News-Record.com

Find "undocumented immigrants"
replace with "lawbreakers"

Anti-immigrant views mean, shortsighted
The following is a Counterpoint:
By Mona Shattell
UNC President Erskine Bowles' proposal to allow lawbreakers to pay in-state tuition has fueled a strong anti-immigrant tone in our community. Jennifer Krawiec's Counterpoint, "Helping illegals harms the rest of us" (Dec. 19), is just one example.
Like Krawiec's great-grandparents, many of the lawbreakers to which she referred endure poverty. Poverty among the Latino population in the United States is astonishing.
According to the Census Bureau, 22 percent of Latinos live below the federal poverty line, versus 10.6 percent of Caucasians.
The out-of-state tuition requirement is a major barrier to a college education for lawbreakers. Only an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of lawbreakers attend college after high school.
Some lawbreakers have overcome financial barriers and have enrolled in the UNC higher educational system. lawbreakers enrolled in the UNC system are required to pay out-of-state tuition, even if they have lived in our state for many years (brought to the U.S. by their parents) and were educated in our public schools.
From an economic standpoint, improving the opportunities for a college education makes sense; college graduates have greater earning power and therefore pay more taxes.
According to the Immigration Policy Center, "a 30-year-old Mexican immigrant woman with a college degree will pay $5,300 more in taxes and cost $3,900 less in government expenses each year compared to a high school dropout with similar characteristics."
But it is more than business and economics. It is what is moral and just. The anti-immigrant(sic) sentiment evidenced in Krawiec's Counterpoint, in addition to several recent letters to the editor, has made me question, Where is our humanity?
Why aren't we as a community interested in the betterment of everyone?
Where are the compassion, empathy and concern for others?
I am reminded of a poem on display at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Socialist.
"Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Trade Unionist.
"Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -- because I was not a Jew.
"Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me."
The writer is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at UNCG.

As for the curiously wrong-headed quote dealing with the Holocaust, aren't you glad we have the Second Amendment?

(Grandson of a law abiding, legal immigrant.)

"Anti-immigrant views mean, shortsighted"

Contrary to the tone and title of Mona Shattell's counterpoint, the U. S. --- and North Carolina, in particular --- is welcoming of "undcoumented immigrants" to absurd degree. NC population estimate as of mid-2007: 9,061,032. That's a 12.6 percent increase since 2000. (U.S. population growth rate: 7.2 percent.) [data from D. G. Martin, Charlotte Observer].

As to the illegal aliens among that seven-year population surge, that's largely a result of the "welcoming" character of the state's Democratic Party leadership. Quoting the News & Record’s own Taft Wireback in a Jan. 26, 2005, report, “DMV memo OKs licenses for illegals”:

“North Carolina has a wide-ranging reputation as a mecca for illegal immigrants from throughout the eastern third of the country seeking fraudulent licenses . . . The state's poor reputation was the subject of a report broadcast nationally last week on CNN.”

* * *
Not suprisingly, more than a few North Carolina citizens are doubtful that that turning the state into a magnet for illegal immigration is in their best interests.

You're confusing anti-immigrant sentiment with people being disgusted by illegal aliens getting benefits Americans, and, closer to home, students from neighboring states, can't. But you already knew that, didn't you?

"Only an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of undocumented immigrants attend college after high school."

Holy cow! I'll forgo the easy "illegal aliens are completely different than documented workers" argument, but 5-10% of the illegals are attending college and, we can assume, taking jobs from legal citizens?

Well, I'm sure they're going through college degree programs that Americans don't want to do (nursing, Dr. Shattell?). And I'm sure the $60k jobs they're taking from true immigrants and us lazy Americans are jobs we wouldn't want to do, either.

How are the illegal aliens getting into college in such large numbers? Whose papers are they using? Your name for them tells me they can't use their own.

"I am reminded of a poem on display at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C."

I too, was reminded of that poem while reading your counterpoint. And it reminded me that I am obligated to speak out for my children, family, and other Americans, because the illegal aliens have so many in such high places speaking out for them.

Illegal.
Alien.
It's easy to pronounce if you'll just try. Especially considering you're a doctor. Use your doctor training if you have trouble understanding how to properly use it- think of it in medical terms. Compare drug dealers and understand how silly it would be to call them unlicensed pharmacists.

