[fabsroman]

It really is a tough situation. I've dealt with plenty of south americans that want nothing more than to become a part of the US, and they have nothing bad to say about it. Yes, I agree that there is a lawful way to do this and they should have followed it, but we have a problem on our hands that isn't very easy to solve.

Kind of like giving tax amnesty to those who fraudulently filed their taxes or didn't file taxes at all. Why should they be given amnesty when the rest of us paid our taxes on time? Why shouldn't they be thrown in jail?

If we allow the "good" illegals a time period to become citizens and require them to jump through a couple of hoops to accomplish it (e.g., learn English, learn about the US, have a clean criminal record, pay some arbitrary amount in illegal taxes, and rat out those that hired them illegally), then maybe we can solve this problem to a certain degree. On top of that, we could fine the heck out of the companies that hire them, and maybe that might just put an end to all of this. If illegals cannot find employment in the US, then I am willing to bet that they will not want to make the trip over here.

The problem is what do we do with the ones that are already here? If they cannot find employment anymore, do you think they will just merely get on the next bus to Mexico or whatever their home country is? If they have little kids to feed, don't you think that some might resort to crime to make ends meet? Would that be any better for our country?

The illegal immigration issue isn't a black and white issue, except for closing off the border. That matter should be clear as day. Close off the border and then figure out what to do with those that are already here.