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Expert Pundits

These active users have achieved advanced knowledge of the terminology, history, and legal implications regarding the topic of Immigration

4.9k Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

Yes

 @9FVDGCN  from Illinois  agreed…1yr1Y

I would say yes because most immigrants living in the U.S. are paying taxes, so I believe they have the rights as any other American

 @9FVXGT6 from Minnesota  disagreed…1yr1Y

No, because they are not there legally, so they should not be granted citizenship, and should be deported.

 @9HKDSP2Republican  from Texas  commented…1yr1Y

but the kids are born here just like regular American kids how their parents got here isn't their fault the deserve ht chance to grow up as an American just like other nation born citizens

 @9MW8XLM from North Carolina  commented…9mos9MO

Except the constitution covers the kids being born here regardless of the status of their parents

 @B24BQK9Republican from Maryland  commented…3mos3MO

"The FAIR study, released in March last year, documented the financial toll of illegal immigration on the U.S., taking into account factors like emergency medical care, incarcerating illegal aliens in local jails, and federal budgets that pay out billions in welfare every year, fixing the net annual cost at $150.7 billion. Not including $32 billion tax contributions made by the illegals, the cost would have been $182 billion" Their taxes are nothing compared to the amount of our (US citizen's) tax money they're using up

 @9FVWRVF from Arizona  agreed…1yr1Y

While I agree, I also think if we have the resources they should be used, regardless of both citizenship and taxed status.

 @9F7V3C2 from California  agreed…1yr1Y

Children should be allowed to be anywhere they are currently at for citizenship, they don't decide where they are going or what they are going to do the next day. They are just living life growing up 1 day at a time

 @9F84KHXPeace and Freedom from Texas  agreed…1yr1Y

People may choose to immigrate for a variety of reasons, such as employment opportunities, to escape a violent conflict, environmental factors, educational purposes, or to reunite with family.

 @9F7ZHBNDemocrat from New Jersey  agreed…1yr1Y

Yes, children born in the country have the same right as anyone else born in America not only that but their parents also pay taxes like the rest of the people for them to get one of their rights taken away.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

No

 @9F6BSRG  from Pennsylvania  disagreed…1yr1Y

Top Disagreement

Immigrants are valuable and work hard at jobs most of us don't want to do. Be fair to them! They are just looking to support their family!

 @9FTD6D9 from Georgia  agreed…1yr1Y

I think it is true that they are valuable. However, I feel like this comment is a little undermining. Of course we should be fair to them; immigrants are not an outgroup, they are humans, like all of us are. It would be a little stereotypical to categorize ALL immigrants as doing lower-level jobs. However, it is true that many of them work many blue-collar jobs to get along life.

 @9F982MZ from Illinois  disagreed…1yr1Y

The current presidency is allowing criminals and mentally insane citizens to infiltrate our country. All who enter the US should come here legally, learn English, and pass a US citizenship test. They should NOT have free handouts either.

 @Fr33SpeechGenesisDemocrat from New Jersey  disagreed…1yr1Y

While it's true that every nation has the right to control its borders and immigration policies, it's essential to note that not all undocumented immigrants are criminals or mentally unstable. In fact, studies show that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than native-born citizens. As for learning English and passing a US citizenship test, many immigrants are more than willing to do so, but the current immigration system makes it exceptionally difficult and time-consuming.

Regarding free handouts, it's a common misconception that immigrants have access to a wide range…  Read more

 @B24BQK9Republican from Maryland  commented…3mos3MO

Here is a excerpt from a presentation I did for my class, I started by pointing out that immigrants should not be able to come here illegally.

However, refugees should still be able immigrate to America with the following rules:

Refugees and their children get no help whatsoever from the government, they must make a living themselves, not using our tax money through government programs

If a refugee marries a citizen, the refugee will not gain citizenship, and any kids they have won’t automatically be citizens, but will have a chance for citizenship like any other immigrant

The bill of rights won’t apply to refugees, they cannot sue a citizen, and if they wrong a citizen, they are to be deported immediately

If an actual crime (like torture or robbery) was committed against the refugee, they can still get justice though

 @9FTX7JY from New York  agreed…1yr1Y

The immigrants that work jobs that are legal fill a gap that no one wants to fill. The government usually doesn't give visas out for the jobs that they usually work. We are very picky with our immigration laws, but as long as someone is working, I disagree with the take that they're taking away jobs. I believe they work jobs that no one wants to do. The only thing that would be a worry is if they had the visas, would they never have worked those jobs? Most restaurants in New York are ran by paying illegal immigrants to work in the kitchen. They definitely do significant work, it's morally wrong to continue this way.

