Not sure how I feel about this...

[Lil Uzi]

One problem I have is that he shafted the other people waiting inline. It's academic now because he became a US citizen. In a sense, we are weak. Weakness is exploited. Japan, for example, illegal immigration, forget about it. They won't let it happen. And they don't worry about "diversity". Quite the opposite. There are some here in PBB that re living in Japan currently. Maybe they can offer a more accurate position on what I have said.

We as a nation really need leadership and the will to forge our own destiny. And stick to our guns. Do we really need millions of new people ? The advoctes say yes, but to many, common sense says no. If we need brain surgeons, or lettuce pickers, or hotel maids, then we need to educate and develop them here. Fix the shit that needs fixing.

Where I work, probably 70% of the technical educated jobs are filled by foreign born. I don't accept the fact that our universities can't turn out qualified and educated engineers and geologists. My easiest job opportunity for career advancement would be out of country, yet we can't find new, young educated people right in our own back yard, the state capital of California.

[southernfriedcj8]

Originally Posted by daddytall

dude is a-ok in my book as i would of done the same. Is the usa better with this guy in it? Based off the info here i say yes.

+1

[RichG]

If illegal immigration was stopped cold, and the illegals that are here were suddenly gone, Big Business would force the government into changing its policies and procedures, and I guarantee it would become much, much easier to immigrate here.

Illegal immigration is less of a social issue than it is an economic one.

[StinkBug]

Originally Posted by jerseyzuks

Is the system that complex, and that expensive, that we (the United States) are almost forcing people to come here illegally?

Yes, it is.

Originally Posted by Redfin

How hard is it to legally enter the US for these people?

Very difficult depending on the country of their origin and your profession. If you're a dishwasher from any country to our south....ya pretty much aint getting in. If you're a doctor or lawyer from western europe, not terribly hard, just expensive.

[CJ4U2NV]

I wish half of the current citizenry would work like this guy does. Our country would have far less problems if people like him worked for a living instead of living off of other people (welfare state).

[nahmus]

Originally Posted by 45acp

The dude made one mistake, and then did 100 things right to correct said mistake. If the above was the typical story of the average illegal, then we wouldnt have an immigration problem.

Props to him. (flame away)

this. i'm ok with it.

[jerseyzuks]

Ok, so for the rest of the story (didn't want the details to cloud peoples opinions with preconceived notions)

He is from Mexico. I knew him for years through work, and became pretty good friends with him. Great guy, and absolutely brilliant at what he does (IT guy, like me). Hanging out after work one night, in his family's restaurants, he told me his story.

To be honest, I was floored. I was absolutly not expecting a story of crossing the border illegally, dishwashing, night school, etc. Talking about a guy in a close to 6 figure salary range who also ownes one of the best restaurants in town.

And again, to be completely honest, it did change the way I felt a little. On one hand, it is a great story of perseverance, hard work, overcoming adversity, and the American Dream. On the other hand, he still crossed the border illegally, lived here illegally, and lived tax free for a few years while he became established.

[OlBlueCJ7]

Originally Posted by Redfin

How hard is it to legally enter the US for these people?

I did it pre 9/11, from Canada. I came to the US in September, hired an immigration attorney and immediately started the immigration process. I didn't receive work authorization until January. The entire time I was waiting on my paperwork & status to change, I wasn't legally allowed to work.

I shelled out nearly $1,000 in lawyers fees, and another 5-6 in filing fees at the INS. $7,000 and nearly 6 months of living expense. To me, that's not easy to come up with. Could you do it?

Coming from a second or third world country, it would be all but impossible to have the cash saved up to not only pay the legal and filing fees, but to be able to live for 6 months or so without working.

After 9/11, things got even tighter, with longer wait times & higher filing fees. I can't imagine what it is like now.

[OlBlueCJ7]

Originally Posted by StinkBug

If you're a doctor or lawyer from western europe, not terribly hard, just expensive.

Even a doctor or lawyer doesn't grant you status. Doctors & lawyers are a dime a dozen. In order to come in based on the merits of your profession, you have to prove that your education & training is in such high demand, and you're such an asset that America needs you. That's not easy to do.

