Anchor Babies (Birth Right Citizenship)

Odd how an immigrant wants us to have open boarders.....hmmm.....I guess we better do it.

 

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2007, the number of foreign born residents were 38 million. I assume this number does not include illegal immigrants.

Immigration Worldwide: Policies ... - Google Books

 

To whom are you referring. Me? I was born and bred in the United States pal.

 

What???????

 

Surprise Surprise

 

b4cz28, first, your handle is very recognizable but, hard to remember. Secondly, thanks for the thoughtful response. I really don't have any trouble with most of what you say. I just wanted to touch again on the point that this may not be as big of a problem as one party seems to be making it. I would be interested in seeing a complete study of true cost to the USA economy that the illegals have. For example, they send money back to their homeland which is kind of a negative. Some of the other negatives that you mention. As a positive, some do pay taxes that they will never see any return on like social security or other withholding taxes. Anyway, I would find it very interesting if there was a way to total it all up and see what the bottom line really is.

 

I don't know if most people know this but my Username is the name of my patrol car, which is now retired

 

Thank you for your service officer. You placed your life on the line to protect the citizens of this country and uphold the law.

 

Let's keep in mind that Puerto Ricans are not immigrants - they are american citizens too.

 

By this standard I would then be illegal in the U.S. My father was not in the military when I was born in Brazil, neither was my mother though both were U.S. citizens.

If you were a cop then I'll share a couple of things with you. Not too long ago there was a Dallas Police Officer killed by an illegal alien with priors including violent priors yet he was never deported. The buck was passed until the issue died off... The White Rock rapist who plagued the area for years turned out to be an illegal with priors. There are plenty of instances of illegals killing and or victimizing everyday Americans and in almost every case these illegals have priors which just fuels the hatred so many people have towards illegal aliens.

But since you were a cop in Texas then you know about the subculture that exists in illegal neighborhoods. Gangs and criminals who exploit illegals, rob them, beat them, deal in human trafficking. People who take protection money or force them into a type of forced labor to pay for the right to sleep in a house with sub-human living conditions. Families held hostage in collateral for making good on a debt to a coyote or other form of low life. Forced prostitution, drugs and all the other things that these illegals will not report to the authorities because they are scared of being jailed and deported.

The point is the system is jacked up. The current laws are jacked up. We need to scrap the whole thing and develop a humane and logical way to deal with immigration.

And before you ask, I am from Texas. I work in Dallas, I live in Fort Worth and I know the issues surrounding the debate well. I know financial burder the illegals place on the counties, I know how some hostpitals have had to shut down, property taxes raised, etc. I also know how crime seems to follow large communities of illegals and yet nobody reports on it. I know the depressed wages, the damage done to the trades, etc. and knowing all of this I do not see how expelling people from the U.S. wholesale will fix the problem. The deportation costs alone would be staggering.

We need a new Ellis Island and a workable policy. Or if you wanted to just get extreme for the cost of jailing and deporting an illegal we can house them for the 6 months, teach them basic English and citizenship courses and those who pass the test get in. That could be a solution, either way there has to be hope for the illegal to become legal, or the subculture of breaking the law and trusting none will persist.

 

"We need a new Ellis Island and a workable policy. Or if you wanted to just get extreme for the cost of jailing and deporting an illegal we can house them for the 6 months, teach them basic English and citizenship courses and those who pass the test get in. That could be a solution, either way there has to be hope for the illegal to become legal, or the subculture of breaking the law and trusting none will persist."

Best idea I have heard yet.

 

Since I am an immigrant myself (a US citizen living in Germany) who has a dual citizen daughter (my wife is German), I thought I would offer my thoughts on this.

Dual citizenship for naturalized US citizens is de facto legal in the US, which means that if we were to move away from jus solis to a modified jus solis or a jus sanguinis system, children who do not receive US citizenship right off the bat would still be able to apply for it later in life if they decide to continue their lives in the US. Under a modified jus solis, the children of permanent green card holders would receive US citizenship at birth, which is one way to exclude the children of people who are in the US illegally or on a short term basis, i.e., people currently without real ties to the US, from ensuring that their children automatically receive it. The children could also be legalized later in their childhood along with their parents once they become eligible.

 

You got me on that one. However, your point doesn't change mine.

 

Of course not. You're point was actually really good.

I was just pointing out a common mistake made by both americans and foreigners - it seems almost everyone assumes Puerto Rico it's a country, not a commonwealth within the USA.

I used to think that too, by the way.

 

What is interesting that Puerto Ricans can not vote in USA presidential races and they do not pay federal income taxes (unless they move to the USA).

There are also US Nationals who are not US citizens but are free (my understanding) to work in the USA.

 

(off-topic @ Ian/Kizmet) I wonder if partial independence is the preference of the territory or if we are excluding them? I would have a real problem with the exclusion if the territory wants to fully integrate.

@B4: Nice car dude. Sorry it bit the big one. How did you lose it?

Also @ B4: The Haitian presence will also stimulate the economy. Just by being here and buying products such as food and housing eventually their impact will be greatly softened, perhaps even reversed fully or even benefit us. People don't seem to realize this, but a growing population is boon to the economy. That's one reason I think the immigration issue is not as complex as people make it out to be. They make jobs, not just take them, even if they don't open a business they create jobs by participating in the economy. Additionally, they pay sales tax, social security tax, and medicare (well, actually, I'm curios if the Haitians will have to pay SS/medicare, I guess that's a topic worth visiting--but all other immigrants do! And they don't get it back like you and I will).

 

I'm no longer a police officer so no more camaro, I worked Narcotics in it. The pics are of it without my lights on the inside etc....People never even had an idea it was a cop car. It was a Z28 with a police pursuit package from Chevy. It would hit 160 in a few seconds and it was crazy fast. I paid to have better exhaust put on so it sounded clean...it went off to auction. When I left I got to keep my dog though. I worked her out of an explorer that I also had.

 

That's not fair. How am I supposed to spot you undercover if your cars don't all look the same?! I would owe millions in speeding tickets.

 

You're right about the voting and the taxes but you're wrong about the citizenship - Puerto Ricans are full US citizens just like you since 1917 (at the time they could choose Spanish or US citizenship. After 48 they were automatically US citizen).

That's why I'm always surprise that people cite them in discussions about immigration - they have no place on that, as they are US citizens.

P.S. They can't vote because they reside in Puerto Rico, not because they are Puerto Ricans. This apply to any US citizen - i.e. if you move to Puerto Rico, you can't vote in the presidential election.