Tying the Holocaust to illegal aliens is an interesting tact, and is borderline Godwin's-inducing. In case you missed it, though, the only commonality is sending:
Jews were torn from their homes and sent to camps.
Illegal aliens leave their homes willingly in order to send $30 billion (that's a b) back.

And don't forget that all of the $30B was earned from jobs that our own low-middle class population could've worked.

Our poverty increases in two different ways. And you're encouraging it. Congratulations for your oppression.

Although, until we stem the tide of illegals, it will likely be handy for your nurses to easily talk with the patients in the maternity ward. They might not know any English, and know (or care) even less about our government, but lots of illegals have the 14th Amendment down pat.

As an assistant-professor you're likely a teacher. If you're willing to write the N&R with such a pro-illegal alien stance, what should I assume you teach your students?

Roger

P.S.- WJ, nice approach.

Ms Shatell, you really missed the mark on this one. Comparing holocaust victims to illegal immigrants is pretty outrageous. Note the word illegal. Not undocumented. Illegal. We have a rich history in this country of being a nation of immigrants, something that I take pride in. And those immigrants, my grandparents included, endured hardship when they arrived, but nothing like the hardship they left. They came, legally, and worked menial jobs and long hours to get ahead. They weren't handed anything on a silver platter. They contributed to the backbone of a once-great nation. And they did it all by being law-abiding citizens. Now you want to tell us that people who chose not to come to this country legally, who chose the path of least resistance, are somehow victimized because we balk at paying for their lawless status? Gimme a break!

This letter again tries to prove if you say "undoctumented immigrant" enough times, you will forget they are here illegally.

She asks : Why aren't we as a community interested in the betterment of everyone?

Where are the compassion, empathy and concern for others?

How about the betterment and compassion for Americans in your own community.

Or at the very least for legal immigrants.

Then they came for the illegal immigrants, and I asked what took you so long.

And it's Oak Ridge Runner for the win.

R. Bennet: "Holy cow! I'll forgo the easy "illegal aliens are completely different than documented workers" argument, but 5-10% of the illegals are attending college and, we can assume, taking jobs from legal citizens?"

Not to mention taking jobs from those immigrants who waited their turn, filled out the paper work, jumped though the hoops and did the right thing to legally come into the US.

I concur with Chicken Little, comparing illegal immigrants to Jews in the Holocaust is not only outrageous, but insulting. The Jews were legal citizens of their country and were taken to the gas chambers and murdered. Picking-up people who have entered our country illegally and returning them to their native country is totally different and actually, within the laws of our country. I am very tired of hearing this bleep that illegal immigrants have citizen rights. They do not.

Shame on you, Tom Shuford, for trying to turn the topic of educating illegals with tax monies into a political one with your comment "that's largely a result of the "welcoming" character of the state's Democratic Party leadership." Although known conservatives and libertarians, the other posters made great comments without push party agenda. As an educated man, surely you can do the same.

As a registered democrat, I, like millions of other registered democrats, are sickened by the catering to illegals by our democratic and republican government. I have posted many times about all the freebies, especially health care freebies (because I know them better), our government hands to illegals but denies legal citizens. The disgust I feel has absolutely nothing to do with party affiliation. Therefore, could we have just one discussion about this problem without blaming a specific party?

We can sit at our keyboards and whine all we want to without accomplishing jack. The only way we can be effective is to band together and stop all this finger pointing and blame. Let's put enough pressure on all our representatives, local, state and national, to eliminate all freebies, including college tuition, to people who enter this country illegally. If we did not make it so easy for them to come here and stay here, perhaps they would be less likely to come in the first place.

I am not against helping someone with a "hand up". I am against helping illegals in any form or fashion.

push=pushing

Well, seems the large majority has spoken.

The only people who don't seem to be listening are college professors and politicians.

(Yvonne, you're right. Neither party is doing a damn thing. They both want either the votes or the cheap labor for their cronies.)

Look at the top 3 on either side running for President. Not a single one will do anything about illegal immigrants. Hell, they're not even talking about it.