I believe however, you can invest a large sum of money into American companies, and that will help get you here.

[5150 Jeep]

Originally Posted by jerseyzuks

Is the system that complex, and that expensive, that we (the United States) are almost forcing people to come here illegally?

I'm currently going through the process of getting my fiance a visa and eventually becoming a us citizen. From start to finish we are guessing it will be almost a year and probably cost well over $5k.

[Midwestzj]

SO i was broke and couldn't find a job, stole money from some people to start a business and now pay taxes and employ people. Does this make me okay because i work long hours at my business and provide for my family even though it was all started from illegal activity?

I think the dude should be kicked the fuck out. If i want to get ahead and don't have the means to do it, its alright to break the law to acheive my goal?

[det107]

We have a minority group of Hasidic Jews up here.....Lots of them work in the 'Diamond District' & get paid in gold. Since they have no "cash income" to feed their rabbit breeding families, they'll leach off the food stamp & medical programs-

[Elvis13]

Originally Posted by Midwestzj

SO i was broke and couldn't find a job, stole money from some people to start a business and now pay taxes and employ people. Does this make me okay because i work long hours at my business and provide for my family even though it was all started from illegal activity?

Point taken.

Unfortunately illegals are such a drain on our infrastructure that they are the #1 thing we need to do to start turning our economy around. Schools, police, fire, jails, courts, foriegn oil dependence, roads etc. etc. are all overloaded b/c of them.

[Screwzer2]

Originally Posted by Panthers65

My biggest beef with illegals is not that they are here and are working, but like was said earlier they either have NO desire to contribute to society through taxes, or even worse they leech off the system and take away from society. Either you have the mentality to accept responsibility for yourself and contribute to the country where you live, or you don't. Considering he's paying his taxes now, I'm going to assume that he wasn't acting as a leech when he first got here.

I think there's probably more Mexican leeches on society that come here legally than there are leeches that are illegal.

My thoughts:
1. An illegal faces deportation every time they interact with the government. Why do you think so many middle age Mexican men ride bicycles?
2. It takes A LOT of money, balls, and effort to get to the U.S. Anyone who makes it didn't do so just to sit on their ass in an apartment and collect welfare, even if they could somehow qualify.
3. These folks are likely sending as much of their meager wages home to take care of their families. If you were away from home on "work" and you were leechin', I'd expect the wifey would have somethin' to say about it.

The lazy illegal is a myth.

Now, the legal resident who brings his whole damn family, that's another matter, but I dare say ya'll probably have a few slackers in your family too.

[Screwzer2]

Originally Posted by det107

We have a minority group of Hasidic Jews up here.....Lots of them work in the 'Diamond District' & get paid in gold. Since they have no "cash income" to feed their rabbit breeding families, they'll leach off the food stamp & medical programs-

Huh. What a gig.

They're no better than pot farmers who put their kids on the dole.

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by jerseyzuks

So how would you have felt if you met him a month into his journey? Working as a dishwasher under the table, not speaking a word of English?

Or 6 months in, still illegal and not paying taxes, but starting to learn English?

Or a year in, still illegal and not paying taxes, but speaking English?

It is pretty easy to look back 20 years, and make a judgement on where he stands now (great job, great kids, well educated, well spoken)... but how would you have felt back then?

He's at least working.

Unlike those that are citizens that purposely do nothing but take government money to live off of.

[jerseyzuks]

Originally Posted by Travis Waldher

He's at least working.

Unlike those that are citizens that purposely do nothing but take government money to live off of.

true

He is a really cool guy, and I love hanging out with him (the fact that he owns a nice restaurant that serves alcohol doesn't hurt )

Personally, I think it took a lot of balls to do what he did (sneak into a country where you don't speak the language, and start a new life). I also admire his work ethic, and how he bust his ass to start with nothing, and get to where he is today.

I find it admirable that he did this at such a young age, and was able to share this accomplishment with his family.

