This was a great event that educated a lot of students about the DREAM Act and cleared up a lot of misunderstandings. I hope that many students will come to El Centro de la Raza to sign the petition in support of the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act is a backwards attempt at amnesty. Rewarding illegal families for breaking our laws is immoral and wrong. You say the kids were innocent and can’t be held accountable. What you fail to point out is these kids will be like anchor babies. They’ll be able to sponsor the same criminal parents once they become legal. I say send them back and immigrate legally or not at all. ZERO tolerance to all illegal immigration. The DREAM Act is a nightmare to Americans.

The kids are innocent, however the parents are not. This is yet another vivid illustration of UNM’s dedication to blend with Mexico. This undertow of sympathy for illegal immigrants is lawless and embarrassing. UNM should be ashamed of itself, however, UNM is controlled by powerful proponents of illegal immigrants, democrats like Richardson, Chavez and Sanchez are long time supporters of welfare and have effectively used the illegal immigrants to bolster their voting roles. If the legal citizens of NM do not wake up and counter this surge UNM and other organizations will continue to pave the way for more uneducated, unskilled illegal citizens to move into New Mexico. Having babies, on the other hand, does not take any skill or education; in fact there’s a correlation between the number of births and the low socioeconomic and education of parents.

Love how they rationalize giving away our freedoms to illegal aliens. First off there are plenty of kids right here that could be doctors, lawyers, or politicians if they had the opportunity to attend a university like UNM. Unfortunately they can’t. They don’t have the money, their familys (while not considred poor) make just enough money to limit the financial assistance opportunitites available. They may come from familys that have alot of children, and they don’t want to be aburden on their parents. Either way these people are left behind and they’re our own citizens. Don’t they deserve more opportunties than some criminals?
There already exists an opportunity for these immigrant teenagers to gain citizenship. Go serve in the military. If they serve their four years in defense of our freedom, than they can become citizens. What’s wrong with that??

This is a bad dream for every student, teacher and administrator in our school systems.

Illegal immigrants aren’t permitted to work in this country. Why should we subsidize their education? So they can work here illegally and send their money out of the country tax free? What are these people thinking?

Stop the magnet that draws millions of illegal immigrants here for the golden ticket to social services and free education in this country. Stop giving them the benefits of American citizenship without any requirement to follow the laws that govern everyone else.

Enforce the laws in the 1986 amnesty and they will go home. Deportation by attrition.

Obviously, the anti-Mexican lobby is trying to hijack this excellent article about legislation that should be passed, and passed quickly.

You cannot blame kids and young adults for the sins of their parents when they were brought here, some in diapers, others in their adolescent years, without the knowledge they were breaking any law, and a civil misdemeanor at that.

These kids LEARNED THE LANGUAGE, ASSIMILATED, and are as AMERICAN as any of us, except for that little 9 digit number. Many are in school studying for advanced degrees, with little hope of using their education once they graduate, and they are not receiving federal or state assistance of any kind. That is dedication, and should be rewarded with passage of the DREAM ACT. The systems broken people.

I would also point out that Willy Gheen of ALIPAC, or as it is known in polite circles, ALICRAP,is not the spokesman for any movement. Gheen is a scam artist who uses the immigration debate to scam his decreasing followers of their hard earned cash, by making promises with his alligator mouth, that his hummingbird ass cannot cash. He does this to allow him to live the lifestyle he chooses and his FEX filings confirm this allegation

His small organization (himself and 3 others) are closely aligned with mainstream hate groups such as FAIR,NUMBERSUSA and Mark Kikorkian’s CIR, all of which have made the immigration debate into a tirade against Hispanics. sort of a polyester version of the old KKK.

People would be well served to educate themselves on the facts, and not the fiction that the nativist mexenophobes throw in your face.

http://immigrationclearinghouse.org

Before any consideration of the DREAM Act is given, how about those children pay back the free education they got with our tax payer dollars. Yes every single penny for grades K-12, with interest. But not just the money for that, how about all the welfare the families of these children received, along with government assistance, and healthcare they used while here. Should they pay for all that that is due, then perhaps it can be considered.

Beast:

How about we learn where money comes from that funds k-12 education?

Most of this money comes from property taxes, taxes that EVERYONE pays regardless of their legal status.

If an undocumented immigrant owns a house then they are paying yearly property taxes = funds for k-12 education for their kids.

