How should the United States handle illegal immigration?

[Salentopia]

I think that right now the best course of action would be to do two things. First the United States government should grant amnesty to all illegal immigrants that have been here for more than 2 years and have no criminal records. Deport the illegal immigrants that have been here for less than 2 years and those that have criminal records. The second thing is to prevent illegal immigration from getting out of hand again we must triple the size of the border patrol and give more funding and resources to ICE to crackdown on illegal immigrants and we must implement tougher penalties against business's that employ illegals. Legal immigration is good, illegal isn't. I feel that it is a shame that the U.S. government's incompetence let it get so much out of hand. So what do you think is the best way for the United States to handle illegal immigration?

[Sponn]

Make it legal, and gently scold the ones who refuse to become proper citizens.

[Frisivisia]

Well, because you are just another brick in the wall, I'll go with a mile-high wall of immigrants to keep new ones out.

[Radiatia]

I'm sorry to say that I'm of the opinion that illegal immigrants should be deported. If people want to move to the US (or any country for that matter) they can and should go through the proper legal channels in order to do so. Jumping across the border and managing to stay there for 2 years is not a good enough reason, in my opinion, for amnesty to be granted to these individuals.

Plus if I have to go through the shitty process of getting a green card, then so should everyone else.

[Frisivisia]

I'm sorry to say that I'm of the opinion that illegal immigrants should be deported. If people want to move to the US (or any country for that matter) they can and should go through the proper legal channels in order to do so. Jumping across the border and managing to stay there for 2 years is not a good enough reason, in my opinion, for amnesty to be granted to these individuals.

Plus if I have to go through the shitty process of getting a green card, then so should everyone else.

That's why we use them to build the wall. Out of themselves!

[DogDoo 7]

Harsh penalties for employers, (we already deport the ones who get convicted of nasty things), wayyyy more visas for temporary residence, and once this happens, no more amnesty for unauthorized crossers who enter after the new visa rules come online.

[Tierra de Vega]

I'm sorry to say that I'm of the opinion that illegal immigrants should be deported. If people want to move to the US (or any country for that matter) they can and should go through the proper legal channels in order to do so. Jumping across the border and managing to stay there for 2 years is not a good enough reason, in my opinion, for amnesty to be granted to these individuals.

Plus if I have to go through the shitty process of getting a green card, then so should everyone else.

Hear, hear!

[Salentopia]

I'm sorry to say that I'm of the opinion that illegal immigrants should be deported. If people want to move to the US (or any country for that matter) they can and should go through the proper legal channels in order to do so. Jumping across the border and managing to stay there for 2 years is not a good enough reason, in my opinion, for amnesty to be granted to these individuals.

Plus if I have to go through the shitty process of getting a green card, then so should everyone else.

Hear, hear!

I agree with that on a matter of principle. But deporting 11 million people would not only be impractical, but extremely expensive and time consuming. That is why I am proposing we grant amnesty only to the ones that have been here for at least 2 years and have no criminal record while deporting the rest. That should be coupled with improved border security and harsher penalties on employers that hire illegal immigrants to prevent illegal immigration from becoming such a large a problem again in the future.

[Swith Witherward]

Hear, hear!

I agree with that on a matter of principle. But deporting 11 million people would not only be impractical, but extremely expensive and time consuming. That is why I am proposing we grant amnesty only to the ones that have been here for at least 2 years and have no criminal record while deporting the rest. That should be coupled with improved border security and harsher penalties on employers that hire illegal immigrants to prevent illegal immigration from becoming such a large a problem again in the future.

My family immigrated to the US from Italy and Hungary. Back then, they were required to adapt, and the children were given a short amount of time to learn English. (There weren't any social programs.)

I don't have a problem with immigration (legal or otherwise) but I'd like to see some damn effort being made to become a proper citizen - able to support themselves, speaking the language well enough to function. It really isn't too much to ask. If my family could do it, so could they, especially with all the programs available to people to help them acclimate.

That said, why must we allow anyone to become a burden on society? Other nations strictly enforce their immigration laws, to my limited knowledge. Perhaps it's time the US did so as well?

[Disserbia]

Streamline access to citizenship for those who qualify.

[Nazis in Space]

Since the CIA is in the business of renting prisons from Poland, it could rent Auschwitz and use it as a reception- and detention camp for Mexicans.

[Luveria]

Build something like the Berlin Wall across the entire USA/Mexico border.

[Nazis in Space]

Build something like the Berlin Wall across the entire USA/Mexico border.

The Berlin wall - 1/28th the length of the American/ Mexican border - cost just shy of two billion DDR Mark to construct, and had annual maintenance- and guarding costs of some 500 mio DDR Mark. Another 400 mio DDR Mark were needed for its 'Upgrade' in the late 1980s.

