Why you should respect LEGAL immigrants

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
I've heard stories from people trying to come to Canada about how much of a cluster fuck it is, and it sounds like the US is basically the same.

So you want to be an American
Step 1 - $1000 application, 3-6 months waiting
Step 2 - $100-$1,000 to fix your application, 3 months waiting
Step 3 - $1,000 medical check, about 2-3 weeks
Step 4 - $10-$1,000 interviews, 4-6 weeks
takes about a year for this crap to all work out


So if you meet any legal immigrants, realize that they've spent a considerable amount of time and money trying to come into the country. They filled out all the bullshit paper work, passed the medical exam, and they might know more about the country than the average citizen.

Illegal immigrants can still be killed with big rocks because they didn't do any of this.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,192
12,668
136
I am all for legal immigration :thumbsup:

I am all against illegal immigration :thumbsdown:
 

Hammerman

Senior member
Jul 2, 2002
285
0
76
Just jump through the hoops and you are in..... All the illegals can be legal! Simple as pie.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Of course if you are from saudia arabia you can speed all of that up and be on the fast track to citizenship. Or if you are Cuban all you have to do is step one foot on USA Soil. We need to close all the loopholes.

Then there are the Student Visa. Just come here to go to school and dont bother leaving. They can not keep track of all of the student visa people.
 

Jimbo

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,641
0
76
Faisal Shahzad, the "Times Square Bomber" was a legal immigrant. Hell, he even became a citizen. Should I respect his ability to write checks that clear and fill out paperwork?
Why is that?

Just as I realize that it's stupid to hate people because of their skin color, why is it not equally as ignorant to idolize those who can hire an immigration attorney to fill out their paperwork?
Some are good people, some are not.

I'd rather judge them individually as people. After that I will be happy to respect them as good and decent, if they really are.

I do agree that illegal aliens are never worthy of any respect.
 

ShawnD1

Lifer
May 24, 2003
15,987
2
81
Faisal Shahzad, the "Times Square Bomber" was a legal immigrant. Hell, he even became a citizen. Should I respect his ability to write checks that clear and fill out paperwork?
Why is that?

The person responsible for the largest terrorist attack in US history before 9/11 was born in Lockport, New York. I now have a totally justified reason for hating on all people born in the US :awe:
(bio: Timothy McVeigh)

You're right that you should still look at people as individuals. Just remember not to group everyone as a some kind of Mexican boarder jumper. It's usually not that simple.
 

Jimbo

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 1999
2,641
0
76
You're right that you should still look at people as individuals. Just remember not to group everyone as a some kind of Mexican boarder jumper. It's usually not that simple.

Just as you should not assume that everyone who doesn't embrace unfettered immigration is doing so because they have some dark motives or a simplistic worldview.
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
I've heard stories from people trying to come to Canada about how much of a cluster fuck it is, and it sounds like the US is basically the same.

So you want to be an American
Step 1 - $1000 application, 3-6 months waiting
Step 2 - $100-$1,000 to fix your application, 3 months waiting
Step 3 - $1,000 medical check, about 2-3 weeks
Step 4 - $10-$1,000 interviews, 4-6 weeks
takes about a year for this crap to all work out


So if you meet any legal immigrants, realize that they've spent a considerable amount of time and money trying to come into the country. They filled out all the bullshit paper work, passed the medical exam, and they might know more about the country than the average citizen.

Illegal immigrants can still be killed with big rocks because they didn't do any of this.

My wife is a legal immigrant and it took us less than a day spent at the consulate in Montreal and a stop at the Champlain border crossing to get her in. I realize things have changed quite a bit over 20 years but I wouldn't extrapolate one Aussie's experience to get in anymore than I would my wife's experience.
 

Anarchist420

Diamond Member
Feb 13, 2010
8,645
0
76
www.facebook.com
I favor completely closed borders except for travel and trade. We don't need this country to get any bigger. There should've been one 30 year period in the 1800s where you could become a naturalized citizen and then after that, an amendment barring any future immigrants.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
I favor completely closed borders except for travel and trade. We don't need this country to get any bigger. There should've been one 30 year period in the 1800s where you could become a naturalized citizen and then after that, an amendment barring any future immigrants.