If an undocumented immigrant renting an apartment then they are paying property taxes through the landlord, just as any citizen living in an apartment would.

All people, legal or not, pay property taxes, i.e. = K12 Education.

Come up with a better talking point please, this one is getting old.

“These kids LEARNED THE LANGUAGE, ASSIMILATED, and are as AMERICAN as any of us, except for that little 9 digit number. Many are in school studying for advanced degrees, with little hope of using their education once they graduate, and they are not receiving federal or state assistance of any kind. That is dedication, and should be rewarded with passage of the DREAM ACT. The systems broken people.”

These kids have not assimilated. They are taught that we are the illegals in their ancestral homeland. They wave the Mexican flag in our faces and act as if we owe them everything. Sorry but the only things they deserve are the things they work for. Unfortunately their illegal presence undermines everything they work for. Their parents should have worked on becoming citizens first.
The only thing I continue to see are outstreched hands grabbing at the teats of the American Tax Payers!

So Ted, do they also pay income tax? Do they pay all the taxes that a citizen pays? I think not. Just because they pay some taxes does not make them eligible for all the benefits granted to a U.S. citizen.

“People would be well served to educate themselves on the facts” (advocate54)

If this ‘Nightmare’ were to become law IAs would be placed ahead of American children according to the UNM policy 3100: 4. Affirmative Action

Further, the University commits itself to a program of affirmative action to increase access by, and participation of, traditionally underrepresented groups. The University Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) provides guidance and assistance to University departments in the development of recruitment strategies to assist with affirmative action efforts. OEO also directly oversees faculty hiring processes and conduct audits of both faculty and staff hiring processes to ensure compliance with OEO and affirmative action policies and practices.

8. Responsibility for Affirmative Action Plan

The University President has overall responsibility for the Affirmative Action Plan. All senior and mid-level administrators (vice presidents, deans, directors, department heads) are accountable for their performance in the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives. Annual performance evaluations shall include an assessment of the results of programs and practices aimed at increasing access and participation by women and ethnic/racial minorities.
__________
alipac, FAIR and Numbers USA are not hate groups, they advocate for Americans by Birth or Legal Immigration!

Anchor babies are not citizens by birth, they are citizens by misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment. This misinterpretation will be corrected!

The myth that illegal immigrants, or anyone else for that matter, pay property taxes through rent is just that. A MYTH! Renters pay RENT! Your RENT buys you 30 day increments of time to keep a place to store your stuff, keep you and your family out of the elements, entertain your friends, etc… Your rent money is the medium of exchange for the privilege of staying there. Property taxes are paid by the owner of said property, whether you stay there or not! The property can remain vacant, but the municipality still collects taxes from the OWNER! Paying rent cannot be equated to paying property taxes. They are two entirely different revenue sources and applications!!

They are Illegal Aliens. Calling them “immigrants” is a calculated move designed to confuse the lawbreakers with those who came here legally.

The kids didn’t make the decision. Their parents did. Let them study. Non citizen students, even legal ones, don’t get federal work study, many forms of financial aid, etc.

DREAM would let kids who fulfill its requirements go on to be legal residents. So the claim that they’d be unable to work after college is untrue.

As for “anchoring” family members: In order to petition for a relative you have to provide years worth of docmentation. Income tax returns, job letters, bank statements, all to prove that you can support your relative at 150% of the poverty rate. New legal residents spend their first 5 years ineligible for almost all government benefits, and the petitioner is on the hook for that time. Most recent college graduates can’t do this right away, even for one person.

Then, if the law stays as it is: Anyone who’s come here without papers and been undocumented for over a year has to return home to file for a visa. And once they leave the country, they’re barred for 10 years.

So let’s say DREAM is passed, and nothing else changes. A couple of years after college — having probably had to go part-time due to no financial aid — the DREAMer gets to petition for her Dad. Dad has to go home, and 10 years later they can start the process. Which in itself takes a good many years. One parent might get petitioned in after 15 years. This is not exactly a demographic flood.

As for taxes, lots of undocmented folks pay on ITINs. If you own property you pay the same taxes anyone else does. And if you rent, and your landlord doesn’t calculate the rent to cover property tax, then your landlord’s not very bright. Sales tax and excise are also paid by everyone.