 @9FX3NJP from Massachusetts  agreed…1yr1Y

I agree because they came to america for a better life, but they could be taking our potential jobs as a US citizen.

 @9F73WV2 from Texas  disagreed…1yr1Y

America is filled with different cultures and to not allow people to live in the most free country is to defy the idea of this being the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

 @9F8WQWJ from Washington  disagreed…1yr1Y

This country has been built by mostly immigrants and theyre should be no reason to keep people in cages or want to kill them only because theyre trying to live a better life.

 @9F7ZBHZ from North Carolina  disagreed…1yr1Y

Regardless of who you are you should be able to have citizenship in the United States. It is supposed to be a safe haven for people to have freedom, and especially innocent children, deserve the same rights that everyone else has.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

Yes, if they were born here

 @9FTJVWM from California  agreed…1yr1Y

Yes, all citizens born in the United States should be granted citizenship and immediately receive rights like any other citizen.

 @9F84XLP from California  agreed…1yr1Y

They law already says if you are born in America then you are a citizen but your parent can still be deported.

 @9FLGVLF from Texas  agreed…1yr1Y

if they were born here, it would be great if they were given an opportunity, somewhat like the dream act.

 @9FLHLKRConstitution from Texas  agreed…1yr1Y

If they were born here they should be able to live here as a citizen as they should be given a chance at freedom.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

No, all illegal immigrants should be deported

 @9FMRVQX from Minnesota  disagreed…1yr1Y

They are people just like us, and just because they haven't had the time or money to go through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen, and they are most likely fleeing for safety.

 @9F74VDB from New York  disagreed…1yr1Y

Deportation should only be used if an illegal immigrant partakes in dangerous or violent activity that harms the population.

 @TheHillbillyLordRepublican from Maryland  commented…2mos2MO

Like using up our tax money, through government assistance, that we worked hard for! Yes, it isn't violent or dangerous per se, but it's just as bad as robbing a bank.

 @9F7LMS5 from Pennsylvania  disagreed…1yr1Y

Just because they dont pay taxes doesnt mean they dont do more work than you they all probably do more than you to care for their families if they plan on having one in the united states. besides the only reason they came here was for a better life for themselves.

 @9F85CG6 from Texas  disagreed…1yr1Y

Not all illegal immigrants should be the majority of them come the us to give and offer a better life to future kids or present children and just for themsleves.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

No, they must formally apply like every other new citizen

 @9FPG3DQ  from Illinois  disagreed…1yr1Y

Top Disagreement

I believe their should be more options given to them because we have to keep in mind that not every immigrant has all the time in the world or may go trough struggles already, not trying to make it seem that they should be more sensitive just because it's hard for them, but there should be faster and less time consuming options and within reason from the immigrants.

 @9FPJHBW from Tennessee  agreed…1yr1Y

no i dont agree with this statement i think we should run look at their situation first before helping them

 @9FPK8JR from Pennsylvania  agreed…1yr1Y

I believe the process of becoming an American citizen was put in place to keep our country safe, but we are a country built on immigrants. Those who seek to live here because their native country is unsafe and is unable to provide a reasonable living situation for them should have the right to leave. Those who cross over with their children with hopes of them receiving a better life here don’t fully understand that coming means their child is not given the same benefits citizens are. They can attend public school, but they cannot work, they cannot get their permit, etc. Children of immigrants should be granted citizenship, they were not in control of their crossing.

 @9FTYMM5disagreed…1yr1Y

I think there just needs to be a better and faster system for immigrants because for some the process is much harder because of their situation. You also never know what can happen if you do apply.

 @9FRWDMN from Colorado  disagreed…1yr1Y

Immigrants shouldn't have to apply because many are in bad situations and by the time someone finally looks at there application they could be gone.

 @9FT6NJX from California  disagreed…1yr1Y

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. bill of rights was America promising citizenship to all people born in the U.S.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

Yes, and abolish all national borders

 @olivia.kingg from Massachusetts  agreed…1yr1Y

National borders are unnatural- people do not choose their country of birth and therefore should be free to reside anywhere in the world. The earth was not meant to be divided.