It is difficult to determine how much a DDR Mark was worth in US dollar on account of it not being traded on the financial markets, and assorted consumer goods being heavily subsidised by the DDR government, not to mention that the DDR Mark took a deep dive towards the end of the 1980s (Black market). For the 1960s, however, the ratio appears to have been roughly 1 DM : 4 DDR M, and 1 USD : 4 DM.

Inflation has resulted in a US dollar in 1965 being worth upwards of six times its 2013 purchasing value.

So:

28 x 2000000000 / 16 x 6 = 21 billion US dollar construction costs and

500000000 / 16 x 6 = 187.5 million US dollar annual maintenance and guarding pricetag

That's a one-time cost of 0.6% the US' Federal budget, and and annual cost of 0.005% the United States' Federal budget.

Hm. Not actually that bad. Go right ahead, I say.

[Salentopia]

Build something like the Berlin Wall across the entire USA/Mexico border.

That will help hinder illegals and drug traffickers but I would rather just triple the size of the border patrol and periodically station National Guard troops along the border to assist the border patrol.

[Luveria]

Build something like the Berlin Wall across the entire USA/Mexico border.

The Berlin wall - 1/28th the length of the American/ Mexican border - cost just shy of two billion DDR Mark to construct, and had annual maintenance- and guarding costs of some 500 mio DDR Mark. Another 400 mio DDR Mark were needed for its 'Upgrade' in the late 1980s.

It is difficult to determine how much a DDR Mark was worth in US dollar on account of it not being traded on the financial markets, and assorted consumer goods being heavily subsidised by the DDR government, not to mention that the DDR Mark took a deep dive towards the end of the 1980s (Black market). For the 1960s, however, the ratio appears to have been roughly 1 DM : 4 DDR M, and 1 USD : 4 DM.

Inflation has resulted in a US dollar in 1965 being worth upwards of six times its 2013 purchasing value.

So:

28 x 2000000000 / 16 x 6 = 21 billion US dollar construction costs and

500000000 / 16 x 6 = 187.5 million US dollar annual maintenance and guarding pricetag

That's a one-time cost of 0.6% the US' Federal budget, and and annual cost of 0.005% the United States' Federal budget.

Hm. Not actually that bad. Go right ahead, I say.

That actually does seem like an excellent idea. Take a little money from military funding to put it towards the wall and it's all set.

Build something like the Berlin Wall across the entire USA/Mexico border.

That will help hinder illegals and drug traffickers but I would rather just triple the size of the border patrol and periodically station National Guard troops along the border to assist the border patrol.

I like the wall idea. With the wall and an increased coast guard that would cripple illegals and drug traffickers. Those benefits alone would pay off the wall.

[Atlantica]

I think America should start opening up for illegal immigration: making them legal, which will make them pay taxes at the expense of more rights for them, would help America on reducing the Financial Crisis, and sort of affect the Sequester.
Also, I think illegal immigration for the borders has rose too much that legalizing it would be the only solution. Think about the Dutch policy on Drugs (Marijuana, Cocaine, etc.): instead of banning and attacking narcotic companies, the Dutch legalized drugs and sold them by the government itself, which seemed insane at first, but had reduced the increase rate of drug usage.

[Kaamnaayein]

Make it easier to immigrate to America legally, create a way by which any illegals already here can become legal residents, shut down businesses that use illegal labor, and put a two-week prison sentence on the books for anyone who knowingly hires or employs any illegal immigrants.

The above is the only humane and effective way with which the problem can be realistically solved.

[Salentopia]

I think America should start opening up for illegal immigration: making them legal, which will make them pay taxes at the expense of more rights for them, would help America on reducing the Financial Crisis, and sort of affect the Sequester.
Also, I think illegal immigration for the borders has rose too much that legalizing it would be the only solution. Think about the Dutch policy on Drugs (Marijuana, Cocaine, etc.): instead of banning and attacking narcotic companies, the Dutch legalized drugs and sold them by the government itself, which seemed insane at first, but had reduced the increase rate of drug usage.

Last I checked, soft drugs are still illegal in the Netherlands. Only, the law just isn't enforced that much.

[Czechanada]

Roving death squads, but armed with tacos with jagged edges instead of firearms.

[Luveria]

Roving death squads, but armed with tacos with jagged edges instead of firearms.

State licensed volunteer citizen border militias authorized to use lethal force.

[Salentopia]

Roving death squads, but armed with tacos with jagged edges instead of firearms.

Either be serious and add an intellectual argument, or don't post at all.

[Czechanada]

Roving death squads, but armed with tacos with jagged edges instead of firearms.

Either be serious and add an intellectual argument, or don't post at all.

How are you so sure that I am not serious?

[Luveria]

Either be serious and add an intellectual argument, or don't post at all.

How are you so sure that I am not serious?

The tacos part gave it away.

[Salentopia]

How are you so sure that I am not serious?

The tacos part gave it away.

Basically yes.

[The IASM]

Kill all of them.