The DREAM Act is just another sham for amnesty. If this passes, the age limit is way to high and the illegals would be able to legalize their whole families as well. This has failed to pass several times for good reason and it will fail again. People are just fed up with the illegals and their DEMANDS for rights they are just not entitled to. If they want the perks of citizenship then do it the right way. Being in this country illegally and breaking laws will never win supporters or respect.

Illegal immigrants are illegal immigrants, whether their parents came here and they paid property taxes to fund education or not. They are still here unlawfully. This shouldn’t be tolerated. Why don’t we focus on furthering the education of the students that are already here, that grew up here legally!

It seems that some people do not realize that there is an IMMENSE different between a legal immigrant and an illegal immigrant.

One was selected for a good reason to come here (such as being picked for a good paying position), one was not. One was screened and checked out by FBI and whatnot, one was not. One waited for 8 – 20 years for citizenship, while the other waved around a Mexican flag and demanded amnesty.

I am offended by any such action.

It was not these minors’ decisions to immigrate to the US, and they should not be punished for it! They are as American as the rest of us, and have bright promise in this country. Why would we want to expel talented and smart young people? Pass the Dream Act!

There should be emphasis on E-Verify being adopted by every business in America, mandatory or not? Now that it’s locked into the US workers psyche, it should be evident to the pro-illegal immigrant groups that—THE PEOPLE—are not letting go of this computer illegal immigrant enforcement application without a fight. It has been ridiculed and ostracized by the US Chamber of Commerce and subjected to federal lawsuits by the anti-sovereignty groups as the ACLU. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but when the Council of Foreign Relation intolerable globalist and internationalists get involved with America’s immigration face-off, you really wonder what their true agenda is? GOOGLE— across the Internet and understand their plan for the free flow of low income labor in every available industry including Agricultural jobs.

This quasi agency was the machine involved with the inception of NAFTA. Coincidentally, I recall that President Obama and his administration addressed the general public that he would renegotiate the treaties of NAFTA and CAFTA? So far this has not materialized, nor has his promise to implement an open transparent government? He is following the same illusory lines as the Bush presidency, other than National security—remaining secretive?

E-Verify is a very powerful immigration tool that is a composite of the SAVE ACT. Around the country it’s building in momentum as more and more companies are intending to use it? It could additionally have multiple future uses, including detecting illegal aliens applying for driver’s licenses. It could also be adapted to apprehend any foreign nationals who apply in any health care reform or any other government benefit. By overturning the 1986 Immigration legislation and enacting a new AMNESTY the American population lose culturally and financially. Another possibility is checking the status of individuals admitted to higher education or schools. Its availability is a free service on the web, by accessing both Homeland Security and the Social Security databases. On an ongoing basis it is seemingly the principle tool to detour anybody who is stealing jobs from the legal population.

It almost succumbed to Democratic leadership, because both Sen Reid and Pelosi had an ulterior motive to kill E-Verify and other immigration enforcement weapons. Having massive illegal immigrant occupation in both Nevada and California and an escalating need to financially support the millions already thriving in all Border States. YOU CAN HELP AMERICAN WORKERS IN THIS JOBLESS SETTINGS AND HALT ANY NEW AMNESTY BY CONTACTING YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121. NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB have many of the true answers for you to decide.

I commend the common sense of the majority of these posts. It’s interesting how the few that seem to favor illegal immigration want to refer to this discussion as a racial issue with Hispanics. This is the old, “it just doesn’t cut it anymore” line of rebuttal. It’s ludicrous to throw any resources at illegal immigrants or their kids while there are children who are US American citizens. The welfare system has gone so far in the wrong direction that hard working citizens often fair worse than the those that leech off the taxpayers.

The funds state side illegal immigrants send back to Mexico is HUGE. Few if any own property, and if they do own property that would raise many questions. IT’S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY IS TO STACK VOTES THROUGH VVOLUMES OF POOR THAT THEY FUNNEL MONEY TO.

For those of you that are tired and weary of your tax dollars being given away w/o your permission to people who are not even US citizens you can vote republican in every election. There not a helluva lot you can do when the Democratic leaders in NM underwrite the illegal immigration traffic.

Everyone breaks the law…so stfup!

A college education is not granted at birth, so all the red necks should work harder to compete with the smart hard-working illegals. So don’t compolain about immigrants taking your kid’s seat, tell your lazy ass kid to drop the video games and start cracking books!!!

It’s that simple, that’s why the U.S can’t compete with Japanese or Korean kids, fat ass American kids get a free ride all their life.