 @9F83NXX from California  agreed…1yr1Y

People should be allowed to better their life for them
And their family. That’s why they should be allowed.

 @9G6DV8G from Florida  disagreed…1yr1Y

National borders, especially Trump's south border have helped drastically reduce drug import, human trafficking rates, and crime within our country. I believe all people coming into the U.S. should come legally. It's unfair for those who respect the law and wait for their green cards to be approved. Undocumented people take advantage of America's freedoms. Our country will be a sea of criminals without our borders.

  @VulcanMan6  from Kansas  disagreed…1yr1Y

Actually, there has been no real evidence to support the claims that a border wall has or will "drastically reduce drug import, human trafficking rates, and crime within our country". If anything, the existence of borders is a significant root cause of many of these problems in the first place, as they create unnecessary nationalism and inequality.

 @9G95Z9J from Wisconsin  disagreed…1yr1Y

There should be national borders that people are not allowed to cross unless they have citizenship in the United States.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

Yes, but it should not grant their parents citizenship

 @9PY2SLKRepublican from Arkansas  disagreed…8mos8MO

The 14th amendment is very vague on legal/illegal births. I cannot fault people for believing that babies of illegal immigrants are legal citizens, because there is no explicit language in the constitution regarding that. I believe that parents cannot become citizens because of a birth, but the child should not either because children cannot and should not be separated from their parents. America may be the greatest nation in the world, but family is the most important governance structure, and is the only reliable way for children to become decent adults.

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...13yrs13Y

Yes, but only after performing 4 years of military service or graduating college

 @4YS8D6Zfrom Oregon  answered…4yrs4Y

Children of illegal immigrants should be deported with their parents. Children of illegals who are born here should be immediately placed into foster care and the parents deported.

 @4PQN7G4from New York  answered…4yrs4Y

No! They are citizens of their parents homelands. The 14th amendment was expressly for the children of slaves. Unless the parents were legally in the US and in process of achieving permanent or citizenship status then the kids should NOT get citizenship.

 @4Q4HBM9from California  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4RS8N5Yfrom Florida  answered…4yrs4Y

Once an illegal has committed a crime and gets deported for it he/she should be tattooed so that when he/she simply re-crosses the border anyone can see they are illegal and report them. We have had enough instances of repeat crimes from illegal aliens.

 @4JHCCKKfrom Idaho  answered…4yrs4Y

Do we REALLY want to go fight World War One again? Are people really so stupid as to not remember that widespread failure to grant citizenship rights ethnic minorities was why Ferdinand was shot and ignited a world war? Yeah, unfortunately, we probably are that stupid.

 @4RYHLZQfrom Washington  answered…4yrs4Y

yes and we should at that moment of birth have a process in place to make the parents legal at the very least work here, unless they are engaged in criminal activities. Only then should the family be split up for the safety of the child.

 @58F3P54from New York  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4R2CGJKfrom Wisconsin  answered…4yrs4Y

I agree with the 14th amendment: All persons born or naturalized* in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

*Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act

 @4X8J2BHfrom Illinois  answered…4yrs4Y

I do not believe in the moral legitimacy of the concept of "Citizenship," which basically states that people are the "Property" of "their" government --- which is another word for SLAVE of "their" government.

 @4QZX9BGfrom Maine  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4Q4W9FRfrom Pennsylvania  answered…4yrs4Y

 @9FYLVWTfrom Guam  answered…1yr1Y

No and we need to get rid of jus soli and make it so to be a citizen you must apply or at least one parent is a citizen.

   Deletedagreed…1yr1Y

No, they must formally apply like every other new citizen

yup. so sick of low iq people residing in our country

 @4QXCHZBfrom Michigan  answered…4yrs4Y

There are many exceptions to be considered. Children who were dumped here by parents who are not worthy of U.S. immigration have it rough. Many who were left here as kids are now adults with no other home but here in the U.S. They should have a path to immigration and citizenship. How else can they become legal? (Kids conceived of TEMPORARY workers should NOT be citizens until their PARENTS become citizens.)

 @4PKGY7Nfrom California  answered…4yrs4Y

If the parents were in the US during conception yes, but not if they came here just to have the baby, or were just here temporarily for work, then no.

 @4Q2YKW2from Pennsylvania  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4RKFM2Ffrom Maryland  answered…4yrs4Y

Oh just make all Western Hemisphere nations new States of the United States of America and be done with Manifest Destiny. (Except Brazil until they adopt a coherent electric grid.)