However the whole "snuck into the country illegally" doesn't sit well with me. Almost like he said "well, I sold crack for 5 years until I had enough money to go to school, and start a business"

[smurfblue40]

I have to give the guy a pat on the back. One of my grandfathers did basically the same thing in the late 30's. Europe was going to hell, so he jumped on a boat heading to . He worked his ass off all of his life, even after retirement. I didn't hear him speak his "native?" language (Portugese) until I was a teen

[kastein]

where's the fuckin bacon option

I'd buy him a beer. I have a lot of respect for anyone who busts their ass to make things happen and doesn't hurt others in the process. If he stole someone's identity or bought a stolen identity in the process I'd be kinda pissed about that, since it really sucks to clean up for the victim, but other than that, no real beef with what he did.

It's the ones that come here and act like shitheads (driving uninsured, being a burden on the system, etc) that I could do without.

From what it sounds like ("living tax free") he didn't steal an identity to pay taxes / get hired. I'm fine with what he did.

[jerseyzuks]

Originally Posted by kastein

where's the fuckin bacon option

we did away with it in 2005, when it stopped being cool

Originally Posted by kastein

I'd buy him a beer. I have a lot of respect for anyone who busts their ass to make things happen and doesn't hurt others in the process. If he stole someone's identity or bought a stolen identity in the process I'd be kinda pissed about that, since it really sucks to clean up for the victim, but other than that, no real beef with what he did.

It's the ones that come here and act like shitheads (driving uninsured, being a burden on the system, etc) that I could do without.

I guess I agree. But it did make me stop and reconsider my opinions on certain topics

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by jerseyzuks

However the whole "snuck into the country illegally" doesn't sit well with me. Almost like he said "well, I sold crack for 5 years until I had enough money to go to school, and start a business"

Here's how I look at it.

Set aside the laws for a minute and look at this from a philosophical point of view. Go back a few hundred years and we are no different than him, we came here to better ourselves in one form or another.

But in the process, we destroyed anyone and anything that got in our way, used the locals to our advantage, the locals being the only people that really have the right to say this land is theirs. Afterall, they were here before we got here. They didn't want us here.

If that sounds familiar to today, it should. It's history playing itself over again, only instead of offering us beads or shooting us, they are just soaking up our $$$.

Considering we (rightfully) take pride in our ancestor's accomplishments, and their behavior was not all that different from the illegal immigrants of today. I have a hard time finding fault with illegals that have done the same thing our ancestors have.

What I can excuse are illegals that show up here, work hard, and INTEGRATE in to our society. They did better than our ancestors have.

I'm sure we "subsidized" this guy when he showed up, but he turned around and created jobs, presumably pays his taxes, etc. Just showing up and WORKING would be reason enough to earn my approval. I would rather have him in our borders, legal or not, than a citizen that does nothing but be a drain on our society. That U.S. citizen costs us more than any working illegal will.

People need to look beyond the laws sometimes and consider what is really the right thing to do.

[Travis Waldher]

Originally Posted by jerseyzuks

well, one thing that gets me is the fact that he said he felt he could have never actually come here legally (even on a green card). Is the system that complex, and that expensive, that we (the United States) are almost forcing people to come here illegally?

It's complex, expensive, and if you think dealing with the DMV sucks ass, keep in mind, those coming here legally deal with the same caliber of people.

[45acp]

Originally Posted by Midwestzj

SO i was broke and couldn't find a job, stole money from some people to start a business and now pay taxes and employ people. Does this make me okay because i work long hours at my business and provide for my family even though it was all started from illegal activity?

I think the dude should be kicked the fuck out. If i want to get ahead and don't have the means to do it, its alright to break the law to acheive my goal?

I may have missed something but how did Hose "steal money from some people to start a business"?

[1990GT50]

Too bad he's the minority. If more illegals followed his path, I wouldn't have so much of a problem with them!

[Screwzer2]

Originally Posted by Travis Waldher

I'm sure we "subsidized" this guy when he showed up...

How do you figure? This is such bullshit rhetoric, IMHO. How is an illegal gonna qualify for any government support? He may not pay taxes, if he's working under the table, but he's not using government services either.

More than likely, he'll pay taxes but won't get any taxpayer benefits.