Please have mercy, we don’t deserve this country but a little help from you all would make a bif difference in improving our life. Amnesty is a form of freedom

I proudly support the Dream Act. Education is critically important. We should encourage all Americans and all people who love America to complete their education. Think of the value they will bring to our future generations. Think of the Doctors, Teachers, Business Professionals that will contribute their knowledge and skills to all Americans in our future.

So much value!

The Dream Act – Education – The Great Equalizer:

Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin … the great equalizer of the conditions of men – the balance-wheel of the social machinery. It does better than to disarm the poor of their hostility toward the rich; it prevents being poor.

Support the Dream Act for these talented young students.
For ALL of our futures!

I too support the Dream Act. Education is so important. As someone just said, it is, in fact, the great equalizer.

For all of you who say you are Christian, remember: “Whatsoever you do to the least of My brethren, that you do unto Me.”

Think of your Humanity. We live in the land of immigrants. Do not turn away the little children. Education is so important! Education is the key to all the fate of the world.

The Dream Act is so important. That’s why I support it.

I have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men, women and children are created equal.

This will be the day when ALL of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

Ted:

How about we examine how illegals obtain Social Security numbers to pay those taxes, and all the identity theft that happens because of it. How about we look at the cost (both in dollars and frustration) when someone steals your identity and you have to correct it. But they only want a better life right? Sure, at the expense of some citizen’s misery.

Also, for those who rent or own and are illegal, you have families of up to 20 people or more who live in properties, so the payment for property tax is not proportionate with the stress they impose on the infrastructure of the city. Yes, schools are bombarded with children of illegals, and it is a strain on everyone. You have classrooms with 40 kids or more, it is a disgrace.

Car and health insurance here in Cali is very high due to so many illegals, the cost has to be spread out costing the rest of us more than we deserve.

Ted, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

The current system does not make sense. Here are kids who have grown up in this country, who received education and training in this country. Nevertheless, the united States will not benefit from them. What is the point of having them learning and them deporting them somewhere else with the knowledge they’ve obtained here. Economically, it makes sense for us to have them working, considering the fact that they will have to graduate from college, therefore they will have good paying jobs and they will pay enough taxes to sustain our government. I personally think that whoever opposes this legislation should take a second look at it rationally and NOT emotionally. It will help the country as a whole more than anything else.

So It’s ok for there to be wealthy immigrants to attend our schools through exchange programs but it’s not ok for those less fortunate to come and attend our schools? Who is to say that there parents even live here or are even alive. These comments sound like people are targeting hispanic immigrants because it’s what is natural for them to do so. All I hear is alot of people mad at illegal alliens because they “break the law” by comming to a place that is better than where they were living. It’s human nature to want to survive! If the United States wants to be a beacon of freedom and success to shine onto the world what did you expect? Everyone wants a piece of the pie and to think that no one will want some but those who have some is just insane. The reality is, that immigration is not perfect and anyone who wants to better their life regardless of thier curcumstance should be allowed to do so.

I too have a dream, my problem is I have to pay for it myself. I suppose deep down I’m not apposed to the DREAM ACT, if it were made avalible for American dreams. After all, it’s American tax dollars paying for it. We need to stop “caring” for the worlds needy at the expense of our own needy right here in this country.

Our Government, past & present, Republican & Democrat, have allowed the invasion of 20 to 30 million criminals and uneducated peons which is the largest invasion of any Nation, at any time, by any means & in direct violation of Article IV, Section IV of our Constitution.

This refusal to abide by our Constitution or enforce our Immigration Laws should be classified as Treason of the most foul kind, & as grounds for impeachment & trials for Treason!

Not only have they allowed the invasion, they force American tax payers to pay Billions on Billions of dollars to provide Welfare, Prison cells, Educate the invaders numerous children, and free medical care, at the same time the invading horde break numerous laws and massive document fraud, & are destroying our schools, hospitals, communities, culture and standard of living while Robbing, Raping, Killing & Assaulting American Citizens WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Let these illegal aliens serve in our military and on completion get on a pathway to citizenship with the stipulation that their parents must be deported and only get citizenship by following the path that millions of legal immigrants have to follow.

Pass the Dream Act.
Education is so important.
We want a better world and help for our children, then support education.

The Dream Act should be passed.

We need to think about the future, the future of our children and grandchildren.

Education is so important.
I see comments saying terrible things like “peons” and “illiterate.” The resolution is Education! Education is the key differentiator. Education helps all of our futures.