 @4PW3ZPQfrom New York  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes if they were born here, or should be required to to complete military or social volunteer service , have and have no criminal record

 @8M95FVB from Utah  answered…4yrs4Y

No. Birthright citizenship should only apply when one of the parents is already a citizen.

 @4RLPZW8from Virginia  answered…4yrs4Y

Not sure. Really complicated. Children born here who are forced to live with parents in a ghetto where they are not educated or taught english are doomed. They should be given access to learning english, healthcare and become citizens if they desire at a certain age.

 @4QQM9S9from Hawaii  answered…4yrs4Y

The 14th amendment was written in different times. They could not foresee the future ramifications.

 @4RKK4PFfrom Oklahoma  answered…4yrs4Y

No, If an illegal immigrant gives birth in an American hospital and it is discovered that they are here illegally, the hospital should be required to report the family to the authorities. At this point, run a background check and if they have no criminal record here or in their home country, they can go through the appropriate channels to gain citizenship or be deported.

 @8GJ77CL from Pennsylvania  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, and we should re-evaluate our immigration laws to make it easier for immigrants to come in legally.

 @4Y3WDS2from Ohio  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4WF9DBNfrom North Carolina  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4RTM3CJfrom Northern Mariana Islands  answered…4yrs4Y

 @4Q9K62Pfrom North Carolina  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, but it should not grant their parents citizenship and only after 4 years of the child serving in the military.

 @4PZNVP3from California  answered…4yrs4Y

Only the ones born to parents who had lived here for 5 years and t heir parents have no criminal records in their country and here.

 @4PQZTCQfrom Maine  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, if they were born here. Changing this would require a constitutional amendment.

 @9LF5SCS from New Jersey  answered…11mos11MO

yes, they are essentially captive to the decisions of their parents. It would be inhumane to force a child (or once one becomes 18) to be separated from their family or sent to a foreign country without adequate support based off a decision that was outside their control

 @9HB7XQ2 from Texas  answered…1yr1Y

Yes, and abolish all national borders and establish one world confederation and break up states and countries into sectors

 @8XLR4JXDemocrat  from North Carolina  answered…1yr1Y

If they were born here, they would have birthright citizenship and could travel to and from the country freely. Their parents should receive a grace period to either formally apply for citizenship or return to their home country.

 @8QV48DY from Arizona  answered…4yrs4Y

If granting them legal citizenship involves separating them from their parents, then no. However, there should be a program in place to help the illegal immigrants become citizens without jail time or separation from their children. Most illegals come to the US out of desperation and survival.

 @8TG62FN from Virginia  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, if they were born here and have been in the country for at least 5 to 10 years minimum (would require a constitutional amendment).

 @984QNJ6Independent from Pennsylvania  answered…2yrs2Y

Yes if they were born here, but it should not grant citizenship to their parents. Their parents should be offered expedited citizenship process.

 @9X5HKSLNo Labels from Nebraska  answered…4mos4MO

I don't think they should just because they are still illegal with no citizenship. its unfair, I just don't think they should

 @9VB8MRR from Indiana  answered…5mos5MO

The children should be legal citizens of that country if they were born in that country even if their parents were illegal immigrants.

 @9F49QWX from New Jersey  answered…1yr1Y

They all be granted legal citizenship if they fit all criteria and other things in order to be legal.

 @9F44448  from Idaho  answered…1yr1Y

Yes, if they were born here, the parent(s) pay taxes, and the parent should also be granted citizenship if they produce a child within the country ONLY if they pay taxes and take responsibility for the child.

 @9F3JX85 from Tennessee  answered…1yr1Y

 @9F32R3W from Kansas  answered…1yr1Y

 @9F326RH from Wisconsin  answered…1yr1Y

 @98GFSHW from Alabama  answered…2yrs2Y

If their parents had an honest desire to immigrate here, then they should do it legally; but I do not have a fully biased opinion on this question.

 @8ZWPR3Z from Texas  answered…3yrs3Y

Yes, if they were born here but their parents should go through the process the legal way and not be granted citizenship because they had a child born here

 @85QWNPG from Colorado  answered…3yrs3Y

Yes, and if their parents have been in the country more than 8 years "illegally", they should automatically be granted citizenship.

 @8WQS9JK from South Carolina  answered…3yrs3Y

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