Every nation that has issues with muslims is because it is either occupying or colonizing or oppressing the Muslims from freedom of religion. Plain and simple as that.
A lot of Afghans that are fighting are not fighting becuz they hate infidels as the media would have naive folks like you believe, it is becuz they believe that they are under occupation from a foreign power and that they are fighting for FREEDOM!
Oh full agree , you are only the victims ,never the aggressors. The whole world agrees! what happened to the Buddha statutes in Afganistan. Issue is , you wait for your population to attain critical mass, then the land becomes yours, and when others fight back ,you become victims.
Zakaria. You have to be goofy not to know that everyone believes immigration is good. Stop dancing around the illegal immigration issue with silly articles like this. Address the problem, not something ENTIRELY different.
So predictable. You come here from wherever you came from and you think America needs YOU to tell us about immigration? What an arrogant a__
AMEN!!!
On the contrary, we need more people like Fareed Zakaria to provide some Americans with broader perspectives. We might learn why our economy is stagnant, our unemployment is 9%, while China, Singapore, India, S. Korea, Brazil are enjoying the rise of the middle class.
that would be the result of deficit spending, trade deficits, and offshoring, etc
I support smart immigration. Now, unfortunately since the people who we let in long time ago are here without papers we should just give them the papers. Immigration reform is badly needed because the system that we have right now produces illegal immigrants! We need smart laws. We don't need to increase the visa availability, not now when we have 10% unemployment! That should vary with unemployment – more immigrant visas when we have economic boom, nothing when we are in recession. We also need guest worker program for farm workers. No one is going to work in the field here, come on. These visas should be temporary, just for the season and should not have path to citizenship. Immigration system does not work in this country at all. It hurt many families, ruined many lives and brought back the slavery. It's time for change. We need a comprehensive reform NOW!
I support giving papers to no one! Immigration is not our strength if the immigrants do not assimilate into our culture instead of trying to change our culture into the place they came from. It angers me to see what is going on in some parts of this country and to read some of these articles. Who the hell fell asleep at the wheel? I am freaking angry about it!!
I have to say that Assimilation has always been a part of America and to say that Immigrants are not a Strength is BS, WE all came from Immigrants unless you have full Native American blood in you. Now saying that Overpopulation and ect are caused by Immigration is BS as well, this is a scare tactic by the left for Population Control and Government Supported Abortion and Killing Old People so I don't buy it. Immigration is good, why we can't set up a Elias Island kinda place on the Southern Border with the Tech we have is beyond me, we did it in the late 19th and early 20th with NO computers and people can Trace those Records how much more could we do with the Internet?
Well, Mr. Peters, I do have full Native American blood in me. I am also married to a half Mexican. My mother-in-law is Mexican and she came here legally. She assimilated and did not teach her children Spanish. She earned a degree and two of her children did as well. Not from government assistance but from HARD work!!!
I would agree with a guest worker program if it were limited to agriculture and if the guests were required to leave the country after harfvest. As for all of this hoo-ha about the poor "dreamers", they need to take the issue up with their parents. They could take the education the American taxpayers have provided and go home and work for change in their own country. As for the "Dream Act", read it. It has so many loopholes that it amounts to a general amnesty–again.
Immigration has always been the strength of the US. In the old days, they went to processing stations like Ellis Island. They were eager to learn the language and assimulate. They still spoke their language, but second generation was basically brought into the melting pot. It is not so with this group. They have shown multiple times that their loyalties are to their old country. IMHO, that is the difference.
Hey SarahPalin – We should allow the rich people to go out and get their slaves. I'm all for human trafficking. Who cares how many of these women get raped by the coyotes. Who cares how many get kidnapped and get held for ransom. We need oversight on everything, but illegal immigration.....
No we won't keep growing in illegal immigration if the dirty federal government does it's damn job.
Fareed,
A vibrant Immigration Policy also helps with Homeland security. E Pluribus Unum means we have large numbers of people from all cultures and nations here who understand diverse cutlurees and customs and can speak fluently in different tongues. The US could be the best intelligence gathering nation in the whole wide world...if only we tap and utilize our human intelligence gathering capacity.
E Pluribus Unum means "...from many, one...." Your translation and resulting interpretation is flawed my friend.
You describe a jelly bean jar. The USA's strength comes when it is a melting pot.
I should have also stated, as did Steve Chang, that along with legal immigrants from Western Europe, legal immigrants from Japan and India are good for the American mix. The crap coming to the US from Mexico, central and south america and from the Middle East aren't welcome here but our government is so corrupt that it won't expend the effort to turn them back and prevent their entrance. They're drug soaked parasites and islam brainwashed ideologues with nothing to offer except the promise of breeding more poverty and crime and violence.
Such a Racists, not all Muslims are Terrorist and not all Mexicans are people on Welfare, get the facts .
And as well as Mr. Chang you need do some research before talking c/r@p... Immigrants from South America don't even make top 10 on the list of immigrants. But CHINA, on the other hand, makes number 3, behind Mexico and India. Mr. Chang was probably amongst them.
Great article, but you forgot to mention America's real strength – the fact that foreigners are actually accepted into our culture. That doesn't happen in other countries. Japan and Germany can change their policies to allow more immigrants, but their society will never completely accept them. Their children will still be considered foreigners.
Very true RaveDave. My wife is Japanese, and she still calls 2nd and 3rd generation Japanese-Koreans, "Koreans". It's typical. But it would also seem that many of these "Koreans" want that distinction because they do not want to become Japanese. What concerns me is that this seems to be happening here with the latest wave of illegal immigrants from South and Central America. They seem to not want to become a US citizen as much as have access to our economy and infrastructure.
Very true. When they demonstrate they do not wave the USA flag. They wave the flag of their home countries. WHich I don't get. Well, I DO get it, but you know what I mean.
Why do posters keep saying that immigrants are flooding here from "South and Central America"? Sure, some are, but the majority are MEXICAN. Why can't we just tell the truth?: Mexicans are basically invading our country.
"No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant."
Gee Switzerland, Nordic Countries, Luxembourg are not and have never been "great powers" (code word for empire) but have higher standards of living than the US. They also have low immigration.
Would someone named Zakaria and born in India be against immigration? I think not. He was welcomed in at the Ivy's and has been here ever since. The US does not have space for another 300 million of his countrymen.
And it has space for 300 million of half educated, dim witted and short sighted people like you just because you were born here ? Get the facts right. The entire Silicon Valley is run by smart immigrants like Zakaria made U.S the technology giant it is. I'm against illegal immigration as well but let's not forget what some very smart legal immigrants have brought to this country. With out us all you would have is your Wisconsin daiy farmers and Idaho potato growers !!!
Excuse me, Imon? Who are you to look down your nose at those native-born Americans who built the country that gave you the chance to escape from your Third World toilet?
Have some respect. WE built the country; you didn't. You came here after all the infrastructure was put in place (the same kind of infrastructure that YOUR culture wasn't capable of inventing on its own without Western help) and sucked up all the benefits of generations of hardworking Americans.
"No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant."
Gee Switzerland, Nordic Countries, Luxembourg are not and have never been "great powers" (code word for empire) but have higher standards of living than the US. They also have low immigration.
Would someone named Zakaria and born and raised in India be against immigration? I think not. He was welcomed in at the college Ivy's and has been here ever since. The US does not have space for another 300 million of his countrymen. Sorry.
The only thing that matters in immigration is trust.
This country only wants your info for permission, instead of seeing how they can work out.
The people here in America would be very vulgar against foreigners looking for work. Someone I know is very prejudice against people from Mexico, just for looking for work, and imply to themselves "Oh its free speech!" where it doesn't exist. People in this country could get out of hand for overlooking Greed and Selfishness, which gives a reason why people would hate this country. Deporting people doesn't show Democracy. Free speech whether it is there or not, will ever be part of Democracy, by the people or the government.
Immigrants don't come to this country just for "work" but for the "freedom" people advertise. People then get led off by unemployment by foreigners, but that is capitalism, you're owned by the corporation. We're better off in a socialist state where we're never unemployed. I'm not a Socialist, Capitalist, Communist, etc...I have an independent way of ideology.
Its better to go by "Need a job? We got one for you" For Citizens, and newcomers.
Why don't you learn to write our language before you make comments?
ummm....yeah.... whatever.... keep studying English, and this is exactly why most Americans don't like the idea of people illegally residing in the USA. You appear to have no understanding of what it means to be in this great country....at least that's what I think you demonstrated... it's hard to decipher what your point was.... you seem to be pro-socialist and anti free speech, but believe that you can preach the virtues of 'democracy'. This is why we have legal immigration in this country. We want people in this country who want to contribute to our national identity... not people who despise it.
Your comment is unintelligible.
Legal immigration is strength. Illegal immigration is illegal. Get over it.
A good example for U.S. to follow is the Canadian experience with immigration where we have a very well structured process that allows highly educated skillful applicants to integrate with the native workforce. That's why the Canadian economy, currently, is performing much better than in the U.S.
Nonsense, Canada lets anyone in. If it weren't so bitter cold in the winter, you would be overrun, also.
Bullshit .."Canada let's anyone in" ...you don' know what your talking about. Rather the US let's anyone in.
I worked in the US but immigrated to Canada. Originally from Bombay, India. I know what I am talking about as I am now a Canadian citizen. Canada only imports "skilled" labour. They even revise the occupations/workforce list every now and then based on stats they gather. That means if they have enough nurses, they close the door down on immigration for that occupation. Australia has the same policy of skilled based immigration. And yes, I believe you need to OWE allegiance to the country you immigrated to above every other and should learn the national language. I count myself blessed to live in Canada, the Cold and free North. Ok ...it's not so cold where I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You do have a point about the cold playing a part but not a huge one. Go to the bigger cities in Canada and you will see what I am talking about – Multiculturism.
I have been employed from day one and paying taxes from day one. I was paying high taxes in the USA too while on a work visa but figured immigrating there is a long, long process and there are many circumventing the process making it difficult for the legal ones.
Americans are pro LEGAL immigration, we have laws already in place that are being ignored. The real question is why do seemingly intelligent people pretend not to know the difference between legal and illegal?
They have a name – "Libtardians". They rule us, let us know how to think, what to think, shame us when we disagree, call us racists, right wingers, conservative ilk. All of it is good, knowing that their lies will never sway us into believing what is "normal". AFter the last two years, you'd think the Independents would get a grip, knowing they installed the biggest retard of a President, who has nothing but failures in his great agenda thus far. But once again, hoping that they weren't stupid enough the first time, they'll re-elect his Majesty for another four years of Leftist propaganda and Socialism, engineering the downfall of the economy, blaming others, pointing fingers, making excuses,taking credit for do-nothing events, throwing money at lost causes, stupid policies, worthless endeavors, Social engineering of the middle class, name=calling and hate=mongering, ineffectively claiming legitimacy to the worst Presidency in history.
Which presidency are you talking about as being the worst? Bush or Obama? Obama inherited a mess. Yes, he may of failed – but at least he had the guts to to try and make life better for all people, not just a select few.
Will I vote for Obama again? Depends on what the Republicans do. I almost voted for McCain – but Palin turned me off fast.
And yes – I do NOT like illegal immagration. Even if people are here legally, they should be required to have at least a basic understandiung of English. Right now that doesn't seeem to be the case. We should do something to secure our borders – but that may mean hiotting at the people who employ illegals, not setting up expensive high tech fences.
When it comes to the DREAM Act, as a two war veteran, I have a problem with two years of service to the body politic at risk of life and limb (as well as the loss of liberty that military service entails) being equated with two years of partying at college. I've done both and the college route was a lot easier and seems somewhat unfair versus serving the nation. If the DREAM Act was solely a military based program or required the applicant to acquire a BS/BA and do some government service afterwards i believe it would have much more support.
I agree. One year at beauty school doesn't compare to the sacrifice made by our military. I think the bill needs to be tightly drawn, targeting only those kids who get a four year degree or serve at least 4 years in the military. They should not be given citizenship, but a work permit. Meanwhile, we need to eliminate chain immigration so they cannot reward their law-breaking parents.
Immigration is good, illegal immigration is bad. Why do people keep trying to mix the two?
They talk crap because they know it infuriates thinking class folks. It's a game, Libtards do it just to annoy us with their games. Don't buy into it. They just like to hear themselves think out loud, showing off their substandard education and needy agendas for more free handouts, at the expense of the working class in this country. We don't owe them dink.
LEGAL Immigration is Americas strength, Fareed, LEGAL immigration...
"If it’s 12 million now, and we kick the can down the road for another 5 years, we are going to have 20 million undocumented immigrants at some point." The dream act doesn't solve this problem. It gives illegals that have shown that they are contributing to our society and that crossed the border at a young age when they were not fully responsible for their actions a path to citizenship. Such legislation is good intentioned, and would help the US. It deals with the people we want to stay here.
However, it only deals with a small minority of illegals in the US. A more comprehensive solution is needed.
Also, the US benefits from a large amount of legal immigration. Illegal immigration isn't necessary to maintain population growth. However, recently, the US has seemed at least to me to be less receptive to cultural diversity. This is definitely a problematic development. Many of our industry leaders that develop technology that creates jobs in the US come from abroad for higher education and choose to stay. We need to keep these highly educated individuals here where they can create new industries, and increase the overall competitiveness of our workforce. Employers don't come here for cheap labor. They come here for efficient labor close to where the technology is being developed. They come for smart labor. If we lose that edge, we will really be going down hill from there.
It's interesting to see the last cries from the older white generation before they slip into the bye and bye. However, the future is with the youth who are more tolerant and diverse, mostly minority and biracial. The future is brighter for America. Her best days lie ahead.
What makes you think that all white people (young or old) are just going to roll-over and die or disappear simply because you want them too?
You think this is about white people? Hardly. We got black people in this country that should be more concerned about illegal immigrants. The unemployment rate for African-American males is +20%! But I can go to any fast food joint and see 80% illegal immigrants working there. How do I know they are illegal? Because statistically it is not possible for the US to have granted legal immigration status to that many individuals from that region of the globe... and they all work in the fast food industry? And it's not just that industry. Sure they are 'low paying' jobs, but we all have to start somewhere.... also when there is an excess of available labor, the wages go down. Oh yeah, and this white guy loves ethnic women... none of my babies will be 100% caucasion, but they will learn what makes this country great and be proud of that heritage, even if their mother was ORIGINALLY from another country.
Zakaria speaks of a "demographically vibrant"' country.
That is good.
However "demographically vibrant" does not mean Balkanization of the US by any ethnic culture.
That is occurring in more than one area.
Separatism in generations after the arrival generation is Balkanization.
Failure to adopt English as the Lingua Franca is another item of Balkanization.
Holding local government meetings in Spanish is another item.
Movements to make Sharia Law the Supreme law in an area is another item.
Liberal writers like Zakaria love to use noble terms like "demographically vibrant", yet
ignore the measures necessary to prevent Balkanization.
One wonders what their true objectives are. .
The reason why nothing is getting done is because both sides in a sense actually want the illegals. The Democrats want them so they can get the vote from their anchor babies and Republicans want them for cheap labor. Personally, I wish we could kick them all out but of course that'll never happen. However, we at least should be doing something about the ones that are coming in as we speak to prevent that 12 million from becoming 20 million. If we can keep that 12 million where it is right now, it'll be much easier to deal with the current 12 million illegals.
Either way, in the end, everyone's wrong.
Legal immigration is good for the country. People struggle for years paying taxes before they get a Green Card and then go on to become citizens...A Lot more go back to their countries (After paying Social Security taxes, which has no meaning for those who have to go back) due to issues with LEGAL Immigration. Legal immigrants from India, Japan, UK and other countries have helped the economy. Its illegal immigration that is the bane of the society.
Please do not mix legal immigration with the illegal one.
Zarkaria,
Is pushing his left wing agenda. All immigration must be legal and those seeking it must get on the line. There are large numbers of immigrants who come to this country and don't take the time to learn English, that must be a requirement before obtaining residency. Too many immigrants are getting residency and the next chapter is becoming a welfare recipient. Massive overhaul of who qualify for public assistance is needed. Reform must be now, not later like Greece and Spain. Put American citizens to work Zakaria. There is currently 14 million Americans and permanent residents not working.Giving residency to illegal immigrants will create increased competition with the 14 million Americans that is not working. Who benefits the most, the people or Corporate America ?
this is the biggest travesty i have ever heard i hate this mickey mouse journalist promoting this agenda, I am a hispanic ( educated one, who did it the right way ) and now these clows are promiting all this ignorant mexicans to have full citizenship jumping the line in front of everyone. how is that fair? the broke the law, they are criminals now my babies are going to have to compite with these people to get education and any other benefits this great country gives us. Hispanics are not in favor of amnisty, illegal aliens promoting their agenda are.
Zakaria you are an idiot or an assshole either way you are pathetic.The United States lets 1 million people a year legally immigrate to this country.ONE MILLION.Thats great thats what this country is about.It doesnt mean there is an open door policy for anyone to come.Sorry we have an obligation to protect and serve our own citizensand our own interest.To ignore our southern border and let Mexico deport there poor and not hold their goverment accountable is ridiculous.There are 200,000,000 people around the world who would like to come here.Get in line.What makes them so special.This country is a melting pot,a little of everything not a chimichinga party.deal with it.
The citizenship by birth is the best thing ever happened to the U.S. Because of that rule, we don't have second class citizens like Europe and Japan have. In Europe, if your parents are gypsies, you are a gypsy. In Japan, if your parents are Koreans, you are a Korean. Only in America can you be an American because you were born here. By making everyone born here an American we created an equal playing field for everyone, notwithstanding family wealth, if you work hard, you will succeed. Not in Japan or Europe. There you are a second class resident, not even a citizen, no matter what your talent and hard work may be.
Thank God, if there is one, for the 14th Amendment.
However, we need to repeal that amendment and put a stop to the farce.
Sharon,
You are a genuine a**hole.
In that case maybe YOU would become an alien too. Be careful what you wish for.
After Obama, "citizenship by birth" is the worst thing to ever happened to the U.S. 12 to 25 Million illegals breeding like rats on fertility drugs and not even one can speak English. Barf.
@Crady. Dude, you need to get out more.
Do you even know why, for who, or when the 14th Amendment was even written? I hardly think that its authors, in 1868, ever foresaw that the 14th was going to be abused to this extent. I doubt they even imagined that the population would boom into the hundreds of millions within a single country. It was written primarily to grant citizenship to former slaves and to the children of former slaves, not to grant millions of illegal immigrants a means to anchor themselves into this country and to leech off of us.
Birth tourism needs to stop. Anyone can fly or walk over the border from Buttcrack Nowhere a few days before giving birth and voila! America has a new citizen. Meanwhile, the parent has no loyalty whatsoever to this country. One of the parents should be a legal citizen or resident for the children to be.
Well the Japanese Korean situation is a little more complicated.... It would seem most of the Japanese-Koreans don't want to become Japanese Nationals and prefer to preserve their Korean heritage. In the USA we expect naturalized citizens to be loyal to our country... but we acknowledge that our national heritage is not ancestrial but idealogical. What bothers me is that many of the illegal immigrants seem unwilling to embrace a new nationality... maybe it's because they aren't immigrating legally, or maybe because they want to remain 'Mexican'....or whatever nationality they claim. It would be nice to see a some statistics about their intentions.
Actually, most japanese Koreans are vocal about their wish to be acknoledged as real Japaneses. IT's just polititians don't have that in mind as a priority.
C'mon CNN. Just this once, be honest. Legal immigration is [but one of] America's [many] strength(s). Suddenly declaring that millions upon millions of arrogant Mexican flag-waving illegals who refuse to learn English and have zero respect for our laws is merely "let's get Obama re-elected" and you know it.
Pathetic.
Fareed: Please move to Canada! THE PEOPLE don't want ANY immigrants here.
Immigration is only a strength when it is not only legal, but the immigrants genuinely want to be Americans. When they learn our language so they can excel in our society beyond remedial labor. When they consider themselves American, not Mexicans, or Indians, or Koreans, or Russians etc. who happen to live in America.
Exactly! If people want to immigrate here because they genuinely want to be Americans, because they love this country and our culture than by all means, let them come.
If the illegal immigrants that came into this country voted republican the democrats would build high speed trains to get them back to where they came from. The Hmong were strong supporters of Bush Sr. check out what Clinton did to them.
"Unfortunately, this is a perfect picture of the new world where people are learning from our strengths while we are letting some of our most crucial advantages slip."
I couldn't agree more. As an immigrant, it hurts me to see how 'us Americans' fail to recognize our greatness and now fall into the failed policies of old Europe. Revive America!
So sofiyan, you are here illegally ?
So Australia is booming because of immigration. Stupid me thought it was because of mineral exports to China. If we already accept more legal immigrants than the rest of the world, why should we legalize the criminals. We went through this before with the Reagan amnesty. Enough!
Hirnu, OZ is doing well because of its exports and so it needs more and more people to immigrate to their land, once when that is done it the economy stabilizes, for now they have made it more and more difficult to immigrate there, and are thinking of giving more freedom to the native aborogines so that oz does not have to look for immigrants for a while.
"No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant."
====================
What do you call the USA from 1776 to at least 1945, if not to the present? By any measure it was/is a vibrant and great power and was fairly homogeneous until relatively recently.
Except the Native Americans. And the African Americans. And the Dutch. And the Irish. And the Swedes. And the Italians. And the Jews. And the Chinese. And the Japanese. Don't forget about the cajuns down south, the Scandanavians in the Midwest. Not to mention the huge amount of religious diversity among English and German descendants. Yep, we're totally homogeneous.
Up until the 1950's America was about 95% white European. There was a common religion (Christianity) and a common language (English). Yes, the various European ethnicities made for some interesting variety, but overall, the population was homogenous enough to work together efficiently. Americans had a common identity and a sense of shared DESTINY.
Frankly, I do not share a sense of destiny with today's crop of immigrants. There is an obnoxious, low IQ, welfare mentality to many of them that I want nothing to do with. I do not believe their presence is an "improvement" to America, in fact, I think they are rapidly bringing American down to a Third World status.
Do you understand the difference between "relatively" and "totally"?
There are also people with red hair, black hair, brown hair, etc. There are also men and women. Are you suggesting that Mr. Zakaria's statement means that there was never a very successful country of Amazon women or cloned boys from Brazil? That's so preposterously obvious as to be meaningless.
Your lame rebuttal doesn't change the fact that the USA became the greatest nation on Earth while it was relatively homogeneous. It was predominantly Angle-Saxon and Protestant. That in no way discounts that many (again, a relatively small percentage) were not, nor the value of their contributions to making America great.
Anyone who thinks Fareed Zakaria has Americas best interests at heart is an utter FOOL!!
hes just a mouthy third worlder....
Let me translate for Zakaria : "Illegal immigration is destroying the U.S. which is a good thing, And if you oppose the lawlessness that we Progressives have promoted you are a raaaacist"
Mr. Zakaria's article is the biggest load of hooey that I have read since the last time he published and article. To start with he doesn't distinguish between legal and illegal, and then he goes on to pile on layer upon layer of rubbish and lies.
If your main concern on immigration is the expenditure of tax dollars, read this. Before we stop paying tax dollars on the children of Mexican laborers who come here and work their butts off in ways you couldn't imagine, let's stop paying tax dollars on the Afghan and Iraqi governments so that it can be pilfered by the corrupt patsies we have appointed to rule there. After that, then let's talk about the Mexicans. K? Good. By the way, did you know that people in Mexico work more hours a day than any other country in the world? I vote to have these hard working people to come here and remind us what it means to work.
Rippeeeeey, It's pretty sad how lazy this country has gotten. Our ancestors would most likely be very ashamed. They came here and created something from nothing and had to face some pretty terrifying conditions, like dying of cold and hunger, fighting wild Indians, and not knowing whats over the next hill. Now we just want to give it all up because we stopped having kids and got lazy.
The essence of America is growth. The essence of growth is renewal. Therefore, the essence of America is renewal.
True, the average Mexican work-week is 54 hours. I should know, I'm an American citizen living in Mexico (my husband is Mexican) because the U.S.'s immigration laws are so outdated and shi##y, he was denied his residency even though we waited almost 3 years and paid over 10,000 dollars in fines and fees (and no, he's not a criminal, just a hard worker.)
"Almost every rich country in the world is going to get older and older and older. "Do you have to repeat "older" so many times? Why to waste so much time and space? Once is enough.
There are way better ways to increase population growth and grow the work force other than importing massive 3rd world immigrants whom don't even speak the native language, commit large amounts of crime, and are relatively unskilled and uneducated. How about we increase the birth rates of the MAJORITY by offering incentives and making it less of a burden to raise a child in this day and age. Our culture is going to die out if we continue down the trend of waiting so long to have kids, and having so few.
We must stop legal and illegal immigration from Islamist countries. Islamists and Islam are destroying the USA.
and hispanic countries........think were stupid.
who cares what they think.... their hispanics
i'm about as liberal as they get, and on one hand i am all for legal immigration, amnesty for those brought here as children, and the DREAM act. however, as someone from texas, i have seen first-hand how the recent waves of immigration have completely destroyed entire communities. most south american immigrants are good people, but there is a LARGE drug-running and gang population among them. entire neighborhoods near the border have been transformed into some bizarre gang wonderland, and it's getting very nasty. "demographically vibrant" has translated, in practice, to "mexicans and colombians bringing their turf wars to america". the author completely overlooks that–not that he has ever had to deal with it, of course.
Speaking of aliens, Fareed looks like he walked off the set of Mars Attacks. "Pew pew pew... Do not run, we are your friends... pew pew pew" Seriously, watch the movie – and don't listen to a word this fool says. It could mean the end of western civilization!
Thank you obamayakyak. My sentiments exactly
Don't assuma illegal immigration to the USA is from Latin America. I the USA, there are illegal aliens from Europe, Asia, Africa and just about from every country of the world.
Hey Fareed! Go puck yourself! Illegals go home! Democrat liberal-media pags most of you!
Steven: You too. You can go back to your Nazi Germany. One half of the USA was stolen from Mexico. How do you feel to be living in stolen land? You are the illegal alien here.
Ah now we get to the main point. A point that I have seen Mexicans on other websites admit: that the reason people fly the Mexican flag (and not the USA flag) in demonstrations is because they are taught that this is the only way to 'get their country back'. Never heard that before. Then I started looking it up on various blogs. Hmmmm.
This explains soooo much..... pay attention people.
Half? Your math sucks! Those of us that are Native American Indian decendants are NOT Mexican!
Don't assume all illegal immigration to the USA is from Latin America. In the USA, there are illegal aliens from Europe, Asia, Africa and just about from every country of the world
We want people with talent. We don't want people who are a burden to the state. That is fair, no?
You are right, and all 10 of those illegals need to do it the right way too!
But we like them...don't you get it.
You aren't really trying to use London (and thus the U.K.'s policies) regarding immigration as an example to be followed, are you? The UK's immigration system is even more broken than our own. It is completely and utterly abused, and the immigrants know that it's reached proportions where the British authorities can't do anything of substance about it
Letting people from poor uneducated countrys move into america DOES NOT help america! Look that citys with the highest debt and lowest grades they are the same citys with the highest illegal immigration population.
I mean look at the countrys they come from they are all trash and yet some how if we let them move into America they wont turn it into the same slum they came from!?!?
Do you have any idea what Ireland was like when the huge waves of Irish immigrants arrived here? Yet this country did not become a poor mass of people barely surviving on potatoes, did it?
Funny thing about the Irish, they came here LEGALLY
WHAT "huge waves" of Irish immigrants? Ireland's population in the 19th Century was only a couple of million people.
Illegals are 12-20 million, plus their relatives waiting to come in under "family reunificatin" if the illegals get amnesty. Now THAT is a "huge wave."
Really? We have 13 million illegal aliens sucking the life out of this country, we have immigrants taking jobs from americans simply because they are cheaper and younger. Please GET OUT OF THIS COUNTRY!
Oh, I get it. Now they're flying US flags instead of Mehico flags. That legitimizes their claims to citizenship (dual, of course).
Now we feel better, knowing that LaRaza finally helped them see the error of their ways, by covertly changing their agenda to repopulate SW US with Mexican faces, and restore the Great nation of Atzlan. Libtards buy into it, not the conservatives.
If the government would had made rules/laws a long time ago for new immigrants like... just examples...
1) Your on a 10 year probation. If you commit any felony then you are automatic deported.
2) If your caught selling drugs you are deported.
3) If you're found to be apart of any terrorist gang, You are deported.
4) Illegal immigrant children must retrain at least a C average in schools
Make laws that make them don't want to commit crimes or they are automatic deported. Right now they have free realm and they do not care about anything.
You're the same guy who said that the 'problem' with Japan was a lack of immigration. Total nonsense and an example of your particular bias. For you to argue again that we need more immigration or that we somehow need to change our actual current immigration laws to retroactively allow in the folks who came here illegally is simply wrong headed. The United States will not become a more attractive place for investment because of a burgeoning population, populations need to level off and go down. Sustainable populations need to be goal, not a constantly growing population on a finite space. That's common sense, your ideas and your constant advocacy for what amounts to unregulated immigration doesn't serve the interests of Americans or the world. The world needs to get itself in order, not look to lessen their population problems by having their populations arrive at the shores of the United States.
A. Problem is illegal immigration – not legal immigration. Everyone with a properly functioning brain here got that right. Those that didn't, well...
B. I am married to a legal immigrant. People violating the immigration laws insult those who worked hard and followed the law to get here legally. Ask them.
C. I have yet to meet a legal immigrant who demands public services, signs, and the like be offered in their native language. Immigrants who got here legally understand that this is not their native country, that they knew that when they immigrated and have done their best to assimilate into our culture. However, such demands, whether made by illegal or legal immigrants are ridiculous. I am sick of federal and state governments catering to the language demands and whims of non-English speaking populations. No other country would kowtoe to such demands and make those expenditures (yes, those signs, translators, publications, etc. cost money).
C.
Fareed is a traitor, (if he is a US citizen). If he is in the US illegally, then he should be kicked out.
"Two is that our immigrant population tends to reproduce at a slightly higher rate (they are still somewhat old-fashioned, if you will)." – That's why America is turning into a welfare state. Immigrants use to come to this country to find better opportunities to work and achieve the American dreams. Most immigrants today come and squat for years under "free" money and food. They also reproduce to receive more benefits. Not sure if you seen Atlanta's neighborhoods where new legal immigrants reside but they look a lot worst than East LA.
Fareed:
How about a Dream Act for US citizens ??
Anybody know Fareed's CNN email address ?
You can't talk about immigration without talking about illegal immigration since 2/3 of the so called immigrants are entering illegally. That's one "advantage" we don't need more of. 60% of illegals recieve at least one government entitlement within 6 months of entering the country. We need educated self supporting immigrants not more third worlders that drain our resources.
"We need educated self supporting immigrants not more third worlders that drain our resources."
What exactly is that supposed to mean? Are you saying that "third worlders" drain your resources? How so? Third worlders aren't educated and self supporting? That is an incredibly stupid statement to make.
Jon, I think you're painting with too broad a brush. There are third world people out there with PhDs and lots of technical skills that can , and currently are, benefiting the US.
