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Opposing illegal immigrant rights
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Also by Kevin Bargnes:
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by Kevin Bargnes
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute released a report this week revealing 76 percent of Wisconsin residents oppose allowing illegal immigrants to apply for driver's licenses.
In addition, 86 percent oppose allowing illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition at University of Wisconsin schools, while only 46 percent oppose allowing children of illegal immigrants to attend public schools.
The data was collected Dec. 2-3 through a random sampling of 600 Wisconsin residents, Research Institute President Jim Miller said.
"Illegal immigration is a major issue nationally. There are a number of states who have already done reforms like the ones we asked about," Miller said. "It will almost assuredly be debated here in Wisconsin. And it's an issue we think people are concerned about in the state."
Statistics were further broken down to show how residents with different party affiliations, political viewpoints and living locations within the state reacted.
Conservative respondents strongly opposed each category. For example, 97 percent opposed allowing illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition. However, liberal respondents opposed the issue as well — 64 percent did not support the measure.
The city most open to the reforms was Madison — split on the driver's license issue and 61 percent of those polled were in favor of allowing illegal immigrants into public schools.
However, Madison residents, like those of the rest of the state, do not want illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition, with 64 percent opposed to such a reform.
John Murray, spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said the poll only firms up the speaker's stance on illegal aliens.
"This poll corroborates what many people believe in the Legislature — it is not right to allow illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition or driver's licenses," Murray said.
State Rep. Pedro Colon, D-Milwaukee, the first Hispanic person to be elected to the state Legislature, believes the poll was flawed.
In 1982, the United States Supreme Court in Plyler v. Doe ruled all children have a right to public education, regardless of immigration status.
"The researchers should have done their homework before they asked the questions," said Andy Janssen, Colon's chief of staff. "I'm not even sure why that question was asked. There are no numbers because we can't ask for immigration status in K-12 schools."
Colon also takes issue with the results because the poll asks if citizens would support "discounted in-state tuition" for illegal immigrants, implying they would have to pay less than in-state tuition.
"The fact of the matter is that these children came here because their parents brought them here," Janssen said. "Do we want to adopt policies that punish children for the illegal actions of their parents? A just society doesn't."
Miller said the Research Institute ran the study under the supervision of Diversified Research, a nationally recognized polling foundation.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 8:09am):
I have a great idea, let us give the children legal status when they are of legal age to decide (but make them go through the process of legal immigration). That way they can be legal residents and get in state tuition. The only thing is, we would have to make their parents go back to wherever it is they came from first (leave this country). If the parents want to return and visit, they must do it through legal channels, not through criminal actions.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 9:26am):
"Do we want to adopt policies that punish children for the illegal actions of their parents?"
The children of all criminals have difficulties. The children of bank robbers and embezlers have a hard time when their parents go to jail.
The illegal immigrants should be deported and the children with them.
The law should be changed so that children born to illegal immigrants are not automatically citizens.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 3:10pm):
How the hell do you all think you got here? Materialized out of thin air? Unless you're an American Indian, you're families immigrated too. Think, if your ancestors had been denied education in this country, you'd be back in Germany or Scandinavia or Ireland right now. Everyone has the same right to be here. Just because you're family has been here for generations does NOT make you more important.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 9:18pm):
"How the hell do you all think you got here?"
Legally, that's how all my ancestors got here.
Everyone has the same right to LEGALLY immigrate.
Crime is crime.
And the ancestors of the Indians immigrated here also, just a lot earlier.
Everybody is a African-whatever.
Anonymous (December 13, 2007 @ 11:29pm):
Well I have a preference for the rights of those who are in the U.S. legally or are trying to get here that way.
Anonymous (December 14, 2007 @ 10:34am):
310p
correct!
we all should have a chance to come to this great country.
NOT JUST MEXICANS!
last time i checked, the southern mexican border was armed and guarded so that central and south american people couldn't get in.
why are all these open border types so racist against asians, europeans, africans, and all other latinos that aren't MEXICAN?
Anonymous (December 14, 2007 @ 1:16pm):
Everyone does not have the right to be in this country. Most countries of the world (including Mexico) have very strict rules on who comes to settle. Common sense dictates that we have to know and control who is here. Would you just allow anyone to come into you home? As for prior immigrants, the United States has always controlled immigration so we know who comes in. Prior to 1924 anyone could immigrate if they were healthly and did not have a criminal past. In 1924 Congress decided to control future immigration.
Anonymous (December 14, 2007 @ 4:02pm):
"If the parents want to return and visit, they must do it through legal channels, not through criminal actions."
