Can a US person explain illegal immigration to me?

COUoccycy wrote:

So why are people upset that Trump wants to follow the law (by only allowing legal immigration)?

Congress like the rules the way they are right now. Your produce is cheap. Restaurants cheaper still. Construction labor is cheaper every year. American workers wages are depressed at the same time.

Give them all smart phones and YouTube and they are entertained while getting their pocket picked.

Trump and his buddies like it just fine.

Basically, there is so much bureaucracy in the United states that 1 branch of government doesn't have the power to talk to another. Therefore, when an illegal says they need government assistance (food stamps, free housing) because they are poor, they only have to prove they are poor. They don't need to prove they are citizens. Then that branch of government doesnt tell the immigration department anything.

Jimmy21 wrote:

Basically, there is so much bureaucracy in the United states that 1 branch of government doesn't have the power to talk to another. Therefore, when an illegal says they need government assistance (food stamps, free housing) because they are poor, they only have to prove they are poor. They don't need to prove they are citizens. Then that branch of government doesnt tell the immigration department anything.

Illegals do not get welfare, no matter what talk radio tells you.

Minor CHILDREN who were born in the USA of illegal parents -- and thus are US citizens -- DO qualify. They are no different than other poor children.

Trump was all for revoking birthright citizenship, but I haven't heard much about it from him lately.

COUoccycy wrote:

Is it legal to be an "illegal" resident of the US?

What does the word illegal mean?

In my mind, if you are illegal, you would get deported.

But obviously that's not the law, since they seem to also have the power to vote.

So what does it mean?

The most common form of illegal immigration in the U.S. us entering with a valid VISA, then simply staying past the time the VISA expires. Not the only time but the most common.

People here without valid status are subject to deportation. This is a civil not a criminal procedure.

People here illegally are not entitled to vote. Only citizens can vote. Although I'm sure non-citizens do occasionally register and vote, research indicates that they do not do so in any significant numbers.

Not a genuis wrote:

fisky wrote:

. During the Obama administration, however, illegal immigration exploded.

This absolutely false -- we actually have negative migration with Mexico at this point. The recession hit lower-wage jobs like construction very hard and many fewer people have tried to come here. Plus, Obama has deported record numbers of illegals. I suggest you read::

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/03/5-facts-about-illegal-immigration-in-the-u-s/

- Illegal immigrant population peaked in 2007, and has been steady (not increasing) from 2009-2014.

Please educate yourself.

I didn't know this. Thanks for posting a link.

RunBoston wrote:

XY wrote:

It's commonly known now that Obama deported more illegals than any other POTUS in history

Is it commonly known they actually changed how they count deported individuals to increase the numbers?

^^This.

My understanding is that people "turned around" at the border are now "deported" which is padding the numbers.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

COUoccycy wrote:

Is it legal to be an "illegal" resident of the US?

What does the word illegal mean?

In my mind, if you are illegal, you would get deported.

But obviously that's not the law, since they seem to also have the power to vote.

So what does it mean?

The most common form of illegal immigration in the U.S. us entering with a valid VISA, then simply staying past the time the VISA expires. Not the only time but the most common.

People here without valid status are subject to deportation. This is a civil not a criminal procedure.

....

Ok, so it's not criminal.

Trump simply said that he would deport illegal immigrants, which according to you is already what the law says that you should do.

Why was it controversial?

Pretty much every civilized country does that. There are immigration laws in every country. Why bother having them otherwise.

COUoccycy wrote:

Is it legal to be an "illegal" resident of the US?

What does the word illegal mean?

In my mind, if you are illegal, you would get deported.

But obviously that's not the law, since they seem to also have the power to vote.

So what does it mean?

1) It is when someone immigrates illegally

2) No, they do not also have the power to vote. That is one of those made up "facts" that people like you are so fond of.

Glad I could help you out.

Ftyggygygggy wrote:

Mr. Obvious wrote:

The most common form of illegal immigration in the U.S. us entering with a valid VISA, then simply staying past the time the VISA expires. Not the only time but the most common.

People here without valid status are subject to deportation. This is a civil not a criminal procedure.

....

Ok, so it's not criminal.

Trump simply said that he would deport illegal immigrants, which according to you is already what the law says that you should do.

Why was it controversial?

Pretty much every civilized country does that. There are immigration laws in every country. Why bother having them otherwise.

Congress has never appropriated anywhere near enough money to deport everybody here illegally.

Not a genuis wrote:

Illegals do not get welfare, no matter what talk radio tells you.

62% of the households headed by an illegal receive welfare $$$.

Chin up and Pull up champ wrote:

fisky wrote:

Illegal means the person is in the USA illegally, without completing proper paperwork to move to America.

.

Quite a few illegals had proper paperwork/Visas but when their Visas expired they just remained, thus becoming illegal.

The Govt. knows exactly who these overstayers are. Start with these rather than the Mexicans, etc and the claims of racism would go away.

Trump should take out a full-page ad in US Today naming all the overstayers....now trespassers. This is where immigration reform needs to begin. Trump could also start with his own wife (working illegally on a tourist visa).

How say u?

Illegal immigration is obviously a worldwide problem (every civilized country has immigration laws and all have problems enforcing it)

I can see how it's a bigger problem in the US right now. For example, the majority of illegal immigrants in Switzerland are Latin Americans. Obviously, the US is much closer to Latin America than Switzerland is, so by definition, the problem is harder to fix.

Should the US simply give up on enforcing their immigration laws?

Tightening border control to stop "illegal" immigration does sound like the first natural step. I mean, that's what Germany is doing.

You then follow that with deportation (ridiculous to spend a lot of money on deportation if borders are not a bit more secure). I guess that it's a balancing act.

Am I missing something?

Unless the US wants to be the only country in the world with no immigration laws (does Paraguay have immigration laws?). That would sound very silly however.

I really didn't understand Clinton's position. She wants the status quo?