Firestorm for "non" green card people
By TexLadyPj
@TexLadyPj (1328)
United States
July 22, 2010 8:08am CST
I have a question. Arizona has passed a law saying that law officers can check "green card" status of people committing driving violations. That means they can check the status of any race, ethnic group, etc. There is a firestorm regarding that law. I am seeing stories everyday of families running in fear. {CNN}A family this morning, the father is legal, his 2 children born in US, his wife illegal. They had a small jewelry business with a nice house, was money the issue???
What has stopped families like this from applying for "green cards"?
I may get some responses that disagree with me, that is OK. I like discussions that have both sides of a discussion.
Prosperous mylotting
4 responses
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Money should have nothing to do with whether they are here legally or not. I have nothing against any race or creed or whatever but I do think that all should either be born here or come here legally. AZ borders with Mexico and a lot of the illegal problem comes in there without the manpower to properly supervise the vast border.
I see here in MO even some company will go to Honduras and bring back anyone who will come and sneak them into the country then hide them when the authorities come to check for "green card".
We need a President with some "GUTS" who will back the laws that the US has passed, we don't need new laws just enforce the ones that are already written and then AZ would not have had to pass their own law.
1 person likes this
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Herro you guys
First I get tracy first, now I get manleyjoe first.
My comment on money is because I know that it does cost to process citizenship paperwork. In fact, the price was just increased not too long ago.
Our ranchers on the border are in danger. Some have been killed and others have to post guards on their own land. Illegals cross the border at any spot they think they can get through. I cannot remember all the stories of ranchers being at risk. There may be laws on the federal books that have been conveniently forgotten?
Prosperous mylotting
Hey tracywork
Right on!!
Prosperous mylotting
@pmbhuntress09 (1608)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Isn't that a wee bit racist? Figuring that not all Spanish speaking people here legal or illegal are Mexicans.
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Herro ALL
When I titled this discussion "Firestorm" I did not realize the emotions it would bring out. I am glad I put up the discussion, I believe that one of functions of mylot is to allow freedom of speech as long as we are not abusive. Free expression of thoughts is fantastic. What a fantastic discussion and on both sides of the fence. I learned things I did not know. Thank you guys for a fantastic discussion. i appreciate the time each of you took to read and post your response. Picking a best response is going to be very difficult.
Prosperous mylotting
@sleepylittlerose (1648)
• United States
22 Jul 10
If they do not have a valid US drivers license, then yes they can request to see a green card or vaild passport. The thing is that most of the people that are being encountered with this law are from South America, mostly Mexico, so people are taking that it is racially motivated against Mexicans.
I see Arizona's law as a protection of state assets. If it is truely looked at in this fashion it is a good buisness decission to take the actions that they are taking. Arizona raises money from income taxes as do most states and if the people residing there are not paying taxes then the state is making no money. Yet they are still expected to educate the children (which I am all for), pay medical expenses if they are to go to the ER and fund roads that are being used. The tax dollar pays for all of these.
1 person likes this
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Herro sleepylittlerose
How do they get a drivers license? I had to produce my social security card to renew. That wasn't necessary when I first moved to Texas. That is a new requirement.
I understand that people drive without licenses. That is a risk they take. I agree fully about state assets being protected. It is an excellent business decision to keep assets for the people who pay taxes. Even people in apartments and rentals pay taxes through their rent. The property pays the taxes. Most states are having budget problems, some from the economy, some from other issues.
I'm sure other thoughts will cross my mind later in the day.
Prosperous mylotting
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Herro stealthy
Oh, what a dilemma. I don't know any way around it, except the ineffective NO FLY list. Fortunately, for me, I don't fly much. It seems that all three states caused this dilemma. I would have hoped the federal govt would have made a different decision. Make all three states change their law rather than putting all of us at risk.
Prosperous mylotting
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
22 Jul 10
What you don't seem to know is that illegal immigrants can get drivers licenses in three states, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. This recently caused a great deal of worry for people in New Mexico because it looked like they would not be allowed on planes using just a drivers license as an ID. Congress, rather than making NM change their risky law, changed its law that was in place to protect all of us from terrorists and allowed people to fly with their drivers license as an ID. So thinks to the Governor of NM we are all at risk.
1 person likes this
@trruk1 (1028)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Congress decides how many green cards will be issued in any given year. If they decided to issue a lot of new ones so many of those illegally working here could become legal, it would ignite a firestorm. Citizens can't find jobs, and members of Congress know how much outrage they would face if they authorized millions of immigrants to stay here by issuing green cards.
1 person likes this
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Herro trruk1
I thought there was a limit, however was not sure. I appreciate you reminding me that the number is limited and I understand fully why. Two thoughts cross my mine. Why are employers hiring "non" green cards, thus keeping jobs from US citizens or legal immigrants. Second thought, how long have they been in the states? How many years have gone by that they didn't apply? This particular family had 2 children, ages not mentioned. Say five years?
I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
I am looking forward to another response.
Prosperous mylotting
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
22 Jul 10
One aspect of applying for a green card is how they got into the country the first time. Did they come on a visitors visa that expired, or did they sneak in?
As I understand it, when an illegal applies for a green card, he may be required to return to his home country until the green card is issued, and it can take up to 10 years. That would be a long time to be separated from your family, so many just don't apply.
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Herro lacieice
Since I started this discussion, I found out you are correct. They must return to home country. An example I was told about took 10yrs. I appreciate you taking time to respond to this discussion and reinforcing some information I didn't have.
Prosperous myotting
@TexLadyPj (1328)
• United States
24 Jul 10
Herro marguicha
I understand your point about not being with family. It is very traumatic. Look at our military services going off to war and not being with their family. And they may not come home alive. Look at our Navy. Many Navy personnel come home to a new baby that was born while they were out to sea.
One additional thought, could the entire family return home to original country? Just a thought.
Prosperous mylotting
Herro pmbhuntress09
What a fantastic idea. I do wish they would renew that law. That would resolve a lot of the illegal immigrant problems. As citizens they would contribute to the taxes of their new country.
Prosperous mylotting
@pmbhuntress09 (1608)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I think the old law was the best as for as Imigration was concerned, Do you all remember the old law where if someone married a person from another country after 8 years the person could become legal without having to leave? Many vietnamese people did that in Maine, they came through Canada and then were marrying the women up there, in doing so they could get there citizenship papers in 8 years. Why they got rid of that I do not know, because anyone that has been here for years, and is married, has kids, should be allowed to remain here, but only if they have been married at the least 5 years. It just seems to me that is the right thing to do. Rather then kicking everyone out the door.
