This poll is currently running on CNN website.

Here is the current tally.

Would targeting employers be a more effective way of handling illegal immigration?

Yes 86% 13081 votes

No 14% 2212 votes

Total: 15293 votes

I am glad this question is being asked. I am for increasing the penalties for employing illegals, to a felony with asset forfeiture.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

Yes, and make it their responsibility to deport the illegals on their dime back to their country of origin...

Hog

Amen

Ah good job Hog. So it goes back to just getting mexicans out of your face instead of helping these people become citizens.

I would rather see "those people" (as you put it tey) citizens myself...like the idea of taking Mexico and making it several states, then we could solve a group of problems all at once.

Charlie

tey, look up the word illegal might answer your question

Tey Posted,

"Ah good job Hog. So it goes back to just getting mexicans out of your face instead of helping these people become citizens"

Who said anything about Mexicans?????

Illegal immigrants aren't all mexicans??? At least I don't think so????

You know something I don't????

I myself, would refuse those that break laws to get here citizenship. Those that use legal means to get here, should be on the top of the list for citizenship. Illegals caught, should be deported, and have a 3 year waiting period before they can apply for a work permit. Yes Tey, I do have respect for immigrants. Just not the illegal ones. The illegal immigrants make the legal immigrants look bad, which is a pity.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

I said Illegals and Country of Origin Tey.. where did you get Mexican in what I said above?

Hog

Ok I'm sorry and most of the news cover and marches featured mostly serbs. How absurd of me to think this is only about mexicans.

thats just tey being a racist again

"instead of helping these people become citizens."

There's an old saying that goes like this...

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.. I think that fits here for anyone who wants to sit on their ass, break the LAWS of the land and find loopholes in the system to work in their advantage..

So Yes Tey, I'm all for these Laws to be enforced as they have not been, and I'm all for making it stand as reason.. either abide by the laws or haul ass out of this country!

Hog

The problem with targeting employers is that it paints with too broad of a brush. Of course some industries are well known for hiring illegals. On the other hand, a small business like mine could be ruined if we did what we're required to to under the law - that is, check for either a social security card and driver's license or passport and have the employee sign the I-9 form - and then it turned out that the new salesman was an illegal.

There is NO WAY that I would know how to spot a fake passport or social security card or drivers' license. Its not my job to know how.

"There is NO WAY that I would know how to spot a fake passport or social security card or drivers' license. Its not my job to know how."

If you are the owner of the company. then it is your Job to ensure you know who you have working for you...

run the SSN through the Social Security Administrations database.. if it comes up so and so has been dead for 10 yrs.. it might explain why their production is down a bit?

Hog

00camper Posted.

"The problem with targeting employers is that it paints with too broad of a brush. Of course some industries are well known for hiring illegals. On the other hand, a small business like mine could be ruined if we did what we're required to to under the law - that is, check for either a social security card and driver's license or passport and have the employee sign the I-9 form - and then it turned out that the new salesman was an illegal.

There is NO WAY that I would know how to spot a fake passport or social security card or drivers' license. Its not my job to know how. "

When I was a bartender,

if I sold to a minor, even one who used a fake ID, I would be held responsible. I got good at spotting fake IDs. I believe anyone else can too. I haven't had to give an employer any of those, for quite some time, as I am contract labor. I did have to give my employer my SS number for tax purposes, so I could get my 1099. Yes, there would be some problems at first, but I believe that if you do any background check at all, you will be able to catch an illegal before employing them. I am sure that the government would make exceptions for employers that made an honest effort to try and comply. But I also believe that there would be many who didn't make any effort, and those that didn't should be stripped of their assets, since they were gained with illegal labor.

Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)

ummm... i gotta agree with tey:

"Ok I'm sorry and most of the news cover and marches featured mostly serbs. How absurd of me to think this is only about mexicans."

not to be a racist, SO DON'T START with that line- but please feel free to disagree. but living in lost angeles, the immigration problem here lies with people crossing the mexican border. you do the math.

as a side note, i recently read an articl on illegal chinese. apperantly, they go unnoticed because of their quite, nonconfrotational nature-plus they consider it rude to inquire about their status (presumably within their own culture).

and just for the record, i was born in mexico, moved here when i was less than two years old (most likely illegaly) and became a citizen last year.

nine

Congrats on the Citizenship Nine999!

for the record, I'm probably the furthest from a racest.. but if what I post get's Tey's panty's in a twist he can think what he wants?? I've already got him figured out as does many others on this forum I am sure...

you are correct about the Chinese.. but they also follow their work visa's fairly close and are granted to return more often on such permits.. but they also look for the loopholes in the system as well... our elected officials need to fix the loopholes

Hog

Earning citizenship in this country is a privaledge that should not be afforded to criminals.

These are good discussions to have, and it's obvious that the current laws are not working. But it would be imprudent to created a streamlined immigration policy while there remains a huge influx of illegals.

We can't let more immigrants in via legal methods until after we fix the gaping hole that allows illegals to come here at will.

"...instead of helping these people become citizens."

Why do we need to "help" them become citizens? They seem to be able to find work, housing, medical care etc etc. Which would make a person assume that they are self sufficient enough to figure out how to gain citizenship. There is a process to do that. Its public knowledge. I think they need to be proactive and do it. Im all for anyone trying to gain citizenship, but "help" them?

If there is a language problem then I suggest they learn the language of the country where they are trying to gain citizenship. Please dont construe that as me implying that a person should ONLY speak english in this country. That is absurd and not the premise on which this Conutry was founded. Use your native language, stay true to your culture, celebrate your heritage by all means. But if you want the spoils of being a U.S. Citizen I dont think it is to much to ask to be proficient enough in the native language to gain those rights and privilages.

Funny story. One of my fellow Chief's here is Mexican (Arredondo). His father was a LEGAL immigrant from Mexico and his mother was a Mexican-American. He agrees that something should be done about illegal immigration.

And tey... this isn't ONLY about Mexico, but it IS mostly about Mexico. Do the Serbs come here by the millions each year?? Nope.

Keep looking through your 'racist-colored glasses', though.

Okay,

How about a compromise. Under a hypothetical situation where a company is caught employing illegal citizens the following is done:

1) All illegals in the employ of that company undergo required citizenship

2) All fees for this naturalization are payed for by the employer

3) The employer must pay back taxes on all existing illegal employees with the assumption that all of them have worked for the company for 10 years (this will be a LOT of money)

This way the US keeps people who are willing to work, employers are less likely to hire illegals and long term there will be fewer of them.

Hell, throw in a required year of service too just for sh$ts and giggles.