[William McKinley]

I am probably going to regret posting this as my "my comments" gets innundated, but while the insquabbling amongst all of us is a huge downer to me, debates over the reason why things are the way they are always interest me.

So here goes...

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[PRND21]

Texas has less un-appeasables per capita.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Most Texans that I know are pretty pissed off about it.

[Young Rhino]

As a native Californian who chose to become a Texan, I find that:

1. Yes. Texas is special. Some of us consider it heaven.
2. We're Texans first, and choose to associate with the 49 lesser states.
3. Immigration has always been a bigger problem in California than it is Texas. Look at the way California has treated Asians (Yick Wo comes to mind).
4. Texas is more than a place. It is a state of mind. Those who get it are welcomed by those who were born here.

Flame away.

[NewRomeTacitus]

When juice from the agave cactus works its way into the water table...

[Ben Ficklin]

The illegals arriving in Texas are a better class than those in California.

[socal_parrot]

Next November, there will be a "Son of 187" proposition on the ballot in California. It will propose to deny most services to non-citizens. It is supposedly written to pass Constitutional scrutiny. Californians have passed several measures aimed at making it less attractive for illegals, only to be sold out by the State and Federal governments.


BTW... California was in independent nation for a short while also.

[dawn53]

I find that I'm less concerned about it than most people. I'm not a Texan, but:

1. We have lived under a similar system of "work permits" while we were in the Cayman Islands, and I saw that the system worked.

2. We have been through the nightmare that is the INS, when my husband, who was Canadian, successfully was granted naturalization. (I have lots of empathy for poor or illiterate folks trying to navigate the maze that the INS constructs.)

Besides that with the lottery system in place now, the words "they should do it legally" mean absolutely nothing. If you're not familiar with the process of getting a green card, take a look at this link and take the eligibility quiz (try plugging in Mexico as your nation of origin).
http://www.insexperts.com/cm/getting-green-card.htm

I think these two experiences make me more inclined to try to find a better system. What Bush has proposed has flaws, but it is a start to try and reign in the problem.

I think Bush has some idea of what he's doing and how this plan will play out, don't misunderestimate the man, not just yet.

[hobson]

Texas citizens both white and non-white fought side-by-side to gain independence from Mexico. The roots are deep.
There's probably never more than 2 degrees of separation between a citizen of Texas and a citizen of Mexico. If you don't have family living in Mexico you know someone who does.

[heleny]

Is Texas "special" in this regard? As compared to, say, California?

Californians probably feel more helpless and frustrated about the government being already out-of-control.

SB60 was a recent example of the state Democrats pandering to the illegal aliens when the Californians clearly were strongly opposed.

Ten years ago, Prop 187 was another example where a judge in the federal district court struck down the popularly-passed initiative. Davis failed to pursue the appeal.

Because of the continuing frustration with increasing state handouts attracting more and more illegal aliens who strain the budgets and clog freeways, a group of Californians wants to save our state by circulating a more moderate initiative to limit state benefits to illegal aliens. Not really mentioned is that this could indirectly alleviate some of the budget deficit.

Mail back by April 15th:
http://save187.com/

[Joe Hadenuf]

Here's a fellow Texan that I thinks disagrees with you. Care to see more?

__________________________________________________________ I've had it.

Posted on 05/20/2003 8:43:51 AM PDT by BeerSwillr

I've had it with illegal aliens, illegal immigration, and the complicit attitude of US immigration policy!

My 16 year old has been looking for a summer job for the last 3 months, what he's found has been surprising. Not only are there no summer jobs available, there are no jobs available, period, for someone with no experience.

So you say he's not looking hard enough? That the jobs are there, you just have to find them. HA!

All the entry level, low skill jobs that would normally be taken by teenagers and young adults during the summer are being taken by illegal immigrants, at least here in Texas. The few places that don't hire illegals have to contend with 10 or more applicants for each open position.

So who is this hurting you ask? Just a few teenagers who will be back in school in a couple of months? Just a few teenagers that will contribute little to the overall economic picture? WRONG!

You know the answer. It's hurting everyone. Teenagers would spend almost every penny they earned, contributing immensely to the overall economic health of the US. They would be in the malls, movie theaters, and restaurants spending their hard earned pay, leaving their parents free to spend their money on something else.

The illegal aliens? They used to maintain a low profile. Now, they don't bother. They can be seen everywhere; mowing lawns, planting trees, roofing & framing houses, working at the lube shack, pouring concrete, gathering at several official and unofficial day worker hang-outs in the mornings (when it would be extremely easy for immigration to swoop in and arrest them.)

Where you don't and won't see them is out spending their money (except for at Wal-Mart.) You don't see them at Bennigans, Chilis, Tony Romas, Cinemark, the mall, car dealerships, etc.

