Dude, i want some of that you're smoking!!!There is NO fence between Mexico and Guatemala, but hey, i really doubt you knew Guatemala was south of Mexico, as a matter of fact, i doubt you even knew Guatemala is a different country than Mexico.

LStanley, you are obviously taking the jokes far too seriously.

Nobody would seriously imply that a Southern White Male could be a racist. Such a thought is completely beyond the pale -- next you are going to believe the stories of the Republican "southern strategy", the KKK, the century of resistance (sometimes armed) against equal rights for blacks in the south, the legend of "rosa parks" who in the lifetime of many people alive today was arrested for daring to sit at the front of the bus...

Nobody would seriously propose that the Southern united states has any shred of racism left. And that jokes about mass-murder of immigrants, the minuteman project, and smiles about "you can shoot an immigrant if he steps foot on your land!" -- it is obvious it has nothing to do with a racist culture.

And "I'd rather put up landmines, killing people who are not trying to kill anyone, rather than teach a child to speak english" are obviously knee slappers. Ho ho, good one.

And I mean "who cares what happens to them..." was obviously rhetorical question -- I mean, nobody cares about "no morals" non-english speakers more than you!

That would be a laugh!

It appears that I am incorrect, I retract. To explain, I had read something a while back that referred to a wall between Mexico and Guatemala or somewhere's along the southern border but it seems that I remembered incorrectly or do not have the facts straight. At the present time I cannot verify my statement. Maybe there is a fence in the works or something.

However, there is no need to be rude, so why don't you stop smoking whatever you are smoking and stop presuming what I know about geography. And yes, I did infact know that Guatemala is another country and borders Mexico along with Belize. I have been to Guatemala before (stopped through on my way to Costa Rica).

In my career I have worked with dozens of Mexicans both here and in Mexico and have been impressed with their abilities and work ethic. But there is something very wrong here. Something like 10% of the Mexican population is in the USA illegally and from what I have read that number is increasing dramatically. I think that there are other ways to control this then just building a fence but it is at least a start in trying to control the problem.

I would also like to see very heavy fines and jail time for employers who hire illegals and no amnesty for those who break our laws to come here or amnesty for those who hire them.

I completely agree with this. It would definately prohibit or atleast deter some people from hiring illegal immigrants. But the only problem would be accepting cash under the table type jobs. But then again... video tape evidence would probably need to become necessary.

The amnesty part would be interesting. It could be that the employer could hire from South of the border and thus in teaching the Immigrants english and helping them out with housing and such, could recieve subsides. And if the fence isn't built, saving 2 billion dollars, that money could be used for the subsides. And the only problem that I see is that there might be active recruitment of Immigrants to work at a lower wage. And thus, the need to arise for some sort of governing body, either a subdivision of the former INS now Homeland Security, or a new governing body to be created.

The solution to problems is NOT another governing body.

I agree with boatin to a degree. Being HERE is these people's "persuit of happiness" - But at the same time, I don't see why there is any reason that being happy can't be done LEGALLY.

I don't see that America has any obligation to assist people from other countries in their pursuit of happiness. Our immigration policy should be based on what's best for this country and its citizens, not what's best for other countries and/or the people living in those countries.

We absolutely need to control the border and prevent illegal immigration.

But to have an immigration policy that is based on what's best for this country and its citizens? Wow.

I wonder how many of us would be here if such a policy were in place at the time our families immigrated here.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

So much for Lady Liberty

The golden door isn't sneaking in the back.

Immigration to the US was at its peak just prior to 1900. In the years following the civil war up until the great depression. At that time it was best for this country and its citizens to have such an open immigration policy. America gained a lot from immigration at the turn of the century. Thats where the american dream started. The people coming over came over to become americans. They came to work hard in search of the american dream. They assimilated into american society well, while still keeping cultural roots. Most importantly people weren't coming over here knowing uncle sam was going to take care of them. they knew they had to do it for themselves. Its different today.

I think we can all agree that illegal immigration must be stopped.

But if you are extended your generalizations to recent/current legal immigrants not "wanting to be americans" or not "searching for the american dream" or "looking for uncle sam to take care of them" or they "dont want to do it for themselves"....I think you're way off base.

From recent census studies:
We need a sensible immigration policy that stops illegal immigration and controls legal immigration, while not abandoning our core values as a "land of opportunity" and not a policy based on "they dont contribute".

I've also tossed the landmine idea around a good bit over the last couple of years. On a side note, I think it's funny that the top of this thread contained mostly outcries about how ridiculous it is for the UN or another country to tell the sovereign nation of the United States what we can and cannot do... except we do it to other countries ALL THE TIME. *boggle*

Is our superiority complex that out of whack?!

I don't see anything "Wow." about it. A government that puts the interests of foreigners over the interests of its own citizens is doing a bad job.

Public policy should be based on more than just an inscription on a statue.

I don't want people from other countries telling us how America should be run and I don't want America to tell people in other countries how to live their lives. I don't see how this has anything to do with a superiority complex.