# Illegal Immigration: Amnesty or Boot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 17, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075 "2015-08-17T14:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/21 "2015-08-18T18:14:29Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The self-deportation that was talked about was for ILLEGAL immigrants. Perhaps you could quantify your “a lot of” and “a good number”. And I’m just saying, it is important to notice that to get to the illegals one side is not caring much about what they are doing to the legal immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/22 "2015-08-18T18:24:24Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > Although imperfect, and in desperate need of an overhaul - there does, in fact, exist a legal process for obtaining citizenship in this country. A process thousands of immigrants went through legally, taking years. If all illegal immigrants are allowed amnesty, we’ve spit in the face of the law-abiding immigrants who waited years to get here legally. Just because there are ways to legally emigrate into this country doesn’t mean any of those options are available to them. ---
**Author:** ![Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gent)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/23 "2015-08-18T18:33:51Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Just because there are ways to legally emigrate into this country doesn’t mean any of those options are available to them. Of course they are. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/24 "2015-08-18T18:41:08Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > Of course they are. You seriously think anybody can just apply, wait a few years and come here legally? that is absolutely not true. ---
**Author:** ![Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gent)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/25 "2015-08-18T18:51:15Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > You seriously think anybody can just apply, wait a few years and come here legally? that is absolutely not true. Unfortunately it takes more than “a few years”. After applying for a green card, you have to live in the U.S. for 5 years, past tests, etc. But, yes. Anyone looking to become a U.S. Citizen can apply, as long as they do things the right way. These are facts. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/26 "2015-08-18T18:57:06Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > Should we deport all illegals, with their kids (even if their kids are US soil citizens), without their kids, only deport criminals, pathway to citizenship? No deporting of US citizens. That’s right out. Parents of US citizens who (the parents, that is) also happen to be illegals should get a fast track for legalization. Not faster than people who applied before they got here, but faster than never. Criminals (aside from the issue of being illegal aliens) get dealt with by the criminal justice system as appropriate. > [@](#): > > Wall or no wall? No wall. Take all the money that we would put into building one and patrolling & maintaining it and pay for the above. > [@](#): > > we should deport criminals, but give amnesty to the ones that are here. … why? If they committed crimes here, try them here. > [@](#): > > They do the jobs Americans won’t do or that it would be uneconomical to pay top dollar for. I don’t buy this crap that “dey took errr jobs.” Americans should not be aspiring to be janitors, lawnmowers, field hands, cashiers, etc. What the eff? We’re too good to clean up after ourselves or handle money? I guess Jerry Seinfeld was right… “The problem with unemployment in America today isn’t that there aren’t enough jobs… there are plenty of jobs. What we’ve got are people who are way too fastidious for their own good. 'I may be unemployed, my wife & kids may be starving, but I’m not picking _that_ up…” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/27 "2015-08-18T20:08:04Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Removing 12 million people – more, if you insist on also evicting their children who may be U.S. citizens (and how is that going to pass constitutional muster? “You’re a U.S. citizen – but your mother isn’t, so you have to go away.” Ever read the 14th amendment?) – would be one of the most monstrous impositions on human liberty ever attempted. **It would make Balkans-style ethnic cleansing look like a picnic in the park by comparison.** Umm, no killing and mass graves…? We’re talking a huge difference. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/28 "2015-08-18T20:12:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > You seriously think anybody can just apply, wait a few years and come here legally? that is absolutely not true. Anybody can just apply. Whether or not the request is granted is not up to the applicant. Applications are often denied. This doesn’t justify illegally crossing the border. Doing that makes it harder for the honest people who are trying to follow the legal procedure. Hey, sell me your car? No? Okay, I’ll just steal it. You obviously weren’t going to agree to sell it, so it’s okay to steal it, right? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/29 "2015-08-19T00:04:16Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > And I’m just saying, it is important to notice that to get to the illegals one side is not caring much about what they are doing to the legal immigrants. From the article you cited, I’m not sure how you get to “not caring much”. A change in policy is bound to cause some level of disruption. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/30 "2015-08-19T00:36:48Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > From the article you cited, I’m not sure how you get to “not caring much”. A change in policy is bound to cause some level of disruption. I got the “not caring much” by many other posts from the one I was replying to, in this specific case it was clear that indeed **legal** immigrates were affected, mentioning that does alert many other readers about what did happen in places like Arizona and it shows how the poster either wilfully ignores what in practice does happens; or worse: he knows what will happen and he is happy to press for those changes because he knows how **legal** immigrants will be also affected. The lack of empathy from the proponents of this (and also very strong prejudice noted before) and the inhuman results that we will get by pressing for those changes in policy, needs to be mentioned too for the sake of both the documented and undocumented. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/31 "2015-08-19T12:43:35Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > Unfortunately it takes more than “a few years”. After applying for a green card, you have to live in the U.S. for 5 years, past tests, etc. But, yes. Anyone looking to become a U.S. Citizen can apply, as long as they do things the right way. > > These are facts. Um, nope, they’re not. Take a look at [all the legal immigration categories](http://www.uscis.gov/greencard) and then explain to me, with citations, how an ordinary person without close U.S. relatives or a U.S. job offer for which no qualified U.S. workers can be found will be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. legally. (And please note that Mexicans and people born in other countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the U.S. aren’t eligible to apply for the visa lottery.) You can’t, because that way doesn’t exist. Eva Luna, U.S. Immigration Paralegal ---
**Author:** ![Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gent)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/32 "2015-08-19T13:04:36Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Um, nope, they’re not. Take a look at [all the legal immigration categories](http://www.uscis.gov/greencard) and then explain to me, with citations, how an ordinary person without close U.S. relatives or a U.S. job offer for which no qualified U.S. workers can be found will be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. legally. (And please note that Mexicans and people born in other countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the U.S. aren’t eligible to apply for the visa lottery.) > > You can’t, because that way doesn’t exist. > > Eva Luna, U.S. Immigration Paralegal It’s their responsibility to acquire skills desirable for this country. Anyone can do that. If one really wanted to become a U.S. Citizen, they can. God forbid we required some initiative. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/33 "2015-08-19T14:29:21Z")
Anyone who wants to come to this country who wants to, with the following caveats: 1. They must be convicted of no crimes in their home country(except for things which are not illegal here). 2. They must be free of contagious diseases. 3. They will be ineligible for anti-poverty assistance programs until they have worked five years. Those immigrants who are currently here illegally can stay and apply for legal status, but must pay fines for whatever crimes or civil violations they committed while here. Especially identify theft, which would require restitution to the person whose identity they stole. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/34 "2015-08-19T15:12:14Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > It’s their responsibility to acquire skills desirable for this country. Anyone can do that. If one really wanted to become a U.S. Citizen, they can. God forbid we required some initiative. They should really consider re-wording that inscription on the Statue of Liberty, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/35 "2015-08-19T15:30:17Z")
> [@DerekMichaels00](#): > > What do you think about illegal immigration? 1. Build the wall. Monitor it electronically and back that up with armed response. 2. Round 'em up, run 'em out. 3. Impose massive fines on companies who have hired illegal aliens. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/36 "2015-08-19T15:44:48Z")
Papers, please. ---
**Author:** ![Gent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gent)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/37 "2015-08-19T15:53:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > They should really consider re-wording that inscription on the Statue of Liberty, I guess. Emma Lazarus’s sonet was in reference to the millions of immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/38 "2015-08-19T16:16:08Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > It’s their responsibility to acquire skills desirable for this country. Right, because all the best wretched refuse have desirable skills. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/39 "2015-08-19T16:20:27Z")
> [@Gent](#): > > Emma Lazarus’s sonet was in reference to the millions of immigrants who came to the United States through Ellis Island. It was written in 1883, when the US effectively had no border controls for anyone except the Chinese. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075/40 "2015-08-19T16:58:37Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > 1. Build the wall. Monitor it electronically and back that up with armed response. > 2. Round 'em up, run 'em out. > 3. Impose massive fines on companies who have hired illegal aliens. I’d change #2 and modify #3. 1. Let the illegals know that as their presence becomes known, they will be deported. This will spur a lot of planned self-deportation. 2. Fines aren’t enough. The activity won’t stop until the law-breakers—the people who do and authorize the hiring—are marched before the cameras in orange jumpsuits on the way to jail. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-immigration-amnesty-or-boot/728075.md?page=3)