Why do we want a homophobic culture like the Latinos to dominate????
Immigration is always good, always, always, always, no exceptions, even when there already aren't enough jobs for the people already here. Or wait, maybe immigration is good when there are worker shortages, but not when there are job shortages.
Fareed says: Meanwhile, we are bizarrely copying the immigration policies of continental European –countries like France and Germany – which have completely failed to integrate and assimilate their populations.
These two countries surrendered to the Sharia laws of the Muslims a decade back. Those so-called immigrants live on welfare and stick to their own culture. As usual, Fareed blames the Govts, but not the immigrants who just will NOT assimilate !!
Well said! That's all part of Mr. Zakaria's overall Islamist design!
Thank you! Very well said indeed.
Zakaria said:
"There are two things that set the U.S. apart:
One is we still take in more immigrants legally than the rest of the world put together.
Two is that our immigrant population tends to reproduce at a slightly higher rate (they are still somewhat old-fashioned, if you will)."
I have two words (or one term 'if YOU will') that help explain points #1 & #2: "Anchor Babies"
I am NOT against immigration. I am against illegal aliens. If you want to come to America and register as a citizen, obey our laws (yes, even the ones that cover immigration) and pay taxes then you are welcome. If you come to our country illegally (or come to our country pregnant with the intent to snub our laws and manipulate the system) then you have already offended us as a Nation and your ability to convince us you are law abiding is already a moot point. You do not follow laws just when they are convenient for you as an individual because that shows us that not only do you have disregard for our legal system and laws, you are showing that you have a clear lack of character and integrity. I for one couldn't care less by that point WHAT skills you have because you have made yourself unwelcome.
Zakaria said that it would be ridiculous to even imagine that we would deport 12-million illegal aliens and even more ridiculous to begin to think about the 20-million more we would have to deport in the future if we do not pass immigration reform. Mr. Zakaria I agree that it is ridiculous that our own government has allowed the problem to get this bad and to this time has done NOTHING about it...at all. But what I think about this issue is that BEFORE we enact new laws we must enforce the old laws or what message are we sending? Aren't we saying in that case that it is OK to break laws, just keep breaking them while we as the federal government sit on our collective behinds and eventually we'll panic and change our laws in your favor?
YES, lets change our laws to allow more free immigration, but let us not also reward people who knowingly choose to violate U.S. law and immigration policy. THAT would be ridiculous. I also find it blackly humorous that the SAME federal government that WILL NOT enfoce it's own immigration policy and laws and stand around on capital hill wringing their hands ineffectually will at the drop of a hat condemn states from enacting laws that MIRROR federal laws ALREADY ON THE BOOKS!
For example: Laws have been condemned as unconstitutional that citizens have I.D. cards that identify them as U.S. citizens. Last time I checked, you couldn't GET a U.S. state drivers license UNLESS you were a legal citizen or had a valid work permit or other papers identifying who you were prior. ALSO...on the 'Green card' (USCIS Form I-551) it states that you "MUST KEEP THIS ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES AND PRESENT IT WHEN ASKED". So, then what's the big deal?
Are you saying that a law enforcement official has a right to ask you for your green card, but not for a citizens ID card? Aren't they pretty much the same thing in the context? One would be called Form 1-151, and the other would be called a State citizens I.D. They would perform the same function...so why the big uproar?
Lastly it is unfair to compare our immigration laws or policy with either Canada or Australia or even to a much lesser extent, Singapore.
Take a look at a map of Canada...They have no bordering neighbors except for us. Big illegal immigration threat there.
Same with Australia. They are surrounded by ocean on all sides.
Singapore's border makes them appear as if their country is a giant castle with a HUGE moat (The straits) cutting off direct access from bordering nations except by boat, road or rail.
Whereas the USA has for all intents and purposes a completely uncontrolled border with Mexico. If you disagree then explain those nearly 13-million illegal aliens you mentioned and the 20-million more you say you expect in the future.
I'll leave you with 2 points of my own:
1. Reform US Immigration policy and laws NOW.
2. SECURE OUR BORDERS!
A well thought out response
Excellent.
Not reform the laws but perform the laws on the books.
Something overlooked is that Mexico's population is 160 million. That means that almost ten percent of that entire nation's population has come here. That is staggering. That's like 30 million Americans invading Canada. And what ten percent did we get? The ones that can't find a job in their countries, the least skilled and the least educated, the ones that have the most to gain by not being discovered and sent back. Nice.
That is a good metric Paul R. -Kinda puts the situation into stark perspective when you see the statistical comparison.
People need to march for immigration reform for sure. First allow legal immigration, then boot the illegals out and cut of all social benefits they illegally recieve. Its not racism its the law!
Americans need to realise that until they invent robots to scrub, mop, clean toilets, and empty garbage cans, they will need immigants
Well, perhaps you need to take your talents and apply them to your own country. Maybe it wouldn't be such a stink-hole.
You are truley an idiot. You don't think the US did fine before the influx of Mexicans? All illegals have done are take jobs away from the poor working class people in this country. Trust me, most of Mexico is MUCH dirtier than the US. Must be all those experienced Janitors in Mexico. By the way, did they ever get all the gum off their streets?
To illegal:
Get your spelling right...."immigants"
You illegals are dumbing down this nation.
You got that right. Immigrants my a$$.
So, Fareed Zakaria thinks that American needs millions of Mexicans, Haitians and Cambodians to be "Demographically vibrant"? What an INSULT to the generations of good white people who built America and turned it into the greatest nation on Earth.
Right, "generations of good white people" who built this great land...largely on the backs of slave African labor (y'know, the old 'involuntary immigrants'), people whose descendants didn't receive full civil rights until the 1960s? Those "generations of good white people"? Funny, when Italians were immigrating here in the 19th century, they weren't considered "white" because they weren't northern/central Europeans. Neither were Irish or Scots immigrants considered "white", but, rather, Micks and Jocks who were invading and ruining this great land of "good white people." On whatever side of this critical debate you may be, please make the effort to understand the complex history of immigration in the USA. Acting like this country was populated by nothing but "good white people" before being overrun now by (just picking from posts here) Mexicans, Middle East Muslims and Islamists, Cambodians, Japanese, Koreans, Spanish, et al. is as willfully ignorant a sentiment as could possibly be imagined. The USA was 95% white before 1950?? Can anyone cite a source for this ludicrous claim?? I guess if we don't count all the black people then in the USA who did not have civil rights you could arrive at something like this number...but even then I doubt it.
I'd like for true Americans to file a class action suit against our government. For those of us who believe we shouldn't have to pay for our invaders support. I didn't want to pay for them in the past, present or future. I owe them nothing. I wasn't born into servitude for the stinking wet baks.
That would be a grand idea.
Keep it legal and its solid. I prefer quotas. I wouldn't want to live in an ALL anything community. So keep the immigration numbers down and properly mixed.
What many people don't realize is how difficult the proccess is to obtain residency, or even a temporary visa, "the right way". It can take up to 10 years and cost tens of thousands of dollars for a person with no ties to an American citizen to obtain a visa. I am a white girl from Nebraska who married a Mexican and we waited over three years and paid almost 11,000 dollars in fines and fees for his papers, and he ended up being denied for no good reason. He has no criminal history, he's not a drug dealer or a gang banger. We are just normal people trying to raise our family with values and compassion.....in Mexico. The paperwork proccess is one of the reasons there are so many illegals in the states. So if you are racist agains all of them....keep on hating, but if you're just upset that they're entering illegally, call you congressman and tell them to get off the partisan a$$es and find some sort of system that works.
i am going throught the same thing with applying for my husband, who is from eurasia. what was the reason they gave you? i thought it would be no problem at all to get approved. did you get a lawyer?
Immigrants come here largely for economic reasons, which means that they only want to be here to make more money. How does that help this country? We have people here that are looking for work, but we also have people coming here that only look to exploit the hard work that generations of Americans have worked so hard for. Immigrants should possess skills that help America, we need to be like every other country, we get criticized for not letting everyone in America, yet we are more lax than just about any other country... look at Mexico's immigration policy toward south americans.
Silly article. The United States has every right to protect its borders and to insist that foreign visitors respect our laws. Nobody is against immigrants, but nobody should be for ILLEGAL aliens who have by definition violated our laws and sovereignty.
Fareed Zakaria–
ENOUGH I am so sick of this. Stop trying to shove ILLEGALS and the POS DREAM Act on is. You are looking like a complete shill. Since you advocate people breaking the laws and being rewarded for it, you and everyone else that thinks like you give me all of your addresses so I can rob you all and if you report me I will call you a massive hypocrite for it and file suit against you. That is a great idea.
ILLEGAL MEANS ILLEGAL get that through your head. DEPORT be gone. We cannot even deal with legal immigrants right now. It is unacceptable for legal immigrants to get any work over legal citizens. I've have freaking had it with this garbage.
Maybe a nazi u are?
Maybe an ignoramus you are, that can't understand the rule of law, or the definition of the term "Illegal?"
It is amazing how these spin doctors like the writer of this article try to make a bad idea look like sugar. Whenever I want evil, I read what the mainstream media writes. Do they really think we're all idiots.
I say America kicks out all illegal immigrants ...12 million of them...let the country rot, once the economy gets worse then they will beg for legal and illegal immigrants to come back....in the mean while I will be at my beach house in south America enjoying the sun and my simple life...c'mon who needs all this!
As a population with an average IQ of 100 is replaced with groups of lower average intelligence, the nature of the country will change, needless to say for the worse.
As a country's population becomes more Third World, the more it will resemble the Third World. You can take that to the bank.
Zorn, you are 100% dead on. In every one of Zakaria's immigration puff pieces, there is ZERO commentary on the IQ differences between population groups.
Intelligence MATTERS. If you removed every single white person from America and replaced the entire population with Mexicans and Haitians, does anybody REALLY believe they would be launching Space Shuttles or unraveling the DNA code? If you want a Third Word country just fill it with a Third World population and you will quickly get your wish.
it WAS a strength, back when manpower mattered in industry. Now that robotic assembly lines are around, heaps of unskilled labor is no longer a plus.
I am afraid what Zakaria is saying applied back then (especially in the 40s to the early 70s) when all countries were expanding like crazy especially America .Industries back then required highly skilled laborers, engineers in great numbers Being a highly skilled worker myself I now realize I am lucky that I got away with a relatively lower level of education than now. My work has been replaced by automation (especially CNC machining) , assembly by robotics and extremely cheap labor in China, India, etc....etc... What America needs is : POPULATION CONTROL. It is the opposite that we need. we should take care of the people who are very educated, very skilled and unemployed to boot. Zakaria is a highly intelligent man but he is wrong on that one. Chinese and third world cheap labor, Automation, engineering and design outsourcing, computer assisted design and development,the INTERNET, cheaper shipping of products, have completely changed the equation.. You definitely don't need anymore to move people with their families over here to produce components and products. LESS IMMIGRATION PLEASE skilled or unskilled because we have millions of very skilled talented people who are without regular dependable jobs !! for the love of our country let us raise higher fences to keep them away and catapult the illegals to the other side if they jump over them. Put it between your ears Zakaria and get some fresh air because it is 2011 not 1957.
Zakaria has no credibility. He's advocating policies that are downright evil.
He's also a liar, in that he must be aware that there are over 25 million illegal immigrants in the US right now. The "12 million" figure seems to have attained the status of Holy Writ. There were that many illegals in the US three decades ago.
Here is the plain and simple answer to those who say "America was built by immigrants":
The immigrants of the early to mid 1900's were men and women who worked their asses off to help build this country. But more importantly, they PAID THEIR TAXES, and the received little or no benefits from the state or Federal government. The money that they earned was then spent IN THE U.S., thus helping the economy.
The Mexican immigrants of the last two decades work hard too, but they DO NOT PAY TAXES. They get paid in cash, then many of them send the cash back to their families in Mexico! Yet they get ALL the benefits that YOU, the taxpayer has funded the government for. Foodstamps, Medicaid, welfare, you name it.
Our government is broke because it dishes out money to immigrants who do not pay them back in taxes!
How can CNN allow this article on their site? Do they really not care about this country?
In answer to your last question – the answer is NO! Bleeding heart liberal clap trap is selling this country out.
You hit the nail right on the head. Illegal immigration (and the granting of amnesty) is a long term strategy for the Democrat Party – more specifically, for the Jewish clique that runs the Democratic Party and have been pushing aggressively for open borders for the last 50 years.
My story:
I am a legal immigrant to the USA. I arrived from Britain in January in order that i could marry my American fiance. I can assure every American on here that coming here legally is an extremely difficult process (it took me and my fiance 1 year just to get me in the country on a fiance visa) When i arrived i had to then change my status to permanent resident and apply for my green card, enter the selective service system (so theoretically i could be called up if there was world war three) and then apply for SSN etc
There is no way that i can 'milk the system' or even apply, much less receive any benefits – not that i wanted or need any. The long drawn out nature of this whole process is frustrating and i wish i could have been given a SSN straight away so that i could have been working the last 6 months! That's the short version.
Someone on the forum suggested that not even legal immigrants should be allowed in the country whilst there are many unemployed- OK in that case, you need to recall all of the Americans whom live abroad and take jobs from the people of those countries if that is the case – clearly this is nonsense, we do live in a globalised world so grow up, deal with it.
The above article is a very poor piece of journalism. many have pointed out many floors but my issue was with the piece about Australia 'Look at Australia. Fifteen years ago, Australia was convulsed by a huge anti-immigrant tide. There was a serious political movement that was talking about deportation. Now about a quarter of Australia’s population is foreign-born. This is one of the highest percentages in the world and as a result Australia is booming.' ........This is just arrant nonsense, if this guy had ever been to Australia he would know that they still have a very anti-immigrant tide! He then attributes Australia's recent economic boom to immigrants WAKE UP IDIOT, DO YOU NOT REALISE AUSTRALIA IS A VERY MINERAL RICH COUNTRY WHICH SELLS MASSIVE AMOUNTS TO THE CHINESE ...... OF COURSE THEY ARE DOING WELL! I apologise for the caps-locks but that is mis informing bad journilism to the highest degree!
^Indeed, exports to China were key there. I'm all for legal immigrants Miller. My husband is a legal immigrant and we went through all of the hoops too. Of course, we are law abiding and wouldn't do it any other way.
Miller I want to thank you for going to the trouble of legally immigrating to the USA. Nobody said the system was a good one, but it is our law and so it must be respected. I want immigration reform as I feel the laws we currently have are sorely outdated. The laws we have are not being enforced and the ones that are do not serve us well as a Nation.
As a veteran who served in the military of the USA for 20+ years, I salute you and the example you represent.
Totally agree on the jobs argument. This is a global economy and let the best skills be hired where they are needed. No country, much less the USA, is an island onto itself.
IN GOD WE TRUST
Zakaria, I agree that Canada has a smart immigration policy. We need HIGHLY skilled immigrants. I work with highly skilled legal immigrants that speak fluent immigrants, work in well paid jobs and pay their taxes. Unfortunately, I see my government insult and turn away these highly skilled people by delaying and/or denying their H1-B visas. I truly can't understand this. We shut doors and make things exceedingly difficult for highly skilled people but roll out the welcome mat for low skill illegal immigrants. How does this make any sense? We need to drastically change our immigration policy and court the highly skilled people and do something to stem the tide of low skilled illegal workers.
You are making excellent points and I agree that the Canadian government most especially Quebec is disparaging in most cases the immigrants' diplomas and credentials. What I also find quite egregious is that they are accepting too easily people that I am sorry to say are absolutley useless to the country . I refer to them as PARASITES whose main objective in life is to reproduce themselves and stay on welfare and child support money. They are probably why Canada will become a much poorer country. Their main activity is praying in their temples, walking their babies in strollers and the women in scarfs are already pregnant yet with another baby in her. Immigration can also be a source of great economic disaster just like what is happening in France, England and Germany.
Immigration ... the LEGAL kind is always welcomed. The ILLEGAL kind is wrong from the get-go and is not welcomed – ever!! When a person's first act is to thumb their noses at this country's laws – they are not wanted by those who did it right. It does not matter their reason, background, religion, ethnic persuasion or color!!
What differentiates you ppl from the south compared to the north, and I mean new England and new York, is that we admit we need these ppl, regardless if we agree or not. Us rich here in new York, just look down and laugh seeing you guys arguing. You southerns never learn huh?
So...in effect, being from the North as you just said you are; you just basically said that everything the North fought for in the civil war as it pertains to slavery was all just a sham? That hearing about 30 illegal aliens living in a 3-bedroom trailer is 'fine and dandy' with you, as long as your grass gets cut, Maria has dinner done on time for your guests, and the crops get picked cheaply?
Haha...well ALRIGHTY THEN!
^Correction: Immigrants that speak fluent *English*.
How to make illegals to leave US on their own resources quick and ease:
1) Require proof of status for opening bank accounts. Everybody needs a safe place to keep their money.
2) Require proof of status for residential rentals.Everybody needs a home to go back to after a day of work.
3) Require proof of status for opening a business.In US is very ease to start up a business even without money.
4) Require proof of status for any school registering and prevent students to enter when their status expires.
5) Set up fines and suspend the operational licences for institutions that pretend not to notice irregularities.
Of course none of these will be done and this is the weakness in the giant's immune system illegals will always exploit.
Instead of doing that, why not assist mexico in developing itself, once they have jobs people won't come here. Start pressuring the govt. there.
Long term GDP growth is highly correlated with population growth.
You people seem hopelessly confused. We have a problem with immigration policy. But, that does not mean that immigraiton is a problem. Immigration is what makes America an exceptional country.
We need leaders who value stewardship of America's exceptionalism. Instead we have hacks who play off the fears and uninformed opnions to get votes.
So, in a nutshell what you are saying is that our 'goal' as Americans should be to maximize GDP and not address issues we as Americans feel are important? Well heck....let's do away with abortions then....those little Americans could add 0.000001 percent to our GDP.
Now I would be the first to agree that the analogy proposed in the movie "The Matrix" is actually quite apt for the purpose of explaining each American's role within the economy. We are all an individual tiny 'battery' powering the national economy. But I'd like to also think that we are people, and more importantly we are AMERICAN people with a clearly distinct world-view and issues that are unique to our 'American concerns'.
The immigration issue is one of them...because I'm not just a damned battery.
Its pretty simple. Capitalist systems require population growth to growth the economy.
GDP growth is not a good measure of economic health. It's GDP per capita that matters.
Importing huge numbers of poor people from the Third World will decrease our GDP per capita and make us a poor country.
Depends upon what kind of immigration policy we set. Right now it is harder than ever for skilled immigrants to get into the US.
Per capita GDP is important, but you are totally missing the point:
1) increasing the denominator does not affect the numerator – so its not as though wealthly individuals are hurt by adding immigrants to the population.
2) Per Capital GDP is not what matters when it comes to total tax revenues of a nation, GDP is what matters. We need more tax payers to pay off the obiligations that our politicians promised the elderly, otherwise those obligations will get cut or we will go bankrupt.
3
Having lived in London for a while working on border control solutions, the UK does not have any control over illegal immigration. It is now almost impossible to immigrate legally to the UK unless you possess a critically short skill set. Immigrants also have to forgo any public assistance. I have no problem with legal immigration into the US. I don't even have an issue with reforming the legal immigration process to make it less difficult. I have a BIG problem with giving a free pass to those who have broken out laws and illegally immigrated to the US. I also have an issue with the amount of free public assistance that is available to illegal immigrants, some of which is not available to our own citizens.
I agree 100%.
This LOPSIDED story by my former countryman Mr. Zakaria is JUST THE PRECURSOR TO THE NEXT ONE.....URGING AMERICANS TO LET MORE & MORE OF THE UNADAPTABLE VARIETY (MUSLIM IMMIGRANTS!) INTO ITS FOLD. Already Mr. Zakaria has been tireless advocating embracing MUSLIM TURKEY into the EU with a view to (contrary to what he says) to IRREVERSIBLY ALTER THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF EUROPE & IN THE LONGER RUN OF AMERICA and rapid ISLAMIZATION of these great Judo-Christian civilizations.
Being a recent immigrant myself (like Mr. Zakaria) I say this – America is well served NOT BY IMPORTING HORDES OF UNQUALIFIED AND/OR UNADAPATABLE IMMIGRANTS, but by selectively attracting the best & the brightest who can truly contribute to the nation and TRULY ADAPT TO THIS GREAT NATION & NOT EXPECT MAGNANIMOUS AMERICANS TO ADAPT TO THEM! Else, just as Mr.Zakaria lays the blame at the door step of the French & Germans for not integrating & assmiliating their WELFARE immigrants (READ MUSLIMS) America will be faced with a similar situation.
Hopefully America will not fall into Mr. ZAKARIA's TRAP!!!!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
My great, great, grandfatehr arrived here broke and uneducated. Each generation did better than the next and now we are a huge extended family of high wage earning taxpayers.
You are an idiot.
No, he's one hundred percent right. There's not much use for most Third Worlders in a First World economy except in very menial positions, especially in the age of welfare statism.
Your great-grandfather didn't recieve food stamps, WIC vouchers, Medicaid, or other welfare programs that didn't exist in his day.
I am pretty sure your Great-Great-Whatever didn't get government benefits, free emergency-room visits with highly skilled medical personnel, food-stamps and other swag back in the day either. They also arrived during the economic revolution, where nearly 90% of the population was not technically skilled. That's an "Apples and Oranges" argument you have going there.
Promethius,
You are either stupid or a liar or both.
In 1909, at the height of the last great immigration wave, when immigrants reached a peak of almost 15 percent of the U.S. population, they made up about half of all public welfare recipients.
They were two-thirds of welfare recipients in Chicago.
In the country's 30 largest cities, meanwhile, more than half of all public school students were the children of immigrants. They were three-fourths in New York.
The only one :unadaptable" here are Hindus ike Amit from Atlanta.
Clearly he has an agenda of his own.
America stands for Freedom of Religion. If you don't like the Great Constitution of America which embraces all, then get out and go back to your slums of India.
you will go back to your taliban infested SWAT my dear. We know all you wolf in the sheep dress.
@amazingfein – Way to go bigot.. You call Amit a Hindu and discuss an open society! It is people like you that need to be thrown out of our country.
Preach your hatred in 'not so slum infested' pakistan. Wait did I say pakistan?
Every single day, one "news" site after another has an OpEd piece that tries to ram amnesty and illegal alien hugging down Americans' throats. WE AREN'T SWALLOWING!!! A vast majority want every ILLEGAL alien deported, along with the kids THEY dragged here, no matter how badly they really, really want to stay. Quit trying to sell us this BS! We aren't buying! If Ruben Navarette, Leonard Pitts and Zacarias like 'em so much, help them change their home countries, not this one.
Great Article Fareed.
Seems most cannot grasp the simple truth that GDP growth is a funciton of population growth. The only way out of our current problems is to grow GDP.
There may be a problem with immigration policies, but immigration is a blessiing because it generates growth. So fix the policies, but don't blame immigrants for these policy problems. If you do, we will no longer be an exceptional nation.
Encouraging educated young professionals from the developing world is the best long term solution for USA's problems. US should tax the immigrants a bit more than its own citizens. US also must encourage rich people to emigrate and tax them. Between now and 2050, the world population will reach 9 Billion and its geography is one of US' best advantages compared to India and China.
i think zakaria is a jihadist. immigrants are a problem. maybe not when our country was in its nasent stages but definately now it is. our country is being spread thin and fareed zakaria should be punched in his ugly f*kin mouth
Immigration is vital to the growth of the U.S. but illegal immigration creates more corruption , inquality and racism .
Immigration done LEGALLY is great, I'm all for it. Immigration done ILLEGALLY is the problem, is AN ACTUAL PROBLEM, and CAUSES problems. There's nothing good or helpful about ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, get it through your head, you twit
We as a diverse America cannot and should not distinguish and discriminate against immigrants from one country or another. If we are going to do that then we might as well close our borders from our north in Canada, stop accepting immigrants from Europe in the east coast, stop accepting immigrants from the west coast and stop accepting immigrants from the border to our south. Oh, this border is a sore subject. Immigrants from this border work hard to put food on your tables, work hard to make sure your hotel rooms are clean and work hard to maintain that well kept yard ot yours. Acknowledging these facts, we are still willing to throw these hard working people under the bus who work under the minimum wage and support the American economy by keeping prices down and yet above all else we turn our heads the other way.....probably towards the other borders.
Good point. In the spirit of your post I'll meet you 1/2 way on that. If you get the "LEGAL" immigrants currently in the USA to forcibly ship back the other 12-million "ILLEGAL ALIENS" then I'll have a BBQ for them at my local park this weekend. It's BYOB though.
here its an idea. Close borders and visit any high school in America and you will find plenty of labor who can work. But the problem is that these people dont want to work, all they want is to join gangs and paint grafitty in our streets, and collect unemployment and live on welfare.
I have read many many articles by my former countryman Mr. Zakaria, and HONESTLY THIS IS BY FAR HIS SINGLE MOST DISHONEST, FABRICATED PIECE of journalism (if anyone wants to call it as such!) that i have ever come across.
Knowing his style too well, his next piece will be on buidling a VIBRANT, TOLERANT (as if Americans are not tolerant enough!) model society by importing hordes of people from Islamic countries all in the GARB OF BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN AMERICA & THE MUSLIM WORLD!!!
WATCH OUT!!!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
The people from Mexico that come to America should be called escapees because the country they are running from is no longer controlled by a believable government. So lets not be blame happy, the problem starts in Mexico not the U.S.
The article is right .. basically America was brought on my immigrants illegally or legally it dont matter! when the first american settlers came here do you think they ever gave a dam what came to this country??? NO!!! THIS country is made because of immigrants its a MELTING POT and people dont tend to realize that ...technically the native americans were here first so all of us should speak their language but no body enforced that o no! we had to speak ENGLISH , to be honest who cares what anyone speaks if you dont understand the language suck it up yeah its America and everything but you dont see the native americans b*^%ching at you saying SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE even though they were HERE FIRST, suck it up this country was built from immigrants
SIDENOTE...... The Mexican indians from Arizona and the west coast WERE HERE FIRST so technically thats their land so suck it up HAHA
Amen! The culture and the Language of Native Americans was never Respected! I think for someone to say speak english this is America! ... Hey Learn a Few other Languages this is America Melting pot!
When I was in the military I overheard a pretty harsh conversation but I recognized the wisdom in it.
Once while working in the desert of New Mexico for the US Army I was on a mission for a missile test firing. The mission had air-support in the form of an entity called "Army Air" and it had both retired and active duty pilots working there. Also, they had both civilian and military crew-chiefs.
One of the pilots was a pretty crusty type with a pretty cynical view on most subjects. He never pulled any punches when conversing, so if you had a thin skin...he wasn't a rewarding conversationalist to speak with.
The other person in the conversation I overheard was a full blooded Apache Crew Chief who had family who largely lived on the Mescalero Apache Reservation to the North. He was full of tales he had heard growing up, and of tales his people had passed down and was an optimist for the most part. I liked talking to him.
One day myself and The Chief (no pun intended or disrespect inferred) were talking about a massacre that had taken place nearby where we had put down to await a missile firing. I listened silently asking questions from time to time as the chief unfurled his story and at a certain point we both grew silent and I looked out at the land around us imagining what he had told me.
At that moment, the pilot (Mr Crusty himself) said from underneath his hat where we had assumed he was sleeping: "Well...you don't want to hear my opinion about all of that B.S....."
Chief being chief replied that he would 'love to hear' his opinion about it if he cared to share it with us.
The pilot cleared his throat and stretched and sat up. He stared out at the heat shimmering off the skin of the Helo through the windscreen and finally said: "The damned Indians were conquered...they are a conquered race. Remember the Romans?
Chief said "yeah..."
The pilot finished with: "Well then...as far as I am concerned they ought to be damn thankful we left a single one of them alive and quit b****ing about their sob-story in history......." Then the pilot opened the door without waiting for a reaction and walked away to have a smoke.
Conversation pretty much died after that.
Wait, I'm confused... white settlers took what first? But Mexicans want to repopulate and "take back" the South Western or heck maybe the whole enchilida... aren't they basically saying it belonged to Mexico? So... does that mean THEY took it from the First Nations?
I'm confused. Somebody...please...
Oh My Lord!!!! My mom and Dad both were Born in Mexico and are know US citizens. I am Born in the US but if someone Ask I say I am Mexican because That is what I am!!!! We are Proud hard working people and I have been taught my Mexican history and Learned US History in School. You can’t Stop Us and you Won’t You should be Mad we Are taking over! Soon This country will be full of us so you better start playing Nice! HA HA! I Love the U.S.!
actually, if you were born in america your american, not mexican. you may be hispanic, but your no mexican.
No I am Mexican! Yeah I am American too... But I speak Spanish, Eat Beans and I'm not changing that for anyone. I think the Problem isn't me Being or acting Mexican I think it's the fact that others forget who they are and want everyone else to do that too ... I think knowing and understanding ourselves is important ... Being aware of our differences but Loving and accepting each other as we are is the key! We are all Human and Most religions teach us the same things Treat everyone with Love and Respect and try not to harm others and Live a good Life! People come to this country because they are looking for a better Life this Country was built on that!
@N – Then how about you and your people start not discriminating against Central Americans? Hmm???
Hipocresía. Fix your inter-latino racism first then you can talk about better life and country based on equality or whatever you're rambling about.
There you go. A perfect example of what I'm talking about below. I read up and find this.
This Mexican says "we're taking over!". Really? So thats what you want to do, "reconquistar" the USA? The South West?
You don't love the USA. I'm Latino of non-Mexican descent. I say I'm American. When they question my ethnic look, I say I'm double American – North and South American. If they ask further – I state my parents country, which I also say I am.
BUT I DON'T GO AROUND SAYING I'M TAKING OVER AND LAUGH AT THE USA. I don't bite the hand nor do I spit on the land.
Somebodies a retard here. So, you're a Mexican Citizen? Funny how you can't discern the difference of a Nationality or Race. But yet you were born here in the US. I guess your parents didn't really push you in school did they.
Now, my mother is German National and her race is Caucasian. I don't go around screaming "I'm German, not caucasian". If I did that I would have to scream that I'm Irish, Scottish, English, French, Dutch, German, Balkan and Seneca Indian...but no, I'm caucasian who is an American Citizen.
You know what, my wife's grandfathers are from Mexico, and her grandfather will tell you he's an American. Funny. But if you ask him what he is (race), he'll tell you either Latino or Hispanic.
So maybe you need to go back to school, I bet you believe that Spanish came from the Aztlan People of Mexico right...I bet you do!
Fareed is really off the deep end on this one. Immigration can be good. However, It must be from those that contribute and not those that come here to take advantage and work the system. Immigration can be good if it is people that share our sense of freedom and right and wrong and NOT Islamists who teach hate and work to bring down america.
Also Islamic countries have eleminated 90% of minorities over the past century. Why should we bring people who have proven that when they are a majority they are vicious to everyone else. Fareed may want to risk his kids to these people not me.
no one has a problem with immigration. its ILLEGAL immigration we have a problem with. yes, we are all "immagrants" or came from immigrants. but what people fail to remember is the majority of america's immigrant history is immigration according to the laws of the land (if any existed at the time). but aside from ILLEGAL immigration, the other problem is that those who come to america today, either legally but mostly illegally, is that they have no desire to take on american culture or be part of american society. They want to keep their foreign culture and language and get pissy if someone take offence to that.
