What if all the illegals left?

[Whistler]

One of my main problems with illegal immigrants is their attitudes towards the US vs those of legal immigrants (generally). Legal immigrants like America. Illegal immigrants like their countries and are only interested in using America.
The people who are willing to put in the time and effort to become legal citizens seem to give a shit. They are American citizens, and they achieved that because they cared enough to. They put American flag stickers on their (insured) cars and celebrate the 4th of July with the rest of the country. They're fucking proud of it. They might have pride in their home country as well, but they came here because it's better here and they not only accept but embrace that fact. You ask them what they are, they say "I am an American!"
Illegals generally seem to just not give a shit. They're not Americans, they're _____. They cane here because they heard thatthey can make x amount of money here and send it home, that here they can get free health care and education, they don't care to contribute anything to the country (like taxes), they're fucking leaches. You ask them what they are, they say "I am a Mehican!" Because that's what they identify themselves as. These are the assholes who celebrate Cinco de Mayo like it's the best day of the year and tell their kids they don't have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school or give half a second's thought to the 4th of July. They hang little flags on their mirrors from some other country so that everybody else can see.
In short, there's a critical difference in how they self-identify.

Well said, goes for the insert_ethnicity_here-American label that annoys me so much. You aren't African-American, Asian-American, Irish-American... you are AMERICAN or you are invited to go the hell home. Such things contribute to division of our country and serves to promote other cultures above the one that puts food in their ungrateful belly.

[ZERO THEORY]

What if all the piece of shit low life scum bags who cheat the system that are Americans stop? How much money will that save? The bastards that mooch and or cheat the welfare, section 8 housing, va benefits, disability etc etc etc etc???

Nobody wants to do shit about it. Nobody will ever do anything about it. People will only bitch and things will get PROGRESSIVELY worse until collapse.

The sad part is that nobody CAN do anything about it, it seems. The minute a legislator actually takes a stand to restrict and end the welfare groveling, they get crucified. The opposition wheels out the welfare recipients in droves to accuse that legislator of "hating poor people", "not caring about children", and "being a racist, classist Nazi." The reality is that not everyone wins in life. And when you have a virus eating away at your flesh, sometimes you have to lose a limb to save the body. The people who had children when they didn't have a livable income are responsible for their wellbeing, and if their transgressions lead them and their kin to poverty, so be it. Liberals may not want to hear that, but it's the reality. Otherwise, we all get drug down and drown.

Crabs in a bucket.

davsel, when you say "the vast majority came here legally," realize that there wasn't a huge formalized process for most of the 19th century. America pretty much welcomed anyone who got off a boat. With no welfare system, you either learned to be productive or you died.

A lot of the objections raised in this thread were raised against the Irish, Italians, Chinese, etc. immigrants 100 or more years ago.

Reagan pointed out 30 years ago that even in the midst of the Carter Recession (which was far worse than the Bush Recession despite what the mass media say but not quite as bad as the Obama Continued-Recession), you could find Help Wanted ads running that weren't being filled. Despite what people want to say about getting rid of the illegals and Americans will fill the jobs, the fact of the matter is that there were and continue to be tons of jobs that Americans don't seem to want to take. I blame the social welfare system for much of this but regardless of how you assign blame, it's a fact of life.

Every economic boom in our country's history has been preceded by an immigration wave. What we need to do is harness the energy of immigrants who are hungry for a new life but weed out those who are simply parasites or infections.

Yep.

All Indian arguments are wasted on me.
There are too many glaringly obvious reasons a civilized population would choose to conquer a savage population rather than adopt its customs. Give it a rest.

Are the reasons obvious? Sure. People want to live in familiar settings. If you're trying to justify ethnic cleansing with subjective "civilized society" arguments, I would ask that you vacate this planet with your existence.

[ZERO THEORY]

One of my main problems with illegal immigrants is their attitudes towards the US vs those of legal immigrants (generally). Legal immigrants like America. Illegal immigrants like their countries and are only interested in using America.
The people who are willing to put in the time and effort to become legal citizens seem to give a shit. They are American citizens, and they achieved that because they cared enough to. They put American flag stickers on their (insured) cars and celebrate the 4th of July with the rest of the country. They're fucking proud of it. They might have pride in their home country as well, but they came here because it's better here and they not only accept but embrace that fact. You ask them what they are, they say "I am an American!"
Illegals generally seem to just not give a shit. They're not Americans, they're _____. They cane here because they heard thatthey can make x amount of money here and send it home, that here they can get free health care and education, they don't care to contribute anything to the country (like taxes), they're fucking leaches. You ask them what they are, they say "I am a Mehican!" Because that's what they identify themselves as. These are the assholes who celebrate Cinco de Mayo like it's the best day of the year and tell their kids they don't have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in school or give half a second's thought to the 4th of July. They hang little flags on their mirrors from some other country so that everybody else can see.
In short, there's a critical difference in how they self-identify.

