[Dane]

We have immigrants from all over the world who get here by applying, by entering legally.

Just as your ancestors did. Back in the early 20th century all they had to do was buy a ticket of passage to Ellis Island, pass the health test, and enter to survive the golden streets of the lower East Side.

JMO, the immigration laws of your ancestors, Yaelle, had more lax immigration laws that they are now.

[Yaelle]

What the H*LL have you got against my family? They were Holocaust survivors out of Buchenwald who nevertheless legally applied to emigrate here and were accepted with sponsors here and jobs.

Would you KINDLY lay off my family?

I am not discussing the laws on legal immigration then and now. If you wish to change the legal immigration processes, tell us about it.

My argument against Bush's plan is that he is setting a huge precedent of promoting illegal immigration. Most of us on FR think we should be doing MORE to combat illegal immigration, to preserve our middle class and to protect against terror. What is your actual argument, anyway?

[rolling_stone]

Just as your ancestors did. Back in the early 20th century all they had to do was buy a ticket of passage to Ellis Island, pass the health test, and enter to survive the golden streets of the lower East Side.

JMO, the immigration laws of your ancestors, Yaelle, had more lax immigration laws that they are now

Things change and started in 1921, with an EMERGENCY Immigration Act. Immigration changes when a Nation changes. A young sparsely populated country a hundred years ago is different that today. Time for this Nation to use its sovereignty to control immigration to what it wants not what other countries want. Tell me why should I pay for illegals schooling, medical and welfare costs as well as incarcerating the illegal criminals? California is over 40% hispanic, mostly from Mexican origin, what happened to diversity? Why such a population shift?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_the_United_States

[usadave]

Just as your ancestors did. Back in the early 20th century all they had to do was buy a ticket of passage to Ellis Island, pass the health test, and enter to survive the golden streets of the lower East Side.

Actually, besides just passing a medical health inspection, immigrants coming through Ellis Island also had to pass a mental health inspection and a legal (background) inspection. Also, any immigrant deemed “liable to become a public charge” was denied entry into the United States.