A Friend of mine runs a Construction Company that specializes in conversion of Apartments to Condos, which currently is one of the hottest housing markets across America...
The way he went about and got 14 Brazilian Guest Workers into the United States and as Employee's for his small Company should be an example for ALL others to follow...
By using the system and doing things LEGALLY, his 14 employee's from Brazil are all registered with Immigration, have their Guest Worker Visa's and are provided with decent housing, health insurance and a good job by their Employer...
While they've been here working for my Friend, they have bought cars to drive, buy groceries, clothing and other essentials that help contribute to our Local economy...
My Friend has told me he doesn't understand why anyone would want to 'sneak in' and be here illegally, when by using and going thru the system we have, one could have all the benefits that his employee's enjoy...
Maybe he's an 'exception' but he and his Company should be the EXAMPLE for ALL others to follow...
My point is that if you want to come to the United States LEGALLY, sign up and register properly with Immigration, you should be welcomed into our society...
Becoming an American Citizen and learning to speak ENGLISH, 'our' National language, should be the priority if you want to stay...
Last night, the U.S. Senate took another step in attempting to change our current Immigration laws and addressing the illegal Immigration issue which is rapidly becoming THE campaign issue of the 2006 Mid-Term Elections...
The two political parties have two rival plans to deal with the nation's burgeoning illegal immigrant population...
And barring a breakthrough, there's no guarantee that either of them can pass a Senate driven by election-year partisanship.
"This is a vote that for millions of Americans is a question about whose side you're on," Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Wednesday in advance of a test vote on legislation offering legal status and eventual citizenship to many of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
Democrats, led by Sen. Harry Reid (D- NV), needed 60 votes to advance the measure. They seemed unlikely to prevail, especially since one-time Republican allies melted away to support a GOP alternative instead.
If so, that would clear the way for a similar 60-vote showdown on the competing Republican measure that Majority Leader Bill Frist (D-TN) unveiled late Wednesday.
The White House offered no reaction to the GOP plan, although President Bush has called for comprehensive legislation that includes steps to offer legalized status to those in the country unlawfully.
In general, both bills would increase border security, regulate the flow of future immigrants and offer legal status to many of the men, women and children who came to the United States unlawfully or overstayed their visas.
The rival plans differ on the details, though, and so far, at least, attempts at a bipartisan compromise have failed.
"The course we're on is to leave here in a few days having accomplished nothing for the American people," Frist said Wednesday several hours before announcing an alternative patterned after an approach that Democrats had rejected.
In general, the measure backed by Democrats would grant most of the 11 million immigrants legalized status and the opportunity to apply for citizenship after meeting several conditions. They include payment of a fine and any back taxes, passing a background check and learning English.
By contrast, the Republican approach requires illegal immigrants who have been in the United States between two years and five years to return to their home country briefly, then re-enter as temporary workers. They could then begin a process of seeking citizenship.
Illegal immigrants here longer than five years would not be required to return home; those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without assurances of returning, and take their place in line with others seeking entry papers.
Whatever the outcome, the issue has generated huge public rallies, exposed divisions within both political parties and already left an imprint on the midterm election campaigns for control of Congress.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who has been involved in seeking bipartisan legislation, said in remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday that the immigration issue had generated an unusual amount of emotion.
Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles provided evidence of that from 3,000 miles away when he urged Catholics to pray for passage of legislation allowing illegal immigrants to gain citizenship. The debate marks "one of the most critical weeks in the history of our country," he said.
Senate debate was marked by an unusually personal speech by Reid after Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) had referred to a position the Nevadan had once taken.
In near-confessional tones, Reid said he had once supported legislation to close the borders between Mexico and the United States, "in effect, stop people from coming across our borders into the United States."
His wife, whose father was a Russian immigrant, confronted him, Reid recalled, and he later held a town hall meeting at which friends told him he had made a mistake.
The bill was a "travesty," he said, the worst mistake of a 40-year career in politics, and "I have done everything since that meeting in Las Vegas and the conversation with my wife to undo my embarrassment."
With all the bickering and finger pointing, which will probably lead to more name calling, I doubt anything 'meaningful' can come out of either branch of Congress, leaving the Voters to decide on the Immigration issue this November...
For Now, That's Just 'OUR' Opinion...
Matt Bruce News Sarasota.com Listen Wednesday's To "The Captain's AMERICA" Radio Program Heard On 1490 WWPR Am Radio Serving Bradenton, Sarasota & ALL Of Tampa Bay, FL...
Hey I give when I can, but when other conservative causes (ie. 2nd amendment rights organizations) send out emails asking for support, they usually include various prepared emails to be sent to legislators, and they will send them for free and then they ask for money. Which is fine, if I feel their cause is worth it I will send the money. I think someone needs to FLOOD both houses and the POTUS with emails (and snail mail) expressing how we feel, and I have yet to find an organization doing this. (and I have no time to do any speerheading of this myself)
My concern about inviting foreigners in to work is the "anchor baby" issue. If we invite women in temporarily and they have a baby then what? They will never leave because their child will be considered a U.S. citizen.
This guy Appears to have Studied Journalism at The university of Random capitalization.
Teddy had it so right!? Not Kennedy, but Roosevelt!?
Theodore Roosevelt's?ideas?on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.?
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."