Zakaria is a flippin' idiot. Notice that he makes no distinction between illegal immigrants and those that enter into the country legally. Instead, he paints a glowing picture "immigration" generically. This is the problem with the liberal element in the media, they infuse their political agenda into the populace and the sheep are generally too dumb to pick up on it.
My mother came here from Denmark in the early 1940's- they spoke Danish in their home, but were not allowed to speak it outside of the home. I understand that some who immigrate, either legally or illegally, feel marginalized once here, and have a hard time assimilating, learning our values, language, standards, etc., but I see folks all the time not even trying at all! There has to be a solution....
There's a big difference between immigrants and criminal trespassers.
This guy is living in Disneyland. Our country is being torn apart by arrogant non-allegiant immigrants.
@bannister: June 28, 2011 at 11:54 pm
You'd better check your history before blaming amnesty on "Democratic strategy". Namely, which president/party granted millions of illegals amnesty in or around 1985 to set a precedent.
I think the idea is right, it's just a matter of manpower.
I have lived in this country for 20 years, and due to the beauracracy of the INS, still have not received a green card. I have an advanced degree from a respectable college and still get passed over for jobs I am overqualified to do simply because of the citizenship issue.
I ove this country. I watched 9/11 from my Austin dorm, and it drove me to volunteer to serve in Afghanistan. Of course, I had to do it with the Korean army because I didn't have a green card. Years down the line, I hope to start a family here. None of this, however, is possible, if employers simply won't give me a chance based on my immigration status.
Of course the INS need to do extensive background checks to make sure terrorists, welfare hogs, and other undesirables (for the lack of a better word), aren't allowed in. They simply don't have the manpower to do so, so they play it safe, and qualified and well-meaning people fall through the cracks.
A combination of investing in our children (through education) and bringing the best to our country (immigration reform) is a viable solution for the future. Both, however, require manpower and resources.
Our future depends on it.
.@ Qualified Immigrant– Thank you for your service and for your continued belief in the "American Dream"– sometimes Americans tend to forget that we are all Immigrants– I am hoping KORUS passes Congress in the next couple weeks, and that should help some relations with our Korean friends. Our countries fought together in a great war and stood side by side. I wish we could do the same for you now. (AND IF YOU'RE FROM THE NORTH–EVEN mORE SO!!!)
From one veteran to another, if you went to Afghanistan because you saw our towers fall, then you are an American. I don't give a rat's ayazz what your paperwork says.
Legal immigration is fine. Immigrants who work here and pay their taxes, fine. This country was build up by immigrants, be it from Italy, Poland , etc. The problem is with illegal immigrants. They come here, pay no taxes and have plenty of kids. They do , however file income taxes. Exactly how they do this, I don't know. I do know it's done for one reason. They receive enormous refunds from the IRS. Approximately $ 5,000.00 per child. Someone I know never pays a penny in taxes and receives at least $ 8,500.00 a year in refunds from the IRS. Between that and medical care, It's an enormous drain on our economy. This is what needs to be stopped.
Ok so 1 million smart people are let in legally which supposedly helps America – in which way ? Instead of making 1 million more Americans prosperous by means of grants and scholarships and to high paying jobs we let in 1 million smart people to TAKE AWAY THESE OPPORTUNITIES from native born Americans. And many just come illegally to take what ever they can lay their hands on.
Both legal and illegal immigration to be stopped and can we ask Zakaria to leave and go back to whereever he came from and let a native born American take his job ?
re: "We are not a police state."
Hogwash and horse-feathers. That's a hoot: The US is "not a police state." Heard that one before. Sure it isn't, buddy. That's what they all say.
"Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, 'regretted,' that unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these 'little measures' ... must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing." (Milton Mayer, "They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1938-45")
we don't need them, send them all back, americans for americans, we can't support 400 million, water, food, all the freebies they take, if something isn't done we are going to be squeezed into a box like china and india, no open land to enjoy, the only reason this guy and the liberals support immigrants because its cheep labor for them to profit from and legalized slavery.
omg- I couldnt get thru this. I wanted to believe there were going to be some strong arguments here– but if they ever happened I'll never know because I quit after about the 6th paragraph of nothingness. GET TO THE POINT AND DO IT QUICKLY. And CNN, HELLO CNN?!?!?
Do you really want to do battle against the conservative R forces? If so, this is NOT how you do it. I'm an I... leaning R... I want YOU to make a strong argument here- and you failed EPICLY.
America brings the top talent world wide to this country. People who long for "the dream"- we train them in our colleges and our universities... and then we kick them out. To go be our competitors.. There's your story. Run with it.
@Sage. I agree. Some of my smartest friends from college are going back to (South) Korea to work for Samsung or LG because companies like Apple and Motorola couldn't give them an offer due to immigration laws. I wonder how losing top talent to foreign firms helps American companies...
No sense in Washington doing anything because they don't have to anymore. A bad decision will cost votes. No decision can simply be blamed on "the other party." they like polarization of issues, less work, same pay.
The problem now? Plenty of illegal immigrants have already had children in this country. A LOT of children. The founding fathers never considered that people would illegally enter the country and PURPOSELY have children here, just to reap the benefits. I mean, why would they? They assumed anyone having children here would be legal citizens. The Constitution must be changed to grant citizenship only to children of legal citizens.
Also, please enforce the fucking law.
This is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Populations not growing too much is a good thing!
what i fail to understand is how is it so hard for illegals to go out of the way to obtain citizenship, while on the other hand the mass majority of immigrants that come here LEGALLY dont seem to have a problem with it. i hear in the news that there are people paying THOUSANDS of dollars to smugglers to be transported to the u.s. illegally, when they could simply use that money to come here legally. also, as an added bonus, they would not have to deal with the fear of death while crossing the border or from the groups that transport them here.
another thing i fail to understand is what sets todays immgrants apart from the immigrants from the past 200+ years who came here on a god forsaken boat, and had to scrape together what ever form of salary just to feed their families. THOSE people had the hard life, NOT these people, these people are basically getting everything handed to them while the vast majority of America's ancestors had to suffer through hardship just to get their families to survive. im not saying we should go back to those times, but im just saying that immigrants have, for a lack of anything else to say, LAZY.
Ray, pretty sure you worked the cotton fields too, didn't you?
I'm not sure where some people are getting these so-called facts on billions of dollars being spent on tax returns for illegals??? Or who they hear that from??? I wonder who really gets that money.... Anyway, fact of the matter is that this country was built on "illegal immigrants" or so we call them today. They made this country prosper to what it is today. Immigrants come in, work for low wages, and spend on the economy. Being that the population grows and more is needed to meet demand, more jobs are created to meet the demand. More demand, more money for us "legals". Yes there should be reform to tighten up who comes here. We don't want more criminals in our borders. But than again, criminals are big business as well for some.
THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE:
a) If you sneek into this country by breaking the country's laws – YOU ARE AN ILLEGAL ALIEN.
b) If you arrive in this country legally, but would NOT want to adapt or assimilate....YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF BEING AN AMERICAN
c) (Even) if you arrive in this country legally, but want to MISUSE America's freedoms in the garb of protecting your religious & fundamental rights.......YOU ARE UNDESIRABLE.
d) (Even) If you arrive in this country legally, but join with forces who want to HARM AMERICA....YOU ARE A CRIMINAL/ A TERRORIST & DESERVE TO BE STRIPPED OF YOUR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, THROWN IN JAIL & THEN DEPORTED.
e) If you arrive in this country legally (even if you are not most qualified) but are willing to work hard to live the American dream......YOU MUST BE WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS.
f) If you arrive in this country legally as a direct dependent or legal guardian of a legal resident who's striving to live the American dream.....YOU MUST STILL BE WELCOMED
f) If you arrive in this country legally, and are highly qualified and ready to contribute to America, and adapt & assimilate into the American melting pot....YOU MUST BE GIVEN A RED CARPET WELCOME!
SHORT OF THESE WE DON'T NEED ANY OTHER IMMIGRANTS........
Amit-Atlanta-USA
that's a really nice post, Amit-Atlanta-USA
BOOM!
Dear Fareed Zakaria,
How dare you use logic? Don't you read the comments to your articles and see that logic is a language we don't understand? We aren't going to copy Canada, Australia, or any of those other socialist countries. Just because they have found sensible and successful solutions for their immigration policies does not mean they are not socialist. Why would we want to copy the strategies of countries just because they work? We are America – we are powerful enough to be proud, to do things our way, and we don't need anyone reminding us of our mistakes. We have too many natural resources and too much wealth to be bothered by the inconvenient future.
Fareed, please go save another country that cares about being saved. We are Rome, and we want to fall.
Immigration is a touchy subject in both Australia and Canada right now–you have no idea whether their policies are "successful" or not. Certainly, the newspapers of both countries are full of comments from people who are very hostile to immigration and multi-culturalism.
Personally I'd like to have the position in history to have lasted as long and been a Nation as powerful as Rome was. Maybe you didn't read the same history books I did?
Illegal immigration is not immigration – that's difficult for the establishment to admit. The U.S. Mexico Border is unenforceable and until we can defend our borders against illegal aliens, drug smugglers & gun runners there will be no solution to this mess. Do we want to be a police state ? Deporting illegals doesn't make us a police state – it's our law and it isn't being enforced. The Dream Act is simply amnesty and amnesty doesn't work – Reagan already tried that and now we're faced with a huge population of illegals. E-Verify will help to deny them employment and serve to discourage employers who hire them. ICE raids can enforce the laws and the U.S. needs to end "anchor babies". There is no political courage on these issues – no one is leading and everyone is afraid of confronting the latino lobby. Beyond that, Mexico needs to be welcoming to all the illegals we can send to them – instead they are encouraging illegal immigration. This is a very shameful situation. Do we need to take in another county's unemployed when we can't even find work for our own ? Let in the Engineers, doctors, mathematicians and not the riff raff of Mexico, South and Central America and other countries.
Amit-Atlanta-USA u missed 1...
g) If your not full bloodied Native American Indian- You are in this country most likely because of an ILLEGAL ALIEN...
Very good point. We crossed an ocean to invade the land of the natives, plant our flag, spread our progeny from coast to coast while wiping out the natives, and then drawing a line saying, you can't cross. Let us not forget Hispanics have far more American blood than non-hispanic non-native Americans do.
The "Hispanics" are not coming here to live in teepees and hunt buffalo with Native Americans. They are coming here for the First World infrastructure and economy that whitey built–both of which they are incapable of building in their own countries.
Immigration is our strength. It's just too bad we let people from the South waltz on in and stay here, while we make those from across the ocean come here on limited, expensive, hard to obtain VISAs and then kick them out when those VISAs expire.
As long as partisanship and politics trumps patriotism, our downward trend will continue.
Doing the right thing is too often political suicide.
Influx of educated and skilled immigrants ( legal ones ) will be an asset to any host country but if accepting unskiiled ones who cannot speak the local lingua will affect the social fabric of society......just as we have copied from the US which is indeed a vibrant country that have innovative ideas due to an abundance of foreign imports, u hv hispanics waving Mexican flags which I think is outrageous....with demographic imports we hv loutish PRC chinese who trumpet on their 5K long civilisation !.......LOL.......
Zak – you don't live in the chusma barrios. I do. They don't like the USA. Seriously. They have not desire to improve it, contribute to it, to educate themselves and make the USA better or greater. Not the adults from Mexico, not their U.S. born anchor children, nothing. They are dedicated with overzealous, nationalistic chauvinistic pride and loyalty beyond anything or any other country they may immigrate to. Its in their culture, thats just the way it is.
AND IF they tell you they "love the USA", note that its also a duplicitous culture. Please. PLEASE.
I will tell you though, I rather see more of your people and others from Asia. At least they come, and improve themselves and aren't nationalistic and placing flags on baby tricycles or dashboards or stickers on their foreheads. They come, they contribute, they educate and improve.
Thats what we welcome. You're really wrong on this one Zakster.
Well said. America's strength is that it is the land of immigrants! Our population will never shrink beause no one singular race, creed, or color is American. American is a way of life. A belief that life can get better through hard work and determination. Nothing is impossible to an American. Hell we got a flag on the moon!
I on one hand applaude any man or woman that has the courage to uproot themselves and travel a hard road to a foreign counrty in order to better themselves and their families. On the other hand I do not condone entering this ocuntry illegally.
actually immigration is becoming a problem in Canada. Only 17% of immigrants to Canada are even assessed based on skills, the rest are family members of the immigrants needed. The immigrants of the past were able to succeed within one generation but that is no longer the case. They are more reliant on government services and less able to advance in canadian society than previous waves. Most immigrants to Canada are coming from India, Pakistan and China. The society is changing rapidly. Islam is becoming more prominant. In 30 years, Canada will be 10% Islamic, while 30 years ago it was less than 1% Muslim.
I appreciate others that hold on to their roots and share their culture with us... Just because they are waving a Mexican flag does not mean that they hate this country. They are just showing their roots. My mother is Cuban and my father is Argentine. I'm American 1st, but I will not hesitate and show the pride of my roots.
I have pride in my heritage as well. You're speaking from your point of view, your experience, so thats great, but I'm telling you, they don't like this country. I can't say it enough. Again, IF they say they do, you need eyes behind your head when you turn away.
And don't get me started on how they dislike other Latino's. Its bad.
Go ahead and have your racial pride...just do not come to the US and try to drive out other races here BEFORE you because of that pride. (Hispanic gangs driving out African Americans in California) Start that crap and soon and pretty soon anyone seen displaying 'pride' will be a target.
Don't promote violence. What goes around eventually DOES come back around.
Excellent Prometheus. Yes, that was the "Azusa 13" Mexican gang – the "13" stands for Mexican. But thats not just something within the bounds of gangs or isolated to gang bangers, its part of a wider sentiment within that community. Its hoarding, a hoard-ist culture.
Thats why when many of them enter illegal hiring companies, they start giving hell to other non-Mexicans. I've worked in such environments and its not good.
FYI... for those against seeing people wave flags of countries other than the US flag.... I have seen those same people waving a Mexican Flag, Dominican Flag, Spanish Flag etc., waving an American flag in their respective country
I'm saying oh wave a U.S. flag, this is not a discussion of of flags, my point was about how absolutely nationalistic, even beyond U.S. flag wavers they are.
Very naive many of you. You just don't live in the communities. And there IS a very dramatic difference, believe it or not, in for example, a Cuban community versus an Argentinian community versus a Mexican community. There are cultural differences and if you don't see them, you know very little about Latin Americans.
Woa, Latin Americans.. Americans? Ask a Mexican if he/she is American – or better yet ask them what part of America Mexico is part of, please share your answers. Note – you have to catch them off guard and ask them out of the blue!
Fareed you are full of it. Yale and Harvard must be proud to have you as an alum. There is NO correlation between immigration and economic growth. To say Greece is in the mess it is due to its low immigration rate is insane. You are trying to link a cause and effect that have no linkage in reality. Moreover, you underestimate the impact that robotics and artificial intelligence will have in the next decade on the need for an ever growing workforce. And auto workers thought the robotic welders were bad for their jobs!
How someone like you gets a TV program is indicative of the fall of America and the dumbing down of its citizens. Maybe the sheeple will believe that if we don't open up immigration that we will default on our debt due to welfare state benefits but in actuality what you allude to is just a big ponzi scheme. So what do we do when the 400M need their welfare state entitlements? Let in another 800M to provide benefits for the 400M we'll have in 2050?
Immigration is not the solution to stop the bankrupting of America. The real solution is to RAISE the retirement age and CUT back the benefit levels. And at the same time ensure that the next generation of Americans will have the skill sets and learning capabilities to land great paying jobs. For Christ sakes, call it like it is. None of the mamby pampy political spin. Sorry, Bub, you can't buy that 50" LCD and get your medicine too. And Fred, how about you skip dropping a grand or two on your 20" rims and invest the $? And if little Johnny decides he was to live the lifestyle of his favorite rapper or athlete, then he needs to become an entrepreneur and get past the 11th grade to even have a chance at a decent living.
You are as disingenuous as any politician running for office.
As a sovereign nation, the United States has a right to defend it's borders from unwanted intruders. Twelve million illegals stole into this country, and they can be removed. We have seen what Mexicans have done to their own country. They risk death and arrest to invade ours, then turn around and make demands while waving their flags and thumping their chests about how proud they are of their homeland. Fine. If your so proud of it, why are you here? If they weren't cowards, they would stay in their birthplace and work for Justice and Freedom, just as we had to wrestle it away from King George.
it's hilarious watching communist news network desperately trying to keep the illegal flow going. But nobody is buying it much anymore.
HEY ZAKARIA–IDIOT: LEGAL IMMIGRATION is America's strength!!!! NOT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION! Learn the difference!
Of course he doesn't wanna do that, he's a shill for the 'third worlder's" who liberals feel good about 'helping out of their sad worlds' with our money and resources,(neither of which these 'new immigrants' of today running, jumping and swimming over the southern border nearly at will, by no fault of border patrol, being overwhelmed as they are purposely mind you) none of which these 'new immigrants' bring with them. It's hands out and wallets empty in most cases.
So people like him employed at CNN must be getting tax breaks we don't know about or bonuses ever ytime they pen an article or tome blurring the lines so the 'illegal' part is erased thus calling all anti ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION opponents xenophobes and all the other inflammatory language they throw around like Palestinians throwing rocks at Jewish soldiers. All for us wanting to protect America's lofty and hard earned economic position in the world, one that's now been decimated by a flood of underachievers and headaches painted by these folks on the left as if they're all one big happy family of contributors when we know darn well they're all mostly takers.
Half the people already here are takers thanks to leftist entitlement attitudes.
When the fact of the matter is that most are here for the beer per se and take, take, take give back nothing but criminal behavior, major attitude, an instant entitlement feeling they openly display as if due to our hard work and overall successes 'we owe them something' that angers and sickens most of us who are left without choice having to support and tolerate these thankless third worlder's for most of their lives spent here.
Not to mention they send their 'paychecks' back to these third world dumps further draining our resources and economy of dollars real Americans keep and spend and invest in America, not freaking Mexico or Pakistan or Iraq or wherever the hellll they came from. In nine cases out of ten globalism and 'multiculturalism' is and has been a failure both here and all over Europe, yet we see what iceberg this ship is headed for but somehow liberals think they and only THEY have the map to steer around it and everyone else who's failed before are just ignorant xenophobes and racists and what have you..
Unless we immigrate islamic extremists like Sweden, Germany, France, Denmark, Netherlands.........or possibly Chinese immigrants that steel our technology and then go back to China......or Indians that stay here long enough to learn how to do basic programming and then go back to India and take 50 to 100 jobs with them to only provide an inferior product.....
Let me add another dose of reality that many, including yourself I think Fareed, don't know or perhaps, and I hope not, look the other way.
Mexicans in the USA, have the audacity to scream racism, demand they stay if they are illegals and not deport them, but do you know what they do to Central and even South Americans trying to reach the USA via Mexico IN Mexico?
They deport them, they abuse them, there are even massacres where the victims are almost if not all from Central and South America. There are countless of stories from for example Salvadorians who made it to the USA of how the "ejercitos violaron..." the women, and deported them, etc. etc. Things they say out of the blue, with hushed anger and sadness.
And I've seen and heard racism directed at non-Mexican latinos from Mexicans. Not ALL, but most and there are some really eye opening things.
But many don't know this. The hypocrisy is really appalling.
Unfortunately, he gets this one wrong. Immigration is a good thing as long as you import the right people. Intelligent and skill labor focused on becoming American is a good thing. Importing a bunch of illiterate and unskilled Mexicans intending to remain Mexican does not help. Sorry kids, but quality is everything, and outside of Canada and the US, there is no quality in this hemisphere.
Is it wrong to ask that these people learn our language?
It seems we are being forced to learn Spanish.
Nothing wrong at all with expecting immigrants to learn and speak English. The push to learn Spanish or support Spanish exists in everything from consumer products to government forms. Not sure when the decision was made to bi-lingualize everything but it's nauseating at best.
It's quite arrogant to think that corporations and governments choose to print English and Spanish on everything now. If they're going to print other languages like Spanish, then what about French, Mandarin, Japanese, et al?
Anytime I get a government form to fill out, I make sure to black out all the spanish words. It doesn't do much but it makes me feel better.
Does Mr. Zakaria forget our legal immigration system grants over 1 million new green cards each and every year? Like every sovereign nation, we have the right to set limits on our immigration and to enforce laws that send people in the country illegally in the country back to where they came from. If our government had not reneged on its promises in 1986 to enforce immigration laws there wouldn't be 15 million or so here illegally now.
Solving the problem of illegal immigration is easy: enforce the laws we have on the books now and step up interior enforcement by denying work to people in the country illegally using data we already have with E-Verify and social security. There is absolutely no need to grant amnesty or deport millions of people.
Can I say something. I am an illegal immigrant that came to this country from Mexico at the age of 2. I grew up learned English in preschool and is the language I use the most. I have more honor for this nation than to my native country because I HAVE assimilated this culture. Both my parents are illegal and they speak English perfectly and they pay income taxes, idk how, but they do under their names. Each gets $400 off every week from federal taxes taxes, most of you would be complaining if this was happening to you. I won the state Academic Decathlon (AZ) as an individual an am under the top 1% students in the nation as a highschool Jr. Tell me how I have negatively affected this country if my family pays taxes and does not get aid from federal programs for my citizen siblings? Sad to say, but I am brighter than all American born students I have met or competed with. Yes, some illegal immigrants can contribute this country but are never heard. I mean come on, I have been getting requests from Harvard, Stanford, Brown, and Columbia University to apply based on my psat scores and GPA of 5.0. But, according to you guys, all illegal immigration does is negatively affect this country, so I guess I am one of those "bad" people too.
Cool story bro. Make sure you write in big red letters at the top & bottom of your college applications that you are an illegal alien. Put your illegal pride where your mouth is. I have no pity for you. If you had as much pride in America as you say, then you would have done the right thing. Furthermore if your parents are having 400USD taken from their pay EVERY WEEK then that's a fair indication that they make enough to have become LEGAL Americans.
As far as i am concerned you aren't an American and neither are your hard-working parents. I would call them "Opportunists"
Yes, hate on the exceptions of society. I will take your advice and tell everyone what an illegal could do on another country's turf with all odds against him. I'm not trying to blab about myself, but to show that not all illegals are criminals or strain the country
blumpy dont worry about the hateful rants of Prometheus. He obviously has not a clue on the immigration system thinking that money is the only thing you need to become legal. Furthermore I believe that you have done the right thing in getting an education and making the most out of your opportunities here. You have done much more than many of our own kids don't strive to do. It is dumb to blame a high school kid about being here illegally when he was brought here at the age of 2. As far as I remember (which I don't), I am pretty sure my parents never asked my opinion on any decisions they made. You keep working hard and do the best of yourself.
Didn't your 'papas' show you 'humildad'?
"Shh. Es no se dice mijo. No andes diciendo que el Harvar o el decatalon o Stanforr y que chingados te andan mandando cartas! Callese!"
haha me gusta
Those who ask for humility are the one that have nothing to brag about. Maybe you should do something of yourself before you attack this very well achieved kid
Speak English, you son of a bitch, ENGLISH!!! DO YOU SPEAK IT????
Congrats on your educational prowess.....now take your education and carefully read our laws on immigration. While you're at it, show it to your folks and do the right thing and apply for citizenship. Your parents should be ashamed of themselves for staying in this country, even more so by pulling you into their illegal decision.
The minute you feel you are entitled to be in the US, that you deserve something because of the time you've been her, and your educational accomplishments, is the time you need to look in the mirror and do what's right.....become legal.
If you don't, then you're no better than anyone else who cheats the system
It's called integrity, I'm sure you studied that in Acadeca!
Yes sir. Those immigration laws aren't set with this type of government, as far as I know those laws can turn me legal in a couple of months. Haha, yes, my parents should be ashamed of paying taxes for the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libyan conflicts, even when they get no social benefits from this country. BTW a law can say I am illegal, but my heart says I'm an American that would serve and die for this country.
@Bumpy – ayy, my heart. What is it with you people and all this "heart" stuff? I was being serious in the other one, have some humility.
American flag I am almost certain that the kid would do so if we had already come up with a way for him to do so. Maybe you should take a look at the immigration laws so you can see that the kid has no way to become legal at this point and that is the reason we need so path for legalization for these bright kids
If you parents speak perfect English and you are as brilliant as you portray why don't all of you go down to the immigration office and apply for citizenship?
Oh my lord! You idiot! Do you know anything about immigration laws? I can see that you don't. Money and knowing how to speak English will never give you a citizenship. Do you understand that? Go find out more about what is involved in become legal in this country before you say something. And for those who are so proud saying that all immigrants should leave the country, just think a little bit more as I am pretty sure no one, not even one person in this discussion is a real American. We all came from immigrants family and different backgrounds. Go check your family tree before you say something. And guess what, I honestly would love to see this country without any immigrants, just you Americans so proud, haha. This country would go down and we all would be begging the immigrants to come back. So good luck to all of you who thinks you are a real American!
"By 2050, the U.S. will have 400 million people." and at the rate of who's doing the emigrating here 300 million of them have no interest in assimilating and learning the damnnnn language for starters, and how about coming here legally as well? America will colllapse by 2013 if immigration isn't slowed to a crawl or outright halted since all the new immigrants coming here are third world leeches who can't get jobs, can't communicate, need to fed and clothed when we have food shortages already....what a shill for the brown part of the world this clown is.
Last week he's calling for rewriting the constitution. Just for that he should be deported.
Que?
(just kidding)
Zakaria, comes from India, a people who hardly integrate into any society they migrate to. They believe in the caste system, honour killings, arranged marriages with their own caste/kind and take from societies but never give back. who wants immigrants like that?
Well, he's a slave for the Rockefeller CFR. He thinks he matters a lot, and has a nice job at the communist news network.
Please dont propagate wrong information...few things you said are used to be there, now it is much better. US is nothing but a land of immigrant, unfortunately native Indians dosen't had any immigation laws 5 centuries back.
@Jim – Why you chose to hide your 'true' name behind JIM fascinates me, probably because you are ashamed. Never the less, get your history right and stop your false ideology.
And did I mention India has a lot of problems, but atleast it has seen a lot of progress. Unlike its fundamentalist mullah infested neighbour. I am glad I am a part of India, had I chose to move to its detache' I would probably be preaching hatred. Peace
It used to be that you'd come to America to see what you could MAKE of yourself. Now far too many come to America to see what they can TAKE for themselves. In these times if you think adding more leeches to the equation is the smart thing to do, you have no common sense whatsoever. However, if you're a liberal you've probably got a double share of the "magical thinking" gene so there is no point in trying to talk sense to you. I've read a couple things from this Fareed character in the last week and as a foreign born muslim, it's pretty obvious he doesn't have America's best interests at heart. I wouldn't trust his motivations or opinions.
Yeah, America needs to focus on bringing in high-tech skilled labor in science and engineering and so forth. Not computer geeks. We enough of them here already. If we bring in the riff raff through, for example, the green card lottery system, we will eventually lose our competitive edge in this world.
The hypocrisies...
Let's not forget:
- US invaded Mexico and took their land. Are we legally living in New Mexico and California?
- Initial "immigrants" from Europe didn't ask permission from native Americans. Didn't these "illegal immigrants" use resources that once belonged to the real Americans back then?
Immigration is obviously a hard problem. Just don't act like we own the land and are the real, legal Americans.
Who were the real Americans? Oh you mean the First Nations. Right. Yes, and if the Southwest belonged to Mexico, WHO did Mexico TAKE THIS LAND from before the gringos BOUGHT it from a Mexican over a bottle? Oh, yes, the First Nations.
So who's the hypocrite? And what does Mexico do to immigrants from other parts of Latin America coming into their country – worse? You tell me.
I think we are in agreement. More hypocrisies.. and history written by victors.
Meh...don't ask me for an opinion about land. As far as I am concerned if we have the bigger guns and American blood was spilled upon it...guess what? You just became part of America.
Funny how even the image for this article is misleading. In most cases, you won't see Mexicans supporting the american flag at all, but instead waving and presenting the flag of Mexico. I'm so sick of seeing the Mexican flag, as well as all the Mexican sports teams, destinations, and cultural pro-mexican stickers on Mexican's cars.
It pisses me off to no end when they would rather fly the flag of Mexico, retaining their 'pride' in another country than support, abide, and recognize the country they are in.... Oh, wait-a-minute...that's right. Why would they support the country they're in illegally, there's no reason to except for taking jobs, social services and benefits away from tax paying American citizens.
Keep cutting in line and circumventing immigration laws you losers! The good people who attempt to immigrate to the US need to be recognized first rather than the entitled pigs who chose to ignore and refuse our laws.
Immigration is fine if it is by using the H1B genius visa and other diverse mix of people who actually want to come to America and appreciate America by being net contributors and not net takers in milking the economic system. The threat to America's future is by illegal immigration from Mexico – a group of people that feel they are "owed" because they perceive parts of America to still be a part of Mexico and then they continuously spit in our face (i.e. during soccer game this past weekend they booed our national anthem and feel they are owed) and do not assimilate into becoming Americans. Their long term objectives is to breed enough to take over this country and unless we change our laws accordingly, America has no future. Europe learned from its immigration problems and changed their laws accordingly, we must do so as well and we have a maximum of a 5-year window to do so.
Excellent, realistic point. Thanks for noting that booing. Interestingly enough, other non-Mexican Latin Americans are also annoyed by that and the resounding sentiment during that soccer/futbol match was that non-Mexican Latin Americans actually SIDED with the USA. Seriously!
Why? Because other non-Mexican Latin Americans don't feel they are as you put it, "owed" or want to reclaim or "reqonquistar" the perceived Mexican parts of the USA.
Exactly. Great point! I completely agree.
Nice. Milk the honest H1B folks. H1B folks pay tax, social security and medicare and if they don't end up getting naturalized they will never see a dime. Naturalization is getting pretty tough these days and many of the H1B folks are forced to leave the country. Thank you for sponsoring our old and poor.. now get the f out.
I do agree that if we deport all the uneducated Americans replace them with high quality legal immigrants this country would be much better off.
I said H1B is a great thing!!! IT is what keeps America's economy alive!
If they work in the US long enough, Indians on H1B visas can, and do, collect social security upon return to India.
Illegal aliens linked to rise in crime statistics
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/kouri/060622
You've got to be kidding me. China's population decline is self inflicted, because they know how dangerous runaway population increase is. According to the recent census there are well over 300,000,000 people in this country. That's twice the population of gigantic Russia and six times the population of the U.K. for comparison. Even in the rural areas, where I'm from, land is getting scarce and expensive. That translates to rising food costs and cost of living. We are already the most ethnically and culturally diverse nation on the planet, which is great, but our resources are not infinite. This madness of cramming as many people as possible within our borders has got to stop.
