> > > The united states of america was founded under the immigration of peoples from all parts of the world. It was established that this land was the freedom people sought and the land of opportunity. Today we kill at our borders to keep from illegal immigrants from coming over,
> > >

Wow, that's kinda harsh. It would be nice to have, on tap, a newsmedia citation of the last time that immigrants got shot.

> > > we pay taxes to support the deportation of immigrants.

Every country concerned with flow of people in and out of its borders will do the same, basically...


> > > We favor not to allow immigrants, even legal ones to come into our country.

Okay, here I agree with you, and with Howard. See below.


> > > I personally believe that the united states should be free to any person coming over without over exhausting requirements used to dissuade or dismiss them from any attempts or opportunities of becoming a citizen. Since even my family was immigrants from poland, who gained citizenship rather easily "ship" in the later 1800's. Where do you stand?
> > >

The general feeling I get from talking to people who've visited the States, on working permit (or whatever), is that indeed it can be a royal pain to get a Visa for living in the U.S. One of my friends was scouted by a major biotech company and has been working in the Midwest for 6 years -- in a city with the "highest proportion of Ph.D's in America." Last time I talked to her, she had an immigrant status Visa which positively turned heads at the border. Even though she's Canadian, and thus covered by the NAFTA agreement, her U.S. registered status was "ILLEGAL ALIEN WITH PAROLE." Get that. What a mouthful! Sounds daunting, not to mention highly discouraging, and deliberately so. :-(

I've heard similar stories from people who were fortunate enough to know high-ranking officials in a diplomatic Embassy, who could stamp their U.S. Visas for four years instead of the usual probation period. Natural-born American citizens have *no idea* of the hassle and rigmarole that visitors coming to the States for extended periods have to go through. Sting wasn't joking when he sang that song about alienation.

Strangely, this apparent dislike of immigrants seems to percolate through all levels of American awareness. I recall statements from a Republican Representative on Education (whom I've otherwise respected immensely from his sane and rational dialogue on the state of public science awareness), but who nonetheless has stated in a prominent speech to Congress:

"...we issue H(1)(b) visas every year to allow scientists and engineers from other countries to emigrate into this country to help us out. Annually, it is in the neighborhood of 100,000 each, and usually that quota is used up well before the end of the year. We are importing scientists and engineers, asking them to emigrate to this country for this purpose. Clearly, we are not producing enough of our own. [...] when we visit our grad schools, graduate education in mathematics, science, and engineering, we find that, in general, over half of the students are from other countries. Our students are not able to compete for grad school entrance with students of other nations."

Okay, ignoring the implicit xenophobia, I'll say that Yes, I can understand his fears that Americans may not be "science literate" enough to make decisions in complex but crucial technological issues. This is a growing problem in many countries world-wide. But his immigrant analogies are flawed. Good grief. Having such a large proportion of foreign nationals in U.S. colleges and grad schools is A GOOD THING. I can't emphasize that enough. It's where you get the best and the brightest young minds from the ENTIRE world beating a path to your door -- and this situation is considered "undesirable"??? Out of the fear of stealing jobs from Americans, he really doesn't seem to "get it," and see how much these "aliens" will surely contribute to the continuing U.S. dominance in the world market, among other things. Sheesh. The whole set of U.S. alien classifications, the entire mentality of modern anti-immigrant feeling, can be really discouraging and draining to citizens of other countries. At least that is the impression I have been getting from people with *legitimate* reasons for going to work in the States -- never mind illegal aliens.


> The Other "There's a reason they are called ILLEGAL immigrants" Matthew

Really. When did "immigration" become a dirty word in a great nation that was founded by immigrants?


> > Are you looking for an idea for a social studies paper?
>
> LOL. Good call.

Wolf "well danny -- ARE you taking a stand on a social sciences project? :-)" spirit