:rolleyes:
 

Zedtom

Platinum Member
Nov 23, 2001
2,146
0
0
Immigrants that are over sixty-two years old who go through the legal process and become citizens are eligible for medicaid and basically free health care. There are many elderly immigrants from Europe that come over here to visit relatives and decide to stay. The poorer they are, the more benefits that are available. They can always dispose of their jewelry and assets before they arrive and then claim to be destitute.
 

nonlnear

Platinum Member
Jan 31, 2008
2,497
0
76
I favor completely closed borders except for travel and trade. We don't need this country to get any bigger. There should've been one 30 year period in the 1800s where you could become a naturalized citizen and then after that, an amendment barring any future immigrants.
Sometimes I wonder if your entire ATPN persona is just a big joke. This post makes me hope it is, but sadly I doubt it...
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
I've heard stories from people trying to come to Canada about how much of a cluster fuck it is, and it sounds like the US is basically the same.

So you want to be an American
Step 1 - $1000 application, 3-6 months waiting
Step 2 - $100-$1,000 to fix your application, 3 months waiting
Step 3 - $1,000 medical check, about 2-3 weeks
Step 4 - $10-$1,000 interviews, 4-6 weeks
takes about a year for this crap to all work out


So if you meet any legal immigrants, realize that they've spent a considerable amount of time and money trying to come into the country. They filled out all the bullshit paper work, passed the medical exam, and they might know more about the country than the average citizen.

Illegal immigrants can still be killed with big rocks because they didn't do any of this.

I've had 4 interviews with INS personnel, blood work, finger prints taken, several meetings with attorneys and the application alone was ~500 bucks.
 

grebe925

Member
Feb 22, 2008
88
0
0
The person responsible for the largest terrorist attack in US history before 9/11 was born in Lockport, New York. I now have a totally justified reason for hating on all people born in the US :awe:
(bio: Timothy McVeigh)

You're right that you should still look at people as individuals. Just remember not to group everyone as a some kind of Mexican boarder jumper. It's usually not that simple.

Apples and oranges. Timothy McVeigh and his cohorts were lone wolves who were not much bigger than their immediate circle. Shahzad and his cohorts are part of global jihad movement comprising hundreds of thousands, possibly millions spanning countries that have tried bombing the U.S. time and again.
 

HGC

Senior member
Dec 22, 1999
605
0
0
I am a huge fan of legal immigrants. They leave their families, culture, and security behind, taking big risks looking for a better life.

I think that may be the number one reason America is such a great country. We're all basically immigrants.

I love Latin American immigrants as much as any others, but they should not jump the line. It's not fair to folks in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia who are waiting for years to come legally.
 

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
I am a huge fan of legal immigrants. They leave their families, culture, and security behind, taking big risks looking for a better life.

I think that may be the number one reason America is such a great country. We're all basically immigrants.

I love Latin American immigrants as much as any others, but they should not jump the line. It's not fair to folks in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia who are waiting for years to come legally.

no they dont... Most of florida speaks spanish over english.
Most oriental individuals, still speak oriental languages primarily.
they earn money here and send it back to their families in their native country. Recent flag related events would indicicate they find american culture offensive and still celebrate their own national holidays.

I for one would like to see a lot less legal immigrants, so that jobs can go to non-immigrant workers. the population of the US needs to be cut by about 20% so that high wage labor / salary workers are in demand again, and welfare drains on the system are reduced.
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
no they dont... Most of florida speaks spanish over english.
Most oriental individuals, still speak oriental languages primarily.
they earn money here and send it back to their families in their native country. Recent flag related events would indicicate they find american culture offensive and still celebrate their own national holidays.

I for one would like to see a lot less legal immigrants, so that jobs can go to non-immigrant workers. the population of the US needs to be cut by about 20% so that high wage labor / salary workers are in demand again, and welfare drains on the system are reduced.

So you think if someone goes to another country, and finds a native speaking group with whom they can fit in, that negates the life they left behind? Are you fucking serious?

So...if you found a job in say, Bogata, and found a few Americans to hang out with, you would feel right at home? Fuck the family, fuck the culture, fuck the laws of your country..I mean, they speak english right? Just like being home?

:rolleyes:
 

blackangst1

Lifer
Feb 23, 2005
22,902
2,359
126
I am a huge fan of legal immigrants. They leave their families, culture, and security behind, taking big risks looking for a better life.

I think that may be the number one reason America is such a great country. We're all basically immigrants.

I love Latin American immigrants as much as any others, but they should not jump the line. It's not fair to folks in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia who are waiting for years to come legally.

No, we arent. Maybe 5 generations ago, but not now. I am willing to bet the life you lead is not one of tradition from whatever home country your ancestors came from. There are exceptions, of course, but for the majority of Americans we are exactly that - Americans. Not immigrants.

But I agree with the rest of your post :)