GO HOWARD DEAN! GO DEMS!

IMPEACH CHENEY FIRST!

can't believe i'm getting them all first!

bwhaahaahaaaa!

The real problem is ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS not illegal immigrants.

Enforce the laws you HAVE don't make new law that you won't/can't enforce.

Pass a law that requires mandatory five (5) years imprisonment for anyone responsible for hiring employees that are not citizens or have a green card.

That includes Texan homeowners that pay cash "under the table" to have their lawns cut or their lands worked.

Agreed WildBill.....the root causes of much of the illegal immigration are ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS. These greedy employers should be given one warning only, and then subsequently charged as felons who receive hard prison time breaking big rocks into little rocks.

But that doesn't eliminate the need to secure the borders to the highest extent possible. We need to secure the ports also.

Once the jobs were made available to only eligible US citizens or documented workers, many illegals would go back to their home. The result would be increases in wages and benefits for Americans doing jobs that can't be outsourced.

Why,I'm stunned......

just stunned.

A post in the Blacks Folks section that we can actually respond to.

Why....Thank You.I'm touched.

....and I'm also glad Howard Dean went to Chicago and talked to those leaders.I look forward to him coming to Green Bay should he ever choose to.I'd give him Packers Tickets Nope,that would make me a lobbiest.Nevermind.LOL!

The problem is not the immigrant workers,it is our own government and current administration. If the government would step in and fine these companies that employ undocumented workers, that should take care of some of the problem.

NAFTA reform would do more to help the immigration problem that a lot of the solutions that I've seen so far. These "free trade agreements need to be re-negotiated, especially it has damaged the economies is several countries including our own.

The government does need to deal with these employers and tighten regualtions peratining to them. Too many big businesses are trying to side-step any responsibility for the sweat shop labor conditions that many illegala find themselves in. They are using "labor contractors" as middle men and "contracting" with these people who supply workers to the larger companies. Then the compainies can disclaim responsibility for the workers condiditons, immigration status, etc, because they "aren't our employees".
It's a technique that started with the big truck farms in California, and is enthusiastically adopted by mega-corporations, who are trying to side-step paying people living wages. It is also being used in the New Orleans clean up. The underpaid workers there aren't the only people cleaning up, unfortunately the contractors and sub contractors are skimming money that should go to the laborers.
These big businesses need to be made to toe the line, and adopt more ethical practices. Hopefully we will get enough real Democrats in office in November that we can start to remedy some of this mess.

Well, I'm for immigration. And, I believe it would be a next-to-impossible task to deport 12 million people. But, I don't believe either of these issues is the real issue.

Let's look at the problem: Immigrants and Illegal Immigrants are not the same thing. Today, immigrants can apply for a green card; however, the process is very time consuming. There's an extensive background check. But, after 9/11, do we really want to soften the rules for becoming legal?

What do we mean by reform?

What about the future illegal immigrants? There's talk of allowing current ones to stay here on a temporary worker program. Is that for ALL immigrants from any country? And, does that include next year's 3 million new illegal immigrants?

Furthermore, if the green card process has a back log today, how do we expect to process all of the temporary worker programs? Keep in mind that by easing the restrictions for working here will increase the number of applicants from people wanting to be here?

Also, will this be open to anyyone from around the world? We can't be partial to just Mexico: that would be prejudicial (many people have said this whole anti-illegal movement is specifially against Hispanics).

Or, is this program only for those already here? If only those who are here, we haven't solved the underlying probem, have we? We will still have to deal with next year's new flood of illegals?

To further WildBill's point: if we are not willing to enforce the current laws (we have less than 100 ICE agents), why should we a reform will work?

It's clear where the two parties stand in Chicago.

The Republican party is the party of fear. On the Republican side, we have Dennis Hastert sponsoring legislation that would ram government mandates down the throats of our churches regarding who could perform and receive acts of mercy or charity, even criminalizing nuns for handing out water (or, on the senate side, a bill that would merely require every priest, nun, rabbi, and soup kitchen worker to register with the DHS and "have their bona fides checked" before they could perform works of mercy, on fear of felony charge). How can you even call this American?

Republicans continue to "reach out to the Hispanic community" in Chicago by threatening to make felons of people who have lived here for years, paying taxes and raising families, trying to eliminate bilingual ballots and floating ridiculous immigrant-hating alarmists like Oberweis for governor. Republicans have demonstrated that their only concern is that corporations have enough cheap labor, and they will accomplish this through inspiring fear. Unfortunately for them, the immigrant communities across America are standing up to this fear-mongering.

Democrats think government should not dictate to churches regarding their charitable missions, and think it's ridiculous to propose hugely expensive felonization/mass deportation programs as a "solution" to what is a human- and labor-rights issue. Democrats understand that our country was built on immigrants; the US has welcomed more immigrants than any other country in the world. The Democratic solution to immigrant reform rests in embracing the sense of hope in our immigrant populations, and the Republican rests in fostering fear.

I sure hope any of the new changes take into consideration that this will probably create an open door for "Terrorists" to get into our country leagally. Yeah, all this bull about "our illeagal rights, just makes me think that with the high numbers that we seem to be talking about could turn into another civil war of sorts under the guise of Illegal Rights, and all this "we contribute so much to the US" These people will never follow the laws here. They didn't coming here illegally so why would you expect them to change?

