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US Immigration
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| Yes | 76% | 123 votes | Total: 161 votes | |
| No | 24% | 38 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesWhen you live in a country, whether legally, as a native born or legal immigrant, a visitor or an illegal immigrant, you are subject to the laws of that country. The country has the right to implement it's laws regardless of the person committing a crime.
Immigrants come to a new country in the hope of a better life. They perceive something in the new environment that they cannot have at home. By becoming an immigrant, the individual has acknowledged that they are prepared to conform to the customs of their new society. Therefore, if they break the laws of that country they should be dealt with in the same way as anyone else in that country.
Countries have laws for the protection of their citizens and for the maintenance of law and order. These laws have emerged as a result of the wishes of the people of that country and through custom and practice. For the stability of any country the population has to keep the laws.
If an immigrant breaks the law, he or she should have exactly the same treatment as any one else in that country. The right to a fair day in court ensures that they are not accused wrongly, nor that they are given unfair treatment and punishment because they are not native born.
There is an opposing argument that the individual should immediately be deported and dealt with in their own country of origin. By treating an immigrant who commits a crime in the same way as a native person, the new country can keep control of the behavior of immigrants in the same way as other citizens. This is demonstrated by due process to the population. If the individual is deported, there is no way of ensuring proper justice will be done. The victims cannot see that the criminal has been given the same treatment as anyone else in the new country, not can they have any sense of completion, although that is not the point of due process.
The argument that an immigrant receiving due process will be an expense for the country is fair but so has the investigation to solve the crime cost money and that had to be done before the investigators knew who committed the crime.
Deportation might take place after punishment has been given and worked through and this is a threat which hangs over any immigrant's head.
The next stage to consider is whether punishments should be just that or should have an element of rehabilitation. Recidivism is always high. In prison, inmates learn criminal activities they had not thought of. If they undergo some treatment which is beneficial, the further costs to the country are reduced when they come out and become useful citizens.
Immigrants should receive due process if they commit a crime.
Learn more about this author, Rosemary Redfern.
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No
Legal immigrants have all the legal rights afforded to US citizens, and they should receive the benefits of the best legal system in the world.
However, Illegal immigrants should be detained, then deported the moment they are discovered. They have already committed a crime by virtue of being in America. Their presence in this country is illegal. They are not "documented workers," they are ILLEGAL aliens. Period.
Here's how I think it should work, in the case of Mexican or Canadian illegals. The US has an extensive rail system and we should take advantage of it. The government, in its effort to stimulate the economy, will invest in old railroad cars, refurbishing them for passenger use with basic amenities like seats, toilets, water and K-rations. This creates additional jobs for our own citizens, a stimulus to local economies and helps to solve the immigrant problem. Then we mobilize the trains - Alien Trains, if you will. They run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, picking up detained illegals from all corners of the country and dumping them back over their own borders, which are patrolled to prohibit their reentry.
What if the illegals are from other countries? Once again, they should be detained and deported immediately, transferred back to their home countries. Why not toss a little bailout money to our airlines in return for their cooperation? The taxpayer provides the dollars and they provide the seats. Win/win.
So, do we just snatch them off the street? What if they have families? We should do whatever is required to send these lawbreakers home. Round them up at work, at school, in apartments or on the street - then stick them on the train. Before long you will have entire illegal families lining up to board the train voluntarily, to avoid being captured separately.
It goes without saying that all people, illegal or legitimate, should be treated with respect and courtesy during the transition. Their basic needs will be met during their short trip home, but after that, they are own their own. At home, in their own country.
As they exit the train or plane, they will be handed a pamphlet - written in English - that explains the steps they can take to enter the US legally and become citizens. It will describe the sponsorship required, the years of residency they must establish, the classes they must take, the language they must learn, the test they must pass, and the citizenship ceremony they will enjoy; once they have proved themselves worthy of this country. These, we welcome with open arms and are delighted to share our opportunities and resources with peoples of all backgrounds, who don't try to steal the American Dream.
Learn more about this author, Nancy L. Baumann.
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