This is probably one of my biggest daily aggravations. I used to work on 74th and Federal. Imagine how annoyed these same people would be if I moved "undocumented" to Chihuahua or Juarez and drove around with my windows down blasting Pantera, all the while I had a giant American flag sticker on my back window. And whenever I went to the grocery store, I got pithy and rude with the staff because they didn't accommodate my native language. And I sat around with my American sister/cousin/wife/son and just spoke loudly in English over Mexicans. And then, when Cinco de Mayo came around, I protested and said that I was proud to be an American and was offended by their celebrations.

Spoiler alert: I wouldn't get accommodated and placated by the Mexican government.

[MED]

This is probably one of my biggest daily aggravations. I used to work on 74th and Federal. Imagine how annoyed these same people would be if I moved "undocumented" to Chihuahua or Juarez and drove around with my windows down blasting Pantera, all the while I had a giant American flag sticker on my back window. And whenever I went to the grocery store, I got pithy and rude with the staff because they didn't accommodate my native language. And I sat around with my American sister/cousin/wife/son and just spoke loudly in English over Mexicans. And then, when Cinco de Mayo came around, I protested and said that I was proud to be an American and was offended by their celebrations.

Spoiler alert: I wouldn't get accommodated and placated by the Mexican government.

This is indeed an aggravation; and not tolerated in other countries as you suggest. However, I think this behavior is empowered by stupid policy. Our welfare state doesn't bring out the best in our own citizens; we certainly can't expect it to bring out the best in those who have no vested interest in this country. Extending entitlement programs and education to illegal immigrants is definitely on the top 10 list of stupid and idiotic policies of our country both at the state and federal level. When this country prints out money and extends the debt every year to cover unfunded liabilities, why in the hell are we paying for these people? In the past, there were compelling reasons for immigration, and in some cases it can still be beneficial. However, in 2014 given the unfunded liabilities and the reality of entitlement programs, the liability caused by the current influx of illegal immigrants exceeds the benefit. Ultimately, we pay out more than they are contributing. The issue is ILLEGAL immigration; it sure wouldn't help to make the current border hoping BS legal. Our borders should be a valve; we only let in what is needed where it actually benefits the country as whole, and our policies should hold no reward for those that come here illegally. People don't think about it today, but over population and resource scarcity will be an issue in the 21st century.

I think what scares me the most is the demographic change. The people from Mexico have no experience or notion of living in a free state. Is the conversation about a free market society and individual freedom? No, it is about "will you give me shit if I check here." Ultimately, the conversation is moot. The socialist Democrats want the numbers and enticing them with the carrot of benefits is a path to power.

[rockhound]

if you could accomplish that (all the illegals leaving)

I would throw the worlds largest party

Take away their ability to work and the gov't benefits and they will all go home on their own, or actually make an attempt to become legal.

Amnesty is total BS

[Ronin13]

Anyone using that fallacious and frankly insulting native American argument, please, do us all a favor and let those of us born here know exactly where we are native to. My family hails from Germany, Ireland, and Scotland. So which one am I supposed to go back to since I'm an immigrant here (by that idiotic definition)? Oh by the way, my grandparents on both sides were born in America, and both of my parents were born here. So if I'm not a "native born American citizen," tell me where I belong... I'd really like to know.

Also- for many illegals that still have family in the destitute regions (mostly south of our border, such as Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, etc)- they don't spend all of their earnings here. The estimates vary (as it's near impossible to track), but in some cases, upwards of 40% of wages earned by illegals here in America that still have family elsewhere, is sent to those families. So it is negatively effecting our economy. Just a little FYI.

And I think the biggest reason to fix our broken immigration system, regardless of how you feel, is security. It's been said ad naseum on here, but we have no clue the history (criminal or otherwise) of many of the people who don't immigrate here legally. They could be Al Qaeda, ISIS, Triad, etc. Probably not a large portion are out to attack us, but then again, all you need is 19, right?

[Irving]

I think if something were changed so that an anchor baby were not able to grant amnesty to extended, or even immediate family members, the issue of anchor children would go away. After all, if you're born in the US, there is literally no where to go "home" to, because the US is home. Anyone who states otherwise is a hypocrite and a liar because we all know damn well that if they found out they were born some where else, but spent their whole lives here, they wouldn't leave either.

I'm in strong agreement with the earlier statement of open boarders, zero welfare.

[GilpinGuy]

Were heads of lettuce $12 a head back in the day before the massive influx of illegal immigrants? I don't think so.

[buffalobo]

Were heads of lettuce $12 a head back in the day before the massive influx of illegal immigrants? I don't think so.

And you got paid $1/box to pick apples. Illegal or local citizen.

[davsel]

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/...ly/#more-89783