Comments on: Studies: Immigrants Worldwide Staying Put, Those in U.S. Still "Buying Into the American Dream"

By: Travis

Travis — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:26:05 +0000

Good article- it highlights an ongoing problem between the first and third worlds. When you take the semantics out of it, basically illegal immigration is a supply and demand situation that hinges on cultural acceptance. The problem I have noticed on the US/Mexico border basically comes down to the Mexican saying, “You should be ashamed of yourself, America! You have it so good and want to exclude us from your prosperity because you are inhumane and racist!” Then the American counters with, “You should be ashamed of yourself, Mexico! You have destroyed your own country and now you want to come here, against the law, and destroy mine!”
Meanwhile, unscrupulous American business benefits from cut-rate exploitable labor, and the unscrupulous Mexican social order gets a safety valve to eject people of drive and intelligence who might one day rise to challenge the status quo!

By: D. Graglia

D. Graglia — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Whether illegal immigration is a crime or not seems to be a point of contention in other forums as well as this one. For example, see this response from the Heritage Foundation to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano's assertion that "crossing the border is not a crime per se." This Star-Ledger story and this subsequent Houston Chronicle post seem to clarify the answer quite well. Based on a statement by then-New Jersey U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie, The Star-Ledger explains that "'illegal presence' ... is not a violation of the U.S. criminal code," while "'improper entry by an alien' ... is a violation of Title 8 of the U.S. criminal code punishable by a fine of between $50 and $250 and/or a maximum of six months in jail." I stand corrected on my statement that entering the U.S. without the proper documentation is not a crime. I should have written that undocumented immigrants are not criminals just by the fact of being in the U.S. without proper documentation. Thanks again for your comments. Diego Graglia Feet in 2 Worlds

By: Octavia St James

Octavia St James — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Diego Graglia is confused. In this case, it means you have no paper proof. The United States Constitution is a document. Not an un-document. It contains the laws of the land. Sneaking out of one country may not be a crime but, it is a crime to sneak into the US of A. Crimes come in all sizes here. Criminals are charged accordingly. You are required to come in the front door and prove your right(know that you are priviledged)to be here. Whatever is wrong with your country, stay home and fix it. Or, migrate thru the front door,if it’s open to you. If not, prevail on your mother country to provide for you. Figure it out the best you are able to. What else can I say? Welcome. No Dice!!!

By: DAD77

DAD77 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:46:35 +0000

The Civil Penalties under US laws are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed. The actual law is below, Section (b) is the only civil portion.

Title 8 of the US Code as currently published by the US Government reflects the laws passed by Congress as of Jan. 8, 2008, and it is this version that is shown below.

Title 8 > Chapter 12 > Subchapter II > Part VIII > Section 1325

Improper entry by alien

(a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts

Any alien who

(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or

(2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or

(3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

(b) Improper time or place; civil penalties

Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty of—

(1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or attempted entry); or

(2) twice the amount specified in paragraph (1) in the case of an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under this subsection.

Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed.

c) Marriage fraud

Any individual who knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than $250,000, or both.

(d) Immigration-related entrepreneurship fraud

Any individual who knowingly establishes a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined in accordance with title 18, or both.

By: Feet in 2 Worlds

Feet in 2 Worlds — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:22:10 +0000

As we have noted several times before, entering the U.S. illegally is not a crime, but a civil offense. Undocumented immigrants are not criminals just by the fact of having entered the U.S. without proper documentation.

Thanks for your comment.

Diego Graglia

Feet in 2 Worlds

By: DAD77

DAD77 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:51:05 +0000

People who state they love this country, but are here illegally should know that this great country of ours was founded and has flourished thanks to something we all know, cherish, and abide by: the Rule of Law. If they truly believe in the “American Dream,” they wouldn’t commit crimes to get in. Being an American citizen is not a right but a privilege.