I see that many of the negative commenters do not know the history of immigration into our country. The immigration laws began with restrictionist laws to exclude those we did not want here. The first laws: The Chinese Exclusion Act. Then laws began restricting those from Eastern and Southern Europe as well as Asia. Yet, we kept the borders to the south from Latin American countries wide open. Why? Because we needed the workers to nation build. Then think of all of the programs like the Bracero Program, Guest Worker programs and Venga a Michigan. It wasn’t until just a few years ago when the restrictionists like John Tanton’s group FAIR, Numbers USA and others began their anti-Latino push. Regardless of the past, we need to look towards the future. Education is important. The Dream Act is important. Education is critical if we are going to have a better future for ourselves and for our children.

American Eagle,
You are exactly right. I agree with you. We do need to pass the Dream Act. We all know how important Education is. The Dream Act takes away NOTHING from anyone here. It only allows the students to pay for their own education. Education is so important. We should allow them to continue their education. It will help all of us in the future.

Now im all for education! BUT, scenario 1: I steal across the border into the U.S., have a baby, demand schooling,foodstamps,housing,and all that goes with it. now, all of you US taxpayers have to pay for said services. this is a DREAM come true! for all the aliens that break the law by sneaking across the border, have a baby and use our social services that are supposed to be for US citizens in need! Why do you think they want Healthcare reform? because there are so many hospitals that have gone OUT OF Business because said illegals are walking into emergency rooms for a bandaid, you dear US Citzen now have to pay ten dollars for an aspirin to cover the cost of said illegal aliens taking advantage or our system! we need E-Verify, We need to close the loophole on the old law about having a baby on US soil! that was for the Slaves! and is now being wantonly abused by all those stealing across the border!

Moving to Mexico
Dear Mr. President, Senate and House of Representatives:

I’m planning to move my family and extended family (18-20 mouths) into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me.

We’re planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico , and we’ll need your help to make a few arrangements.

We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I’m on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All Mexico government forms need to also be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico, but, I don’t plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won’t make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put U S. flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start.

13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say a critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all his people who come to the U.S. from Mexico .
I am sure that President Calderon won’t mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

Thank you so much for your kind help,

Sincerely, US Citizen & Taxpayer

The DREAM Act is AMNESTY for children who should not be in this Country! Why do taxpayers have to pay for the education of these illegal aliens children? Let the parents take their illegal alien children back to their own country where they belong and get their education there!

It’s just one thing after another with these illegal aliens. Let’s get rid of these aliens. When we get rid of ALL the illegal aliens, we will get rid of all the problems that go with them. THAT IS A FACT!

Alright Dreamies! Let’s keep on fighting. Don’t listen to ALPAC. In a devestated economy there are people willing to invest not only in themselves but also in America’s future! Pass the Dream Act!

Why do I, as an American have to allow an illegal’s dream? Why do they not stay in thier own country and make a dream there for themselves instead of cheating our system and getting away with the USA paying for medical care, education, etc. In PA the current debt for the Commonwealth is about 3 billion dollars which just happens to be the 780 million, over the last four years, spent by the taxpayers here to deal with illegals providing them services. So, I ask once again, why do we have to support them when we have our own citizens to think of.

“Dreamies” is a particularly good term for the individuals who support mainlining illegal immigrants into college ahead of US citizens. No one believes or even thinks that this strategy is built upon charity and good will. It’s just the usual old power to the minorities that everyone has grown so weary of.

It’s soon to be over……..

1. These illegal students are not innocent. They are over 18 years old, adults. They make a conscious decision to try and get American taxpayer subsidies for their education while being this county illegally, rather than return to their home country. If they want to study in the U, GET A VISA AND DO IT LEGALLY. They have already had years of taxpayers subsidized education. How greedy can you get?

2. The amount of financial aid is limited. Every foreigner here illegally who gets a subsidy for education is taking dollars out of the pockets of poor American students.

3. Why should foreigners in this country illegally get prefernetial treatment to attend college here, over law abiding foreigners who are waiting to immigrate and who are respecting America, Americans and our laws?

4. The Dream Act is back door amnesty. Give anyone, no matter how old, who has attended school here for just a couple of years, the right to enroll in college.. they don’t actually have to attend, or pass courses, then they get amnesty and can bring in their entire illegal family.

NO ONE IN AMERICA SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW.