What nonsense... The U.S. is not "winning" or "losing" some sort of "Who is the best immigration country" prize... What a silly concept. The U.S. has proven itself as diverse through its many upheavals and quickness to deal with the situation, although with the issue of slavery withstanding from that expediency... Regardless, the U.S. makes monstrous strides in the direction of cultural diversity. To state that we are losing some sort of "edge" in relation to it is preposterous when you have a place already very diverse.
The issue of illegal immigration is not an issue about diversity. It is an issue regarding cultural assimilation. Perhaps not complete, universal assimilation, but one where everyone holds an appreciation to be a part of what is here and what they add to... Part melting pot, part stir fry. But it's still a United States dish.
What a crock. Emigration of the uneducated is the US' down fall.
Great idea by Canada to allow self-sponsorship for visas for skilled workers; though, greedy American companies would rather sponsor workers and work them 60-80 hours/week with the threat of firing them and losing their visas.
(Sigh)... I live in New Mexico. Not by choice but stationed here with the military. It kills me, when I read the pro-illegal immigrant comments on here. I'm sure most of them live in Seattle or Maine. Legal immigration is a great thing. Let people with skills, education, and the ability to fill out visa paperwork come in(with a proper background check). People do not understand what its like down here. Women with six kids, on welfare, and no husband. Not a stereotype.. I see it EVERY DAY. The catholic illegals are reproducing beyond a sustainable level. The average white woman has 2.3 kids. The average black woman has an average of 2.5. Hispanic women... 5. I'm not making this up, look it up.
I cannot go into a buisiness without feeling like an outsider or treated with respect, I cant go to a resturaunt and expect the waitress to understand what Im saying when I give my order. We pass out welfare, drivers licencses, and spoon feed these people. The crime rate is very high. Guess who are the perpatrators? Child molesters, drug dealers, drug smugglers, ALQUEDA, gang members... are these the people the liberals are fighting to protect and keep in our country? I brought up ALQUEDA because if a Mexican can jump across a fence, who else do you think can jump it too?
Immigration is fine..again..liberal blindness, ILLEGAL immigration is the problem. How many illegal hispanic immigrants are going to contribute to American society like the old German immigrants of not long ago? Last time I checked Hans didnt create generations of manual laborers with zero education..
well i think maybe having a baby that ends up going to a university, later getting a degree and joining the economy like all other ethnic immigrant has done since people started migrating here and just so you know Hans created a generation of people that killed and murdered millions of people before moving here
In the end, they're just taking Southwest back the way we took Texas from Mexico: Americans overran the place then came to outnumber the population and seceded from Mexico.
And WHO did Mexico take Texas from? Because I know and I know you know Mexico was part of the First Nations.
Actually, most Mexicans I have known are very family oriented and hard-working. I am divided on what to do and cannot offer a solution, but my experiences tell me they are decent people. My ancestors on my mother's side came here illegally from Ireland in the late 1800s, so I guess I am biased, but my family turned out ok. We all work.
What, and other people aren't hard working? I'm like upto here with that "oh they're hard working", please. Maybe the fathers in the family as they hold down jobs to bring bags of food for their "welferinas" who stay at home and watch telenovelas and mostly, bring up little thugs for the neighborhoods.
You're one of those, that they show you things or say things to you or even ingratiate you, the caucasian, then you turn around, and its another story. I know, I've seen it, I've lived in the community. I wont even go into all the other stuff. You'd be signing a different tune.
What a bizarre op-ed piece by CNN. Only a few days ago, CNN published an article describing the ills of the once great state of California. If you get a chance, read the comments that accompanied the article. Lamentation after lamentation about the wretched conditions of the state. Prior to this article I has such great admiration for Fareed, who seemed so balanced and sincere. Now, even he has bought into the "More" advocacy. What is it about "More"? Why is "More" presumed better than "not more"? Will these "More" join hands and sing kumbaya? Fareed should take some time to read the comments on CNN. On any given article, regardless of the subject, you will see venom spewing without any provocation at all. The greatest myth of humanity is how chummy we are. The chummy myth is betrayed by the money we spend on national defense and local security. For years in my neighborhood, we lived with little security. Now, the blue and red lights are a common occurrence. I say we give "Less" a chance. What ye say, Fareed?
Immigration made this country what it is. Illegal immigration is helping to destroy what this country once was. How can we welcome people whose very first act is a criminal one?
I agree with you. I was going to write nearly exactly what you did.
My grandparents, great and great-great grandparents entered this country legally; then learned the language and became legal citizens. I am very grateful to them for making the decision to call the USA their new homeland. While I'm not knocking Italy or Canada, I feel my life and my children's lives are better for being born here.
I am not against immigration. I am against illegal immigration, and anchor babies.
arent you the production of an anchor baby for a legal immigrant??? because maybe the got citizenship because of your parents???
@Joe. You don't know man. My parents came to the USA, my mother NEVER got welfare, she became a naturalized citizen, she came from South America, where the cultures and mentality of Latino's is vastly different than Mexico's. She made me proud to be born in the USA and we also held on to many of our cutlural values and heritage. But never about flags or throwing our heritage at others in the USA. We respected the USA, she became a legal resident, never milking the system or claiming me as some anchor for citizenship – NEVER. I put myself through college, I didn't milk any Dream Act nothing. We have dignity, we don't take advantage. You're full of it.
wow, now i know what it was like to live in the USSR. The propaganda is getting thick around here.
Agreed
wow, what a cute picture of a little hispanic boy. I'll be he's real strong and can pick lots of lettuce. (JOKING)...
I fully support legal immigration and welcome all individuals seeking the American dream–legally... If not, get the flock out.
and when they get here legally then you wont have anyone that wants to pick lettuces for you anymore because they are going to be looking for your bosses job
The photo may have been a setup by a liberal. Probably had the kid put on this, hold the flag up and all that and pose, snap – got the props back and moved the next kid. Get some media literacy JOE.
The major difference and detrimental effects between immigration which helped build America and the immigration PROBLEMS of today - simple, it assimilation. In the past, even when holding on to cultural history immigrants worked hard to assimiliate, learn the language and be a part of what was considered a better life. In recent history, it is largely the opposite. Besides the large amount of illegal immigration (blatant law breaking), assimilating into the American culture is not an agenda item. Strangely their culture provided them a home in which they want to leave while they are drawn to America and they do not want to embrace the culture which created the place they want to live in. Go figure.
CNN and all it's employees must be given a special screening test by a decendant of LENIN the way they all write like socialists. Yes lets let anyone anywhere set up shop in the US and we will pay, feed and give medical care to all those who come. Plus we will make your offspring that are born here automatic citizens. If they put this to an up or down vote of the American people these illeagals would be heading home in droves.
Fareed Zakaria fails to mention over population as a problem, as if every country can continually grow eternally. China losing a hundred million people is probably the best thing to happen to them in a century. In every article this man posts he seems to think he knows more than anyone else and his ideas are always the best. How about thinking this out a little further Fareek and try to understand that the planet can only hold so many people. End all immigration from Muslim countries now.
First, one man's "vibrancy" is another man's Malthusian population explosion that ends in mass starvation when the size of the population exceeds the food-production capacity.
Second, once upon a time, before the advent of the American Welfare State, immigrants to this country had to work. There was no option. Therefore, every immigrant was at worst an economic zero, perhaps not contributing to the county's economy, but not being a burden on it either. Now, however, due to their use of social services that once did not exist, immigrants can be a net drain on the economy. Unless and until the ability of immigrants to take from the American economy more than they contribute is stopped, immigration is doing more harm than good.
One problem in the debate is that people like Zakara fail to properly differentiate between legal and illegal immigration. Get it straight! No one is trying to deport 12 million undocumented aliens in some sudden roundup. But it is shallow thinking to suggest we shouldn't do something to better secure our borders. As illegal aliens are found through the usual processes then they should be removed. We enforce by securing the border and enforcing the law by attrition.
If you want to deal with the problem then stop shallow journalism which reports from a leftist position. We need people who can critically think – not a mouthpiece like Zakara who only knows the party line.
Mr. Zakara is simply a jokester. I do not take him seriously anymore. He is the epitome of a foreigner who is here to instigate, manipulate and lie for the benefit of other foreigners. I have yet to see a foreigner who was not pretentious in the face of Americans, and a total bigot of them behind closed doors. Never believe or entertain what Mr. Zakara has to say, let even his name be a clue to stimulate danger signals in ones mind. Racists – no – Realist – yes!
Does anyone else find it rather humorous and ironic that he mentions pensions in the first couple paragraphs of an article that's talking about US immigrants, the bulk of which probably don't even pay taxes?
If they would just seal the border, punish businesses that hire illegals, stop the government benefits going to illegals like free education and health care, I could gladly support more liberal immigratyion policy. Let peoploe that have good education and technical skills come here. I'm all for . If they come here, work hard, pay taxes and contribute , I'll hold the dorr open for them. That's not what we are getting. All we get is the rejects, the poor , the people who need to be supported. We have to print all our media in Spanish because they can't speak our language and we are making it possible for them to live here without learbning English. That socially isolates them and keeps them from assimilating into the broader American society.
The to Dems unwillingness to allow any enforcement federal , state or otherwise,. we are easily going to get to 20 million.
@Shofar "The problem with assimilation is always left to immigrant and never people realize that perhaps it is also a matter of national interest."
Yeah, I bet the Native Americans (or American Indians, if you prefer) who experienced the massive wave of European immigrants over 2.5 centuries felt that way too. Why, they did their best to accommodate the Europeans, didn't they? But those pesky Europeans just wouldn't compromise. Why do you think that was?? If only those Native Americans had know it was in their best national interest to learn English and change their lifestyle to be more accommodating to the Europeans, everything would have worked out for them. I hope you are capable of detecting my sarcasm here.
One culture will always be the dominant one, and the American culture of European descendants is disappearing. That's why I left the US and legally immigrated to a European country. And you know what? I speak their language fluently, abide by their laws, and don't wave the American flag or tell them what is better in the US than in their country. My husband and I have been welcomed and accepted as part of the community. Of coure we are referred to as "the Americans". That's actually an advantage to us, as we participate in community activities and get to know people, since we are a bit of a curiosity. And yes, one day this culture we are experiencing will change, as it is now. But at least my husband and I will have known a culture WE CHOSE to live in, not one that was thrust upon us .
And wasn't Mexico also established by Europeans and who did Mexico take the Southwest from? Hmmmm??
...thats what I thought.
If you have a high immigration rate the immigrate will probably not integrate well. If they fail to integrate they will live in term of communities, in the long run this leads to civil war (if the communities are to different). Look at what happen in Kosovo and what is happening in France. Instead of encouraging immigration you should focus on the birth rate of your citizen. Now this does not mean that immigration is bad. This means that you should control it and restrict it.
Come on Fareed........ No one on either side of the political spectrum is saying anything, I mean anything, about legal immigration!! Its ILLEGAL immigration that is the issue.......do you get this at all....its ILLEGAL!!!!!!! I for one am sick and tired of this blind attachment to a liberal ideology. There is only one reason why you write pieces like this. Its because you know that the ILLEGAL immigrants in this country might someday become LEGAL and they will likely vote democrat. Thats it.......... the only reason. So in essence, it appears to me that you are willing to ignore laws and insult the milions of people who immigrated to this country legally (and by the way, added strenght to this great nation) all in order to push your liberal ideology. Shame on you!
Ahh, see, no one explained to me how the DREAM Act would magically stop future illegal immigration. But since you promise that it's going to work that way, I'm totally on board now.
Are you kidding me? The reason there are people against reforms is because reforms have been tried before. Amnesty has been tried before. Illegals continue to flock to here and blatantly disregard our laws and culture. I'd much rather find someone who does have the balls to deport 12 million (or 20 million) law breakers rather than extend our hand to have it slapped away again.
We all know that the US was built by immigrants. However the problem is not immigration the problem is ILLEGAL Immigration. Even during the mass immigrations during the 1800\1900 people still needed sponsors and went through the LEGAL process to come to the US.
There is no reason any company should be hiring ILLEGAL aliens when there are programs such as e-Verify. Those companies that are found to be hiring ILLEGAL aliens should be severely penalized.
Entering the US ILLEGALLY is only a violation, however obtaining work with fraudulent documents is identity theft and is a crime.
I encourage controlled immigration and am strongly opposed to giving amnesty to any ILLEGAL alien as part of the United States solution to the ILLEGAL immigration problem.
This is ridiculous. The problem Americans have with mexicans is that they are basically criminals who hate America and who believe that America belongs to them. Mexicans are generally not very smart. They are ugly to look at and they serve as a negativism to the entire human race. They are substandard. I can't say any of those negative things about Asians or Europeans. Mexicans are like animals pretending to be human.
it is sad what you saying i am immigrant, i am not defending mexican people but i just want to say that in this world there are good and bad people and it doesn't matter where they come from, how they look, if the talk chinese, spanish or english or if they are white, black or asian or hispanic. there is lazy people (white, hispanic, black etc) there is criminal people (WHITE black hispanic) there is sex offender (white, black and hispanic and asian) , what i am trying to say is that it doesnt matter your color or country in this world there are bad and good people so do not attack just one group.
The point get repeated over and over here and everywhere. Immigration is not the problem, ILLEGAL immigration IS. Those skulking in the country hidden in trucks or running across in the darkness of night with a backpack of drugs don't want citizenship. They only want to steal what they can and do as much harm as they dare. These are the 12 million that we have to deal with every day. I and most others welcome those who have done what is needed to get citizenship. I want all others deported and labelsed as the criminals they are, forever.
I beg to differ that Legal Immigrants are not a problem. Most likely that is what Mr. Z is. Legal immigrants are the same ones that smile in your face during the day and smuggle their folks in the backdoor at night. The same ones also supplement their income by doing this and with drug deals and prostitution. I do not understand why people keep saying that legal immigrants are not the problem, when THEY are the bigger problem. Most of them wont lift a finger to stop it, particularly if the people coming in the back doors of America are of the same "race" or "nationality". America better wake up and stop letting anyone in. Also anyone that using A CHILD as part of the marketing and propaganda skills like Mr. Z, should be investigated! Leave children out of trying to sell your .......................................! (fill in the blank)
Keep giving immigration to cheap indians.... monkey god followers and keep loosing jobs America...Good I love it.
So you are from the camel urine drinking Middle east/Paki (as advised by your pedophile prophet.)
Paki.. is that all you can make your case with? Seriously.. CNN should start filtering out toddlers from their forums.Go worship your 72 virgins or something.. Wait. That happens only when you blow yourself up right.. or is it?
I guess Fareed wasn't at the soccer game the other night...
You should hear them behind closed doors or when they think no one is listening...it is worse. America needs to stoop from its superiority complex and look these monsters (sweet little foreigners) in the face as its enemy. Mr. Z has NO BUSINESS except FOREIGN business for using a kid to exploit his propaganda. There should be a law against him and his pedophilistic marketing techniques. He is scary!
Those US citizens of Mexican decent weren't booing the American flag or the US National Anthem.
They were booing the poor performance of the US National Team, and cheering when the Mexican team was showing them how to play.
(sarcasm off)
You know what Mexicans were saying? That most of all those Mexicans there flag waving, spitting at the USA, booing and so on, were actually visitors, tourists from Mexico who had come to see the game just from their country. Right.
The words are LEGAL/ILLEGAL, folks.
Mr. Z is a foreigner. You do not have to be a racists to decide that. He is the racists. Most foreigners are, they are just simply pretentious and harmless as sleeping cells, until "then"! Their then, not ours!
Let's refute FZ's assumptions and logic (that is 'country needs to be growing demographically in order to be growing economically') with a simple thought experiment based on an even simpler question: WHERE WILL IT END?
Earth's population limit isn't infinite. Natural resources aren't infinite. The environment isn't indestructible. There is a ceiling that we're quickly approaching, that is if we haven't went through it already. Earth as well as all places on it (America, Europe, China, etc.) have a FINITE carrying capacity.
Thus, if we believed the likes of Fareed Zakaria, we're in for an endless stagnation once the global population stabilizes on some level that can be sustained.
Fortunately, Zakaria is completely wrong. Immigration is a SHORT TERM SOLUTION. It only POSTPONES the reforms we need to do (in Europe, in America and globally) in order to be able to continue growing in terms of per capita wealth even after our populations gets older. Of course, if you allow your population to balloon, the problem your descendants will have to deal with will be much bigger. In this sense, mass immigration is actually making things much worse in the long term, even though it can provide some (questionable) short term benefits.
after reading all the mindless ranting of some many people on this site I have decided to go to KFC for dinner tonight. Get a life people. I have travelled to 50 countries with KFC's and didn't speak the language of one and never had a problem. Get a grip and stop trying to politicize everything............
Mike, there are 49 other states then that you couldve have resided in. Go for it and take your chicken with you.
Thirty (really stupid) illegal immigrants have been rescued from the southern Arizona desert in a 24-hour span, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson, Arizona Sector say.
All of the immigrants were suffering from varying states of dehydration after apparently being abandoned by their guides and left with little or no water. (Temps were 118 in Casa Grande area on Monday.)
Casa Grande Station agents and the Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue unit rescued the majority of illegal immigrants Monday night.
They say 17 immigrants claimed they had gotten lost after being abandoned by their smuggler.
Eight other illegal immigrants were rescued Monday morning north of Sells and four others were found east of Ajo.
Of the 30 immigrants rescued, only three needed to be taken to a hospital for treatment. The others were taken to Casa Grande for processing.
(Three taken to the hospital for treatment! Who pays for those ER treatments?)
Imagine the costs to process 30 criminals, hold them and then ship them back over the border because our jails are full.
$9 MILLION worth of illegal drugs were seized on Monday in the same area.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE – SECURE THE BORDER – BUILD THE MOAT
And Obama has the balls to say our borders are safe!
The problem with foreigners is that you cant take them out of their country and culture, without them bringng it to the United States. You cannot protect the USA against diseases, prostitution, mental illnesses, perversions, cultural illnesses, arrogance, disrespect, disloyalty, thieves, pedophiles, homosexuals, atheist, lazy, scammers, racists, narcicistic, pretentious, attitudes, etc..that foreigners bring with them. . The United States does not have the technology or intelligence to pre-screen them against these dangers. America itself suffers from such a superiority complex that it has lead to altruism and traitorism amongst invidivuals, and opportunists both in power or not. More people (any people) means more money to some people. The greedy Americans and Legal Immigrants already in this country only see $$$$$$$. The Legal immigrants learn to manipulate the system for other immigrants to work it against Americans so that they can eventually "take over" and legitimately! People like Mr. Zakara is a perfect example. He only hopes that he can get 3rd world people in here with their 3rd world mentalities and are use to propaganda and brainwashing, so that he can do what he does best. The difference in America is that we get to think freely. The difference between everyday people like you and me and Mr. Zakara is that Mr. Zakara does not think we should be allowed to do so. Even his headline is oxy-moron "ish". He is use to being told what to think and wants to try and pass his skills on here in America. Read but dont heed what he says....unless of course you are of another "world".
Dear Mike,
I have no idea where in Gods name you heard Walt Disney was actually a adopted Spaniard but you are mistaken.Disney was born on December 5, 1901, at 2156 N. Tripp Avenue in Chicago's Hermosa community area to Irish-Canadian father Elias Disney and German-American mother Flora Call Disney .His great-grandfather, Arundel Elias Disney, had emigrated from Gowran, County Kilkenny, Ireland where he was born in 1801. Arundel Disney was a descendant of Robert d'Isigny, a Frenchman who had travelled to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. With the d'Isigny name anglicised as "Disney", the family settled in a village now known as Norton Disney, south of the city of Lincoln, in the county of Lincolnshire.
Gets your facts straight Mike. If you wanted to cite an immigrant as your case you could have used Steve Jobs from Apple computer who was adopted and if Iranian extraction.
Mike
The US could accept more immigrants from around the world if we didn't have the illegal immigrant problem. There is a big difference between those who are invited to immigrate and those who break are laws by invading our country illegally. Those who come the right way are assimilated much faster than those who attempt to stay by virtue of anchor baby. If we didn't have 9-10 million illegals milling about our country, we could greatly increase our rates of legal immigration.
LEGAL is good. I love legal immigrants – many of them leave behind their homeland and risk everything for a better life here – after all what could be more American than that? According to the information I find on the internet, the US is still the number one immigrant destination in the world, allowing over a million permanent LEGAL residents every year, about 15% a year from Mexico – by far the largest single country contribution and perhaps including the handsome young lad pictured in this article. Zakaria, you might want to check some of these statics out before writing an article comparing US immigration policy to France and Germany.
ILLEGAL immigration is bad. We have the laws for a reason. Illegal immigrants make chumps out of the millions that pursue LEGAL immigration, and create a host of other problems.
I agree however with Zakaria, that I would like to see a more liberal policy that allows some people – particularly Mexican citizens, to easily obtain temporary work permits that allow them to come here and work on a seasonal basis and go back and forth to to their homes in Mexico, which is what many of the illegals want to do anyway.
America needs to stop all immigration, legal or not. Stop! This country should support those who were already here and encourage marriage and families and children. If America were a parent, it would have been charged with "neglect" years ago, and yet we still continue to let in "adoptees". Not only that, but the adopted disrespect and have little or no regard for the original occupants. Legal and illegal migrants are a problem. The legal migrants help the illegals particularly when they are of the "same" either race, creed, religion or color, and unfortunately sexual preference.
.... one of the stupidest of all...let me tell you why...your parents or grand grand parents came here 100 or 200 years ago and killed the local indians...stole their lands...just for you to get born and become really stupid!!!
and you wanna tell the US government to stop legal and illegal immigration so your stupid family can enjoy their good life of criminal background that they had...
America was a migrant country, still is, and will be because of the history itself...that how this country was formed...
NOW...YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT THE IMMIGRANTS MAKE YOUR LIFE MISSERABLE TODAY...BUT THE RICH IMMIGRANTS THAT RUN THIS ECONOMY...MOST OF THEM ARE JEWS AND THEN THE REST...THEY ARE DESTROYING THIS COUNTRY...THEY OUTSOURCE EVERYTHING WE HAVE...INCLUDING JOBS..JUST FOR THEIR OWN GOOD...THEY ARE BLINDED BY MONEY....
THATS WHAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE IN WASHINGTON...THEY ARE SO RICH THAT THEY DONT GIVE A SHIT WHERE THEY LIVE...IN NEW YORK OR MONACO...OR MOSCOW...OR BEIJING...
YOU NEED TO PUT A FIGHT AGAINST THESE RICH MOTHER FLOWERS THAT DESTROY US.. THE MIDDLE CLASS... AND EVENTUALLY CREATE A KIND OF EUROPEAN SOCIALISM...
I WAS BORN IN COMMUNISM AND I SEE WHERE THIS COUNTRY IS GOING...I HAD A FEW BUSINESSES HERE IN USA AND WHAT HAPPENS EACH YEAR AFTER YEAR THE RICH WITH THE LAWS THEY PUSH IN WASHINGTON MAKE IT HARDER AND HARDER TO START OR MAINTAIN A SMALL BUSINESS...
GROW UP FELLOW AMERICANS AND PUT A FIGHT AGAINST THE RICH BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PROBLEM...
!!!!IT IS NOT THE IMMIGRANTS!!!...
First off, my family has been here for almost 400 years and got along fine with the locals. But throughout history people have lost thir lands to violent invasions. Even the American Indians fought over land well before the Europeans ever got here. NEXT> The Amercan Indians came here originating in the RIFT VALLEY of Africa exactly the same as you or me. They just took the shorter route. We are no differant. You want us to go back? Then you go first. Make a place for all of us and give us a call that things are ready for all 6 bililon of us. And lastly, anyone born here has a legitamate claim to the title Native American, the American Indians don't have any legal claim on that title.
"No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant."
===============
Name a vibrant, great power that WAS demographically vibrant.
There are plenty that weren't/aren't: USA, China (ancient and modern), ancient Greece, the Empires of Persia and in Africa, Japan, etc, etc.
Great Article Fareed.
Seems most cannot grasp the simple truth that GDP growth is a funciton of population growth. The only way out of our current problems is to grow GDP.
There may be a problem with immigration policies, but immigration is a blessiing because it generates growth. So fix the policies, but don't blame immigrants for these policy problems. If you do, we will no longer be an exceptional nation.
zakira has done a great job in this report, however; I learned so much more from the public comments concerning the issue of immigration reform. I never changed my position as an America. My position is mixed and complicated. Our US boarders should be protected however the illegals here that do work Americans will not do for low wages should be given rights,
Immigration reform is what the US needs and the Mexicans are what the US needs too. Period.
I disagree. Just because people want a thing, simply wanting it does not justify giving it to them. Do they work? I'm sure some do. Doing work does not entitle one to citizenship. There are legal avenues for immigrants to follow, and those who are willing to follow them deserve citizenship. Those who simply demand to be granted citizenship because they have worked in this country do not deserve it.
Esteban, the problem is...the illegals are taking the jobs that Americans are willing to do, but it's the people who own these businesses that are going to bring this country down. If you don't mind living in a 3rd world country like your family did, then why no just let the US because the Norte Estados de Mexico. Then when there are no benefits, family are starving again and the gap between rich and poor are greater. I took a political science class that was unorthodox from the normal, and in the 70's, for every $1 a worker was making, the owner was making $100. Now a days, for every $1 made by an employee, the owner/CEO is making $1000+.
So I'm sorry, you're wrong.
The problem is that the US is relying solely on family based immigration. Children of green card holders waits in their home country doing nothing. Then they go to the US without education so they mostly do manual work. Whereas in other countries like Singapore, they welcome professionals and talents.
We have an ILLEGAL immigration problem. We're not being overrun with illegal immigrate doctors, engineers and scientists sneaking into the US. We're overrun with illegals from Mexico, that are draining our society. These are not well educated, potential tax payers. Do the math. That is the simple truth.
Fareed:
It is not the fault of the United States that immigrants do not assimilate. Legal immigrants are given lots of opportunities to assimilate, they just refuse to. Therefore, I believe that unless you are willing to live according to our laws, you should be denied entry. And furthermore, I think you are one big nitwit. JUST GO AWAY!
The HUGE problem with this analysis, is that it points out a major fact, and issue that NO ONE is doing anything about.
We are overpopulating the planet, with humans. We are killing the planet in the process, and we have no more than 40 yrs. to reverse that process.
Yet, the world economy is totally reliant on economic growth, which is of course, driven by population growth. In order to save this planet, from complete and total destruction, by humans, we have to significantly REDUCE human population growth, and subsequently, have to weather the accompanying economic downturn associated with that.
Our only other option, is to overpopulate to the point of extinction of the planet. That is the direction we are headed towards, and until we face that reality, and accept the need to change our ways, and live more simply, and more responsibly, our days here, are absolutely numbered, and that is NOT a large number.
Every article I read on immigration seems to say, "There really isn't anything wrong with illegal immigrants being in the U.S. Give them a break, already!" Why? Why is illegal immigration looked upon as no big deal? I realize that this article is discussing legal immigration, but the subtext is that immigration of any kind – legal or otherwise – is good and should be accepted, if not welcomed with open arms. Why, then, have any immigration policy at all? Why not, by this same rationale, just open up the borders and allow anyone in the world to come into the United States? Why do people think they are entitled to emigrate to the U.S. just because they want to?
I completely reject the premises and judgements of this article. It is merely an argument for open borders which most countries of the world do not practice. An example of a country that does practice open borders is Libya – not an example to follow. Countries need to and do use border control to regulate the QUALITY of people entering the country. In the past, the USA did this adequately well, but since Bush this effort was abandoned and now we are paying the price for lax border control in widespread crime and out-of-control medical costs to hospitals treating illegal aliens for free. This has to stop in order for the USA to regain control of the economy. Anyone who says different is lying to you.
Illegals are breaking our laws just by being here. We do not need to reward law breakers. We need to reward the millions of immigrants who follow the rules and come here the correct way. I have no problems with immigrates who follow the rules. Those who don't, need to be deported and banned forever. The children who were brought here when young need to be deported and allowed a chance to follow our rules, but I have little hope because obviously their parents were unable to teach good values.
We need to clamp down on illegal immigration but we also need to invest in making the LEGAL immigration process more efficient. I came to this country as an educated worker who was sponsored by my parents who were legal residents. The government decided I was eligible to come which is fine and dandy, but the process took FIVE years. Its no wonder people skip all the paper work and just come on their own. Make it harder for the ones you don't want but easier for the ones you do. Also the immigration lottery system is a joke. People who have no interest immigrating enter the lottery and then when they win they simply sell their identity to the highest bidder.
Scientists agree the greatest risk to attack on the US is from Bioweapons, brought in by purposely infected individuals across our unprotected borders. These individuals immediately begin to infect those traveling with them and those in contact by secondary contacts. In order to travel outside the US citizens are required to have immunizations and records with them. 12,000,000 have crossed into the US without any such immunizations or a scrap of records.
Send the illegals home. I have not a problem in the world with LEGAL immigration. Another liberal on CNN spewing his agenda.
Legal immigration is a good thing as you point out. Illegal is not and it is very costly to the U.S. How to solve the illegal immigration problem without deportation.....Quit giving them any government monies or aid. Do not hire them and put those that do hire them in jail for 6 months after a repeated offense. Problem solved, they will all go home.
let me as question u think any body in america is american iam an american but called my country name first and then an american i am the citizen of the world that what i know and as far as people who come illegaly here there life style stays the same and education is allways edge in usa great thing is that education allways is welcome so chose the right way of investing in your life and educate your self here i dont support illeagal entry to this country but hunger is and better future life is very first thing that make them to take this risk these could be common views of any person who live here i dont know for sure though
If you are worried about losing your job to someone that probably can't read or write English, you really need to update your skills. Being anti illegal immigration is really just a cover for being racist. Fareed Zakaria is wrong if he believes Americans don't want to ship massive numbers of illegal immigrants back to their own country. About half of Republicans would like to ship everyone that isn't white back to their place of origin, including Fareed Zakaria himself.
Your one of those witch hunters going around calling everybody racist are you, let me guess, you have, or are in the process of getting a liberal arts degree. So anyone who prefers homogeneity is a racist. Are Japanese people racists for having such a homogeneous society, are Africans racist for wanting it to be black, no you wouldn't accuse them of racism would you, I guess just white Americans eh, or wait maybe you sound like the racist now.
When those wanting illegals here don't have a valid argument, they scream "RACISM". Nowhere in any of these posts will you see people posting they only want Mexicans or those of a differant race out of the US. That is Jake doing that. We want ALL illegals out, those from Europe as well as all others. Illegal is illegal and NOT A RACIAL ISSUE as Jake and others try to make it out to be to distract from the criminal standing of those here ILLEGALLY. All 12,000,000 of them.
Are you saying, then, that you think illegal immigration is good for the United States? Why?
Jake, it doesn't have anything to do with skills, but the fair wage that should be paid. Employers are getting away with Slave Wages because they can pay these people less and under the table.
Well thats not true at all, I have watched the outflow of American jobs for the last twenty years due to outsourcing and insourcing, due to the H1-B visa program which is a shambles. I watched hundreds of fellow co-workers be replace here in the USA with lower paid in-sourced foreign workers. I watched my entire team be replaced after 911. This program is done under legal terms, which is absurd. Its bad enough this is happening within the law but too watch the influx of illegals who are in my opinion criminals or possible terrorists replace American workers it is even more absurd.