Fred Thompson gave it lip service. So did some of the folks who debate but you've never heard of.

Wonder why we never hear of them?

Guess it's all about Iraq and medical care. Nobody gives a flip about illegal immigration and it's effect on our country.

"Shame on you, Tom Shuford, for trying to turn the topic of educating illegals with tax monies into a political one . . ."

Yvonne, would that it were not so, but the topic ["educating illegals with tax monies"] IS "a political one."

Politicians decide whether or not to use your tax money in that fashion. They decide directly or through the appointment process.

I link the Democratic Party --- in North Carolina and at the national level --- to illegal immigration because --- by and large --- promoting illegal immigration is the Democratic Party's agenda. State legislative leaders in Raleigh accomplish this by refusing to allow a vote on Republican-sponsored bills aimed at curbing illegal immigration by tolerating, for so many years, issuance of drivers licenses to illegal aliens (until forced by public pressure to curb the practice in 2006).

That IS the Democratic Party of North Carolina.

At the national level the cloture vote that buried the giant amnesty bill, S. 1348 last summer --- pushed by President Bush and Democratic Part leaders --- is a good gauge of seriousness about curbing ilegal immigration.

There were 50 "nay" votes to bury the bill. Eleven courageous Democrats joined 38 Repulblicans (and 1 Independent) to defeat the bill so ardently sought by President Bush and Democratic Party leaders Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and Ted Kennedy.
Vote totals for S. 1348:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00206

Although President Bush, John McCain, Rudy Guiliani, Mike Huckabee, Lindsey Graham and a dozen or more other prominent Republican figures have extensive records of championing illegal immigration, most Republican legislators and representatives do not agree with them. It can't be said that most Democrats disagree with the amnesty promoters Reid, Kennedy, Durbin, Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, etc.

There are 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country. They aren't going anywhere. How do you propose that they be found and sent back? Steve Fossett's remains can't be found in the mountains of Nevada and yet some posters think that 12 million people can be found and sent back to their respective countries. God, I love the South. The racism just boils to the surface.

Conundrum: "There are 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country. They aren't going anywhere. How do you propose that they be found and sent back?"

That's President Bush's --- and open borders advocates' --- favorite straw man argument to dismiss opponents of amnesty. No serious opponent of rewarding those who broke in line ahead of those following our immigration laws favors mass deportation.

The alternative is "attrition by enforcement":

*Secure the borders.
*Apply serious worksite enforcement.
*Eliminate document fraud.
*Reform unwitting accomplices: the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service (both of which agencies know millions using duplicate or phoney SS numbers).
*Encourage state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.
*Eliminate state and local benefits to illegal aliens.

The IRS achieves high levels of compliance with U. S. tax laws by auditing a tiny percentage of returns each year. Such would be the result of even a slight increase in interior enforcement of immigration laws.

We are living with the consequences of the 1986 amnesty of 3 million illegal aliens. It's why we have 12-20 million illegal aliens today. We repeat that mistake with predictable consequences.

Mr. Shuford, I have one question for you. Will the "attrition by enforcement" effort be as effective as the current war on drugs?

Why do you liberals have such a difficult time understanding the difference between "immigration" and "ILLEGAL immigration?" It's so simple that I would think even liberals could understand it. Apparently not. We're not against legal immigration, only ILLEGAL immigration. In damaged minds like yours that makes us "mean spirited racists." That's typical of you people. Yes, you people!

As usual you "holier than thou" liberals have to distort or lie to make your usually unmakeable point. It's absolutely scary that people like are allowed into our classrooms. There are many American "citizens" who cannot afford out of state tuition if they live in Virginia or S. Carolina.
Why should "lawbreakers" be given priority treatment. You also seem to have a contempt for our laws. Too bad "they" didn't come for the liberals after they finished with the "Socialists and Trade Unions." Unfortunately we still have a few unions and Socialists!

`

I just love it when our resident Partisan, Tony Mostschitti comments. He probably goes to church, parties, family gatherings etc, and separates everyone into "LIBERALS" and whatever his idea du jour of "CONSERVATIVES" is. The man has no idea what a joke he is, but rather thinks of himself as the ONLY way.
Like I said, I do love it when he opens his mouth and removes all doubt!