FOREIGNERS HERE ILLEGALLY, MOOCHING OFF OUR SYSTEM, SHOULD BE DEPORTED.

E-verify could become a very significant immigration enforcement weapon, as it’s shown to work extremely well? Opponents have used the courts in erroneous lawsuits as a delaying factor but failed to impress a Maryland federal judge. This application discloses unauthorized immigrants in the workplace, being continually modified in its operation as spreads into the business world. It now has been unleashed on government contractors and subcontractors to locate illegal foreign labor. We should reward those government public servants who have battled outside special interest groups for American workers. But denying elected office to those who tried to kill or weaken its capabilities. Americans should harass their politicians to enact E-Verify permanently and prepare its operational program offering many uses in the incessant law enforcement fight.

In credit practices it could determine a person’s right to buy any vehicle, if in the United Statesillegally. It could also disrupt radical organizations like ACORN that was instrumental in assisting foreign nationals buying house mortgages, which had a major impact in the real estate collapse. E-Verify should also be installed in financial institutions, to stop fraudulent transactions using bogus SS # or IRS ITIN loan identification numbers. E-Verify could help emergency rooms identify illegal immigrants using forged documents and enable law enforcement to track the employer. That business should be forced to pay for the person’s injury or treatment instead of the proverbial taxpayers. Schools, colleges could check new student admittances for their immigration status. The E-Verification identification system could accomplish numerous other extraction processes, in determining a person’s right to government benefits. In addition, I’m for Health Reform and public option for some family members. Illegal immigrants should be exempt, except for emergency hospital access.

DON’T LET E-VERIFY EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30? CALL YOUR LAWMAKER AT 202-224-3121 AND DEMAND OTHER USES. E-VERIFY COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT, IN THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF OUR COUNTRY. CUT-OFF ALL BENEFITS. INSIST ON RESCINDING THE BIRTHRIGHT LAW, APPLICABLE TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MOTHERS. WE NEED NO NEW AMNESTY. E-VERIFY COULD SAVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT IS BEING PAID OUT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN SANCTUARY CITIES AND STATES. IN ADDITION SAY—NO—TO FOREIGN NATIONALS BEING COUNTED IN THE 2010 CENSUS. GOOGLE— NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB FOR FACTS ON YOUR DOLLARS, STATISTICS, OVERPOPULATION, FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AND CORRUPTION IN WASHINGTON.

I support the Dream Act. Those of us who came here legally, but have been victimized by the system, deserve either a system that works, or a chance to become productive members of society. At the very least, we deserve an immigration system that works. The current system does not work, even for those who wish to immigrate by the rules.

The Dream Act is very specific about who will get conditional permanent residency: only people who were brought here before the age of 16, and have been here continuously for 5 years. The bill also requires that 2 years of college or 2 years of military service be completed in order for these people to move from conditional status to legal permanent residency.

Furthermore, it will take someone many years to petition their family members after they receive their green cards. The process takes at least fifteen years.

Finally, undocumented immigrants contribute to communities by paying income and sales taxes.

I went to UC Berkeley. I did not get financial aid, though I paid in-state tuition because of our AB540 law. After Berkeley, I wanted to go to graduate school, but could not get a private loan because of my status. I would love to be able to give back to my community by teaching university students. I am not from Mexico, and have lived here since I was eleven.

If I return to my country of origin, I will be drafted into the army and forced to fight a war which I do not believe in.

I would not mind returning to my country if it meant I could have a chance at once again legally immigrating to the States, but the 10-year bar which is currently in effect prevents that from happening.

While I support the DREAM Act as a step in the right direction, it doesn’t go nearly far enough. We should go for full amnesty and an open border. The status quo creates a distinct underclass subject to extreme exploitation from employers, distrust from citizens, and harassment from law enforcement. ICE agents ethnically cleanse rural communities of Hispanics and sow terror. It’s completely unacceptable.

¡Ningún ser humano es ilegal!

The rants and raves of protectionists are nauseating. When are you people going to wake up and realize that immigration is an issue we have to deal with, and not with hate and xenophobia, but with respect for human rights. These people may not have been born with our citizenship rights but damn it they were born with human rights. Furthermore many of them came to make a better life for their families. Because of the poverty levels in their home countries they could not only not put food on their table but were amidst violence and suffering. Any decent human being would do the same out of love for their families. I know I would, and someone that wouldnt is not someone I want to know. This is one of the civil rights issues of our time, and just like the last time around hate is not the answer. It never is. Please dont do anything now that your grandchildren will be ashamed of you for later.