Senator McCain was born in Panama Canal, in a Panamanian hospital. He is no native to this country. McCain is Panamanian. It shows on his birth certificate.
Oscar, you need a lesson in world history. For your information the Canal zone was part of the US that the Panamenian government ceded to the US as a condition to build the canal. The US as a part of a treaty gave back the canal zone control back to the panamanians. Please dont make an ass out of yourself and be informed.
Fareed, while obviously in favor of opening up to massive immigration, forgets, or doesn't mention one thing about immigration, and what it has done to Canada. Immigration drives up prices, but not wages, Vancouver is the most diverse city in the world, but it is unaffordable to any average Canadian. All Canadian cities where their is large swaths of immigrants are becoming unaffordable to anyone making a wage. Wages stagnate while prices surge, that is what immigration does.
Man the racism towards white people on these posts is getting scary, and the funny thing is they think others are the racist ones and they are righteous somehow.
It's true. U.S. citizens are expected to honor the culture, customs, and heritage of all immigrants, which is fine, but no one seems to think it's necessary for immigrants – of any stripe – to embrace or even respect the culture of the United States. And I don't mean so-called "white culture," if there even is such a thing (is "white culture" in California the same as "white culture" in Georgia?).
I have lived in the US 7 years as a legal immigrant, doing management consulting and even being the CEO of a company, my wife taught in university (Carnegie Mellon), the universities are chock full of immigrants and a lot of companies I worked with, all high tech, were too. since 2001 when we arrived, a lot of us "bright and brightest" immigrants (pass me the term) left, dissatisfied with America, for us and a lot of people in our category, the country is simply not appealing anymore, so we went to Canada, most of our friends returned to their countries or went to Europe and a growing number is going to china and the east. skilled immigration, not only labor immigration has always been the strength of America, not anymore, when us and people like us that have certain expectations of civility, justice, meritocracy, safety and decency look at a country we always ask ourselves the ultimate question :"where do we want our kids to grow in" and unfortunately the answer from more and more of us is "not in America", because you want the best for them and America unfortunately is deluding itself it's still the best, but it's not, if it doesn't change back to where it was under Clinton and instead keeps on this track , it will become more and more irrelevant.
That's fine. The choice to enter legally is inextricably tied to the choice to leave legally. I simply don't care for illegal immigration.
First off your not even going to get me to the table to talk about a dream act till the border is no longer leaking more and more immigrants over our borders. That and first and foremost has to be done first as promised during the 1986 amensty act of reagan and in which it was said on its signing that never again will imigration be an issue and that they would secure the border and never offer amensty again EVER. fast forward 25 years still waiting for a secure border. So no you have a large section of the population that wont even start talks till that simple act is finished. So first things first stop all flow of illegals first then we will talk about what to do with the law breakers that are already here. As they broke a law just to get here ILLEGALLY!!!!!
The DREAM Act is amnesty, and that is why I was always against the DREAM Act, but, I’ll give in to the DREAM Act under two conditions. First, the parents who bought their illegal alien children here illegally MUST be deported. Second, the parents can NEVER return to this country and the student can NEVER sponsor them or any other family member that would start a chain migration. The student will start the DREAM Act as soon as the parents are deported. This, I believe, is a good compromise. The students will be rewarded for something that was not their fault and the parents will pay for their crime of entering this country illegally and putting their child in this position. If you do not like this compromise, then the parents can just take their children back to the country from which they came. AGREE? If not, let all of them pack their bags and get the hell out of this country. They DO NOT belong here.
Illegal immigration is a cancer, it has to be eradicated not tolerated.
Most LEGAL citizens of this country don’t have a problem with people coming to this country to make better lives for themselves. We have a problem with them coming here ILLEGALLY. You see, we LEGAL citizens have a problem with ILLEGALS using our roads, our bridges, clog our jails/courts, our hospitals, our water and electrical systems, our overcrowded schools, etc. because we pay for those with our taxes. We pay to build those items, we pay to maintain those items. That’s our money out there and ILLEGAL freeloaders come and want the benefits of our society but aren’t willing to earn those privileges LEGALLY. As a LEGAL immigrant from England, I have a problem with that as I have worked hard to be a productive member of this great country. Think about this, by some estimates, there are 20 million ILLEGAL people here in this country. If only 1/20th of that population (very conservative estimate) has an automobile and is removed from the country, think of what that would do to our roads. One million less vehicles ILLEGALLY clogging up traffic. One million ILLEGAL immigrant vehicles less reducing the need for foreign oil. Roads and infrastructure would require less cost to maintain. You get the picture… And that’s a very limited and conservative estimate of just the costs surrounding ILLEGAL immigrant vehicles to this country. I, for one, would be ecstatic to be able to get where I’m going faster and spend less time in my commute. That saves me money. That reduces this country’s use and dependence on foreign oil. How about you; feel like saving some money on fuel? I would be willing to bet that most ILLEGAL immigrants don’t have auto insurance, thus driving up rates for those of us that do. Feel like paying less for auto insurance? I do.
This is how insane this country has become; in the most recent census a concerted effort was made to reach out to “undocumented”, ILLEGAL people living in this country. It seems, we have to document the “undocumented” now because they get the benefit of programs intended for US citizens and the government needs to know how much extra money to send. Not to mention the additional representation in Congress that comes from the re-districting of the additional ILLEGAL headcount. Those states with heavy illegal alien populations get more representation in Congress than those states without. Congressional Districts made up primarily of illegal aliens get the same vote that a district mainly made up of citizens does, thus diluting the votes of citizens. Excuse me, but I must have missed the memo, but since when are foreign nationals entitled to representation in my Congress? How does this make any sense? Why aren't American Citizens enraged about this?!?!
Pundits will point out that ILLEGALS contribute to this country’s economy and pay taxes but only have vague estimates and studies of what that benefit is. You see, they are here ILLEGALLY, which means that a great deal of money to pay them goes under the table, gets hidden like a whole underground money market. No taxes get paid on that bundle. They steal identities, commit forgery, and create false documentation (how much does identity theft cost the US taxpayer? Almost $50 BILLION/yr 2007 numbers). Not to mention all of the money they send back out of the country (and how does THAT help the US economy?). Please tell me how that is accurately measured. It can’t be. Argument dismissed. ILLEGALS are more of a drain on our society than they are a benefit and that is much easier to prove.
So let’s step away from the economics of ILLEGALS and talk about the law. ILLEGALS will have you believe that they just want to make an honest living to better their living condition. Oh really? Not only did you KNOWINGLY break the law coming here, you probably lied about information to obtain a driver’s license , lied about information to obtain or illegally use someone else’s social security number, lied to welfare officials to obtain benefits, etc. Illegal entry is a criminal offense subject to imprisonment. Aiding and abetting human traffickers and smugglers is a crime.Visa fraud is a crime. Working without proper documents is a crime. Purchasing false documents is a crime. Using a false identity on documents – like applications for credit, housing, and employment – is a crime. How is that making an “honest” living? Those are all flagrantly broken laws. It’s not just one law ILLEGAL immigrants break. It’s many! They are serial criminals that break multiple laws and should be treated as such. These people have a flagrant disrespect for the laws of the US. If I were to rob a bank, would I get amnesty?
Here’s some crime stats from one county in GA:
ICE screened inmates at the Gwinnett jail over a 26-day period in January and February 2009 and found 68 percent of the foreign-born inmates were in the country illegally. The largest number, 226, had been arrested for driving without a license. The next highest, 154, were arrested on felony drug charges. Other charges ranged from misdemeanors to murder, rape and child molestation.
That’s one jail, in one county, in one state, for ONLY 26 DAYS. 380+ inmates your tax dollars are paying for. And it’s not even CA where it is widely accepted the largest ILLEGAL population resides. Alarming no?
If ILLEGAL immigrants spent half the time and energy currently being used to stay in the US today, they probably could have solved the problems in the country they came from.
…and while I am on my soapbox, why is the ACLU saying they will take these state ILLEGAL immigration laws to court if enacted? These aren’t citizens of the US, they have no rights as far as I’m concerned, They are criminals. They come to leech off of the system, disguised as the pursuit of happiness. Send them back and tell them to come back the LEGAL way. ILLEGALS demand rights that they are not entitled to.
This issue has nothing to do with race, if you are ILLEGALLY here from Canada, China, Germany, or Mexico, it doesn’t matter. To comply with the law does not mean you are prejudicial, discriminatory, or racist. You are breaking the law(s), are a criminal, and need to be shipped back to where you came from. Why do criminal/ILLEGAL immigrants think that they should not have to comply with the laws of this country?
Most people that I have discussed this with don’t have a problem with LEGAL immigration because they are here paying taxes and being productive in society. It’s the ILLEGAL freeloaders that we want out. LEGAL taxpayers are tired of paying for your child’s education at the expense of our overflowing classrooms, we are tired of you using our infrastructure we pay to build and maintain with our tax dollars; we are tired of handling out tax dollars as welfare for you to stay here; we are tired of paying inflated healthcare costs because you don’t pay at all. THIS is why the USA has vengeance towards ILLEGAL immigration.
Oh, and yes, businesses that hire ILLEGALS should lose their business license. Period. I agree that is an issue. Three strikes you’re out rule. Get caught 3x hiring ILLEGAL workers, lose your business license with no appeal. That would solve that problem.
As previously stated, I came here LEGALLY from England. I came and worked hard to get citizenship before I served in the USAF through the first gulf war. The freedom in this country doesn’t come free, you have to work for it, you have to pay for it, you have got to want it. ILLEGALS think they are entitled to it just because they show up, and I don’t owe criminals anything. Their arrogance is infuriating. It’s a privilege, not a right to be in our country. Just ask a vet, not a community organizer.
Write, email and telephone your congressmen and tell them to :
-DRAFT AND PASS FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO REQUIRE PHOTO ID, PROOF OF RESIDENCY, AND VOTER REGISTRATION CARD AT THE POLLING PLACE TO VOTE.
-SECURE THE BORDER IMMEDIATELY AND PERMANENTLY.
-ENFORCE EXISTING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW U.S. CODE TITLE 8 CHAPTER 12 SUB-CHAPTER II PART VIII SECTION 1324 FULLY AND CONSISTENTLY.
-NO MORE ANCHOR BABIES. END THE TOXIC CONDITION OF BEING THE LAST DEVELOPED NATION IN THE WORLD TO STILL GRANT 'BIRTHRIGHT' CITIZENSHIP TO THE CHILDREN OF CITIZENS OF FOREIGN NATIONS.
-REPEAL NAFTA, BRING JOBS HOME.
…and don’t even get me started on other government fiascos! "Wait until the bill is passed and then you'll find out what's in it." - N.Pelosi (D) (then Speaker Of The House 2010 referring to “Obamacare”)
This is your government folks…
Illegals pay more taxes than you – the payroll deduction is at std tax bracket rate plus SS taxes. They do not file tax returns or use SS benefits. As for Roads, taxes paid on every gallon of tax helps to keep them up. And please, stop going over the speed limit, its breaking the law. In fact, your righteous self, should check into prison for 15yrs should you go over speed limit.
What, like payroll taxes on a stolen identity? Gas taxes do not pay for all road maintenance, just a portion, and vary by state. Federal roads such as interstates come from federal tax dollars. And that doesn't help my increased auto insurance rates that I pay because some criminal immigrant drives around with a stolen ID/license and no auto insurance. Criminal immigrants must leave.
If I speed, then I get a ticket/fine. If you are here illegally, then you get deported. The punishment suits the crime.
There are too many immigrants in America, and more every day. Even legal immigration is a joke with Indian computer programmers and Pakistani doctors and Filipino nurses and Haitian cab drivers taking Americans' jobs. We should have the same policy as every other country in the world. You are welcome to come here and work, as long as you do something OUR PEOPLE DON'T DO. That's what the immigration debate should be about. Not how to keep the American economy growing. But how to keep it sustainable.
I disagree. Legal, productive immigrants, doing any job – legally – ought to be welcome.
Bottom line: It's hard for a country with a dysfunctional political system to remain competitive.
Here's what I have come up with. Now, these "ILLEGAL", not Legal immigrants, ILLEGAL immigrants...they have their kids here, which are LEGAL US CITIZENS. Guess what, many of them don't want to do the jobs that their parents did, so making them out to be SAVIORS of the US labor system is mute. If us US Citizens are lazy, then the children of these Illegals are also included in that group. Because they've learned that they can easily get help from the Government, why get a job picking oranges or tomatoes, the likes of Nancy Pelosi will pay your way...
I am appalled at the intolerance and hatred by some of these responses. I fully agree with Mr. Zakaria that this country needs to figure out a compromise. Many illegal immigrants pay taxes, work hard and have absolutely no way of becoming legal unless they do something rather illegal (like marrying for green card) or go back home for 10 years? And suggesting to deport parents who brought their children here illegally – are you seriously considering punishing parents for trying to get better future for their kids by deporting them and separating them? Where is the humanity? And trying to take away the jobs from Americans – do you see Americans lining up to wash dishes in your local taco place or clean your houses, or maybe pick roses and strawberries for close to nothing? It is easy to judge others when you live in the most developed country in the world – take a look at the world and wake up to reality.
You know what Michaela, my mother is a legal immigrant, it took her and my grandparents 8 years to get here. Even when they got here, they were told that they were not to be a burden to the US system. And yes, I am caucasian. My grandfather, worked in the fields for a few years until he perfected his English and was able to land a good job. My mother came here not knowing too much english, but if you were to talk to her now, you couldn't tell the difference. It's not fair to the legal immigrants who paid their ways here, endured the hardship to only be screwed by these invaders. So what, they have to wait. Better than allowing hordes in and watch our system crumble. I have 3 children, I would hope that they would have the same opportunity as I did.
This is a flimsy argument. Immigrants can pursue legal channels. If they don't, they're breaking the law. Simply wanting a thing doesn't legitimize this "by any means necessary" approach to getting it. This argument epitomizes the "right now, no waiting, something for nothing" sense of entitlement that is wrong with a great percentage of the U.S., and I don't just mean illegal immigrants. By this rationale, if people are tired of saving money for a car, they can just steal one because it's unfair that cars are so expensive.
"And suggesting to deport parents who brought their children here illegally – are you seriously considering punishing parents for trying to get better future for their kids by deporting them and separating them?" A: Yes They came here KNOWING that they were breaking laws in this country. I have no sympathy for anyone that thumbs their nose at US laws. They are criminals. Period. And I do not believe that we legal residents should have to foot the bill for them just because they don't like where they live. Life is tough.
"And suggesting to deport parents who brought their children here illegally – are you seriously considering punishing parents for trying to get better future for their kids by deporting them and separating them?" A: Yes They came here KNOWING that they were breaking laws in this country. I have no sympathy for anyone that thumbs their nose at US laws. They are criminals. Period. If I stole from your house would I get amnesty? And I do not believe that we legal residents should have to foot the bill for them just because they don't like where they live. Life is tough.
If the incredulous press and the politicians want the American people to get behind immigration reform, they need to realize that the price of that deal is to enforce border security and immigration law. The people trusted Reagan / Bush Sr. and passed immigration reform once before. All the same promises that are being made now to the public were made then. The public was fleeced and they know the politicians intentionally lied to them and fleeced them. They don't trust corporations or politicians on this subject any more. Enforce border security and immigration laws and then the generous American people will happily grant legal status to all the people who have been living here for years.
Why are nations that have healthy immigration prosperous? Here is a reason you heard here first time: It enriches a nation's DNA pool by risk takers, and those you are willing to work hard.
"Why are nations that have healthy immigration prosperous?" A: Because it is healthy LEGAL immigration.
Yes, we let in a lot of immigrants and....our economy is just as much in the toilet as Europe. So your point is?
There is a difference between "vibrant" and "chaotic". As an immigrant, Mr. Zakaria has a far more positive view of immigration than most Americans do. We need to enforce our immigration laws and deport all illegal aliens that we find. No exceptions. Want to come here? Do it legally or get lost! No exceptions!
The right wing nuts and many presenting an anti immigrant view are against both legal and illegal.
There are thousands of legal immigrants whose lives hang in the balance for years and years until they receive a decision. A reasonable wait time is OK but the if you were to analyze the wait times now for immigrants it is absolutely ridiculous. The system is broken – This broken system actually encourages illegal immigration.
So please don't tell me that this is just has to do with illegal immigration, and about playing by the rules. The fact is that 99.99% of these anti immigrant individuals do not even know the immigration rules and how broken the process is for Legal immigrants, and nor do they want to know because that would require them use a few more of their brain cells and apply common sense. There is a dire need to reform the entire system.
Have they bothered to investigate the rules?
Barack5Star – Have you bothered to look at the rules? if not then please do.
o The fact is, this is a flimsy argument. Immigrants can pursue legal channels. If they don't, they're breaking the law. Simply wanting a thing doesn't legitimize this "by any means necessary" approach to getting it. This argument epitomizes the "right now, no waiting, something for nothing" sense of entitlement that is wrong with a great percentage of the U.S., and I don't just mean illegal immigrants. By this rationale, if people are tired of saving money for a car, they can just steal one because it's unfair that cars are so expensive.
Please note that I mention that a reasonable amount of time is ok and necessary but the system as it is now is completely broken and hence the problems. Individuals and family lives are on hold for years and years before any decision is made – all these factors simply encourage illegal immigration. This system worked as we intended it to then we would not have 12-14 million illegal immigrants
MANY MANY thousands get legal status every year that follow the laws. Yet Many millions never try. All they want is free services and whatever they can steal from honest citizens. I have nothing but admiration for those who try. Nothing for the millions who skulk in and steal what is not rightfully theirs. Criminals. Illegals. The same thing.
There are requirements for everything: buying a car or home, applying to university, applying for a job. Complication doesn't justify blatant, illegal disregard for the process.
It's a weak argument to blame the system. That's like saying that people commit crimes because the legal system is complicated. The fact is, though, that people don't break the law because of our complicated legal system; they break the law because they see it as a short cut. They break the law because they want to.
I am afraid weak arguments are made when people really do not even know the immigration laws of this this country. which I suspect is the case here.
It is fallacy to compare immigration to buying a car or a house. It intellectually dishonest and frankly an ignorant comparision
I am not talking about minor complications. 12-14 million immigrants is not a a minor complication.
"There are thousands of legal immigrants whose lives hang in the balance for years and years until they receive a decision." A: So that's an excuse to break the laws of this country? Lame. I don't have a TV set so I will come and take yours is that ok?
Yes Mark
immigrating to a new country = getting a new TV
good one.. got any more?
@WickedWitch:
Firstly DO THEY KNOW HOW TO READ THE RULES?
I am myself a recent immigrant and it took me close to 9 years of hardship (minimal opportunity to switch jobs etc.) before I got my citizenship. But would I have circumvented that to get in illegally.......NO WAY even if it had taken 20 years!
Amit-Atlanta-USA
@AmitATL
What's with all the hindu extremist garbage are you just retarded our just trying to get attention –
Lets get real – thousands of visas go unclaimed and unfilled every year. Because you are from India your residency was delayed 9 years even though there are THOUSANDs of UNFILLED spots available for residency. It has nothing to do with your merits or skills it has to do with where you come from.
If I told you fixing the broken immigration system would have resulted in you getting residency with 3 years instead of 9 years what would you say – no thanks I will wait for 20 years (based on your moronic comments you probably would)
I agree. We need a way to deport those including citizens aiding and harboring known illegals.
Another BS article by Fareed the illegal alien advocate. We don't need any more population growth. In case you haven't noticed Fareed we don't have enough jobs for the people we already have. The US's advantage has never been because of immigrants. It is because of the free flow of knowledge our democracy affords us.
We don't need immigration reform, we need law enforcement reform. The US takes more legal immigrants every year then every other nation in the world combined. That is more then generous enough.
CNN get rid of this clown and hire an American. The average American couldn't care less what some spoiled rich guy from India thinks about our immigration policies...
Its about time we make a stand too stop the continual violation of our laws and not weaken but strengthen our laws for immigrating into our country. Also, please stop the H1-B visas for any reason for at least five years to give Americans the chance at more jobs. Restrict companies from outsourcing and make it a requirement if you plan on selling goods in the USA, then you must employ across all departments of your company with Americans or get out of our country.
"Give Americans a chance at jobs"? Last I checked my newspaper was full of jobs in the help wanted section. Most people would rather draw unemployment than work at a hotel or fast food job. Thats a fact. I wish I could deport your great-grandparents. Why do you want to lock the gates of the border so badly for? What gives you the right to feel entitled over others to be able to choose where they want to live and work? Its like a childish thing, this sense people have of "NOOO....MIIINNNE" about this country. What happened to all men are created equal regardless of race, religion or ethnic background?
I'm not for "locking" the border, but I want immigrants to come here LEGALLY. Just showing up and saying they are ENTITLED to rights because they are here is thumbing their collective noses at the US laws.
You're misquoting the Declaration of Independence, which is sad, in the week leading up to Independence Day. Furthermore, the Declaration of Independence was written in defense of liberty by legal subjects of the Crown who were not being properly represented by their gvernment, not by those who simply wanted something they hadn't earned.
I know a lot of people that have been unemployed twice in recent years thanks to Democrats. First by NAFTA which Bill Clinton Signed. Then by Obama. Not a single person I know isn't ready and willing to take on a job, even one with less pay than they had before. Most of my friends have lost all their pensions and their benifits due to these Democrats but hey are willing to move forward. The jobs in which you speak, the ones that are NOT in my local papers, are they full time? Do they pay benifits? Or are the McDonalds and Walmart? 10 hours this week and 7 hours next week. Ones that will not feed a family. Or are they ones requiring 3 or 4 years of very expensive college? Again you can thank Bill CLinton for signing NAFTA and sending all our manufacturing jobs over seas leaving empty promises in their wake.
Well I see you are lucky to be employed or you definitely wouldn't be making those statements. Their are 14 million workers out of work and if they are even lucky to get unemployment, try living on it. A single person can't survive on unemployment what about the children of these unemployed workers, you are heartless and unaware of how bad things really are in this country. People like you don't learn until they find themselves out of work out of luck and no unemployment. Watch out you may become 14 million and ONE.
where do you Live Michelle .. My news paper Help Wanted Adds use to be a 6 or 7 page spread on Sundays .. Full of jobs about 6 years ago .. Now its a 1 PAGE – and this is the biggest newspaper in town. So wTF are you talking about .. Man you must have Available jobs all over where you're at .. The Stores have whats call Employment News .. a free paper it use to be a good 20 pages booklet of available jobs – Its now about 5 or 6 .. and half of the adds not job posting , but Ads were for people without insurance .. THERE are no jobs this economy is not fixed .. and then we want to grant millions of illegals citizenship so we have even more free loaders, and even more people taking away "TRUE" Citizens job opportunities.. .. ?? We only teach other Immigrants to come here Illegally and you will be rewarded .. I love how we pick and choose what laws to enforce ..
The Constitution of the United States does not apply to non-US citizens. You want a job? Look towards your own government. We need to take care of ourselves. We have been bleeding jobs for decades.
Michelle what about those that have come here and demand we do things their way, that they be granted immediate citizenship and all the priveleges that go with it. You talk about deporting someones grandparents? Most likely their grandparents came here legally and did things the proper way and EARN their right to be a citizen and get everything that comes with that.
We must as a society stop this nonsense. This has NOTHING TO DO ABOUT RACE!!!!! It has everything to do with a system being overwhelmed by individuals that have no respect for anything American (other than its dollar) and proclaiming how wonderful their country is and how the southwestern portion of the US be turned back over to Mexico. If someone is so disrespectful that they boo my country's anthem and talk about how great their home country is, I do NOT want them here. It offends me as an American.
Michelle, I am sure if someone tried to walk into your garage and take your car, you would initiate the "That's Mine" policy yourself. Illegal is Illegal. If someone wants to come to this country to live the American Dream, the first thing they need to understand is that the American Dream includes respecting and obeying American laws. And if they don't, they need to pay as the American Justice System deems fit. That is simple, simple enough for small minds to understand. If people can not understand that it is because they choose to feel that they are "ABOVE" what everyone else is required to do.
What an interesting, insightful and meaningful article. This brings up points that have not yet been addressed, and certainly go a long way in the argument for immigration reform. Send your article to the bill-makers! Theres a lot of haters out there that justify it with terms like "illegal", when they are really talking about overdue passports. I think a civil ticket is more in order than shackled deportation, and spending precious federal dollars on chasing hard-working folks. Lets give the dollars to the FBI instead of INS so they can hunt the Top Ten instead of the hopefull poor.
Which crimes, then, are we to pursue? Which are the "real" crimes?
A lot of the top ten are illegal criminal immigrants. So what is your point? ICE screened inmates at the Gwinnett jail over a 26-day period in January and February 2009 and found 68 percent of the foreign-born inmates were in the country illegally. The largest number, 226, had been arrested for driving without a license. The next highest, 154, were arrested on felony drug charges. Other charges ranged from misdemeanors to murder, rape and child molestation.
That’s one jail, in one county, in one state, for ONLY 26 DAYS. 380+ inmates your tax dollars are paying for. And it’s not even CA where it is widely accepted the largest ILLEGAL population resides. Alarming no?
Shut up!
Like?
What I object to is a country that cares more about illegal immigrants than it cares about Americans. I object to the arrogance and dishonesty of those enablers of illegal immigration who claim that those who oppose illegal immigration are either racists or against immigrants. I object to those who claim that our system of immigration laws is broken simply because it does not produce the open borders result that they want...so they simply refuse to enforce our laws. I object to those running the Federal Government who claim that only the Federal Government can enforce our immigration laws...and then they refuse to enfiorce our immigration laws. They tie the hands of local law enforcement by proclaiming "sanctuary cities" and do nothing to protect the victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. Mibnority citizens...especially Black youths...are being targeted by Hispanic gangs who have created an atmosphere of fear in many neighborhoods that is reminiscent of the 1950s...and our Government simply refuses to protect us.
Supporters and enablers of illegal immigration are NOT acting in the best interests of American citizens or of the United States. They could care less about us and I will NEVER vote for them.
Well said.
Amen!
@WickedWitch As it turns out, I do know the law, because I am an attorney. Which, by the way, raises the question: do you know the law?
@Barack5Star – you are an attorney in what field? Blogging? and if you are then I hope all this positing is not being billed to clients? yes i do know the immigration laws of this country – sorta the basis for my argument.
Cute. I'm in an airport. Which job aren't you performing right now?
And where did you "sorta" learn the rules of English grammar. Tax attorney, by the way.
ha..ha.. tax attorney at airport... still does not mean you know immigration law
Only a little. But I know quite a lot about who pays taxes – business and individuals – and who doesn't, and how much. What is it again that you do?
and btw I accept your apology.. Thanks
There you go proves my point that people who hold anti immigrant views know absolutely nothing or "little" about immigration law
Still not going to explain your expertise on the law? Any kind of law? Or any kind of employment, for that matter?
And I'm not anti-immigration, by the way. I'm anti-illegal-immigration. Persons who benefit from the taxation of others without contributing to the tax base themselves are a drain on society. I know. It's my job.
And what do you do? Which law school did you attend?
Thug life is not –
Coming here illegally to toil in farms, restaurants, laborers, cleaning your home, mowing your lawn, earning that 7.25 per hour pimp style and evading the taxes on that minimum wage salary – thug life man, thug life. You should try it sometime
You are a tax attorney I am sure you know better. Nice chatting with you.
As it so happens, I do.
You gonna answer the questions put to you "Councilor". Where did you allegedly attend Law School, and what area of the law is your alleged so-called expertise? I see no evidence of any kind of legal education, not even Tax-law.
The emerging structure of social relations, interaction, connectedness, and interdependence will establish a new equilibrium. Immigration is not, in and of itself, the problem. Most of the trauma of immigration arises not by the very difference in the nature or character of the immigrants, but from the sudden shift in distribution. Huge numbers of people are suddenly set in motion by disease, civil unrest, persecution, oppression, lack of economic opportunity, and unpredictable natural disasters. In time, "the wave" subsides. Many of the immigrants establish new and stable growth in the new location. Some integrate, some assimilate, some return home or move on again. Today, however, outcomes can be very different -not in character, but in dynamics: The cycles can be more sudden, the affects more likely to be known (causing fear) before they are experienced. It would be better if we took the "signals" more seriously and used the interval between cause and effect to develop more agile mechanisms.
To the extent that immigrants retain "small world" networks with family and friends in their places of origin, opportunities arise for extended social, cultural, political, and economic growth and adaptation "across national borders." "Small World" networks for new connections add complexity to global (scale-free) networks. "Twitter" is not a 'Western' product in Egypt. The product is a shift in ideas and ideals that occur as the established order struggles to adjust to new patterns of social relationships. It is -and will be- an Egyptian creation.
Immigration is "not a problem" until we make it one. Immigration is an eternal human dynamic. We have all benefited from it. The species has benefited from it. Stop whining and start thinking.
My daughter weent on a church camping trip last week. She shared a tent with a hispanic girl who was born in mexico but doesn't remember it because she was to young. The problem was she spent the whole time telling everyone how Mexico was so much better than the USA. Where did she learn this, maybe from her parents. These are the immigrants you speak of as our future. I don't know if they are illegal or not but the girl speaks fluent english and spanish but the parents only speak spanish. Something similar happened to my son in a class in junior high school. We are in trouble because these are not future Americans they are foriegn nationals bleeding our system dry.
Thats why I think that photo of that little chusma kid ^ was a setup. I know of even more appalling things, stories, experiences first hand. But I won't go there unless I read some seriously hypocritical thing by them.
I'll repeat it, they come from Mexico's highly nationalistic chauvinistic culture where they brainwash them to love and be extremely proud of their country. Even though they say they come to the USA for a "better life". Right. They claim its so much better yet, they come here. Duplicitous culture. Their allegiance, regardless if their children were born here, hypocritically, is with Mexico. No matter what benefits they milk, how the abuse so many parts of the US system, no matter how educated they supposedly get – its Viva Mehicoh.
ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL .. this reporter is a Bias jerkoff.. Amnesty MY backside .. There is a Legal way and an Illegal way .. If Companies would not hire Illegals there is no need for them to come here, And the ones that are here will SELF DEPORT. Anchor Babies should not be allowed to become citizens just because they were born here – You change that Law and We have our selves a lot of SELF DEPORTING illegals. There should be NO .. I Repeat .. NO Government Assistance to Anchor babies or their ILLEGAL parents .. the Feds Are not doing their Job so States decide they will and then Our Own Government Sues them states .. WOW .. just WOW .. Illegal is Illegal 2012 .. No Amnesty !!!
First Andrew who said "Fareed, while obviously in favor of opening up to massive immigration, forgets, or doesn't mention one thing about immigration, and what it has done to Canada. Immigration drives up prices, but not wages, Vancouver is the most diverse city in the world, but it is unaffordable to any average Canadian. All Canadian cities where their is large swaths of immigrants are becoming unaffordable to anyone making a wage. Wages stagnate while prices surge, that is what immigration does."