`

"The racism just boils to the surface."

conundrum,

Apparently you are confusing the word racism with an affinity for legal entry into our country. Or perhaps you are resorting to name-calling in order to invalidate opinions other than your's. Either way, the word racism is inappropriate.

From Wikipedia: "Racism has many definitions, the most common and widely accepted being the belief that humans are divided into more than one race, with members of some races being intrinsically superior or inferior to members of other races."

Those of us speaking out about people entering our country illegally and receiving benefits that legal citizens cannot get are not referring to a specific race or nationality. Illegals are from many different ethnicities.

Not only are the people who enter illegally breaking the law, they are stealing from the tax-payers of our nation. What is racist about us wanting to stop this practice?

Tom,

Good suggestions. The two that would be most effective in curbing the influx, imho, would be heavily fining employers of illegals and stopping all benefits that are so attractive to illegals. (We will simply have to agree to disagree about this topic being partisan.)

Conundrum: "Mr. Shuford, I have one question for you. Will the 'attrition by enforcement' effort be as effective as the current war on drugs?"

Mr. Conundrum, glad you asked. USA Today comments in September on the effects several states tentative and very mild efforts to discourage illegal immigration:

Illegal immigrants moving out [highlights]
By Emily Bazar, USA TODAY
September 26, 2007
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-26-moving_N.htm

STATE AND LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS WORKS:

“Illegal immigrants living in states and cities that have adopted strict immigration policies are packing up and moving back to their home countries or to neighboring states. The exodus has been fueled by a wave of laws targeting illegal immigrants in Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and elsewhere. “

OKLAHOMA: TREND IS UNMISTAKABLE:

“Most provisions of an Oklahoma law take effect in November. Among other things, it cuts off benefits such as welfare and college financial aid . . . But school officials, real estate agents and church leaders say the movement is unmistakable.”

GEORGIA: “THERE’S A TENSION” AMONG ILLEGAL ALIENS:

“Illegal immigrants also are leaving Georgia, where a law requires companies on government contracts with at least 500 employees to check new hires against a federal database to make sure they are legally authorized to work . . .”
Antonio Mansogo, a board member of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders.: “There's tension because you don't know when immigration (agents) might show up . . .”

ARIZONA: MIGRATION FROM THE STATE HAS BEGUN:

“Real estate agent Guadalupe Sosa in Avondale, Ariz., outside Phoenix, says migration from the state began about three months ago, shortly after Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, signed a law that will take effect in January. Employers who hire illegal immigrants can lose their business licenses.”

COLORADO: ILLEGAL ALIENS MOVING TO OTHER STATES:

“Colorado has approved several immigration measures. One gives employers 20 days to check and photocopy documents such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards, which new workers present to prove their legal status.”

Maria Sanchez, who left shortly after the laws passed: “I moved to Utah because they don't have the same laws here.”

* * *

The writer asks "Where are the compassion, empathy and concern for others?"

Answered by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his Essay "Self Reliance", to wit:
"Your love afar is spite at home."

Is it just me, or does anyone else find Mona Shattell's a bit racist in itself? She compares Latino poverty rates with "white" (whatever that is) poverty rates. Conveniently, she ignores the very high poverty rates, lack of opportunity, and financial disadvantages experienced by much of the African-American Citizens of the United States.
She chooses to forget that money diverted to fund education of illegal immigrants must come from somewhere. It is very likely that the African American community will feel the effects of this diversion of resources first and most strongly. Clearly this is of no concern to the writer; she chooses her statistics carefully to avoid mention of these Citizens of the United States. For whatever reason, the writer does not mind that American CItizens suffer in poverty; she writes only of the poverty experience by illegal immigrants. She further skews the facts by including illegal immigrants in the overall statistics of "latino" (whatever that is) poverty. When one examines the economic success of our Latino Citizens as distinct from all illegal immigrants of any "ethnic" or "racial" identity, the numbers are quite closely aligned with those of the "white" (whatever that is) population.
I am always skeptical of those who brandish racial words and statistics while decrying racism. Aren't these statistics inherently racist?

