Low wage jobs have existed in America for decades and unemployed Americans have consistently failed to take them. The fact that people in real (as opposed to relative) poverty in neighboring countries immigrate illegally here to take those jobs can't surprise anyone. On this issue the president is right for once - give south-of-the-border immigrants guest-worker visas with the possibility of citizenship down the track. The country will be better for it in the long run

So you are okay with national ID cards?

Dear thinkitthrough,
So you think that importing poverty into this country will make it better? Why hasn't it worked yet? Schools and hospitals across the U.S. are being crippled with the number illegals that can't and in some cases won't pay their share. I as a taxpayer(yes me, paid over $20,000 to the I.R.S. last year) am being forced to subsidize the companies that employ these people. I and you pay an increased premium to health insurance to cover the cost of treating these people when they go to the hospital. I and you as homeowners pay more in property tax to build the schools and pay the teachers to teach their children. We pay more in the cost of infrastructure also. When my child was born the insurance part the bill came to $10,000. Not counting doctors appointments till birth. How many illegal aliens making 10 bucks an hour can afford to pay that kind of bill? As for that, how can anyone, legal or not? As for them payiong taxes you argue. Sales tax on goods maybe. Most of them that I've come across in the construction industry, who I assume are illegal, claim married with 8 dependents on their paycheck. Assuring they take everything they make home. Why should they pay taxes? They have fake social security numbers and the federal government doesn't care if John Smith who's been dead for 10 years starts paying socialsecurity taxes again. They won't investigate and deport them. The government won't do anything about it. Drop my tax load of 25% to the fed + 7.65 s.s down to 7.65%(their part of social security) and I'll be happier than a pig in ****. The companies that employ these people are getting a free ride at the taxpayers expense. Instead of the companies getting richer they would have to pay a living wage and offer benefits. Inflation you cry; no, global competition and innovation would keep prices low (relative) and the U.S. would remain competitive. I guess republican, logic supply and demand, only apply to the large companies. They can raise their prices when there is a short supply,(oil) yet when labor demands a premium for working tough and dangerous jobs the soloution is to import and abuse a group of people to keep wages low and keep more money for them. We as human beings shouldn't stand for this. We should as a group boycott all the companies that do this. We as a group hold more power over the companies than you could ever imagine. We should make the rules that they have to play by, not get what's left over after they finish gorging themselves. Sorry bout' that explosion!

Actually, isn't the immigration issue still yet another big, ol' non-issue (the magician's misdirection)...???

Though there was a fed. case where in '82 the US Supreme Ct. understood that a Texas statute allowing schools to deny enrollment to the children of "illegals" wasn't "kosher" unless it somehow furthered a SUBSTANTIAL GOAL of the state.

And, really, does anyone benefit from such a forgotten class of kids...???

Still, didn't Big Arnold propose giving illegals drivers licenses...???

I read a case where a hotel manager was Ordered to get rid of 5 of her staff (illegals), but she kept 2 on, got busted and spent 10 days in jail. And my point is that those illegals were simply "dumped" into the street!!!

And isn't that the real deal here???, how such vagrants are likely to turn to criminal acts to survive when they're fired, or simply can't find work!!!!!!!

But isn't that the big, ol' plan here??? Violent crime has been halved, which equates to police dept. budgets getting slashed all to hell!!!!!! What??? Well just look at how in Mountain View, CA, the PD was trying to unduly rid itself of fair-minded policewomen...!!!!!!

But still..., far from being a big, ol' "political football," there is no real issue on the subject of illegal aliens, instead it's just another instance where the Gov. is baffling with a huge load of BS!!!

The real obvious bottom line here is that there are 16 different types of ID cards for legal non-citizens, such that employers are real "confused," and in their confusion they're liable to just go ahead and hire... But why not use a standardized ID, and simply charge "legals" $10 or whatever to pay for their "worker" card...

Yeah, almost everyone can be counted upon to make a real big fuss about the primary importance of instilling the proper work ethic in children, yet how many impressionable, disadvantaged boys grow up knowing of a corner where men spend their days loafing, with the vaild expectation of finding enough work to get by...? So, is this social science--or the immoral "hustling" of ignorant, disillusioned kids into the s__t jobs (and wouldn't social science actually be about improving work environments and wages)...?

I say give seasonal laborers citizenship--and eligibility for unemployment benefits--because they're the ones who work their asses off!!!

In the past, the problem with the "guest worker" program was that, while they're waiting for jobs, the workers were all housed right across the border, a circumstance rife with problems.

I think a good plan would be to contract with these workers for a year, during which time they would be housed here, then send them back home again, with their wages, giving others the opportunity to make some money.

Instead we provide "shelter" (and welfare) to the huge extended families of the aliens who buy into marriage contracts with citizens.

On yeah, isn't it really quite scary how "official evildoers" have managed to expertly substitute their own favorite brand of lawlessness for our substantial goals--on a truly grand scale!!!!!!!

