Regarding Immigration...

Mexico's Calderon protests U.S. crackdown on immigrants
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0231897420070902?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

With all due respect, President Calderon, they don't belong here illegally. Sure they come to find jobs -many of which are laborous, demeaning and/or don't pay well - and many of them send money back home to Mexico to support their families on the American Dollar since the Peso is barely worth the Paper its printed on. Others are here for more checkered reasons, and those are the one's we need to identify, stop, and deport.

What I protest is your Government's involvement in perpetuating Illegal Immigration by distributing information telling potential Border runners what they need to do when the get to America in order to exploit the system. I also protest the U.S. Government for continuing to complain about the problem yet allowing illegal immigrants to exploit these Taxpayer Funded services for non-Taxpayers.

Shit or get off the pot... Enforce the laws and plug the damn holes they are exploiting, but show flexibility for those with extenuating circumstances. NAFTA does not cover the free trade and export of Human Resources, regardless of Country of origin including Canada. If anyone from America entered any other country illegally, you bet your ass they'd be deported in a heartbeat once caught, and I don't hear anyone complaining about the immigration rules in other countries.

We need to plug these holes in the system to prevent illegal immigrants from exploiting the U.S. system and discourage illegal immigration. There should also be stiffer penalties for employers who knowingly employ illegals and for those that willfully assist illegals with false working papers. We need to convert their illegal status to a legal one with Green Cards and Work Visas. Why aren't we? We don't know exactly who and where they are, although the Census Bureau will have an idea soon with the next Census approaching. Employers probably have an idea, but Sponsoring someone's legal immigration can be an expensive and long process. They also fear coming out to seek legal status for fear of being deported based on a checkered background for themselves or someone in their family who is here with them. Admittedly, the existing rules need to be enforced, but those rules should allow for "extenuating circumstances" where a checkered background does not automatically exclude a person from legal status.

For starters:
1) There should be an Amnesty period for those here illegally and gainfully employed for both the Employer and Immigrant.
2) In such cases, the Employer would need to Sponsor said Immigrant for a Green Card and Work Visa changing their status to Legal.
3) These Employer/Immigrant sponsored work status requests should be fast tracked through INS.
4) Once the background check is passed and any issues mitigated, the Immigrant should be permitted to file for Citizenship should they choose, and this too should be Fast Tracked through INS.
5) If after the Amnesty Period, an Employer is found still employing Illegal immigrants, the Immigrant is immediately deported and the Employer brought up on charges accordingly under Immigration Law and those mandated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Secondly, I'm not sure a Border Fence will help much, but it would be a deterant. I would add to any such proposal a integration of the U.S. Military with Immigration, Border Police and Homeland Security. Make it mandatory for a Military Border Rotation where a soldier can receive the necessary training to properly patrol the borders and manage immigration on both the South and North Borders... Yes, even along the Canadian border. The Border Police are sorely under-staffed and under-equipped to patrol the entire border, and I'm sure there are active and reserve militiary units that need something to do other than manuevers when stateside. This would also be an opportunity for our Servicemen and women to receive additional training for a possible post-military career as a Border Agent.

This opinion comes courtasy of a second generation descendant of Immigrants from Mexico, Italy, Germany, and Poland who came to this Great Nation, the Land of Opportunity, LEGALLY! And, whom later became Naturalized Citizens of the Unites States of America after being able to speak/read American English... They were Proud to be an American which is something I cannot say for most immigrants (legal or not) these days. Instead, they have forced our schools to offer English as a Second Language courses and for instructions to be printed in multiple languages. I'm proud of my heritage, Yes, but I'm more proud to be an American and the sacrifices my (great-)grandparants made to become Citizens of the United States. If you're more proud of your country of origin, go back; otherwise, assimulate! I'm tired of telemarketers calling me "Senor" just because my last name is Hispanic in origin.

Its time to declare a National Language so there is one common standard - American English - and it should be a requirement for Citizenship. One could argue 1st Amendment Right to Free Speech, but that's a farce. Declaring a National Language does not impose restrictions on Free Speech, it only imposes a common tongue that we can all communicate by. Go ahead and speak your native tongue, just don't expect everyone to learn and understand it. Go ahead and fill out that Form, just don't expect to see instructions in your native tongue.

Citizenship has its privileges, and to become a Citizen you must be able to speak, read, and write in English. The test would not be offered in any other language or a translator be provided.

Diga Inglez! Comprende?