I find her comparison of the Holocaust and the suffering endured by its victims to the experiences of illegal aliens who made a voluntary choice to come to the US illegally very disgusting. Relating the tragedy of the Holocaust to illegal immigration cheapens and degrades the memory of a truly monstrous event. I am surprised and dismayed that the Editor chose to run this letter, or at least the ludicrous and shameful comparison to the Holocaust.

We all are aware of the elephant in the room that is our immigration policy. These immigrants were and are encouraged to sneak across the border by Bush administration policies continued and expanded from previous administrations. Every single adult immigrant knew that what they were doing was both illegal and wrong. Many have stolen identities of American citizens, virtually all have committed felony fraud by forging official US documents. The act of illegal entry may be a civil offense; the act of forgery is criminal and often felonious.

Yet despite this we should find some way to compromise; some way that we can penalize the criminal behavior without undue harshness. My recommendation would be to require illegal aliens to apply for a visa within 90 days. Any immigrant here illegally would be eligible for residency. Any immigrant that acknowledged and pleads guilty to misdemeanor fraud or forgery for using false identities and SSNs would be permitted permanent residency, but never citizenship. Any illegal immigrant that was found to have used or stolen another person's identity should be treated like any other criminal identity thief: imprisoned, fined, then deported .
All children born here are citizens. Any other children here should follow the normal Naturalization process. Public schools should continue to educate all children in English only, even offering ESL classes.

None of this is relevant to giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens while denying it to a US Citizen from South Carolina the same privilege. How is it more honorable, as the writer suggest, to short change American Citizens than non-Citizens? In a perfect, tax free world we could easily do both. Education costs money and money is in limited supply, at least for those of us not living in ivory towers.

I cannot understand the logic of the writer and her willingness to give to non-Citizens what she would not extend to citizens of her own country. Her "love afar is spite at home."

"Conveniently, she ignores the very high poverty rates, lack of opportunity, and financial disadvantages experienced by much of the African-American Citizens of the United States."

Maybe they'd do better in Mexico? You may have stumbled onto an win-win for everybody.

Racism boiling to the surface. Puh-lease.

Ms. Shattel writes: "UNC President Erskine Bowles' proposal to allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition has fueled a strong anti-immigrant tone in our community..."

No, not anti-immigrant, but anti-ILLEGAL immigrant! Keyword being "illegal." Calling an illegal immigrant an undocumented anything is like calling a drug dealer an unlicensed pharmacist.

Ahh, nothing like a pro-illegal immigration letter to stir up the pot.

"God, I love the South. The racism just boils to the surface." Stupid statement of the thread.

Yvonne already torched you on this statement conundrum, but may I add that your playbook tripe serves nothing. I'm sick of hearing this crap: if you don't want illegals streaming across the border you are racist or xenophobic. If you don't approve of gay marriage you are a homophobe. If you don't approve of affirmative action you are also a racist. Yada yada, please come up with a better argument.

BTW, Southerners are not the only Americans fed up with illegal immigration, unless Hazleton, PA is considered Southern.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/21/AR2006082101484.html

Or Riverside, NJ

http://www.kyw1060.com/pages/61440.php

Colorado part of the South???

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202994,00.html

Or Oklahoma:

http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0807/449699.html

This is not a Republican or Southern phenomena conundrum. Witness Yvonne, she and I have very differing political views yet we are on the same page with this issue.

Most Americans are simply sick and tired of people breaking the law by entering this country illegally and then reaping rewards for doing so. Sadly, virtually no politicians, R or D, Federal or state will do anything about it.

Meanwhile folks like Erskine Bowles want to give special privileges to foreign lawbreakers that aren't even afforded to American citizens from Danville, VA. What is wrong with this picture?

Bunny I love the analogy of undocumented immigrant with unlicenced pharmasist. Touché.

Great news, looks like Hillary and Johnny have lost Iowa. Hillary has got to be fuming in her britches. What happened to the coronation?

I don't agree with Obama's politics but at least he seems like a nice guy.

FDR was a nice guy and we're still paying for his generosity...

Dan,

Those guys who flew those planes into the WTC seemed like nice guys too.

neocon:

if we weren't still paying for FDR's generosity, perhaps all those jobs that nobody wants would already be taken.

