In actually, most people who came to this country over the last century and a half did so because there were few or different restrictions on immigration at the time. Many people still had to go through checkpoints before entering such as Ellis Island.
And that somehow makes their illegal invasion of this country okay?
It was less restricted about 100 years ago because of the abundence of farm jobs before modern equipment took their place. Yet in the early 20s' there were restrictions put on immigration that were directed at Europeans.
It wasnt restricted because the immigrants were white western europeans, the first immigration restrictions were the response to eastern and southern european (and irish) immigration skyrocketing which made the original immigrants unhappy. Many of the scare tactics used to demean these new european immigrants are the same used today on illegal aliens, i.e: they are dirty, bring diseases, take jobs, wont assimilate, are unskilled and poor, have high rates of criminal activity, etc...
Don't forget the Mexican Revolution, when over a million Mexicans were allowed into the country. Many chose to return home after the war.
What is the point of noting this? That somehow letting in refugees from a huge war next door is akin to allowing dozens of million sof illegal immigrants to enter this country with no restrictions? That some how this makes it okay to discriminate against illegals today because they came from the same country we let refugees in almost a century ago. Didnt you also note that folks shouldnt pay for things that occurred before their time, what relevance does mexican revolution refugees have to do with immigration from mexico today? none. Another BIG factor was those refugees from mexico in the early 1900s blended into an already large and existing community of mexicans who made up the majority of the southwest, the european immigrants killed the existing natives when they moved in.
Still, despite the lack of restrictions, many people that came through during the last century also passed through with the intent of leaving their old country behind, learning and respecting the laws of this one, learning the language and not expecting the government to bow down to their demands.
Today, it's a much different scenario.
Beginning of inaccurate absurdity. Illegal immigrants in the states today have THE lowest crime rate of any demographic. Furthermore, living in the largest concentration of illegal immigrants in the country (while coming from a family of legal residents)- Los Angeles' eastside, having grown up around them and now married to someone who has illegal family (yet his own is legal and been here for centuries) and basically living in Latino culture around a lot of illegals, I can assure you that those kind of stereotypes you just noted are FLAT OUT WRONG for 99% of illegal immigrants. Numerous credible studies have shown latino illegals lose their mothertongue within one generation, and that an overwhelming majority of illegals learn english. If you dont believ me go to any barrio and look at how many private english lesson programs there are, and how they're all stuffed. One large march for peoples' basic civil rights is not wanting the govt to "bow down", it is an action to raise awareness of who they are to the rest of america and empower a community that is oftentimes silent despite being attacked. Some of the most proud americans I have met in my lifetime are illegal immigrants (most often getting their citizenship when possible), some of the most productive people in my community are illegal. Those last assertions you made are wrong and flat out lies, hannity and colmes are not a good source for info on illegals, in fact any rich white conservative is a bad resource to learn about illegals. that kind of BS is what comes fromt hat crowd, get better educated onthe subject or actually interact with the community if you such large concerns. I do, and that is why I KNOW those kind of assertions are incorrect.
While I agree that most illegal immigrants, are only wanting to make a better life for themselves
Wrong again, ALL of them do, that's why they come to a country with a higher standard of living than theirs. who the heck do you think comes here for any other reason?
Many are refusing to assimilate
Wrong, note my prior comments, and how this kind of myth has been used to attack immigrants since the immigration process was started. Numerous credible studies have concluded the exact opposite of what you say: that illegals assimilate and their kids lose their home language rather quickly. having pride in your culture and where you come from is not refusing to assimilate, you CAN be proud to live in the US and be from another country.
demanding rights
How dare they ask for rights in a country founded on civil rights! The nerve of them to come here instead of starving and then expect to be treated like everybody else. How dare they see hypocrisy in the ancestors of illegal immigrants attacking them for coming here illegally!
not paying taxes like you and me!
Illegal immigrants pay taxes, they pay sales tax, property taxes and have their wages taxed like everyone else. Our social security system is currently propped up by uncollected back taxes from illegals. Every time they send money home or use a long distance phone card they pay a ridiculous percentage on taxes. Please stop believing lies, states like CA and TX have concluded that illegals pay more in taxes than they use in soical services, look it up.
Expecting us to learn their language instead of the other way around.
Another stupid lie. See my prior responses, and the fact that those who dont learn english are screwing themselves more than anyone else. I live in the largest enclave of latinos and illegals inthe nation, and it is rare to be somewhere where nobody speaks english. Although I do agree that immigrants should learn english, thats common sense. A study refuting your assertion about language was posted on this forum a while back.
Many of them are involved in criminal activity ( try being a victim of a hit and run accident or identity theft if you don't believe me.) Much of the illegal drug trade comes from Mexico.
Again with the lies. illegals have the lowest crime rate amongst any other demographic in the US, look it up, it was even a topic on this board. And how does the source of our drugs mkae an entire ethnicity guilt of being criminal? So I guess that because most child molesters are white then all anglos should be treated as sickos too? a lot of our pot comes from Canada so whites must also be lazy stoners.
We also have to worry about national security since both our borders in the south and the north are weak.
Another joke. Our border to mexico is controlled by wealthy cartels, whose members are a fraction of the actual community might i add, very tightly because it is their cash cow. Do you honestly think they'd be dumb enough to incur the wrath of our nation on the major means of them making money/ Millions of folks and tons of drugs have been smuggled here annually, not one smidgeon of evidence that anything that can harm our national security has come through these conduits. In fact, when a salvadorena gang was accused of talking to terrorists the mexican mafia put an all out green light on them (all other gangs can kill them with impugnity) for possibly harming their lucrative trade.
As I said in my previous post I welcome anyone from anywhere to come here to better their lives.
No you dont, if you did you would not spread such horrible lies about a people you seem to know little about.
Just do it legally.
You really know little on the subject or people you are casting judgement on. it is virtually impossible for the average destitute mexican to go through the formal immigration process into this country. Much of it has to do with our skewed quotas (toward rich white places) and the fact that it takes over a decade and costs around $10,000 to do. Of course it is easy for a middle calss white american to make such absurd accusations because you will never know how virtually impossible it is to become a legal citizen for most mexicans. Your ancestors came here illegally, why dont you try and get them their citizenship if it is such a no brainer, otherwise you are the spawn of anchor babies.
Sorry to be so rough, but its the truth, and such horrible lies can be damaging to REAL PEOPLE.