Also, for gods sake people stop listening to the hate mongerers (i.e. lou dobbs) and taking their word as fact. At the very least use your brains and do your research instead of parroting their words. Its embarrassing, really. Be a responsible citizen and sit your lazy butts down in front of the computer instead of a tv and get the facts, not somebody elses opinion. Its not that hard I promise. You might even surprise yourself with an as yet undiscovered talent for independent thought.

The few self-loating and self-deprecating individuals like Soc18 and Summerspeaker relative to their overstated devotion to charity and liberalism and lack of appreciation of their own country and its’ citizens is remarkable. But truly common sense is a main separater of liberals and conservatives. What possible good could come out of more dilution of the USA by opening the border to promote add’l illegal drugs, increase the flow of uneducated and unskilled labor into the USA where unemployment is at an all time high since the depression, and further weaken the public schools ability to deal with difficult to educate kids?????? Yea baby that’s a helluva good idea.
DEMOCRAT-
You have two cows.
> Your neighbor has none.
> You feel guilty for being successful.
> You push for higher taxes so the government can provide cows for everyone.
REPUBLICAN-
You have two cows.
> You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.
You hire hundreds of people to manage your herd.
SOCIALIST-
You have two cows.
> The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
> You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

Slowhike – In your comment one word jumped out at me like a jack in the box – DILUTION. That just sums it up for you huh? You are so afraid of your future descendants being diluted (not pure). My only fear is that their protectionistic ways and xenophobia will not be diluted from yours. You should be ashamed. Maybe you should be the one to take a slow hike. Respect is not something that is owed to you but rather something you must earn. Earn it my friend.

Justice isn’t charity. The whole notion of charity makes me uncomfortable as it creates a distinction and often hierarchy between giver and receiver. Struggling against oppressive laws shouldn’t be viewed through that lens.

Xenophobia- fear of things and people different or unknown to oneself. Since I take care of a multitude of illegal immigrants on a daily basis right here in grand ol Abq. my knowledge of them is most likely better than most.
Dilution- people come here from Mexico for a better life. They are a group of unskilled and uneducated people coming into a country that has a much higher education and higher employment rate. This, as well as the welfare money that they obtain prevents and dilutes what is available to citizens. No mystery here. Just the common sense I mentioned earlier. Keep trying though.
Charity- or Justice, soc18 and summerscooter- if you are paying taxes, and my guess is that you are not among the tax payers in NM, except for sales tax, then by all means if you want to give your tax dollars to illegal immigrants I support your choice. I support my choice of not giving it to them as well. If the term charity bothers you perhaps you should look it up and compare it to the term “tax”. Maybe that’ll soothe your discomfort.

I am not interested in earning anything from soc18, the least of which is respect. Your naivete’ and projections are bleeding through your lack of vision. If illegal immigrants are so worthy and the US should throw open it’s borders perhaps you could do more moving to Mexico and advocating for legal immigration. You would earn my respect.

Laws that you disagree with doesn’t make them oppressive, it makes them immigration laws. You word “oppressive” sums it up for both of you. Envy and anger is your cup of tea.

Immigration laws directly lead to people being vilified, harassed, kidnapped, imprisoned, expelled, and otherwise abused for crossing an arbitrary line in the sand. They likewise create an underclass subject to endless exploitation from employers. (See the Southern Poverty Law Center’s report of the status of low-income Hispanics in the South.) As such, these laws can only be justly characterized as oppressive. I encourage everyone to undermine their enforcement whatever possible. If the authorities ask you about ilegals, misdirect them. If you encounter someone in the Minuteman Project, call him out. If you get the chance, steal his gun. If Border Patrol cars park in your neighborhood, slash their tires. Together we can defeat the oppressors.

Well that’s fairly clear. Nice to see it in writing that you really don’t understand reality. So lets cut the crap, what do you say? The Native Americans got their asses kicked by the Spanish-Mexican forces and then Spain went home and the Mexicans got their asses kicked by the caucasions. Because Mexico is weak compared to the USA, all the sudden the border becomes just a line in the sand because your only alternative is to sneak in the back door. I commend you for showing your true colors- lawless, deceitful, theif, underhanded, criminal.