This is not just an NC issue...this is an issue through out the United States. What some people do not realize is that what others see in other countries is that the United States has all this money, and that this is the land of opportunity, what is not displayed is what is "hidden" is that for all those "opportunities" you have to bust your tail in two! Nothing is for "nothing" here. My parents came to this county back in the 60's, with visa's. They lived through poverty, only fed me when I was born because they had no money left after paying for rent and electric, but survived and grew. Latinos come to this country to better them selves. What they do not know or realize is that in order to do that, the work is harder, longer, and with less pay than they imagined. But in all honesty, I was listening to NPR news Radio the other day, and the farmers were saying loud and clear, that the undocumented immigrants they had worked harder and better than the average Joe, because they were willing to do all the jobs that the rest of us do not want to do. The issue with immigration is very simple...too many exeptions for certain groups. It should be clear across the board for all immigrants no matter where they come from. I know first hand, living in Miami, how a Cuban "refuge" gets all the benefits my family has to work hard for. Why? Why them and not everyone else? What is so different? Mexicans, Bolivians, Perubeans, Argentinians, Hondurans, Colombians, etc...they all come from hardships also. Believe me, if they had it good in their country, they would not come here to work twice as hard for half the money, and that is a fact! College education is free in many of the countries in Latin America, you have free hospitals, doctors still do house calls, taxes, what are taxes? The ones that are here is because they come here to give their children more opportunities than they had, and honestly what is wrong with that? Or don't we all work hard to provide better for our children, immigrant or not?! Think about it....

"that the undocumented immigrants they had worked harder and better than the average Joe, because they were willing to do all the jobs that the rest of us do not want to do."

Replace the capital J with Jethr or Negr and the truth comes out.

The 'rest of us' already have jobs.

The jobs that the Mexicans are doing could easily be filled by those who will not do any job because the government is supporting their lazy asses.

I tend to dissagree...North Carolina brought in the Mexican's to work their farms many years ago...Many business owners will say loud and clear, that their "farm workers" are good honest hardworking individuals...let me ask you, would you work for minimum wage or below minimum wage? Probably not. But that is ok, because you probably have a much better job, and do not need to. It should not matter where you come from, because there are very few of us who are not "immigrants" this country was founded by "immigrants", let's not forget that little detail.

It's been pointed out already by about 6 people, but I think we should pause to reiterate the truly impressive stupidity of comparing Holocaust victims to illegal immigrants asked to pay out-of-state tuition. For Christ's sakes, we're not even talking about banning them from the system. We're talking about paying out-of-state tuition!

As a UNC graduate student, I was asked to pay out-of-state tuition for three years, and had to jump through numerous hoops to establish residency. Not once did I think of myself as being in a comparable state to an inmate at Auschwitz. Why? Because I'm not delusional.

"They came for me," indeed.

It's letters like this that give stupidity a bad name.

"would you work for minimum wage or below minimum wage? "

I have and would do it again if it was the only option I had.

What I'm saying is that we've got plenty of people qualified to do farmwork. Many of them were brought over for that specific purpose many years before the Mexicans.

All these comparisons of what the Mexicans cost us compared to what they contribute to our country would be interesting if also applied to the other races.

we keep taking "Mexicans" when in reality there are many Hispanics in this country, not just "Mexicans". Just because you are from Latin Decent, does not mean you are a Mexican.

"What I'm saying is that we've got plenty of people qualified to do farmwork."

Yes, we do have plenty of people who are qualified to do farmwork, but unfortunatly this society has changed many people's minds where they look at it as degrading jobs, when indeed they are anything but that.

Paying out of state tuition is hard on anyone. I know I had to wait my time to establish residency so that I could afford to go back to school. The whole thing about going to college for undocumented immigrants is hard enough. I rather see someone go to school pay their way through school and become something, vs seeing them stay on the same path of living off the government, hanging out in the streets, bringing more children into the world that should not be coming in to begin with, and devastating their life along the way with everyone else around them. As I said before, immigration issues have to change across the board. Stop categorizing it according to where you came from. Laws should be equal for ALL WHO ENTER THIS COUNTRY FROM ANOTHER ONE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY CAME FROM. That is the only decent thing to do.