First I suggest he do some research on immigrants and the economy. Even Harper's conservative gov'tis pro immigration as it helps the econony. To blame housing prices in Vancouver on immigrants is wrong. It's seems people want to paint immigrants two ways, leaching welfare off the gov't or buying up all the property causing prices to go up. Prices are high in Vancouver ( but not crazy compared to other desirable cities worldwide ) because the free market has made them high. People WANT to buy there. Certainly a lot of property is bought by foreingers from the U.S. and now China but they aren't always immigrants. Wages stagnate for various reasons, mostly greed at the top for more profit and bigger wages for the CEO's etc.
Lastley Vancouver is not the most ethnically diverse city in the World it's actually Toronto. All this info is easily found on the net. Which brings me to my last grump. This article seems to also feed the " American " myth that Canada is just beginnning to be ethnically diverse, it's been that way for a very long time. Certainly like the rest of the world it is becoming more so but it isn't new. Also we do have an illegal immigrant problem in Canada as well. They arrive in boats, off planes and yes sneak across the border from the U.S. into Canada. Certainly it's not as big a wave as in the U.S. since the but it's growing. The issue is to separate correctly and quickly legals, illegals and true refugess. Canada takes in it's fair share of refugees as well. Percentage wise relative to the population it comes out slighty higher than the U.S.
Fareed should not be citing the UK as an example of sound immigration policy. Until early 2010, the UK (like Canada) had a skills-based system that allowed highly skilled workers to self-apply for work visas, without the need for a company sponsor. That system was abolished in favor of an H1B1-style lottery. I had been planning to join a hedge fund in London around March of last year; I'm still waiting for my work permit, and I'm ready to give up.
The one lesson that should of been learned and acted upon after 911 was to lock down our borders and know who is in this country. I want every American soldier to be brought home and have them secure our borders, ports and airports. The terrorists strategy is too financially destroy us and then just take over as they are already among us. We have to know who is here, they must go thru the process to help assure the safety of this country. I would think that all Americans should of learned that lesson that morning when planes attacked.
I too thought that Americans would have learned that lesson that morning when planes attacked. But they didn't. Sadly, if that taught them nothing, then our culture is in a free-fall decline. Alas, we are too busy worrying about whether we might hurt the feelings of innocent muslims–you know–just like Americans were after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Didn't you see those old news reels showing Americans assuring each other that not all Japanese were violent–that It was just a few radicals in the Japanese army, and we shouldn't make the mistake of putting them all in the same basket.
I am myself a well qualified legal immigrant from India like Mr. ZAKARIA.
I have about 500 MILLION POOR HARDWORKING INDIANS (HINDUS) who will NOT DEMAND ANY SPECIAL RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.....such as
a) 5 PRAYER BREAKS a day
b) Shy away from the words "IN THE NAME OF GOD" in the PLEDGE OF ALLEGANCE
c) Sponsorships for their 4 wives and 2 dozen children
d) Rights to convert Christian Americans into Hinduism and NOT vice-versa
e) NOT question our rights to BURN THE HOLY BIBLE, or AMERICAN FLAG, but flare up if any does the same with ours
DEMAND:
f) WELFARE on day 1 on arrival in the US
g) Special prayer halls at a/ps, work places
h) To build 50,000 sq.ft temples where they number 200 families (e.g. MURFEESBORO, TN)
i) US laws to be Hindu law compliant
j) Special treatment from the US for Hindus residing all over the world
k) Special tax benefits/allowances for pilgrimage to our holy destinations
l) The US side with Hindus on every issue
m) To remove beef off the menu at schools, work places
n) Stop celebrating Christmas at schools, work places or exhibit Christmas Trees
o) That they only wear Sarees, Dhotis (loose garment worn by women & men in India respectively), Salwar's (Pajama like garment Indians wear) to work,
and FINALLY & MOST IMPORTANTLY
p) Associate with any one committing terror acts against America
q) NOT let law enforcement from entering our temples to monitor suspected anti-national behavior.
ANY TAKERS???????????????????
Amit-Atlanta-USA
If you follow @WickedWitch's logic, then she'll be your taker.
Hell yeah, come on – bring them on over! Legally! Bring them all! You are right, I have NEVER seen a group of people from India gripe and complain – whine and bicker like the other ones you are referring to! I have NEVER met a person from India who didn't speak English, and I have NEVER met an anyone from India (Hindus anyways) that thought you should kill the infidel Christians. Only thing is, if all the people from India come over here - they will have to bring some of the help desk jobs back with them!
It's NOT that Mr.ZAKARIA is not aware of the pitfalls, or the fallacy of his approach, but it's JUST A PLOY by him to open the doors for greater immigration (more so of the UNADAPTABLE variety).
Wow, Amit! When you're right, YOU"RE RIGHT. And you spare no words. You have my admiration.
Why would an immigrant want to move to a poor country such as America, where jobs that can't be taken by illegals are merely offshored?
Because they can abuse and take full advantage of almost every kind of social service and benefits, etc. etc. You should see what they do in elementary schools with their kids... you'd be appalled.
Does this make sense to you? Remember it when elections roll around in 2012. Here is an example of why hiring illegal aliens is not economically productive for the State of California (and many other states)...
Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal –
You have 2 families..."Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal". Both families have 2 parents, 2 children and live in California."Joe Legal" works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted...."Jose Illegal" also works in construction, has "NO" Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table". Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year. Now take 30% away for state federal tax Joe Legal now has $31,231.00 Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes... Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00 Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage $1000.00 per month $12,000.00 per year Joe Legal now has $19,231.00 Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00 Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays for food $1,000.00 per month $12,000.00 per year Joe Legal now has$ 7,231.00 Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00 Joe Legal pays rent of $1,000.00 per month 12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal is now in the hole... minus (-) $4,769.00 Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy Jose Illegal pays rent $500.00 per month $6,000.00 per year Jose Illegal still has $25,200.00 Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work. Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family. Joe Legal's and Jose Illegal's children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children's lunches while Jose Illegal's children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal's children have an after school ESL program. Joe Legal's children go home. Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
Great example.
FANTASTIC......You may also add to it the damage potential of "JOSE ILLEGAL" turns out to "JOSE PADILLA" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, this is the kind of immigrants (at least some of whom may turn out to) Mr.ZAKARIA is wanting America to open the floodgates to!
For those of you who have forgotten Jose Padillo is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Padilla_(prisoner)
Amit-Atlanta-USA
I had to say something in regards to the whole KFC and no service if you dont speak English. Many of you commented how they would not know if someone was illegal of if someone was working hard to learn the English language. Think about your comments there. If it was someone here legally trying hard to learn the English language. They would most likely have a basic understanding to get across what they want. I have dealt with those that are trying hard to learn the language and assimilate into our society. I have also dealt with those that dont care. The ones that dont care to even try and only want to take over parts of our country (see La Raza, MecHa or any of those organizations) I welcome reform that includes persecuting those that stole identities, or accepted government assitance WHILE working under the table somewhere (that would be considered fraud under current law) but allowing for those that are truly interested in being a part of the AMERICAN cuulture to stay. There comes a time when we have to say enough is enough, step back and fix the problem, and make sure the problem doesnt happen again. When you see stories about how Mexican nationals are deficating in alleys in San Antonio, when illegal immigrants are being allowed to vote in elections in Colorado, when fans at a football game are rooting for the Mexico national team and are booing and jeering during the national anthem of the US, you can not expect the majority of people to be sympathetic to those that are of Mexican decent that will not speak English. It has nothing to do with race (however again see La Raza or MecHa), it has everything to do with a complete lack of respect for the law, for the culture and for the people of America. THAT is the difference between those that legally immigrated from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Russia, Mexico or any other country over the past 235 year.
"La Raza" and "MeChA", all that stuff, is for Mexicans only. If a Central American or South American, heck, Cuban, Puerto Rican would want to join that, which I assure you they have NO interest in being part of those "movimientos Mehicanos", they would be to some degree, discriminated against and looked at like outsiders. Hypocrisy is a very common thing amongst those "movements".
Watch "Which Way Home" and then ask yourself if all Mexicans are prejudice towards Central and Southern Americans!!!
Didn't Al Gore just tell us to stop having so many children in order to save the planet? And this article says that if we stop having those children we'll run out of people to pay our future "benefits"!? So the solution is to "import" other people's children to pay for our entitlements!? Um, aren't we still destroying the planet, but just using other people's children to do it? So what is it, save the planet or save the entitlements?
Ironic is it not? To many people versus not enough. Statistics I have seen for years say 95% of the worlds wealth is in the hands of the top 1%. Could there be a connection with that and most of the worlds woes, I am sure the top would say no but Christ would say yes.
He didn't mean EVERYBODY....... Just white middle class US Citizens.
I don't think majority americans are behind it. Even first generation and legal new immigrants are against it. I didn't find or talk to anyone who looks at the same way you look at immigration. That's why most politicians are afraid to do anything about immigration. They rightfully think that they might loose the next election if they're too liberal about immigration. I personally could care less if the whole world is one big country and people could go from one part of the world to another without any restriction.
Sad, when journalists pander to both the right and left to make more friends and boost their career.
The argument is totally wrong. We are taking in millions of poor, uneducated immigrants. People that could not make a life in Latin america. Now these people will demand the american life in terms of education, healthcare, housing which will cost many trillions.
US Immigration is based on family which is noble but just ensures an endless supply of the uneducated and the elderly.
Please look at Canada and australia that focus on skilled immigration and disallow ILLEGAL immigration.
Too many people on the Earth, Fareed, including the U.S. Nothing vibrant about immigration and population growth any more.
Your article is a bunch of garbage. What is happening here is people are coming into the United States, from many different countries, especially east of Europe, squirreling away their earnings or sending it back to their country so they can live in high style at a cheap price later on. These people stick together, patronize their own people here who are in business and keep the money in a tight circle. This country gets little from them except perhaps tax dollars. Meanwhile, too many Americans have been out of work for far too long. Time for this to stop. NOW! Retrain the Americans who are out of work and stop importing workers from other countries.
Yes, it's hard to deport all the illegals, but they are illegal. I don't want to pay for them to go to jail and then deport them. They should be summarily deported... but there is an alternative.
Most of the illegals are from Mexico, and it is well-known that the Mexican government supports the illegal migration of their people into the US. Congress should take the bull by the horns and call it what it is: an invasion by a foreign country. They should then declare war on Mexico. When an illegal alien is caught, then he should be tried under the Geneva Convention as a spy and executed. Then we will see the illegals start running for home, all by themselves.
I'd like to discuss briefly that photo above. That photo of that little Mexican kid with all that USA flag stuff, I don't know... it just feels like it could of been a setup by a liberal or other pro-illegal immigration rights photographer supporter type. MAYBE.
The photography quality is very good, like well taken, angle, focal point, composition, exposure, etc., etc.
I think the photographer, probably had the kid put on this, hold the flag up and all that and pose, snap! – a propaganda photo taken got the props back and moved the next kid.
Because I know, living in that community, speaking with and overhearing things in that community, in Spanish, that those Marches are not about loving the USA.
Even worse, I remember how Mexicans were suddenly "Latinos Unidos!" and had Salvadorians and other Central Americans joining them, then later at their jobs, it was back to discriminating Central Americans and harassing them fighting for jobs that they, the Mexicans want. Duped into supporting them, sure they may benefit, but its such a nasty duplicitous game out here man... I told them, be wary.
I have been a professional photographer for many years. Definitely a staged shot.
There is no advantage from a tsunami of illegals coming here from a sewer.
It is not wonder John McCain has flipped. Look at this article: http://www.dallasobserver.com/2010-10-21/news/operation-streamline-costs-taxpayers-millions-tramples-on-the-constitution-treats-immigrants-like-cattle-and-doesn-t-work-so-why-are-the-feds-so-committed-to-it/
As far as Mexico is conderned, Washington will end up shooting itself in the foot by pushing the war on drugs in Mexico. As that war drags on, more and more Mexicans will qualify for asylum.
Almost 40,000 Mexicans have been killed from the US/Mexican drug war since 2006. That includes at least one hundred US citizens and a couple of agents.
Here is a very disturbing article by James Petras that explores an even more insidious plan: http://petras.lahaine.org/?p=1855
This whole immigraton and drug war scam is right up there with Wall Street and the mortage melt down.
I support the American taxpayers in joining the undocumented (non-criminals) in a peaceful protest against elite who run both governments: http://twopesos-protestfortheundocumented.blogspot.com/2011/04/imagine-two-countries-saying-estamos.html
This is wrong, and our Government is using our tax dollars to continue this nightmare.
The author is just another liberal, anti American hack who wants to see this country destroyed.
Yes I think immigration laws need refinement, but that doesn't mean granting amnesty to anyone. I think by just changing the laws in the states to make it impossible for you to survive in this country without being legal will reduce actual deportations. People will leave on their own accord, once they see its not just going to be handed to them and its not beneficial to be illegal in this country. Strict enforcement, refinement of the process, but foremost protect existing American workers and their families of this continual chaos. I disagree with globalization, I disagree with the continual flow of foreign workers under the precedent their are no Americans that can or willing to do the job, what absolute BS.
Rich Republicans & hack Democrats already have an alliance to put a stop to anything like you suggest. The Republicans (despite their rhetoric) profit handsomely from cheap foreign labor & the Democrats want guaranteed Democrat votes.
Imigration is a good way to drive up populations, but look at britain and France... There is some part of Paris where police won;t even go....
so yes to imigration. but the borders need hermeticlyu closed to *ALL* muslims and anyone related to Islam in any way.if not.... the country is doomed.
Muslim immigrants on average are more faithful to USA as they have left behind the worst from discrimination from nations where they didn't have much freedom. Yes even though it probably doesn't seem like it, poll after poll have shown this.
Specially when compared to say Hindu immigrants who want to see a super power India vs America.
Or a lot of Jewish immigrants who want to the wealth of America sent to Israel and everytime picking Israel's interest over America's! Doing anything to jeopardize Americas credibility at any cost over the interest of Israel.
well none of the posts are correct.....America does not have culture yet,it`s still building up...Why?? yes that`s the question......America is a country with diversity of people and always has been that way...when the piligrims came to america they settled in america and build it this great nation,mostly british ,but then later came Irish,Germans,Dutch ,people,Italians,Russians,Hispanics on the other hand they were already on the west that use to be new spain,territory that us acquired later....or anexed...The greatest problem we have is that everyone is bringing a piece of their own culture...Many of them don`t even concider speaking english...we need to asimilate all these folks...and work hard as a whole nation.....one nation and one people.....and one language ,english.......you folks can speak whatever at home but at work,shops,business,sociaty....we need english to communicate......If I am a Russian immigrant certainly I don`t understand no spanish at all.....if am from china don`t speak russian or spanish.....so if i already decided to settle here my job is to learn english........great topic people........
Here's the deal. The rethuglicans are not interested in making our county get better and solving problems. Their main concern is that Obama, and by extension the Democratic party, fail. They do not care if this means that the US as a country fails just so long that any help to the poor and middle class does not get accomplished and that the rich and corporations get to keep their money and by extension their power.
Did you even read this article?
Hey, ALL of you who want this Fareed to stop his hypocrisy and double standards about immigration.
Just write to him directly at GPS@cnn.com
He is not reading this blog. He cares two hoots about we say here.
Meanwhile, we are bizarrely copying the immigration policies of continental European –countries like France and Germany – which have completely failed to integrate and assimilate their populations. HELLO Fareed...have you tried to assimilate the illlegal immigrants from Mexico? It doesn't happen. They won't learn English. While many immigrants come to this country to live the American Dream – Mexicans only want to come and rewrite the American Dream - they want to call it "the Mexican Dream" but, they want American Jobs. Go figure.
Simple solution: SECURE THE BORDER! After that, I have no problem with the Dream Act and other similar legislation. Trying to pass immigration reform before securing the border will not reduce the amount of illegal immigration. In other words, if you're in a boat on the ocean with a leak, is the solution to keep pumping water out without fixing the primary problem (i.e. our nation's current immigration policy)? No; anyone with common sense would say to fix the leak first (i.e. secure the border), and then we can address the water already in the boat (i.e. immigration reform policies).
The illegals & wannabe Illegals are not stupid. They realize that if there is a second amnesty there will be a third, a fourth , a fifth etc. There needs to be limits. America cannot use unlimited emigration; For the good of the country it needs to be stopped.
Fareed, you are an idiot
Like all of the folks who work on CNN
Go Back to the country you came from!!!!!
Immigration advantage? Garbage. We can't even build roads and supply water fast enough for our skyrocketing population...not to mention the devestation of farmland turning into strip malls and subdivisions. Larger population means more environmental destruction and devestation to the fragile eco-system that is already straining under the weight of 300,000,000 people. Look at the population growth estimations with our current broken immigration system. We will be at population density levels approaching India and China in only one generation. There is a reason why other countries don't allow for mass immigration...and we better learn why asap. Time for a government that thinks beyond the next election. It's time for immigration policies that represent the best interests of citizens and tax payers. Check our fairus.org to see what you can do.
I noticed Fareed wrote the word "vibrant" 5 times in his article. There is nothing "vibrant" about an uneducated, poor and ignorant immigrant. The people who are streaming into our country illegally are anything but vibrant. Mexico is the number exporting country of misery in the world.
Fareed uses the popular "12 million" figure as the number of illegals. Unfortunately, that number is at least 15 years old. Don't you reckon we're up to 30+ million by now?
Immigrant advantage? The USA has already lost whatever advantage it once had. Legal immigrants can wait fifteen years or more to become naturalized citizens, dealing with a nightmare system where traffic tickets and government paperwork snafus can lead to deportation. Contrast this with countries like Canada and Australia where citizenship is practical within seven years from legal immigration, sometimes less, especially for immigrants with skills.
Before we do much about illegal residents we must solve the problem of a badly broken legal immigration system.
Bang on the money bro ...I immigrated to Canada from India ..I did wotk in the US legally (H1 visa) but figured it would be an eternity before I would be allowed citizenship ..now worth my time and effort ..I chose to get citizenship quicker in Canada and freeze a little ..actually I prefer the laws here and find Canada has a much, much better policy on immigration as well as welcoming legal "tax" paying immigrants.
I don't think anyone in the country is against LEGAL immigration. ILLEGAL immigration on the other hand has many many issues and drawbacks.
The problems of mass immigration (too numerous to mention) will only get resolved when oceans of concerned citizens call their representatives CONSISTENTLY to voice their concerns about this growing nightmare. The capital switchboard number is 212 224-3121. Talk is not enough. Keep it programmed in you phone and let them hear! This is what will actually change the situation.
"No matter what people say, at the end of the day there is no solution to the undocumented workers issue that is going to involve mass deportation. The U.S. is not going to do that. We are not a police state. We are talking about an illegal immigrant population that is larger than the state of Illinois.
If it’s 12 million now, and we kick the can down the road for another 5 years, we are going to have 20 million undocumented immigrants at some point.
How does that make things better for people who want to deal with illegal immigration more harshly? If we can’t bring ourselves to deport 12 million people, are we really going to deport 20 million?"
Um...yeah, what's the problem with that? If they resist, shoot them. If you have a problem with an infestation of rats, do you spend millions of dollars making them comfortable integrating them into your home, or do you get rid of them?
I don't understand what is so hard to come to grips with illegal immigration. People want to keep playing the "they are poor and have no where else to go" card. News flash, so were my grandparents! They came from Ireland, slaves to the British before Ireland won its independence! Now, us "citizens" are all slaves to the Central banks, ans millions of "rats" eating our food, using our hospitals, and stealing what little jobs we have left here!
WIPE THEM OUT!
Since we're already sending guns to Mexico, give them each a rifle and drop them in Ciudad Juarez to take their chances.
Don't set up a fence, instead set up explosives and detonate the US and Canada from the rest of South America! PROBLEM SOLVED!
But no...that's racist! No, its not! Its patriotic! Preserve the Union, not the rest of the world! If they want to come here, fine, learn the language, pay the taxes, obey the laws! If not, then you are NOT a citizen and should not be afforded our freedoms of the Consitution. No due process, no appeals, just GTFO!
Pay and stay, give and live, serve to further!
JasonK you sound like a terrorist on one of your sentence you should be careful what you write. Some day it will catch-up to you the FBI could start watching you. I love the United States of America.
What's happened to CNN? They consistently push the illegal immigration agenda despite the mass outcry from citizens. They are becoming like NPR. There is no balance to their journalism. I'm finding it more difficult to read their "news" with each passing day.
You know, a lot of people commit murder. A lot of people even get away with murder. You know, can we even really afford to put everyone who commits murder in jail? Maybe we should just give murderers a path to innocence.
No, I'm not comparing illegal immigration to murder, but I am showing you that your arguments for the Dream Act don't hold water. Lawbreaking doesn't suddenly become all right just because it might be logistically impossible to round up all the law breakers and ship them out of the country.
Illegal immigrants have no respect for the laws of our country – if they did, they wouldn't break them. We should not give those who broke our laws a better deal than we do the immigrants who waited and worked for years to obey them. Deportation is not necessary. Illegal immigrants will self-deport if the jobs they're taking up (in an economy at 9%+ unemployment, I might add) disappear, and if we secure the border. It's not about being "afraid" of illegal immigrants, it's about the rule of law. Laws must mean something concrete and predictable, or else the whole system is arbitrary.
If you are a LEGAL immigrant, then I say "Welcome to America".
If you are an ILLEGAL immigrant, then I say, "Go back where you came from, and if you want to come back to America, do so LEGALLY".
Oh boy. You are so out of reality.
A big majority of illegal immigrants from Latin America are here as consequence of US policies and intervention in their own countries. Action has reactions. Violence, poverty and war move people out their nations.
Some of the "open borders" posters here are so poorly educated that they think Mexico is in South America. Mexico is in North America! And after you learn that, give some thought to how much it costs the American taxpayer to import povery in the form of illegal aliens from Mexico who typically have no more than an eighth grade education. We cannot afford this! Legal immigration is great but we should focus on the brightest and best educated legal immigrants rather than the poorest and least educated illegal immigrants. Furthermore, we don't have to deport 12 million illegals to get rid of this problem. We can deal with it by instituting mandatory EVerify and enforcing workplace immgration laws. Illegals who can't earn a living here will leave. That is already happening. Certainly some will have to be deported but no where near 12 million.
GOOD!
What the hell is going on with thise news outlets? Why am I, as an American, expected to be stupid? I get it...America overtook this land, and those that have ties to the previous prevelant occupying group feel entitled. Well...then good bye Israel, good by Russia along its southern borders, goodbye "Italy" in Sicily, and so on.
Why are we (LEGAL U.S. citizens) expected to do anything other than protect our interests, which, at the present means keeping those that siphon off our tax dollars to non U.S. citizens OUT!?
The sense of entitlement to utilize our tax supported facilities (hospitals, universities, etc.) exhibited by those that spit on our laws is really offensive!
Good tehnical article. But some stupid comments. Everyone of you had a grand-grand-grand-father that was illegal immigrant. And now you are a proud legal citizen (some with a fascist thinking). I can't stop my laugh!!! Are you all american natives? I'm not astonished about your future with this way of thinking. Good luck!
PS I'm not american, hispanic, arab so do not try to find my motives to write this. I'm not immigrant at all.
or a criminal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_transportation
90% of the land on which we grow fruits & vegetables is in the DIRECT PATH OF DEVELOPMENT. This is NOT "EMPTY" LAND. At the current rate of farmland being lost to development due to this supposedly "wonderful" mass population growth, the US will have to CEASE EXPORTING FOOD IN ONLY 20 YEARS. THINK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT! We don't "need" more people. We need skills re-training & a new emphasis on providing (housing, education, jobs) for legal, legitimate Americans first. However, we should share knowledge & seed money with under-developed countries so they can create jobs for their own citizens on their own soil. Peace ALL.
Why not just give everyone getting an entitlement (things they have paid for like Social Security, Medicare and unemployment) and hand them a blanket infected with small pox? Then the immigrants can start all over again.
There is no such thing as a good illegal. They should all be run out of the country at gun point.
Mexican people is getting back the land that was one day stolen from the them by the US. Good bless Mexico!!!!
More trash from Fareed. Meanwhile in the real world the UN has named North Korea head of the world Disarmament committee....hmmm, not even mentioned on CNN. Go figure.
AMERICA BELONGS TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS, FROM THE PATAGONIA (ARGENTINA) ALL THE WAY TO ALASKA !!...THIS LAND BELONGS TO THE CHEROKEES, THE NAVAJOS, THE ARAPAHO, THE MAYANS, THE AZTECS, THE INCAS, CHIBCHAS, WARAOS, YANOMAMIS, ETC.....AND YES, MOST HISPANICS HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN BLOOD !! SO THIS IS THEIR LAND TOO!!
This is my problem with CNN blogs in general: Immigration is an important issue ...everywhere, not just in the United States. It's a dynamic that includes each and everyone of us and our ancestors and children, all traceable to the African continent sometime in the past 50,000 years. It started at the beginning and continues.
I am appalled at the idiotic 'jail-house' lawyers out there pretending that this has anything to do with the 'law' (US) or the US Constitution (or Declaration of Independence and a long list of other historic documents written in the 18th and 17th centuries –of which most of the commentators know less than nothing.
For evidence of the creeping cretinism you foster, see the miserable young women competing for the Miss USA contest display a disgraceful grasp not only of history, but of english. A video widely available on the Internet, presents the response of 50 or so of the contestants to a question about whether "the theory of evolution" (or creationism) "should be taught in US schools."
Most of these undereducated young woman had trouble distinguishing between "theory," (testable) and "belief" (not determinable by testing). Even more of them declare that "both" should be given equal weight in school curricula. This is a sure sign of rampant devolution in American society. It's one thing to see this kind of massive stupidity in a beauty contest, but it is running rampant in the Congress and on the Supreme Court. If this is someone's idea of a beauty contest, then there is more evil afoot than even I can imagine. Are we really at a moment in history when women, to be "Miss USA" must necessarily embody 'America the beautiful and stupid!"
CNN, you perform no useful service by disingenuously presenting these blogs a a "forum." It's just a carnival platform with minimal entertainment value unless you consider shows of freaks, mutants, and dolts to be amusing. It could be the blog equivalent of American Idol, call it American Idiot.
I'll be over at Time Magazine with Fareed for any future commentary.
New and refreshing perspective on this issue of immigration, and the facts incorporated into the article are eye-opening.
Yeah, just like fareed zakeed whatever, also said the constitution should be re-written. This boy is a disgrace to this country, Just like CNN to hire such a person. no wonder their ratings are going down the toilet, Fareed is an idiot, anyone who believes his BS is an idiot, so that means there are alot of idiots on this post.
Nothing this author is saying would do anything to actually reduce illegal immigration. Contrar, mufrar, it would actually increase illegal immigration. Population growth isn't a good thing. It strains resources and results in environment degradation from waste. You can't deny the fact that more people means more waste produced in all aspects. Humans per pound produce more waste than animals. We are at saturation point. I'd rather deal with a reducing population than an increasing one. Seems there will be less problems. Plus, old people will simply have to take care of themselves longer. I can accept that.
Zakaria, I have a simple question for you: Do you know the exponential function?
Also young people become old, and if the system requires so many young ones to support the old it is called a Ponzi and you know how Ponzi end don't you?
When do you think the US' population should stabilize? 2 billion? 10 billion? until every square foot has an immigrant on it?
" Look at what London has done and completely transformed itself. "
transformed itself into a cesspool of violence and poverty..
The Muslims living in London ghettos are eerily like the Jews that once lived in German ghettos. It is not vibrant.
Not all immigrants are created equal. 12 million janitors and fruit pickers are no help. We have a quota to limit brainy immigrants but an open flood gate for the cranially challenged. This country is a lost cause.
The problem with this article is it fails to address the issue of illegal immigration. None is against immigration that I know. It is illegal immigration that rankles. Legal immigration disperses people throughout the country, so one area or state does not shoulder the whole burden. It is a mistake to assume these people pay taxes, no one in this country that makes minimum wage pays taxes- no matter what color they are.
My area is over run with illegals – and it makes me angry that our small city is going broke and all the schools must take on the burden of teaching in Spanish as well as English. That takes time away from my grandchild's education.
The town is now full of trashed neighborhoods and abandoned cars are everywhere.
There has to be some kind of regulations involved in the immigration of so many people in less than 10 years.
It isn't them that is suffering and overwhelmed culturally- it is us in our own country.
hmm.. I am sorry my ignorance but... what exactly people that claim there should be an immigration reform wants? I came to the States with a Visa, now I have a Green Card and let me tell you that the whole process (from scheduling an interview for a Visa till getting a Green Card) is long and annoying. Then people that simply come here illegaly gets an amnesty? Isn't that an invite for more people to come here illegaly? They knew they were doing something wrong by immigrating illegaly, therefore they shouldn't expect or demand any rights.
If you are inside this country with a legal status to be here, then be. If you are here with an illegal status, leave. It is only fair to those who have followed every rule to eventually become a legal permanent resident or a US citizen. Respect the rules and regulations of the country before anything and everything.
Really, Fareed, I have always though of you as an intelligent, knowledgeable person; I watch your Sunday show every chance I get.
You don't really think population growth is a long-term solution to "vibrancy", do you? If so, why would you have left that place you came from, the vibrancy of which would have to be off the charts by now. No, it's high time we found another solution to the "demographic problem". Like not working everybody half to death by the time they are 45 or 50, keeping them in the harness so many hours per day that they have no chance to keep their skills up without giving up any semblance of a life.
Really, just stop and think about it.
Bill:
You surely seem to be one of those concerned individuals trying to make sense of Mr. Zakaria's analysis. Please read my analysis below of Mr. Zaklaria's miotives and let us know what you have to say.
With at least 20 million illegals at the moment in the U.S., Zakaria doesn't make much of a point of the U.S. loosing out to other countries for immigrants. They're coming out of the woodwork here.
Dear Mr. Zakaria:
I am certain you read most of the feedback here and you must be stunned by the overwhelming number of responses that have literally CONDEMNED YOU FOR YOUR DISHONESTY, NOT Naive approach given that most readers are aware that you are well educated, intelligent and NOT the least ignorant!
Truly with this piece of journalistic low you probably have realized that YOU CANNOT ALWAYS TAKE NAÏVE AMERICANS FOR A RIDE, LEAD THEM DOWN A FLOWERY PATH, and, EVENTUALLY TO THEIR DOOM!
Having said that, I have followed your writings for long, and am certain that this article is ONLY THE PRECURSOR TO the next one on allowing greater Muslim immigration into America in the garb of building bridges between the west and the Muslim world, which you have already done on several other occasions. In your characteristic style you will buttress your arguments with liberal sprinkling of OUTWARDLY PATRIOTIC references to the FOUNDING FATHERS, THE PILGRIMS, the FIRST AMENDMENT etc. which you have already demonstrated in your defense of the GROUND ZERO VICTORY MOSQUE!
It's a PITY and America's MISFORTUNE that someone like you with an ISLAMIC AGENDA is in the inner circle of advisors to the President of the United States!
