Legal / Illegal Immigration?

[The Legendary Phoenix]

It was a random thought that crossed my mind and I thought it might make an interesting topic.

Do people know the difference between Legal and Illegal immigration or do they take it as one big thing with no difference? I mean if someone can go live/work in another country legally then why not do it that way? Is there a valid reason for why people do it the illegal way? I'd like to know what you all think. Also I'm not saying all immigrants are illegal, I'm just asking a few questions.

If there's already a thread like this one, I'm sorry.

 

[magicmonkeybars]

nobody cares about legal immigrates at least they pay taxes and get a job have learned the language and respect local customs.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I think a lot of people don't know the difference between legal and illegal immigration.

In response to your question as to what makes some people immigrate illegaly, I don't think anyone that hasn't been in that situation can answer truthfuly.

 

[The Legendary Phoenix]

Is there a valid reason for why people do it the illegal way?

Umm... The fact that they are not even close to meeting the requirements for getting a visa and permission for work?

Well that answers that question.

 

[Nmil-ek]

The fact that some people arent as lucky as us and are born into complete hellholes governed by corrupt law systems like sharia, brutal dicatorships like korea or are torn by civil war possibly?

Or the fact that they live in poverty and would do anything to move their family to a land where they can actually earn a life for themselves.

This isnt all illegal immigrants but frankly I support these people I would rather have them living here and working than some fat mother of three living in a council flat living off of benefits, they are more than welcome in that case.

 

[Undeed]

There are several classes in this area:
Natural Citizen: Born stateside or your parents were citizens.
Naturalized Citizen: Immigrated here, took the citizenship exam, passed.
Legal resident: Not a citizen, but has many of the resposibilities and rights of a citizen. Most commonly students.
Illeagal resident: Everyone knows about this.

There are many requirements to becoming a natualized citizen or resident, and some people may consider it too difficult or not worth their time. Adding to this is the fact that the lines for these processes is getting longer every day, with people signing up faster than they can be processed.

 

[Seldon2639]

It was a random thought that crossed my mind and I thought it might make an interesting topic.

Do people know the difference between Legal and Illegal immigration or do they take it as one big thing with no difference? I mean if someone can go live/work in another country legally then why not do it that way? Is there a valid reason for why people do it the illegal way? I'd like to know what you all think. Also I'm not saying all immigrants are illegal, I'm just asking a few questions.

If there's already a thread like this one, I'm sorry.

Lemme try to take a shot.

First, the rules for getting a Visa (especially a work visa) are so byzantine as to border on Orwellian. To get your basic H1B visa takes not only having a country here willing to sponsor you (so you need to have already gotten a job to try to get a work visa), and the waiting period is fairly oppressive. We don't have a very robust migrant worker program, and most companies which hire out manual labor don't want to become H1B dependent, so they don't sponsor many people for them.

The average length of time for actually applying for citizenship is way more oppressive that that, with usual waiting times of four years (for those on the fast track, including those with specialized skills, and with close family in the U.S), to seven years (for everyone else).

I'd wager that if there were a reasonable way to live and work in America without coming here illegally, there would be far less illegal immigration. People don't legitimately like breaking the law, and they'd probably like the protections and benefits of being legal resident aliens, if that's not an option...

 

[pirateninj4]

I am a legal immigrant to the US, and I must say that it's harder for me than it is for an illegal immigrant with all the hoops I have had to jump through and the money I have had to spend to get it to go through, but the end result is better I think, being able to work and study and live basically as a citizen would.

People do it the illegal way to avoid the stress and money commitment to getting the paperwork done, and because there is so much leniency toward paying people crappy wages under the table, and getting crappy jobs done for the hella cheap.

People do it legal because they care about not getting deported and making a real life for themselves/their family in a new country.