Illegal immigration to the United States Puns

Canada has been critical of the United States but they seem to have pivoted now that some of the illegal immigrants in the United States started making their way into Canada.

What do you think about Canada's change in position now that it actually is effecting them?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-immigration-border/canada-granting-refugee-status-to-fewer-illegal-border-crossers-idUSKCN1IN1CO

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/nigerians-are-walking-into-canada-prompting-request-for-us-to-take-action/2018/04/27/f9357a0c-45b6-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html

“On May 7, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Justice Department would begin prosecuting every person who crossed the Southwest border illegally — or at least attempt to prosecute “100 percent” — even if some of them could or should be treated as asylum seekers, as the American Civil Liberties Union has argued. . .

Senior immigration and border officials called for the increased prosecutions [in April] in a confidential memo to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. They said filing criminal charges against migrants, including parents traveling with children, would be the “most effective” way to tamp down on illegal border crossings.

The “zero-tolerance” measure announced Monday could split up thousands of families because children are not allowed in criminal jails.”

This excerpt is taken from a Washington Post Article - here’s a bit more about my personal opinions.

The discussion I would like to have is not about the legality of immigration itself, but about the methods used to enforce existing immigration laws. If the goal of the United States is to decrease illegal immigration, treating all immigrants (including those who may be seeking asylum) like violent criminals is not only an unjust technique, but a downright ineffective one.

Here’s another article to back up my opinion with a little more fact.

Change my view.

If you've been following the political hoo-ha surrounding the upcoming presidential election then you are well aware of the controversial topic of illegal immigration. The discussion is pretty clear. The right believes in doing what they can to end it. The left feels that we need to give access to a better life even if it that access isn't attained legally.

Regardless of which you believe, the reality is that every other successful nation is going through a similar thing. If you look at the growing problems with migrants in Greece & Macedonia. If you look at the refuge issues in places in the Middle East like Jordan and Lebannon. You will see that people are fleeing their homelands for the hopes of a better life.

However these hopes come with the destruction of hopes for those who are already in that better land. There are limited resources and giving access to those resources to people who want to come to your country, means that they will not be available for you. This problem is huge and countries are taking varying measures.

Places like Macedonia are blockading their border. Places like Hungary are building fences. Places like Jordan are setting up refuge camps not allowing for access outside of them.

However when the U.S. suggests that they too need to be taking measures to protect their resources, they are left to handle stark criticism. Criticism that ranges from "racists" to "fascists". However this same criticism seems to be absent for much of the other countries in the world who believe in protecting their resources and their borders.

I believe the criticism is lacking in Europe because people understand that these migrants are having a detrimental affect on the societies. If you look at the problem expanded immigration has caused in France, Germany, Greece, England and many other nations, you begin to sympathize with taking measures to stop it.

For some reason this reality seems to be ignored when it comes to people over running U.S. borders. It seems as if people think the U.S. has unlimited resources and that any and all should have access to them.

The narrative is often to say that these people just want to make a better life for themselves. Yes, as does every other person in this world. But in order for them to make a better life they need resources to do so. Those resources are being kept from people who should have access to them (legal immigrants and citizens).

I see no reason why the U.S. should be criticized for wanting to

While I do understand that there are several problems that are caused by illegal immigration such as drug crime, human trafficking, and lower wages in particular vocations. It is also true that the majority of people from Mexico flee to America for the betterment of themselves and their families. Mexico has failed their people and they just want to live in a more just and free society. If I were Mexican and lived in the same desperation I would absolutely do what I had to do to get to America.

What I propose is working with the Mexican government to end the corruption and drug trade by any means possible. Make it a safe place to live, work and raise a family. I believe we can accomplish this by forging an alliance with Mexico and utilize our armed forces to target and eliminate the cartels. Once they are gone, assist the government, with the help of our FBI and CIA to flush out the corrupt government officials.

My belief is that doing this not only would we strengthen Mexico and allow it to reach it's full potential. We could also put a huge dent in the cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine problem in the U.S. as well as in Canada.

I have been to Mexico several times, the landscape, culture and people are truly fantastic. In my view there is no reason why we shouldn't do what we can to help our neighbors to the South while also benefitting the U.S. and Canada as well.

(I apologise for typos/grammar. This was written on my phone. You know how it goes.)

Is it the cost?

I've always had trouble understanding the Republican plan to slow illegal immigration, because it seems like they are unwilling to take the steps that will actually be effective. Here is what I mean:

In my opinion, any such plan must include these two items:

1. A free national ID card for all legal citizens, or an equivalent, that employers much require of any job applicant. Republicans have been against this because of privacy concerns (e.g. it would be a national database and a nationally-issues ID card

Without such a secure form of ID (vs. other forms of ID that are not as secure, such as SSN cards) it is too easy to create and obtain forged documents (e.g. a forged SSN card). Even driver's licenses in some states are not a very secure form of ID.

2. Severe penalties for employers who employ illegal immigrants, including personal fines against the employer and even mandatory jail time. Republicans have been against this because it would place more of a burden on one of their largest constituents: businesses and business owners.

Without real penalties, there is no incentive for the carpet shop owner down the street not to hire illegal immigrants to work on their carpet-installation crews, for example.

So, Republicans, what is your plan to slow (or stop) illegal immigration that would actually work? Securing the borders will only stop maybe 50% of it, because a large percentage of illegal immigrants came to the U.S. legally, but then just decided to stay when their visas expired.

I am requesting honest answers from Republicans/conservatives here and civility from the Democrats/liberals who decide to comment.

almost all other crimes have statutes of limitation.

In light of Trump's recent speech in Phoenix, it got me wondering, is illegal immigration really that much of a problem in the United States? What are the macroeconomic and social effects of illegal immigration, and can they even be solved with deportations and borderline police state activity? Or are immigrants simply scapegoated due to xenophobia and racism as the cause for less visible, but bigger, problems in American society?

If it is or isn't a big problem, why?