Fortunately their are many good, upstanding respectable Hispanics in Albuquerque, they are not at all like you. But your numbers are growing because although you are uneducated and unskilled you still know how to make babies- that’s the one thing you do really well. Shame on us for allowing you to share the wealth of our great country.

Additionally I would encourage you and all illegal immigrants to look at your “hole card”. The only possible reason to attempt to move out of Mexico into the USA is because it’s a better place with a higher standard of living. One reason that the USA is more successful than Mexico (and there are a boat load of reasons) is the American culture’s respect for, and adherence to the law. Although our political and business system certainly has its’ bafoons who are an embarrassment- generally speaking, if we don’t approve of a law we work from within to change it. We shy away from being criminals and breaking the laws because culturally, as Americans, we respect police officers, border patrolmen, sherrifs, firemen, judges, and so on. I’m not sure you can get your mind around this- but if a huge number of Hispanics cross the border and behave in the lawless fashion of their place of origin they will create a place identical to the one they left in the first place. What would be the point of that?

For the record, I’m neither Hispanic nor an illegal immigrant. You should be careful with the generalizations. I personally lack the respect for authority you ascribe to US citizens. Few of us have the absolute obedience you suggest. My peers, for example, have no scruple against using marijuana despite the law. Many mistrust the police. The economic differences between the US and Mexico can’t be explained by this dubious distinction.

Beast = Chayal
wherever you go you spread stupidity and anger. cool it, buddy.

Slowhike, the cultural values you ascribe to Hispanics and Americans are not only racist, but also dumb. Americans have a better situation because they have more resources, beat Mexico in a war a very long time ago, and, perhaps, some more able leaders or other circumstantial factors. Maybe you should leave the U.S. once in a while, and find out that we really don’t live in the best country in the world, or at least that there are values that other cultures have that we lack and would improve our situation. I lived in Mexico for a year, and have visited Africa and Europe. I assure you that there is nothing inherent in the Latin American and African cultures that keeps them from being just as great as Europe and America. All four have their faults, but what divides them is current resources, recent history, circumstance, and, to a small extent, the color of their inhabitants’ skin. In that order. So get out of the country (or at least the state) for a while. It’ll help you broaden your worldview.

Gee if it weren’t for just a few little things like leadership, history and circumstance we’d all be just one big ol’ happy human race. Thanks for setting me and everyone else straight on that Fasthike. I’ve not visited Africa but would say that I’m moderately well traveled, and except for the multicultural madness I’m fine staying right here in the good ol USA.

If you like our southern neighbor that’s your certainly your perogative. I like much of the Mexican country myself. However, there are most definitely inherent cultural and governmental aspects of African and Mexico that contribute heavily to their current state. Any effort to minimize these only demonstrates a lack of understanding.

Defenders of multiculturalism always say that deeming one culture superior to another is racism. That’s their whole gig. Acutally racism involves judging a persons character according to race, not chosen ideas and values. The USA was a Melting Pot, never a multicultural nation.

The next step in constructing multiculturalism is shrinking the concept of culture from chosen, conceptual, significant values such as wisdom, individual liberty, prosperity, and keeping most of what you earn, to non-chose characteristics like skin color, gender, religion and linguistic heritage. That’s what the liberals do, people like you.

I’m not the one trying to stop people from entering the U.S. because they have a different “skin color, gender, religion and linguistic heritage” that’s you. And guess what, Latin Americans didn’t chose to be born there. So your logic fails again, since you hold “chosen , conceptual, significant values” in high regard.
I also didn’t say that “deeming one culture superior to another is racism.” I don’t think you are racist, although you said some things, like “a huge number of Hispanics cross the border and behave in the lawless fashion of their place of origin.” Have you read the book “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” by Jared Diamond? there’s a movie as well. It’s not political, don’t worry. It’s just a historian who goes through the steps of why wealth and power in the world is so disparate between some countries and others. The name kinda says it all, actually. He talks about how those three things paved the way for how things are today.
The point of my whole post is that Western Culture, although, in my opinion, very good, isn’t responsible for the fact that the U.S. is so much better off than Mexico. It may have played a small roll, but really, it’s very negligible. Spain isn’t in the same predicament, and yet Spain has many of the same cultural traits. Same with Italy.
So, with that in mind, maybe we can stop attributing our good situation to Western Culture and try to see ways we can improve. And at the same time, not bash other cultures as being the fault for their people’s predicaments.
Keep an open mind.