Know why?

They don't have any money to spend on the US economy because they're sending everything except a small subsistence back to Mexico.

The illegals are not here to help us or the US economy. Anyone that says they are here to take jobs that US citizens don't want is being disingenuous.

They're siphoning off millions of dollars a year from the economy. Not only by taking jobs, but a host of other ways; education benefits, medical assistance, government assistance, thievery, robbery, drug dealing, you name it, they're involved in it.

And what is the Department of Homeland Security™ doing about this? They're putting on a dog and pony show.

They're outlining major new methods of monitoring ports of entry, airports, etc. with biometrics, fingerprinting, radar, facial recognition technology, and who knows what else, while at the same time doing nothing to monitor thousands of miles of open space where, apparently, it is relatively easy to cross into the US.

It seems to me that simple reconnaissance flights over that vast unmonitored territory would be able to identify these border violations and put a stop to, or at least slow, this illegal invasion of our country.

The Department of Homeland Security™ is largely ignoring the issue. Illegal entry into the US continues unabated across our borders.

It makes me sick.

What can we do about it? Other than mew weakly and post articles like this on the large wasteland that is the internet?

Contact your elected officials and let them know what you're thinking. Let them know you will hold them accountable. It's all in our hands.

http://www.senate.gov/

http://www.house.gov/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/ I know I'm probably preaching to the Choir but I had to rant somewhere. I guess I could have just screamed at the TV like I usally do.

1 posted on 05/20/2003 8:43:51 AM PDT by BeerSwillr [ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[Joe Hadenuf]

Illegal Mexicans in Texas are just part of the problem there.

Behold

__________________________________________________________ Middle Easterners Streaming Into Texas: Study Say Most Live In Houston

The HoustonChronicle.com ^ | August 2002 | Edward Hegstrom

Aug. 14, 2002, 9:49PM

By EDWARD HEGSTROM

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Texas has one of the nation's fastest-growing Middle Eastern populations, and most of the state's immigrants live in Houston, according to a study based on census data.

Researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies say Texas' Middle Eastern population more than doubled in the last decade, to just over 100,000, including more than 52,000 in Greater Houston.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I've got a lot more articles from upset Texans, if you care to see them.

Regards.

[madison10]

That would be Mejas and Tejifornia. ;)

[Squantos]

OK.....is this act by GW mere generation of revenue from illegals more than it is of any benefit to either the employer, the illegal or citizen ?

Stay Safe !

[LOC1]

What Bush proposed pretty much reflects the ambivalence most Texans feel about illegal immigrants.

The first illegal immigrants in Texas were Anglos, when Texas was a part of Mexico. We thought of ourselves as OK folks, so it is not surprising that we now think of the illegal immigrants from south of the border as also OK folks. The vast majority of the are. They work hard, are honest, and take care of their families.

Those who complain just don't want to compete with someone who really wants to work.

[Unmarked Package]

In my experience, the degree of assimilation into the community and local culture is the factor that most shapes the views of citizens regarding immigrants. Texas definitely is more of a culture than a piece of geography. It’s difficult to fully describe what the Texan culture is because it has many aspects that accommodate several races and ethnic roots, but it’s easy for native and assimilated Texans to spot someone who is resisting assimilation.

Someone could write a book about what it means to be a Texan, but one character trait that I have observed in white collar and blue collar workers alike is willingness to work hard. Especially in team situations, exhibiting laziness among Texans will get your butt kicked, figuratively speaking, more often than not. Illegal immigrants living on the social welfare system are especially irritating to Texans for the same reason. However, we place much greater emphasis on examples of immigrants who are willing to work hard and they fit right in with that aspect of Texan culture.

I’ve lived in six states of the USA from New York to California and two foreign countries, including a Moslem nation, but I haven’t seen a stronger sense of identity and community than that exhibited in Texas. Illegal immigrants that move in and out of Texas are not likely to add to that sense of community and are a source of the greatest resentment from residents. However, immigrants who are comfortable with the culture and chose to make Texas their home quickly lose the label of immigrant and take on the title of neighbor and friend.

[LJPenney]

I am a Texan. I am ticked. All my Texan friends are also ticked. We are all totally ticked Texans.

[TommyUdo]

"One reader suggests that Texans have a much better-rooted sense of who they are than Californians do (heck, Texas was briefly a nation, wasn't it?)"

Yes, and Mexicans fought alongside the Texans at the Alamo. Just like there were Mexicans who were in favor of the Bear Flag Revolt in California. This very revolt is now protested by "Latino" groups as a celebration of Anglo "Imperialism."

Maybe Texans are better versed in their Great State's history than the people of "Okiefornia."

[dalebert]

Guest workers have to be documented. Thats the good part.