So basically, you're supporting splitting up families. Because you can bet that poor Mexicans, especially those deported once, will not be able to enter even on a tourist visa. Acquaint yourself with our draconian immigration policy for Mexicans and you'll begin to understand why people come illegally. For example, the x thousand dollars they pay coyotes is nothing compared to the transportation fees to the DF, paperwork fees, time off work, time spent waiting for appointments. It can cost well over $1000 just to apply for a tourist visa to enter the U.S., not including transportation TO the U.S., and even that doesn't guarantee that the visa will be approved (it probably won't be).
Anonymous (December 15, 2007 @ 10:19am):
Illegal immigrants have the right to a bus ride to the border.
Anonymous (December 17, 2007 @ 9:13am):
They've got no right just because they have a lousy government down there to walk across the borders of the United States of America, because this is my country.
Anonymous (December 17, 2007 @ 11:43am):
Here's a scenario:
Imagine that you were raised in the Netherlands(possibly even born there), grew up speaking Dutch, went to school from kindergarten on, and graduated from high school. Now when you go to apply for university, you are told that you must pay double the tution of your classmates (besides you should just go back to America anyways). However, you grew up as a Dutch child and consider yourself a Dutch citezen (or if you were born there, you are a Dutch citezen).
This is the situation that many children of illegal immigrants face. Those who are US Citezens do not eceive in-state tuition due to their parents' illegal status. Those who grew up in the US but are not US citezens were brought here as chldren and are about as American as the rest of us.
Don't punish young people for the actions of their parents! It's unfair and unethical.
Anonymous (December 17, 2007 @ 7:56pm):
"Don't punish young people for the actions of their parents! It's unfair and unethical."
Happens ALL the time. Sins of the fathers and all that.
Giving the children of illegal immigrants cheaper tuition than US citizens (from other states) would just serve as another incentive for MORE illegal immigrants to bring MORE illegal immigrant children into the USA.
"...are about as American as the rest of us."
EXCEPT for the illegal part. the crime part, the respect for the law part, yeah, except for the fact that THEY ARE NOT US CITIZENS!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous (December 17, 2007 @ 10:42pm):
"Don't punish young people for the actions of their parents! It's unfair and unethical."
So the parents break into your house, steal your stuff and give it to their children. Do you want your stuff back - or would that be unfair to the children?
What if they just steal your food? You willing to go hungry for the sake of someone elses children?
Let's face facts - it's the US citizens on the low end of the ladder (and THEIR children) from whom the illegal immigrants are stealing opportunities.
THAT'S what is unfair and unethical.
Anonymous (December 31, 2007 @ 8:30pm):
"Don't punish young people for the actions of their parents! It's unfair and unethical."
Heh!
Mexico City Journal
In Prison, Toddlers Serve Time With Mom
MEXICO CITY -- Beyond the high concrete walls and menacing guard towers of the Santa Martha Acatitla prison, past the barbed wire, past the iron gates, past the armed guards in black commando garb, sits a nursery school with brightly painted walls, piles of toys and a jungle gym.
Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times
Jaqueline Merlos Espericueta, 2, playing during a Christmas party at the prison, where her mother, Diana, is awaiting trial.
Fifty-three children under the age of 6 live inside the prison with their mothers, who are serving sentences for crimes from drug dealing to kidnapping to homicide. Mothers dressed in prison blue, many with tattoos, carry babies on their hips around the exercise yard.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/world/americas/31mexico.html
Anonymous (January 1, 2008 @ 9:10am):
This is just straight up theft by Mexicans.
Every day along the 1,952-mile border, children from Mexico cross into the United States and attend public schools. No one keeps statistics on how many.
Citizenship isn't the issue for school officials; district residency is.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled illegal immigrants have a right to an education, so schools don't ask about immigration status. But citizens and illegal immigrants alike can't falsely claim residency in a school district.
Calexico's rapid growth outstripped school resources, resulting in overcrowding and prompting demands that Mexican interlopers be ousted. Taxpayers complained their children were bused across town because neighborhood schools were full, even after Calexico voters approved a $30 million construction measure in 2004. Portable classrooms proliferated.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-12-31-mexicans-schools_N.htm
Anonymous (January 1, 2008 @ 3:07pm):
Since when should ANY person who breaks the law and enters this country illegally deserve ANYTHING but deportation? Since when are the victims (citizens) held responsible for the acts of the criminals (illegals)?
My ancestors came here from Ireland legally, and when they arrived they got NOTHING from the government. No welfare, no food stamps, no free housing, no language translation, no mediacal check-ups, no NOTHING.
Let those who want to come here legally apply and those who break the law be deported, denied ALL services, and prosecuted. I guarantee you that the VAST majority of Mexicans coming here have no interest in becoming a part of the American culture -- they want free handouts and money to send home -- turn those off and they will STAY IN MEXICO!
Anonymous (January 2, 2008 @ 9:10am):
"they arrived they got NOTHING"
Come on Paddy, yer not gettin wit the PC program!
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