Even today America remains the last bastion of the GREAT JUDO-CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION given that Europe has already succumbed to the ISLAMIC ONSLAUGHT, and you sure want to change that for ever. At every opportunity you have been urging Europe to embrace & admit MUSLIM TURKEY into the EU, and god willing if ever that happens, you will have succeeded in HAMMERING THE LAST NAIL INTO EUROPE's COFFIN as a FREE, TOLERANT, CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION! And, you sure want America to follow suit!
I say all this inspite of being your former countryman (from India) and a recent immigrant to this GREATEST OF NATIONS. India has paid a huge price by pandering to the minorities (read Muslims ONLY) at the cost of EVERY OTHER religious group incl. the patriotic Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Zorastrians etc. and I hate to see that happen in my adopted homeland America also. Needless to say, America remains the greatest nation on earth, NOT merely by being secular, but by preserving its tolerant, all inclusive predominant Christian ethos. With incessant efforts by people like you that edifice is surely & slowly crumbling!
Hope we can stem that tide!
Amit-atlanta-USA
Mr Zacaria: You obviously do not understand what is really happening in America with all those illegals invading our cities. Budgets are strained. Hospitals and schools are crowded. Countless neighborhoods accross this country are being devastated and destryed single handedly by these illegal aliens. Our prison system is overcrowded with illegal aliens, Illiegal aliens drive durnk and kill innocent people in this country every day. You need to get out more often from your posh office in wherever is that you live and see for yourself what is really happening. You are a complete ignorannt and so out of touch with realiity. I WISH YOU JUST DIE!!!!!!
Keep the Mex's out. We don't need them or their flag. If they really want to immigrate here, let them act like Americans, not political pimps.
Simple solution:
Those who come lawfully are welcome.
Those who break our immigration laws (and their children, grandchildren) should be subject to summary deportation and a permanent ban under penalty of permanent incarceration if they return. They are criminals, not undocumented.
I think we should all have at least one little brown slave to mow our lawns, do our laundry and cook us some darn good food....
This is the mentality of those who support the illegal immigrants.
For those that are against it, we are smart enough to know that they are a burden to society, are criminals, and should not be rewarded with citizenship for their criminal activities. They should be punished. If people want to come here legally then they are welcomed.
Another day has gone by and still no mention on CNN that the UN has appointed NORTH KOREA to chair the "UN Disarmament Conference". But, at least Fareed continues to pander the agenda of sata.....I mean George Soros.
I think indeed USA has to change its policy on immigration. Since the 1980s I have been thinking that one day USA will face problems because of immigrants. Large number of immigrants will – in the end – create problems and social economic burden, instead of making economy turns faster. Failures of developing countries to make their people prosperous results in immigration to developed countries such as USA, west European countries and Britain. And there – in the new country , the immigrants either legal or illegal become and create social burden and even problems.
America has one of the most liberal immigration polices of any nation. More people LEGALLY immigrate to America each year than ever did per year thru Ellis Island. That policy is not going away. What HAS to go away is the tidal wave of illegal immigrants that is swamping our country.
Not many of us think of 'white' people being immigrants (from European countries) legal or ill.
Good point form 'KeithTexas' June 29, 2011 at 6:31 pm
60 % from South America of which 60% are from Mexico. The other 40% of the illegal immigrants are from the rest of the world of which 60% are from European countries.
There is absolutely no factual basis for the claim that Mexican immigrants today are not being assimilated into the larger American culture, or even that they are assimilating at a slower rate. Several generations after the massive wave of immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, it is easy to forget that people once said the exact same things about Italians and Poles. They were also poorer, less educated, more dependent on public assistance, and often lived their entire lives in ethnic enclaves without learning English. Many dreamed of accumulating a little money and then returning to their homeland, where their hearts still resided. The percentage of foreign-born Americans was actually higher then than today. They were seen as racially different, typically criminal, less than patriotic, and fundamentally unassimilable. In fact, they DID permanently change American culture and society, but we all lived through it and are perhaps stronger because of it.
Second-generation Mexican immigrants are learning English at a faster rate than their European predecessors did. By the third generation they overwhelmingly speak English as a first language and many no longer speak Spanish. If we discourage Hispanic youth from achieving a higher education or confine them to low wage jobs, there is a very real danger that we could create an enduring underclass. But there is also no reason to think that they cannot be full participants in the American dream, given the opportunity.
America was once a leader but now it is getting more and more the role of a follower. I do agree with u Fareed that Americans are applying the failed rules of Europeans to their country.
The basic description of the DREAM Act is, "You and your children are not welcome if you are illegal. But, invade our border and then proceed to steal from the American tax payer and avoid deportation for five years and your children advance to the front of the line for immigration. Including people who have been waiting for years to do it the legal and correct way."
Illegal immigration is a problem mostly because of proposed legislation like this one. If we dangle a carrot in front of them, we shouldn't be shocked if they come, despite how many laws they have to break to do it.
I have no sympathy for illegals or their children. The illegals have abandoned their own country instead of fixing their own to invade ours. And you can be sure that if America does fail, they will abandon us in search of greener pastures.
And what kind of loving parent exposes their children to an uncertain future like that? The children face the possibility of being deported away from everything that they have known simply because of bad decisions made by their parents. I refuse to listen to the argument "Think of the children!" because the parents have willing done this on their own. It is like if I rob a band and then demand someone who makes at least $500,000/year adopt my daughter. No one should ever benefit from a crime being committed.
As long as we continue to even consider legislation that give any kind of benefits to illegals, they will come by the millions expecting us to take care of them. And the problem will only get exponentially worse at the expense of you and me.
Nothing should be done on immigration reform....I mean giving any sort of incentives incl. for the children of illegals born here, UNTIL & UNLESS THE BORDER IS EFFECTIVELY SEALED, and LAWS AGAINST HIRING ILLEGALS are made STRINGENT and ENFORCED. Any prior sops will ONLY send a wrong message.
Enforcing the laws would surely ensure that many of the illegals leave voluntarily given that deporting them enmasse is not a viable alternative.
Given all the technological and other tools (incl. erecting UNSCALABLE fences) it's stupid to argue that we can't seal the (Mexican) border effectively. Ofcourse the Canadian border is a a problem that we can address later in conjunction with the Canadians. But stemming the flow from Mexico will reduce the inflow substantially.
There is nothing inhumane about it as every nation guards its borders zealously.
True, it’s time for Americans to realize that while surely most of the illegals are hard working people who have come to our shores in search of a livelihood, it’s impractical for America to continue to import hordes of them given that THERE ARE 100’S OF MILLIONS OF GOOD POOR PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO GIVEN A CHANCE WOULD LOVE TO MIGRATE TO AMERICA.
SHORT OF THESE THERE IS NO WAY THIS ISSUE CAN EVER BE SOLVED.
Amit-Atlanta-USA
Immigrtion is a big problem for America. if mexico can get help from US to build up better opportunities and a safe living environment for their own citizen then i think it will also help united states to minimize the overwhelming migration problem they have with Maxico. being a citizen of 3rd world country myself i know, no one would want to leave their own people if not absolutly necessary...AMERICA is the greatest country in the world and probably always will be because it was build by the people from all nationalities..thrugh out the history people from every almost every country in this world came and helped building the A merica that is today..and to stay at the very top i think us should keep that in mind
So if this country is overrun by Chinese in near future (you know, China is growing rapidly. It could be the other way – that Americans going to China for opportunity – but let's say Chinese would be coming to the USA legally, since they are just doing so well right now)
If they, at some point, outnumber Hispanic population, does that mean IT IS FINE to change the cultural stuff to Chinese ones? Are you guys going to change National holidays every time one of the races outnumber other races? That is NOT going to help America to grow.
II came to America quite a few years and is in the process of acquiring Citizenship legally. No, I am not happy when I see illegal immigrants – but yes, I do feel happier when I see illegal immigrants with 1337 skills, like that guy who just got Pulitzer award. You want benefits? You pay for it first, and then you get what you want. That's how the (most of) human society works. If you get benefits without paying for it, that's called theft. (it's simple. You want to enjoy American life? Learn to speak English, sir)
I don't care if legal immigrants are dancing naked on streets for it is their custom or whatsoever. (Just not in my sight plz) Be legal and everything is fine with me. (Or support Dream Act – which is failing according to this article)
p.s. This is just a side note but it's kinda irony. Firefighters couldn't rescue a drowned guy for it was against their precious policies yet this country is allowing illegal immigrants to come, at least until now.
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD: Don't bother applying at the American embassy and having your background checked, or your physical and mental abilities checked or waiting on line, just come here by any means necessary and as soon as you get in the country, you will be treated as a legal resident, nothing will happen to you. You will be able to work. You will be able to break our laws and not be deported. You can falsify documents and lie on federal applications by indicating that you are an American Citizen, and instead of receiving consequences, in fact you will be celebrated. You will be able to go to our schools and be educated. If you get sick, we will take care of you and have lots and lots of children, we will give you financial aids, since those kids will be American citizens. And the most important part of all, we have a Democratic party that actually support your lawlessness and will protect you. SO COME TO AMERICA, COME TODAY, WE'VE BECOME AN ANARCHY STATE.
Ah, yes, more anti-White propaganda from where else, but CNN.
Africa for the Africans, Asia for the Asians, Latin America for Latinos, White countries for everyone! Yay!
Diversity/perversity claims to stand for the sanctity and worth of each culture, but its real tendency is to dismantle the existing, European-based culture of the United States. That instantly discredits it.
Those of European descent throughout the Western world are placing themselves in a position of enormous vulnerability in which their destinies will be determined by other peoples, many of whom hold deep historically conditioned hatreds toward them. Europeans’ promotion of their own displacement is the ultimate foolishness—a historical mistake of catastrophic proportions.
Bring on the new Dark Ages. Literally and figuratively.
Fareed, a question for you on immigration...
Why is it a highly educated PHD from India takes 10 years to go through the system, pay thousands of dollars to come to the US and work, and walk the tenuous line of finding work sponsers and green cards and work visas, plus pays taxes, plus through their skillsets help bring innovation to the United States, but we want to reward some poor criminal illegal, carrying drugs with no high school diploma, to come here, who fill our prisons, whose kids rarely graduate our colleges, and give them instant citizenship and reward them for breaking the law??? Why are we punishing the GOOD immigrants we need, but rewarding the ones we do not need who dont educate their kids and burden our social welfare system?
To me it shows clearly our priorities are completely messed up and the Dream Act doesn't even begin to address the bigger problem. We exclude those are educated and want to contribute and reward the criminals and the uneducated poor.
Does that make sense to ANYONE????
I agree with u stormy; u see, India is on the other side of the Globe, whereas Central America is just South of TX, NV, NM, and CA; and lastly, they just have to cross the border you know. ha ha ha.
Coming from India, you have to pass thru border controls before boarding on the plane from India, and before entering the US, while the Latinos only have to walk thru borderless border and voila, they are here!
How can someone that can not speak English drive a car.
We don't have international street signs. If they are they are driving, they could kill anyone who gets in their way when they do make a mistake..... and they will, they have to. Our signs are made so you MUST know English.
"Mexican-American take Spanish in highschool and make a C...." – As sung on Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke album. A classic.
The US needs immigrants, and I appreciate the hard work the Latino immigrants are doing here, but in order to be competitive against China, Europe and the rest of the world, the US needs really skilled and intelligent immigrants like computer programmers, engineers, professors, and scientists.
I do believe that the illegals have the right to search and live a comfortable life here in the US, after all, this country was not originally owned by Whites anyway. But in the process of asserting the illegals rights to live a better life, they have to understand that they have to pay taxes to contribute to the government fund and pay fines or whatever for breaking the law. Being illegal and wanting a better life is not an excuse to break the law.
When u dont pay taxes and you go to the emergency room subsidized by the local and federal governments, you're consuming health service, something that was not intended for you. thank you.
Lastly, I just want to say that unproductive welfare people should not have kids anymore because they will only increase the number of people like them. thanks again.
And also lastly, I believe that the illegals are a lot more agreeable than the welfare underclass of US u know?
At least the illegals mow the lawn, serve u in the restaurant, and clean ur houses. The welfare people? what do they do? they claim foodstamps, they are so fat, they consume health services thru Medicaid's totally free government insurance policies. they are just horrible! well, by this, I am just referring to people who are voluntarily wanting to be in the welfare because of their laziness.
I think what worries most Americans, whether the immigrants are legal or not, is that most of these people are working and so many Americans aren't. They're (Latin people) are doing the low paying jobs like farmwork, fast food service, janitorial, landscaping, etc., that most Americans wouldn't touch because they don't pay enough, but they still represent a threat to most Americans in this poor economy. I've seen alot of Asian people come to this country and work their fingers to the bone and do well financially. Incidentally, I have a relative that manages a McDonalds in a large city. He only hires Puerto Ricans because he's learned they are the hardest working and most dependable employees he can get. Legal immigration is OK, of course illigal is not. In the end we'll just all be at the mercy of our incompetent government to make any type of good reforms.
Ok here's the solution
Every native female need to spit out 2 baby GIRLS, and you will have native population growth. Males are useless it's female births that matter, either way we need to maintain a stable population via immigration or reproduction.
I say close the borders and turn down the lights...
Let's re-write the lead-in headline to: America Needs LEGAL Immigrants ! ! ! !
That's exactly what I first thought when I saw the headline...
Any time you hear someone talk about illegal immigrants without mentioning that they're here ILLEGALLY, it's a guaranteed that that person supports illegal immigration...
What part of "illegal immigrant" don't you understand, Zakaria? For an educated guy, you sound very very ignorant...
Legal immigrants? Yes!
Illegal immigrants? NO! NO! NO!
for everybody that doesn't know here it is how it works i came here not legally but now im legal the truth is that legal or not you still have to pay your taxes every year like everyone alse if you don't you get IRS on your back just like everyone alse and yes many illegals don't report their taxes but you should thank God because since they only make around 15000 a year they wouldn't pay but get some reimbursed depending on the size of the family , also you can't receive any welfare and goverment help because they will check your legal status, yes you can go to the hospital but you still have to pay like everyone alse i had to pay over 2000 dls and i did, health, home and auto insurance are more expensive if you are illegal but they are needed.
i understand that many people are thinking that illegal people are just here to do bad things and to take advantage to the government but in reality they can't take anything from it not a single dime i know i had to live like this for 5 years until i got my papers, the great diference now is that i can get a job for 22 dls an hour when i was doing it for 8 dls, i have a drivers license and i can travel outside of the US. other than that i always paid like everyone alse you have to there is no way around it so lets just take that ridiculous excuse out of the table. and if a illegal took away your job well what kind of f*** up job you had because i dont see any illegals working in a desk they always do the worst of jobs thats just my humble opinion and i do love this country, because it has given me more than i can imagine for those that just judge others i just want to say that yes latinos celebrate their countries and different occasions like if they dont like this country and sometimes it feel like disrespectfull but you have to know the culture that we are passionate about our roots but our future generations will be culturally rich from the merger of two cultures in a diverse and understanding country.
WE DONT NEED IMMIGRANTS : We are a great nation due to europian immigrants that came here but todays uneeded and unwanted immigrants have taken America down. I feel like a foriegner in my own country. We are bringing millions from corrupt countries, and now we have adapted to their corrupt ways. Slow the load down and let only a few feather into american ways.
I think you mean we don't need hispanic Illegal immigrants.
Just a small comment: A lot of people blame the illegal immigrants for sucking out all social benefits from our country. Even though they are thought to be about 3% of the population? Work has now brought me to Tennessee, beautiful place. And in here I see a large amount of people paying with food stamps at Walmart and they are white local people. I also wonder if they have insurance? So if something bad was to happen to them, what would they do? I doubt they would go to the hospital or to a doctor. Would they go to the emergency room and do the same things as the "Mexicans" do? Also, at the DMV their children run around all over the place, and are just as loud like other "minorities" Oh, another thing, the few immigrants that I've seen here pay cash for their things they buy. So, if they are thought to be 3%, or 5% or even 10%, where does the other 90% comes from? Oh, wait, doesn't a large portion of the US doesn't have insurance?
Stop feeding the pyramid! They want illegal immigration to continue to keep feeding them money to keep supporting their control over the people and progress to world domination. Illegal means illegal. Find them and ship them out. The less new immigrants they get the weaker their grip. No nothing for illegal immigrants, no benefits , no welfare, no money and no education nothing. Would you give all this to some one who murdered or raped or whatever? This is the same thing, they are breaking the law and you are giving them the red carpet treatment. If that's not illegal itself it soon will be. They need a constant infusuion of new people to keep up their pyramid, and all laws now being put into effect are doing just that. Open your eyes and grow a brain, wake up and revolt against this and kick out all those in office who support this and remove those who seek to keep a lid on this from the public. If you want to save yourselves or better your country this is the path....
the only solution is that you have to treat the illegal immigrants as fugitive of the law. Consider them escaped prisoners, shoot on sight or detain and export. When will you american pussy ever grow a spine.
Better get them out now before it's to late Hispanics drop babies like roaches...it's a fact.
Have you all heard the news? America is infested with unknown roaches and they are spreading everywhere, non-stop 24/7. We are under attack by these pest.
It is time for self preservation (U.S. Preservation). I say any one can come to this country just do it the right way and if you dont send you home the cost of doing this is less than living here. the government needs my taxes and im paying them so i say i should have a vote on this matter for my tax dollars are what is paying to let tem stay here.
You're coming from the point of view that more population = better economy = always good. MORE POPULATION IS NOT A GOOD THING. You reference China. Yes, would you like to know the reason why their population is in such a decline? Because they had to institute the one-child policy BECAUSE OF OVERPOPULATION.
Maintaining a limit on population will have its downsides, but it WILL ensure a sustainable future.
It is not fair to call people who have kids to be old fashioned.
"Look at what London has done and completely transformed itself."
English Londoners are leaving the city, they are moving somewhere else. It has been transformed, packed up with foreigners. We Europeans do not recognize our cities as ours any more.
Whereas America is a melting pot, to use an overused term, Europe, or any other country really, should always retain their heritage. Its what gives each country a sense of identity. Its a shame that certain countries are losing that identity. Diversity is fine, but when it replaces or offsets, displaces the original identity, thats bad. Very bad.
To some extend, the USA is at risk of losing some of its more identifying "American" cultural things – namely music. The more one people immigrate at a fast and large rate, the more say, Blues or Jazz disappears. Because the culture coming in displaces the tradition of that music. Thats just an example, but its worth thinking about. I fear that much of those wonderful artforms are disappearing slowly as we move forward. Probably other examples in other sectors but food for thought.
It is a great article and all politicians should read it and it will make politicians to function their brain very well, It's good medicine for politicians and dumn politicians, and racists.
Excellent job
Fareed Zakaria
You know the illegal population in the U.S. isn't entirely made up of Latinos...
U.S.A has been nothing but immigrants since it started as a nation. The British were different from the Dutch, who were different from the Spanish, who are different to the French, Mexican, Brazialian, Scottish, Irish, Arab, Italian, Sicilian, North African, South African, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Persian, Armenian, Filipiono, Russian, Sweedish, Norweigen, etc.....
50 states with 50 different cultures, nice to have choices! Whats the glue holding it all together?
The US Constitution. The contract between the soveriegn states (The people) and the Federal Goverment.
Who would have thought we get our freedom from our 'creator' and not some king, emperor, or president ? (Nice choice of words BTW! No love for the theocrats)
Too bad no one respects it anymore. No more single document to layout some simple expectations which instead we have opt for more big cental goverment control, and happy to get rid of the freedom to simply be yourself within a reasonable limit . Not mudering or stealing is just a few rational freedoms we can expect all of us to give up; however, I and most people don't like being threatened with violence in regards to doing what we want with our own bodies.
Our problem is not 'cultural assimilation' it is 'freedom going bye bye' and we are just starting to bear the birth pains of it.
If anyone has a hard time understanding anything I said I sincerely feel sorry for you cuz you, and probably your descendants, will be the first to be enslaved while the rest of us and our protengy will have been killed off.
Cheer up! Its only gonna get worse.
Blah blah blah iitty blah.
your are right,t European "legal " immigrants help shape what we are today. .
Sounds like a pyramid scam. Immigration to prop up the ones that are already here?
there wont be enough food for anyone, anywhere if this is allowed to continue then civil war for resources will evolve and this time for survival, not freedom of slavery. Its all a matter of time. Eventually the humans will either have to thin the herd by a chemical weapons "accident" ha, ha, or cannibalism, either way we lose. In a post depleted resoursce society, the only food will be your offspring, the only true food source you can create. Be sure to keep your tribe's children safe, can you say veal cultlets, just like papa new ginny and the soloman islands
i knew this was zakarias. i wish he would just die already.
No Illegal Immigrants though. They are not welcome in the United States.
Like we need a hole in the head!
We can increase the amount of US born by offering a tax cut, cash incentive or other benefit for American citizens to have children.
There is no better way to strengthen a traditional family than by adding to the lineage. Besides, it would give an incentive for couples to #uck!
What we need is LEGAL immigration........with quotos......it is time the deporation process lasts only 48 hours before all ILLEGALS are SENT HOME!
How does giving amnesty to anyone with the "cajones" to BREAK the LAW and come here illegally help "solve" the illegal immigration problem?!! All that does is tell the whole world that they can come here, illegally, and take benefits from (what's left of) our society...? WOW, what a GREAT "solution"!!!! - NOT!
The pro-illegal immigration crowd loves to tell us "Oh, it will only be this one time...for the people who are already here!" But that is a lie: all it is, is a rubber stamp that allows everyone else who wants to come here illegally, to do so without fear of the consequences...Amnesty now, means amnesty then, and perpetual amnesty into the future!!!!
No? Don't think so?...Okay, then tell me this: How are you going to stop it? If you can't stop illegal immigration now, then how are you going to stop it after this batch of illegals gets their amnesty????
You are selling our country down the river....
"No matter what people say, at the end of the day there is no solution to the undocumented workers issue that is going to involve mass deportation. The U.S. is not going to do that. We are not a police state."
This is the typical, hysterical, exaggerated arguemnt we always hear: "Oh! It's too cruel to send them home! How horrible!!"
Really? I should think they would count themselves as lucky to get a free ride home!!! Other countries just put their illegal immigrants on barges without food or water and let them drift out to sea...or worse!
No...Deportation is a "gift" compared to what they would experience in other countries...stop exaggerating, Zakaria!!!
I'm sure some people would think my opinions are "racist" (HAH!! LMFAO!) or cruel (Hardly!!), but I am an immigrant myself...a LEGAL immigrant FROM the U.S., now living in Tokyo, Japan. I jumped through all the legal hoops to get here, so why shouldn't everyone else???
Illegal immigration is illegal...no "ifs," "ands," or "buts" about it!
No shortcuts! No loopholes!!!
Come to the U.S. legally....or don't come at all!!!!
Just look at the immigrates coming into both our countries most are poor uneducated How many taxis drivers do we need in our countries.ome times i think the gov of both our countries want to change the face of the country so that you cant say i am an American or Canadian or what ever because the world will be the same a mixure of different shades of brown
Please, I beg you, government, stop the Mexicans. Please. Please. Pleeease.
When I was a kid gardeners were white and it was an honest living. Now it's considered menial labor because Mexicans came in and started doing it for nothing – pushing white guys out and making their honest work as something to be ashamed of. I know if Mexicans would leave there'd be plenty of hardworking people to fill those jobs. Neighbor kids even used to mow lawns for a few bucks.
So you are saying the hispanics work for free- Wrong. You are saying that white guys are ashamed of working the same job as a hispanics? that is their problem. If they need the money they will work, maybe that is what is wrong in this country.
Wuh???? We cannot afford them. Maybe China needs them....
in this article he writes that London has been transformed by immigration, yep, he's not wrong. 13 yrs of a Labour government turned London into a 3rd world dump. it certainly has been some transformation.
I wish to God the media would start differentiating between legal, bonafide immigrants and FOREIGN NATIONALS who cross into our country ILLEGALY. I'm tired of the media trying to make the 99% of American citizens who are against ILLEGAL immigration seem as though we are all racist biggots who would turn away everyone!
My girlfriend (and future wife, mind you) is a Bosnian refugee who came to this country when she was 12 in the early 90's. Her family had nothing but a dollar that someone on the airplane gave her to buy ice cream. No one in her family spoke a word of english, and they were dumped in San Francisco to fend for themselves. Her family now owns a home that they purchased after years of hard work with NO government assistance of any kind, and my girlfriend is a store manager for a major retail store, as am I. They were able to integrate into society. Why is it, then, that when I say "Hello" to a large portion of my customers, I get "Hola" in response? And then they pay for their candy and frozen pizzas with an EBT card? That MY TAX DOLLARS are paying for? ENOUGH OF THIS ALREADY!!
If it came from McCain and Kennedy then it just HAD to be good, right comrades? Am I right comrades?
Sheesh... I'm holding back the vomit. Progressive Comrade McCain who somehow is allowed to put an "R" after his name, and Communist Comrade Kennedy (R.I.P.) who somehow was allowed to put a "D" after his name are actually considered by some to be "both sides of the party"? Which "party"? The Communist Party? Give me a break. It's getting hard to hold down the lunch again...
And here is an enchanting quote from the article:
"Two is that our immigrant population tends to reproduce at a slightly higher rate (they are still somewhat old-fashioned, if you will)."
Oh... actually reproducing via a man and woman via copulation is a "somewhat old-fashioned" mechanism for creating a family of children? As opposed to what? Please... keep it G-rated here–I'm trying to hold my lunch down once again.
-SideShow Bob
Enough of saying illegals only hold the low paying jobs and do not take up welfare. Here in Kansas they take good paying jobs of $15-$25+ per hour and our local SRS office is packed with them. Once again I have to explain that the ADULTS do not qualify but their CHILDREN do for EVERYTHING. They receive $200 in food stamps per child and their scam is to inter-use children because they know the SRS can't figure it out since they have no SSN or birth certificate. Think about it, 6 kids is $1200 per month and many sell off what they don't use. It is common practice here and the SRS knows but government allows them to do nothing about it. I am tired of working to pay my bills and stay afloat while watching illegals take jobs citizens need and use the welfare system like a free credit card, all the while I can barely get by. Anyone immigrating here and wanting to be a citizen is great but the illegals who are rude, protest in our streets and expect rights are not wanted and need to be deported.
You should expose these kinds of frauds. Work with blind conscience does not help to fight this kind of abuse.
We need immigration as always, legal immigration.
Dear Mr. Zakaria,
Good article.
Nevertheless, you must conduct deeper research in regards how immigration programs or systems work in Canada and Australia as it seems you are only getting the positive "grasps" of them.
If you travel and see the true about such immigration systems, you will find out that many of the "skilled immigrants" are simply allowed in the country for three main reasons:
(1) To be sacked of their life savings
(2) To be exploit the skilled worker by paying low wages for a good degree
(3) Which can relate to number (2), to perform the "dirty" jobs that locals do not want to do
Is that a fair immigration system based on the common law?
The American immigration system, although with major flaws, is a system of freedom which allows a citizen to reach his/her full potential.
God Bless America in this 4th of July.
Infact from this article it appears that all these things are hurting america and this auther has no idea what the point is. Also he is comparing apple to oranges.
You know what your right the population is greater then il. so why dont you just take from las vagas down can call it mexico oh wait because you are scared of the cartel and cant stand up to them pu$$ies idc what happens to you just leave.
Immigration and cultural diversity is bullshit. I wish we'd stop immigration today.
We need Legal Immigration. Not Illegal Immigration of 11 million.
To all the parrots saying, we need legal immigration, I ask you, WHY? More people means more problems. The USA has enough people. Stop all immigration, NOW.
This is the worst article I´ve ever read. The truth is exactly 180° opposite to that laid out here. Siting the example of London is patently untrue. Major parts of the city have become no go 3rd world slums. This once vibrant city is now a nightmare.
The truth is, China has the fastest growing economy in the world today, and it is a society made up of one ethnic group, Chinese.
Multiculturalism is a disaster. Always has been and always will be.
The USA only needs LEGAL immigrants. All ILLEGAL ALIENS need to leave right now. End of story.
Yep, all they do is take take, I mean look at those immigrants that landed in Plymout rock in 1620. Did they ask the indians if they could stay, no, they just took and took. Heck the indians even had to give them welfare assistance – food, showing them what to plant, etc. Then they just took the land and killed their ancestors. Clearly immigration has been a problem in this country since 1620.
有道理
As typical of a leader of the MSM, his brand of journalist is pure globalist, neocon establishment propaganda. There is no mention of Quality versus Quantity of course the MSM doesn't allow for that discussion. The reality is a Mexican Indian, a Somali refugee and the like nor there kids are ever likely to graduate from landscaping and cab driving for affluent white & Asian people, to computer programmer, medical doctor or rocket scientist. Except for that occasional statistic outlier that one has to scour the entire nation for, it just doesn't happen. And for his scenario to work, it must happen. The fact of matter is the third world low skilled masses cost us far more in outlays for education, health, welfare etc., then we will ever get back in the form taxes. Fifty years of the great society, affirmative action, the benevolence of White Christians has not closed the IQ or performance gap. So please explain to me Fareed, how suddenly that is going to change?
There are many contradictions in politics, one of my favorites is these same news organizations are constantly preaching mankind is destroying the earth with global warming and the such. Yet somehow don't view third to first world immigration policies as a major factor to this. It's hard to see how going from 6 billion to 9 billion in the next generation (virtually of that from the third world) will not produce irrevocable consequences to the environment. Yet, here they are out of the other side of there mouths stating we need immigration with there higher birthrates putting more pressure on finite resources. It's absurd. What we need is a economic revolution, the macro entitlement programs of the present and past are no longer workable. The free medical care, food and baby sitting service also known as the public schools are irresistible to them but can't last. Mexicans in Mexico average about 2.2 kid birthrate, just above replacement rate, yet once they arrive in U.S. it goes up to 3.7. One doesn't have to read Freakenomics to understand once in the U.S. They are incented to have kids but based on current economic and environmental reality its hard not to see how this won't end in disaster. And they wonder why were all so gloomy.
Fareed, you've NEVER lived in a border state and really never had a "low class" job like landscaping, construction or restauranting, have you? Try seeing it from the perspective of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs in the last few decades because of greedy employers using illegal immigrants to force their competitors to do the same. Go to Los Angeles or Phoenix or South Texas and try to make a living landscaping or with a restaurant or construction and see what happens to you. Get real, suit wearing, master's degree buying talking head.
The thing is, we all know how Americans are making the most use of natual resources, you can easily find out how cold it is in buses, in hospitals, in all buildings. And why people cannot turn off the lights during the night when there is absolutely no one in the building? just for security reason? when the America population turn to 400M, can you imagine how much gas they need? how many wars will be initiated? how many people are going to die?
The thing that really upsets me and undermines our system are illegal immigrants.
My parents and I emigrated from Poland in 1960. It took them 9 years of filing application after application until we were allowed to emigrate.
They did not sneak across a border or show up on the shore in a boat. They did it legally.
We all have been working hard paying taxes and being contributing members of society ever since.
We have been US citizen since 1968.
We have not become leaches on the system like the illegals. The illegal immigrants just bleed our system.
If the illegals want to work and make a better life that is fine let them apply for a work visa and pay taxes like the rest of us.