This issue IS another window I see the terrorist using by using all of the masses these illegals. Mark my words. I sure hope we do not allow this automatic legalization by just a physical presence go through. Proceed to the legal process's here to enter the country instead of threatening the US for legalization and honor illegal's rights, well - then that is Jail and Deportation. Then lets do it.

George

Please let's just remember that immigration and illegal immigration are two different issues. There are many legitimate ways for people who want to come to the US to do so... and for them to go on and gain permanent residency and citizenship, should they so desire. I have only two direct ancestors who were born in the US... all the others entered the country LEGALLY. It's important for those who want to enter a country that runs by the Rule of Law to enter that country in a lawful manner. Their first step on the pathway to US participation and citizenship should be a step that reflects our deepest values -- the belief that all people are protected by and should honor the preservation of basic rights through our legal system.

Visit me online at http://www.fight-the-right.org .

ILLEGAL Immigration is the biggest issue facing this country today as the solution, or lack of, will have long lasting effects. We need a solution that will benefit American workers first, and not result in only more compression of wages and benefits.

The first step in the solution has to be a method of enforcement and logistics that will actually be part of the solution. Reagan's amnesty was part of the problem as there were no steps or funding put in place to enforce the law. Business hired at will and were not held accountable.

I suspect that the same thing will happen unless we make our Congresssmen aware of the need for a comprehensive plan that has teeth. I don't trust either the Rs or Ds to do right by the American people in this regard.

I have worked for the Democrats since Bill Clinton was elected the first time. However, any DEMOCRAT that votes for this present Immigration bill, or any form of Amnesty will NOT receive any support of any kind from me. In my opinion, they're not voting for the LEGAL American Citizens of this country, but the ILLEGAL law breakers that have cost those LEGAL Americans a fortune. THere are good laws on the books that need to be enforced. Some of this is more waste of time and money. We are a nation of Laws, if a legal American breaks those laws, they are fined or arrested. Yes, we are also a Nation of Immigrants, and I have no problem with legal immigration. I do have a problem with an invastion of law breakers that have deserted their own country.

Go after the ILlegals for their votes and donations. They will nto receive any from this American.

I have stuck by the Democratic Party through thick and thin. I have donated time and money over the years. I had high hopes of regaining one or both houses of congress this fall. But the direction you are now going I will NOT support! I will not support illegals from mexico or anywhere else coming to this country illegaly and sending their incomes back to their foreign countries while we supply them with free medical and an education. Medical that most American citizens can't afford or get or end up going bankrupt because of medical bills.

I will no longer support this party in funds, time or votes if they support amnesty for illegal aliens working in this country. YOU are losing your BASE over this, trust me!

If I run a damn stop sign I will get a ticket and fine but laws regarding illegal aliens are not enforced and you call this America, land of the free??? Free for anyone not a citizen you mean! As natural born American I already have a tougher achieving the american dream!

Maybe I should just renounce my citizenship, go live in another country and then come back here so I can get free business loans and grants so I can live the american dream. Or maybe I should just come back and work illegally for 5 years then tell you about it and gain citizenship that way! This is a disgrace and a spit in the face to every American who follows our laws and so is any politician who supports this!

One other thing while I'm at it! Who in the hell in the White House is telling Mexico about where the minutemen are doing their surveilance of our borders to try and stop illegals from coming over? Isn't it a disgace enough that this administration is so incompetent on border security that they now tip off the mexicans as to where we are watching the borders for them to come in here illegaly?

When is Governor Dean going to sit down with the blue collar workers who are losing their jobs to illegal immigrants.
Companies in Texas are under bidding companies in Pennsylvania and bringing illegals in to do the work instead of hiring local workers.
Gore lost because of his enviromental views and the democrats will lose in the coming election if they maintain their stand on immigration.

Where are the specifics? This is my first time on the DNC website and I have to say that I'm not impressed with the Democratic "plan" for immigration reform and border security. It appears to me that the party has no intention of stopping illegal immigration. Many voters, including myself, may vote for House and Senate representatives on this issue alone.

Some suggestion:

1. Tell us when and how will you clear up the backlog of more than 4 million visa overstays and how you will track future visa holders whereabouts and ensure that they leave the country when their visa has expired. This probably has more security significance than the issues at the Mexican border.

2. Tell us when and how will you force the IRS demand legitimate social security numbers for employess and notify SS# holders that their number is being fraudulently used?

3. Tell us when and how you will hold employers of illegal aliens responsible for their illegal action.

4. Tell us how you are going to deal with babies born in this country to illegal aliens, guest workers and visa overstays. The 14th Amendment was passed after the Civil War to ensure black slaves born in this country had the full rights of citizenship. I have to believe the framers of the 14th Amendment never anticipated the problems we experience today because of this law. We will never secure our borders unless the 14th Amendment is repealed and revised by a new Amendment.

I have been a Democrat all my life ( 64 years ) but I dissagree with Governor Dean and the Democratic party on this issue. Most Americans DO believe in the wholesale round-up and deportation of undocumented immigrants, But most of all we believe that the employers who hire them should be arrested. If I break the law, I am punished for it, WHY is it different for illegal immigrants ? If the Democratic party supports rewarding lawbreakers I will just have to change parties and work to unseat Democrats.