OT - can someone please explain immigration to me?

I mean, explain the problem with it, please?  I realize this is a controversial issue and I do not want to argue about it, I really don't.  But I don't get it.  As far as I can tell, people in the US are most concerned about people from Central and South America coming into the country illegally.  But I gather it is difficult or those that want to move to the US to do so legally.  I also gather that at least a large part of the concern is that we don't have enough jobs for all the immigrants as well as all the US citizens and that there are not enough other resources for them, either.

Here's what I don't get.  There may not be enough jobs or enough whatever to go around.  But why do so many people think that, just by virtue of being born in the US, they deserve those opportunities while those that happened to be born a little south of here don't?

 
Here's a UK perspective!

Our problem ( according to the more lurid tabloid press) is that " all our jobs are bring taken by Eastern Europeans".

But here's the thing! Employers employ them because they work harder, turn up on time, work willingly! They aren't cheaper because this is about base level jobs and they all pay the legal minimum wage to start with, then pay more as people do well. One major sandwich chain was criticised and their answer was, UK citizens don't apply and if they do, they rarely stay! And tht was not a sweat shop type employer, it was one with  a good reputation as an employer. Well educated workers from E Europe are prepared to start with basic  jobs and work hard to move up. 

I have no quarrel with that! Different if they were coming in, taking starvation wages and so allowing employers to save money by undercutting wages which do not allow for a civilised standard of living ( not luxury, but above absolute poverty!).

Did I read about some US state clamping down on illegal immigrants and farmers having to let crops rot as no- one would pick them? 

You did read about a state clamping down on illegal immigrants. It's Alabama. HUGE issue here. Kids were being kept home from school because the parents were afraid of being deported. Schools are open to all. And yes, a lot of the farmers had a hard time because ______ don't want to work as hard as ______ for less than minimum wage.

Kelly,

I don't think there are many who don't agree that everyone deserves the same opportunities that we have here in the US; however, the reality is that the US taxpayers simply cannot continue to support the number of illegals that are pouring across our borders. 

Furthermore, while we would all like to think that the illegals are all families just seeking to provide a better life for themselves, another reality is that a number of these illegals are criminals who are at the root of much of the gang problem we experience in some US cities.

Today, America is in crisis.  The unemployment rate is skyrocketing, our investments are plummeting, and I honestly believe we are on the fast-track to becoming a third world country.

While my heart wants to reach out and take care of everyone in need, my reality is that there just are not enough resources in America alone to do that with.

We are having increasing difficulty supporting the needs of Americans who, by virtue of their birth, are now struggling to feed their own families here in America, so how can we possibly continue to support those who commit a criminal act by illegally entering our country? 

It's always been difficult to immigrate to America.  My mother immigrated to this country and spoke to us often about the difficulties she encountered, yet she, and millions of others just like her, still played by the rules.  They did not see themselves to be above the law because of their plight for a better life. 

My mother played by the same rules that we would be expected to play by if we made the decision to immigrate to another country... 

Without laws there would be total anarchy; consequently, whether we like the laws or not, they must be obeyed or we vote to change them.  We do not simply ignore those that we do not feel apply to us...

The by virtue of birth question might be answered this way as well...

Because the Rockefeller's have so much money and many of them are privileged to have it simply by virtue of their birth, does this give me the right to go take it from them because I have less????

It does sadden me that so many people throughout the world live in such a state of lack; however, this does not mean that I want to become one of them by continuing to dole out resources that we simply cannot afford to bankroll. 

So much in the world definitely needs change, but the American taxpayer cannot bear the continuous burden of the cost involved. 

This is simply the sad reality... 

Absolutely perfectly said!

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My issue exactly!  I feel lucky to have been born here...[Canada]...north america, whatever...and don't feel 'proud' to be Canadian, as I feel it is just that...luck...
We're all in this together aren't we...or, maybe I should say 'on' this together...the earth...

 I could go on for paragraphs about this but I fear I might get flamed. Or not - I may have blocked people who said things I didn't agree with politically..... I'm proud of my family's immigrant history (recent and circa 1900s) so I take personal offense when people get on this tizzy about "they're stealing our jobs". Really? With what evidence? And if an american born person wants to spend 16-18 hours bent over picking tomatoes in the heat/rain for less than minimum wage, what's really stopping them? OK - gotta stop posting before I get myself into trouble.....

But it's not just the agricultural jobs.  It's the restaurant jobs, the construction jobs and the factory jobs too.  At least it's that way here.