If they do not have legal work documents send them back to where they came from whether it be Mexico, Cuba, Latin America, China, Africa it does not matter. If you’re illegal you should be sent back.
After all this country was founded by immigrants, who filed the correct paperwork got here legally and built the country to what it is today.
Why should the illegal immigrants get a free ride when there are others who (like my parents) are willing to take the proper steps the come here legally and be contributing members of society.
Immigrants are ruining America, not making it better.
Yep, ever since the immigrant Pilgrims landed in 1620 they have made this country worse and worse.
White people have the right to have their own countries.
Anybody care to disagree?
This article is Zionist, One World Government garbage, and everybody knows it.
Yeah, but unlike CNN and Fareed September 11th., Americans want LEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
It is perfect article. Author is thinking in future. This is good we still have people like he. Maybe people in Congress and Senate should read articles like this one.
The funny thing is that Hispanics have always been a part of the United States, I mean are you people that blind??
Florida, Los Angeles, California, San Diego, San Francisco, so many spanish named US cities and states, where do you think it came from? Half of the US was owned by Mexico, Florida the spanish. When the US took over the mexican territories they disenfranchised many of the new Hispanic citizens living there, so you can see why there is a sense of apprehension to the US, since they have never been welcomed in their own land. Hispanics have contributed greatly to the US, they have participated in all of our wars, including the Revolutionary war, yet they have been treated as foreigners and not belonging here, when actually they predate the pilgrims.
Hispanics will become the majority, get used to it. As far as speaking another language, well its best for the US to be bilingual, Spanish is already the most predominant language spoken in the world. It only makes us more competitive.
thanx Fareed Zakria, you have written something sensible and non-prejudicial becuase topic of your opinion extremely (Himself Immigrant) relevent to you. there is another different debate as you are fundamentally promoting new world order. if you could wholly peel off new world order from your piece of opinion, then it would have been better and could won more people to your opinion.
America is made Big by immigrants and african slave labour, so what are we talking about? American should be open to anyone in this world, and whomever makes the biggest contribution and whomever is the strongest race can rule. African americans were slaves back then in America, look at them now, they are the most prominent citizens of the united states, heck America even have a president of african descent!
Mr. Zakaria:
America needs LEGAL immigration. You're attempting to blur the lines between the two and paint people who are against ILLEGAL immigration as against ALL immigration. This is not the case.
The U.S. needs new immigrants like a dog needs new fleas.
@Nabiano
I have no problem with immigrants coming from Mexico or from any other country.
As long as they do it legally, not sneak across the border and bleed us dry of our services.
If my parents had to go the legal process it immigrate therelike other people from other countries why should it be different for the Hispanics or anyone for that matter.
If they want to work and make a better life that is fine let them apply for a work visa and pay taxes like the rest of us.
If they do not have legal work documents send them back to where they came from.
As far as your statement “Spanish is already the most predominant language spoken in the world. It only makes us more competitive.”
Do your research first. English is the most widely spoken language throughout the world.
French is the 2nd, Arabic 3rd and Spanish is 4th.
The facts are:
- English Official language in 83 countries/regions (ISO), spoken in 105 other countries (E).
- French Official language in 40 countries (ISO), spoken in 54 countries (E).
-Arabic, Official language in 26 countries (ISO).
- Spanish Official language in 21 countries (ISO), spoken in 44 countries (E)
Do you own research before you speak Amigo.
@Nabiano
Also in case you don’t know or read History, Mexico only occupied Part of Californian and Texas
Florida was occupied by the Spanish and then the French.
Read a History book. It could be in English or Spanish, it will still be the same History.
I have heard all the discussion and rationalization. Bottom line- NO MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!!! FINI!
All the financial meltdown, government debt and health care issues happened when the US was still demographically vibrant. How are you going to explain that? Immigrants are not the answer nor the silver bullet to most of the problems in this country. In a knowledge based economy, the quality rather than the sheer number of people is more important.
I would say Canada and Australia are far more appealing for most well-educated people who are looking to immigrate, simply because of the comprehensive health care in Australia and the immigrant-friendly policy in Canada.
Besides, the scrupulous security check-ups at the US airports dissuade a lot of tourists from coming into this country. It just doesn't make sense for the quality people to immigrate to a place where even tourists are not welcome.
Finally, I would like to argue about the Japanese decline. Demographics are one issue, but the major problem lies in the inward-looking mentality and their education system. Unlike Korean and Chinese students who study across the globe to take in as much as they can, most Japanese students don't study abroad and have a hard time adjusting to the trend of globalization.
The numbers say yes only if we return 80-85% of the jobs lost in manufacturing because of trade imbalance. Over the last 15 years it represents 11-16 million jobs and the loss of 8-12 TRILLION in currency circulation! We can not continue to send a net 300-500 billion in US dollars overseas every year. It must stop. A balanced budget amendment will only work with a balanced trade amendent. We must become self-sustaining again- its not isolationism- its called freedom and independence.
What exactly is the "immigratiion advantage"? Zakaria seems to think that America soaking up the "over production" of human souls from Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East somehow benefits Americans. it seems to me it mostly benefits those from immigrant lands who pursue the "American Dream" – a much over stated expression and the source of the sense of too much entitlement in our country. Our country is disappearing.."demographic change" has created alienation of Americans in their own country. Europeans recognize this phenomenon all too well and may be hard put to reverse it. The bottom line is that fertility among European peoples is dropping by choice while the fertility of other populations rise. does zakaria really think this is good for the country? only if you are one of the minorities on their way to becoming a majority. europeans need to wake up and exert greater control over immigration on the one hand and increase fertility on the other or they will be overwhelmed.
America is turning into Israel
Just remember America ...Everytime u attack a country the citizens run away and come here and in the end ...u have to end up paying for their gorceries n sh*t sooo ur loss of money
Everyone remember Flight 655 the way america remembered 9/11!
I wonder when Britain will own America... i guess soon since america has no money =(
It's time for Immigration enforcement. Why does CNN censor anyone speaking the truth? It's like they have a stake in the illegals getting amnesty. It;s wrong and they know it. They encourage trolls to piss off the people then when they reply they get booted. I am the txleadhead and have been silenced from protecting my grandkids future. Illegal immigration was wrong when Reagan gave amnesty to six million leeches. It is wrong now for the liberals to try and give 20 million amnesty for future votes. It will also be wrong in the future if we still abide by the Constitution. We not only need to end illegal immigration. We also need to start hanging their greedy employers for treason. I have never broke into anyone's home and demanded anything. Never have, never will. Being a Veteran and Independent voter I will stay loyal to the United States. Shame CNN can't say the same.
Typical Globalist NONSENSE. When there is a DEPRESSION , over 24% unemployment-open the borders ! Bring down the wages even lower for the few jobs that are left ?. When you are replaced in YOUR JOB , by an immigrant for a lower pay whom you had to train to do YOUR JOB , then write articles about immigration.
no America does NOT need immigrants. we need to shut down our boarders until all the illegal aliens become legal immigrants. there is WAY too many illegals here now, and we are feeding their kids!!! usa doesn't have any more money to hand out.
Ironically, due to tightened laws requiring applicants to show Social Security cards for most employment opportunities, there are millions of illegal immigrants holding fake social security cards, who pay payroll tax through their employer, and the money goes to Social Security, but they will never be able to claim it, because they're not actually tied to that account.
I won't change your mind about the viability of deporting millions of people, but you should know that they actually do contribute payroll taxes if they work in most agriculture or kitchen or construction work.
Like mother like son. Lots of compassion there, buddy.
But that is your upbringing, pally, and its is so Un-American.
Zakaria is absolutely right that in order to be dynamic a country must be growing in population, at least at replacement level if not above it. In Europe however immigration is only a band-aid solution at best because these countries are built on extensive welfare systems which require ever more massive numbers of workers to support their rapidly aging population. I am doing my Master's thesis on this issue. A typical Western European country needs to admit +70 million workers over the next fifty years in order to remain as economically viable as it is today. And that ain't gonna happen. No country would willingly submit itself to the socio-cultural chaos such a drastic measure would require. Even if they did it, it would be a temporary solution; those workers will age, too, and their birthrates gradually mimic those of the native born, thus necessitating the need to import (yes, they really use that term) even more workers in the future. The only way to break this cycle is to somehow get the native-born to have more children, thus bypassing the need for foreign labor. Many European countries (France, Italy, Sweden, Russia, to name a few) now offer incentives for couples to have more children. In all cases that I'm aware of, these measures are either unsuccessful or somewhat successful but not enough to fix the problem. Canada's welfare system is more extensive than America's, but not as extensive as those of European countries; perhaps for this reason, Canada is much more open to immigration than Europe but less so than America. In any case, Canada in 2011 is as white as America was in 1970; is it therefore any wonder the bulk of the Canadian population feels more "secure" in letting more immigrants in? Australia is even whiter than Canada and according to census data from 2010, half of all immigrants to Australia are European, with the British being by far Australia's largest single source of immigrants. Something tells me that if America was in Australia's shoes, the contours of the immigration debate would be slightly different . . . Canada and Australia haven't accomplished anything ground-breaking. They aren't doing anything we haven't been doing in America for 150 years. But keep patting them on the back anyway.
Now as for the United States: it is not, thank God, entangled in the welfare mess currently facing Western Europe. Thus, from an economic point of view we can much better afford all the immigrants we have, even the illegals. But economic opportunity does not guarantee assimilation. As many commenters have noted, many Mexicans just work here. That's it. They would live and work in Mexico if they could but they can't. So they work here and send the money back home. As most immigrants in America today are not white, a lot of people point out that racism is what is preventing their assimilation. I think this is basically true. However, if today we have a country divided into racial camps, with many (if not most) in the white camp upset that they are losing their demographic edge, how is this going to be better in 40 years when the country is 35% Hispanic? If you look at world history, or just restrict yourself to the history of recent civil wars and sectarian conflicts, what is common to almost all of them is that one or more groups in the country get scared that their group is becoming marginalized. Whether the threat is real or just perceived doesn't matter. If the Hispanic population is not assimilating due to racism, their not assimilating only fuels the perception that the prejudice against them is justified. This in turn creates more hostility against Hispanics by whites, which then creates more resistance to assimilation by Hispanics, and on it goes.
The only way to really stop racism is through assimilation (the erasure of physical and cultural difference). This happened in the past between all the European ethnicities because 1) they were overwhelmingly physically indistinguishable from one another and 2) they shared a common European cultural and religious background. In other words, assimilation occurred among European immigrants to America because the physical and cultural differences were relatively negligible to begin with. Before they even LEFT Europe, these immigrants were very similar to the Wasp American culture (although, of course, the Wasps didn't see it that way in the beginning). Mexicans are not a European ethnic group, and expecting the country to accept them as such just because "they are immigrants too" reveals the depth of ignorance the average American has today about how this country was formed. This is because the social construction of whiteness is the story of the formation of the United States itself; the two are inseparable from one another. Many sociologists maintain (and I'm inclined to agree) that the ONLY reason the English and the Irish and the Poles and the Italians were able to embrace one another as blood brothers on American soil is because of the presence of the black substratum already in existence, on American soil. The presence of nonwhites has done far more to solidify white Europeans into a monoethnic, monocultural bloc; even their preexisting cultural affinities couldn't do that (just look at Europe!) If this is true, then the more nonwhites there are in America, the more white Americans themselves will see their whiteness as an indelible part of their self-identities. Whiteness is only invisible (and therefore irrelevant) when everyone around you is white.
In a day and age which places a premium on group identity and politics (i.e., the hyphenated American) how can we expect true assimilation to occur? We can't say that blacks "must" stop thinking of themselves as a group, as African-Americans, or that whites "must" intermarry with Hispanics. Not only is it untenable for the sociological reasons outlined above, it also goes against the current mindset which reveres diversity above all and abhors the sameness of monoculture. Even the metaphors have changed: the "tossed salad" is in, the "melting pot" is out. Such a social environment is necessarily vehemently opposed to assimilation, no matter how much lip service it is paid.
I once spoke to some young Mexican kitchen workers who spoke no English. They said they refused to learn it because they were afraid to lose their culture... I recently talked to a friend, whose entire family was born in Ecuador, and immigrated when the children were ages from 6 mos. to 15 years old, and their Uncle, who preceeded them here, told them when they arrived (some speaking a little English, most speaking none) "You are in America now – you will ONLY speak English to each other, no Spanish. Americans speak English."
The truth is that the young men who never learn to speak English will be doomed to low-wage jobs and will not be able to change their economic status. My friend's family – some of whom barely still speak Spanish as adults – have all gone to college and are employed in jobs that exceed the earning capacity of their parents.
The bottom line is that language – English in particular – is a critical determiner of economic success in the US, and regardless of an immigrant's willingness to assimilate their clothes, food, or rituals, language is the single factor that can prevent them from improving their conditions.
And I cannot look back over American history and see another immigrant population that simply flat-out refused to learn English in the volumes that we see this behavior from Latin Americans. Italians, Germans, Swedes, Norwegians, Vietnamese, Chinese... yes, they may speak two languages, yes they may be difficult to understand, but they did learn English. And they have prospered disproportionately over time compared to their Latin American counterparts.
I'd love to be able to migrate to America but what scares the hell out of me is the healthcare system.
I currently live in Australia. It has a socialised medical system (and no, that's not 'communist' or anything) and there is no fear of being kicked out on the street.
America has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world for people who cannot either afford insurance or who don't work enough hours or work for companies that don't pay insurance.
Yes, we have problems – but there is a lot of fearmongering going on, too... In the US there are government programs called Medicaid and Medicare, plus state-government programs. Consequently, my chronically unemployed cousin, who is a periodic drug addict with emphasyma and is morbidly obese and had two children while on welfare and a single woman, has had 100% of her hospitalizations for multiple surgeries paid by the Government, including prenatal doctor visits and the birth of her children, and now her fourth surgery for a hernia that will not heal due to her obesity and heavy smoking (despite the fact she has chronic lung disease). In New York City, Governor Giuliani's administration did a study and found the primary reason children who were not enrolled in FREE healthcare programs for children in NYC was due to parents not knowing – and not asking – it was available. After they started putting the enrollment forms automatically in the envelopes with the parents welfare checks, within a single year they'd enrolled 70% of the eligible children. Programs are avaialble – many people do not make the effort to ask and learn what they are eligible for.
You're slightly incorrect about Australia 'booming'.
Currently, the Australian government hasn't even confirmed whether they'll be sending boat people to Malaysia (a country that hasn't signed the UN Charter for Refugees). The government is still anti-immgration, in the sense of boat people, but perfectly willing to embrace 'backpackers' from the mother country (England) who tend toward telemarketing jobs or another job for a quick buck, so the service industries (including hospitality) are in a bad state.
In terms of taxes, Australia has too many taxes. The most recent tax is the carbon tax, which the government says will help decrease pollution, but almost every Australian knows that this is yet another grab for cash to re-establish a fiscal surplus that the government wasted on 'bonuses' to keep people spending after the GFC.
Many Australians are currently disgruntled about rising costs to food and utilities, especially electricity, with average families struggling to get by.
Economically sound? The average family doesn't experience life in the way you tell it in your article.
Thoughtful article about immigration. I used to think SS have no issues at all but senator Mark Warner's statement on SS is making me think twice. He said there used to be 16 to 1 for SS, now it's 3 workers to 1 ratio for social security. If that's really true, then math really don't work for social security. That also ties to this article's statement about increasing older working population. Based on what you said and senator mark warner said, there ought to be more people in the job market but 9.2% unemployment is probably making things worse.
let in another 10 million immigrants as soon as possible. this will stabilize the housing market, create jobs and increase number paying into social security. even 25 million wouldn't be too much. it's a big country. do we want to be xenophobic and poor or multicultural and rich?
How can it be that an overpopulated country needs immigrants? That is just insane.
USA is the friendliest country.USA let all illegal immigrant kids go to public school without ask any legal paper work from immigration.And the illegal immigrant keep coming to USA just want to get benefit from US government.And they tried to make their languange in USA as a second languange.Please all the immigrants who ever come to the United State Of America speak English.Every time the Congress want s to make a new rule about immigrations,they always complain and said Descrimination.It is not a descrimination,The government try to make this country the best for citizen of USA, so just let the congress and government make the rules for USA
Don't let illegal immigrants in this country,they just ruin USA.
I knew where a lot of this was going to go before I even started reading the comments. Oh, well, lol.
What I want to know is, why is it every time I read an article about immigration, the Mexican bashers come on and turn the topic around to illegal immigration? This article was about immigration in general. I understand that the majority of illegal immigration are the Mexicans, but let's think about it. Oh, wow. They are closer to us. Do some of you realize that Mexicans are not the only illegals here?
I am a US citizen. I also have dual citizenship to another country. And before any of you dumb arses start bashing me, I speak English fluently, (it was my second language), I work, did 5 years in the Navy and my husband is currently in the Marine Corps. I fly a Panama flag in my car. Why? Because I want to. Because it's my effing right to. I have contributed a whole hell of a lot to this country, probably more than some of you who were born here and leach off of welfare. I've pretty much lived here all of my life. I pay taxes and I vote. If I want to fly my Panama flag, then I effing will.
I speak Spanish to whoever I please. It just means that in my household, my Mother was smart enough to help us learn English( and for herself), and keep our roots in our family. But my dominant language, is English.
Why should I drop what I was raised to be, to conform to what you want?
I feel sorry for my fellow Mexican brothers and sisters. It seems that the gays and the Mexicans are now the minorities. Too much hate in this country. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians. (No pun intended).
As long as you'r flying that U.S flag along with the Panama one
Your mother is what defines a good Americans.
It's never too late for the white folk!....stop complaining about immigration and bring your lady to the bedroom and start to make more babies.....you need 4 kids at least to maintain your numbers.therwise the hispanics will rule theland one day..........
Yes we need legal immigrants that bring skills sets and won't be a burden on our social welfare program. We need immigrants that have a attained a certain level of education. We need immigrants that can contribute to our society. All legally. What we don't need are illegals that burden our programs, is a menace to our society, that have a criminal background, have little or no education.
So Immigration Reform does not sound like it's name. It should be called Immigration improvement bill. Not dream act. Dream Act sounds like an American Fantasy Based Infrastructure Policy Initiative. It also sounds like something that gives out more entitlements. I agree with author. Immigration is good for providing a counter lever to those of us who are getting closer to death then those who are closer to birth.
The problem is that a majority of Hispanics (both legal and illegal) use false identification when they start a job. They predominately work jobs as "contract laborers" and pay taxes and the employer pays no payroll taxes on them. They are supposed to report these earnings on schedule "C" on their tax returns as "self employment income". But of course, they never file a tax return or never include those wages on their tax return (remember they used a false ID for employment). Then when it is time to enroll their children in or schools, they use the classic response of "I (We) work nowhere, we live nowhere, we have nothing". Which, of course, is a total lie. They do the same thing when the go to emergency rooms for basic medical care (or even serious medical care) - they literally go in with no identification and there is no way for the hospital to collect the charges. They do the same thing when they are injured on the job. The claim they work nowhere and thus, there is no report on the employer's workers' compensation insurance. Thus, the employer benefits greatly - no payroll taxes, they can't join health insurance benefits or retirement benefit plans ( and thus, the employer doesn't have to cover "their" contractual contributions to these health and benefit plans No workers' comp. claims and no way the employee can file an unemployment benefits claim against the employer. You see, this is why many employers (especially in the construction industry) prefer to hire illegals - at the same rate of pay, the hiring the illegal saves the company hundreds of dollars a month.
You see, little to no taxes paid, yet they maximize taxpayer benefits and get away with paying nothing for health care. To quote Dire Straits they want their "money for nothing and their chicks for free". And one thing everyone should be prepared for, the majoity will not take kindly to paying taxes and paying for their medical needs.
The title of the article should be changed to read, " America Needs Legal Immigrants." Entering a country illegally is not cool anytime, anywhere.
Just stop welfare and child support programs and see the bad immigrants going away on their own and the good ones staying...
We need food, but not junk food. Can this sum up everything?
It's not immigrants- it's who they are. We need to stop allowing uneducated people with no skills and their cousins into this country-regardless of their country of origin. We need to increase the focus on business people, doctors,(no lawyers) engineers and educated individuals in general.
100 % agree.
All the immigrants come to United State of America have to speak English.They choose America for stay,so please just follow the rules,without complain about discrimination and don't try to make their languange as a second languange in USA.
So many legal immigrant came from all over the world,if all of them try to make their own languange as a second languange in USA,what USA have to do? It will a mess.
YES. We need legal immigration. Those who applies formally with application form, and wait in line.
We only need Immigrants who fit our immigration criteria. They must apply according to rule and regulation, and wait in line. Those who steal their way into US will not be qualified.
Why do we take in immigrants legally, that immediately need govt entitlements and services in order to survive? How do you maintain a strong country like this?
Why would an industrialized country with 10% unemployment need population growth of any kind, organic or immigrant? To help foot the bills for the aging population? That's an astoundingly short-sighted, backward-thinking solution. This nation, this planet, needs fewer people, not more. Our financial and cultural institutions should be looking to restructure to encourage and support that truly long-term solution for global quality-of-life.
Immigrants are welcome...LEGAL immigrants who come here, and are willing to do their share to keep our country running. But the people who come here illegally and then drain our system, no thank you, we don't need you. We are paying for the kids in school, welfare, medical care, jeepers they get better medical care than my family does, my husband and i both work HARD for our money. Our country is draining our money out, between the illegal aliens and wars in countries that should be PAYING for our soldiers to be over there keeping peace in their land. Bring me your poor, tired.....but make sure they come here legally, thank you.
America needs immigrants , but not illegal immigrants.
Why can't they see the logic in that?
If I let people live in my house but do not contribute to the household and soon become a burden economically
to my finances why am I going to tolerate that? No one would. Thats why parents throw out their lazy, not being productive teenage children out on the streets.
What America NEEDS is to limit immigration to SKILLED Laborers, as MUCH of the rest of the industrialized nations do. Google Canada's Immigration policy for instance. If you wanted to move there from the U.S. you would have to show that you had at least 6 months of savings to provide for yourself, and that's just get a VISA. Try Australia, Germany, etc...........many of the European nations that U.S. Liberals think we should be emulating have LAWS about a NATIONAL LANGUAGE that you HAVE TO LEARN how to speak. Germany's Chancellor recently said "The German experiment in multi-culturalism has FAILED".....Many of these Nations look at the SKILL SET you bring to the country and don't just let in poor people who are going to be a drain on the economy and resources.
The author is apparently another bleeding heart Liberal who thinks that we should reward 12 million LAWBREAKERS by making them citizens. How can any rational person believe that, doing that will do anything but make the next 12 million illegal immigrants think that if they come here illegally also, at some point they also will get a free pass to be made U.S. citizens. What a joke. Some liberal pundit the other day said "These illegal immigrants are not criminals". REALLY? You said it yourself, "ILLEGAL immigrants", which means that they are here illegally and by default ARE criminals. And for those of you who think it is not really a crime, then tell me where your summer home is, and I'll break in there and live there while you're away, since obviously you don't think that trespass is a crime.
heeeey you all:) all i want to say is that Mexico is an amazing place is live and thats the reason why Mexican people love their wonderful nation. all of you bitter haters get a life and enjoy it since its short:) We have amaxing and exotic natural places and no matter what we are always happy, smiling and joyful! oooh yes! we love our cunture people and nation. you guys are like out of our amazing world. we dont even care about what anybody thiks about us! we are beutiful with people with sincere hearts:) you people try to eat healthy LOL! your genetic engenieers add chemicals to ur fruit and vegetables hahaha and yall think its all natural:). you guys are pathetic.
The US is a joke and turns a blind eye to Illegal Aliens-Enforce the law, huge fines for Corps and shot-to-kill if you cross the boarder. We have diseased rodents enter our country–enough and throw Obama out too!!
Only if the illegal Immigrant are skilled-labor, then that would solve this country problem. The problem is these immigrants came here and destroying the country, putting a burden on tax payers. Forget out about the damn job, no body wants to do those job anyway. The best solution out there are to cut all the benefits that an illegal immigrant can receive, such as foodstamps, welfare, and housing. Change the 14th amendment so that their children cannot receive US citizenship. I would guarantee that no illegal immigrants will come. If they want to came here and work, the borders are wide open, but they ain't receiving anything other than their wage. Impose a minimum tax on foreign workers, like 5% or something to cover transportation and convenient cost, and let them keep the rest. I wonder if the illegal immigrants living here got a share of the 14 trillion deficits or the Average Middle Class American will.
This article is absolute rubbish. Lets see why:
"The United Nations just released a report, which said that in the next 30 to 40 years, China is going to lose 100 million people. No country has ever been able to be a vibrant, great power without being demographically vibrant"
Japan has done a great job, so has Switzerland and most of Europe up until say 1980 when illegal immigration took off.
"At the end of the day, this is why the Japanese system has found it so difficult to get growth back. It is the first major country in the world that is experiencing actual population decline"
Funny I thought it was to do with the attitude to bad bank loans and toxic debt by the regulators in Japan. See The Economist article. Lessons from a lost decade. August 21st 2008. The idea that economic problems can be solved by letting in more immigrants is ridiculous. What happens when the immigrants get old? Bring in more immigrants. The result is an unsustainable ponzi scheme.
"Look at what the Canadians are doing today. The Canadians have created a set of smart immigration laws that are much more welcoming to new immigrants and that focus on skill-based immigration. They allow people to self-apply for immigration so you don’t even need a company to sponsor you. The result is Canada is getting much more ethnically diverse and vibrant."
Canada has the highest per capita refugee immigrant intake in the world. Withut any democratic mandate at all the political class have transformed the face of the land and are turning it into a foreign country. As a proportion of population Somailan Jamaocan and Vietnamese immigrants are joining gangs and turning Canada's cities into mirror images of the third world countries they come from. Is that what the author means by 'vibrant'?
"Look at Australia. Fifteen years ago, Australia was convulsed by a huge anti-immigrant tide. There was a serious political movement that was talking about deportation. Now about a quarter of Australia’s population is foreign-born. This is one of the highest percentages in the world and as a result Australia is booming."
In case you haven't noticed Australia i still engulfed by an anti illegal immigrant tide. The Australian labour party almost lost the last election and has been forced to change its attitude to boat people. The foreign born population is focused on European immigrants, as has been the case for many decades. There is very little ethnic diversity in Australia and what there is in the form of Moslem immigration is causing the problem. What evidence have you got for saying that Australia's boom is due to immigration? I thought it had something to do with record base metals prices.
"Look at what London has done and completely transformed itself."
London did the transforming? I don't remember Londoners being consulted. I thought it was huge numbers of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers allowed in under the Labour Governments lax immigration policy which again was never democratically endorsed. The majority of these people are Africans and Arabs with no skills whatsoever. The 'transformation' of London has given us the July 7 Subway bombings, I don't see any other benefits.
The latest wave of immigrants either work in low paid jobs or no jobs. They pay little in taxes and send most of what they earn home. Or else they don't work at all and turn to crime.
How does that help us? This piece of drivel is not journalism, its a poorly thought out propaganda piece. Presumably CNN doesn't like diversity when it comes to opinion, which is why they forced out Lou Dobbs.
Immigrants are FINE...
But the ephing illegals can STAY THE EPH OUT.
Rick wants to be the last one in before the door is shut.
Rick, send my regards to your extended family in Romania.
immigration made america
Legal immigration made America. Illegal immigration will destroy it.
I really enjoy experiencing other people's cultures, fresh handmade burritos of the Mexicans, freshly pounded poi of the Hawaiians, homemade pasta of the Italians, the rich colors of other people's home furnishings and their ways of conducting their home and family life. Most of all, let's not forget the advantages of having people of other cultures and languages as our neighbors, legal or illegal. Remember, habitable space on this earth is limited, and immigration in the long run is a problem for the human race, not just a problem for lone countries. This statement is for the many varied peoples in the US who are here illegally or temporarily. Believe or not, people in the US do appreciate what you have to offer.
Here's a novel concept. If you are in the United States illegally you should be deported to wherever you came from. The free ride for illegals needs to be over. Those of us who are here legally can no longer afford to pay them.
i really believe this is a major problem with our economy. PLEASE,PLEASE, don't take this as anything racial because i don't mean it that way. people come here illegally and yes they are reproducing a whole lot. why, while they can not get money or medical care for themselves if they have no children. it also makes it even harder to deport illegal people. so a woman comes here illegally from another country and start having children. she then receives monthly check for the American child, food stamps for all, and medical care for all. i have seen this happen over and over again. in most cases the husband or significant other is living in the household and working. i fully believe that the home country they are from should pay for the illegals, and we take care of our American babies. there are no taxes paid on incomes from the family so therefore, a drain on our economy. the other countries need to step up!!
In response to farmers’ concerns, Representative Dan Lundgren, a Republican from California, is drafting an amendment to create a special foreign guest worker designation, the news source reports. Immigrants granted this designation could work agriculture sector jobs in the U.S. for 10 months out of the year, provided farm employers advertise the positions to U.S. residents as well. The amendment also stipulates farmers pay a government-determined wage and provide free housing and transportation to foreign guest workers. http://www.immigrationdirect.com/immigration-news/immigration/farmers-concerned-about-e-verify-immigration-bill/index.html
ok. To deport a single illegal immigrant cost $25.000 Multiply that by 20 million.
If the door of legalization (work visas or green cards) are open, those 20 million will have to pay to the Gov at leas $2000 in it fines (being illegal in the US is just a misdemeanor). To that you ineed to ad all the process Fees by 20 million.
As soon as those 20 million have their papers, all of them (many are doing it already) will have to pay the 25% on Taxes to the IRS. So for the Gov, it could be a good income.
Besides, the children of those 20 million Illegal Immigrants, will help all your Children to pay for the Debit our Government is cresting. It will be a help for them.
Fortunately, unlike Europe the bulk of our immigrants come from this hemisphere and culturally desire to blend in to our existing society. Germany, France and other European countries are being over run by immigrants from North Africa and elsewhere with little desire to culturally assimilate and only a desire to reap the economic and social welfare benefits of those societies. Yes, America is becoming more brown or olive, but its values and norms remain intact with no threat.
I believe you are misguided in you assumption. We have an illegal immigration problem that is completely out of control. The term itself speaks for itself. What are we to do where people continue to mock our laws and policies governing proper immigration. Please note, we're not dealing with legal immigration to this country, but illegal entery and/or the failure to return to their respective countries as agreed when granted visas. What are we to do? shall we grant amnesty to every illegal immigrant?
Illegal immigration is a clear and present danger to our way of life. Many Americans are adversely affected by illegal immigration and/or by employeers who seek cheap labor. What about the American families that are affected, the jobs lossed to Americans, and the rising cost illegal immigration is costing the American people who have to compete with legal and illegal immigrants for work?
I think Fareed is VERY right when it comes to us losing our immigration advantage, we're slowly becoming like France and Germany, who are slowly becoming far-right.
I'm developing a blog site and I was thinking of modifying the template.Yours looks pretty nice! You could visit my web site and tell me your viewpoint!
Eleonore Yackel certainly like your website but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth on the other hand I'll certainly come back again.