Make Mexico the 51st State. Not possible? Who says anything is impossible. The 20-30 million illegals would flock to go home...corporations would have to pay the US minimum wage, all eligible would pay IRS taxes, and everyone would be US citizens. Think about it.

Bradford Plumer,
If the remittances in 2005 were $90,000,000,000 by immigrants in the U.S., then we need to figure out How Much of that money was not reported in any ways nor forms for U.S.A. Federal and/or States income taxes revenues? Also, How much of that money was remittances by illegal immigrants employed illegally by people and companies including corporations such as Publix Super Markets which is Forbes 5, Fortune 127 and Fortune " Hall of Fame" and also Home Depot, for example, which is Fortune 14 on the Fortune 100 List of "Best Places to Work", ETC!
Personally, I think the economy in Atlanta, GA USA is stagnant for the first time in a very long 13 years!
I am NO EXPERT and I am not debateing with you. I find that figure of remittances by immigrants in the US staggering and I know that much of that money needs to stay in our US economy!
Global!!!

If we are going to not enforce the laws regarding immigation when it applies to Mexicans, then we must let people from other nations in without regard to the law, also.

Why do we apply the law to those who come in droves and not to those who come in smaller groups?

We are a nation of laws. If there is inconsistency in its application, then that must be codified. I suggest we simply eliminate the immigration law.

It's already been eliminated de facto -- look at the behavior that's occurring.

On a last point, exactly how many people do we plan to have living in this country? Areas that were once rural are already losing that characteristic as populations push into them. Perhaps it's OK to have a parking lot from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast?

Me? I'm exploring how to leave the Northwest. Alaska is looking better and better.

What disturbs me the most is the fact politicians are quick to demand fines and penalties from those who can least afford it and ask nothing of, the real perpetrators of crime, employers who recruit and hire illegal immigrants and those who pay unfair wages. It is the employers who deserve to be penalized and fined; their coffers are much larger as a result of paying discriminating wages and provide little or no benefits. Of course this is unlikely since, that would limit their ability to make substantial contributions to Winnies in Washington.

I am so proud to witness the Hispanic population rise above the smoke and mirrors of the illegal immigrant issue. They see it for it truly is – good old fashion discrimination. I am tired of the American government, the largest employer of illegal immigrants; use us as their scapegoat. The military does not seem to have an issue with accepting illegal immigrants, their children and grandchildren to fight wars on behalf of America.

My grandparents were considered illegal immigrants when they came to America in 1914. Their son’s and their grandson’s, including myself, severed in the US military. Some were killed and others were wounded, but that pales in comparison to the discrimination each generation has had to endure by the very citizens they swore to protect and defend.

Let me remind my fellow Americans this land is home of the brave, regardless of their origins. And I would caution the working-class to be careful what you wish for, otherwise, you could end up having to fight wars on behalf of greedy cowards all by yourselves.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS do more damage to this country than good! paying sales tax is not the same s paying F.I.C.A. or federal or county or city or state tax, that usually comes out of ones paycheck via they're SSN#

The amount of jobs they take away from us natural full blooded americans and our young americans is appalling!

The drain on our public services only ensures higher taxes for the real tax paying americans, not someone with a fake or stolen SSN#

If your an american with full citizenship status, this doesnt apply to you, sorry if it applies to the other 14 family members you got living under one roof!

The other day I actually got a flyer in the mail that didnt have a word of english on it, not one word (save the postmark)

Its time we as americans quit letting foreigners take advantage of good old american hospitality.

More importantly its time our representatives and senators do they're job and think of america first! Or risk getting fired!

FYI this isnt the United states of Mexico, the recent demonstrators only proves how arrogant these illegals have become in thinking they even have a right to demonstrate in a country they are ILLEGALLY in.

the recent publishing of a comic book by the mexican government on "How to be an Illegal" should warrant full sanctions on mexico. including up to closing the border and all trade negotiations.

I work in a low paying job that is very customer oriented.... i see it everyday, mexicans coming in not being able to understand a word of english but they can count our dollars!

the ILLEGALS in this country are social and financial leechs and need to be removed not rewarded!!

perhaps someone should explain to these people (in spanish) what the words ILLEGAL & ALIEN actually mean

i saw this illegal immagrant problem 20 plus years ago. its not any thing new.what is new is it has finally come to lite!its been here for a long time but been hidden by monica,impeachment of a good not great president,911,afghanistan,and that ever present thorn in our side iraq!! we let those lieing leaders of ours do a shell gane on all of us and actually turn us against each other {the left and the right} untill we got blind to the problem!!!but now we see how they really think ,both sides are saying the same thing we need the illegals! bull @%$# the people that need them are the uppercrust low tax paying hipocrites that sat back and let this get to this point. the only way we as a people can fix this is simple .when therev is a rally schedualed in or a round where you live go and do your civic duty attend let them know how you feel!!! god knows there playing the free speech card on us.by all means the most inportant thing we as tax paying red blooded american citizens can do is VOTE!!!!! they cant do that unless the fibble minnded leaders of this great nation of mine and yours and your childrens let them decide who is right in this debate.i hope we are the ones who are