Political Statistics

According to the debate on the immigration bill, there were many views and opinions about whether or not it should be passed. The opinion of republicans, democrats and independent were being considered. Republicans show that thirty three percent in favor of the bill. Thirty six percent of democrats were in favor. Only thirty one percent independents were in favor of the bill. Twenty one republicans do not know which side to choose. Thirty percent of democrats do not know which side to choose, as well as twenty three percent of independents who do not know.
In dealing with illegal immigrants already here, sixty two percent of republicans think and were in favor of illegal immigrants having a way to gain legal citizenship (if they meet certain conditions that is). Democrats had a percentage of sixty four that were in favor of gaining legal citizenship for immigrants. Sixty four percent of independents voted in favor of chance of legal citizenship as well.
As for dealing with illegal immigrants and providing amnesty if they meet certain conditions, 48% republicans opposed, 35% democrats opposed and 38% independents opposed. Each democratic, republican, ,and independent had a higher percentage of approval than opposition. Most of the people who were in favor of the bill were the ones who didn’t know much about immigration and some just did like the idea.

Resource:
Mixed Views on immigration Bill

Need of skilled workers

There were only about sixty-five thousand temporary visas available for highly skilled foreigners for 2009. There are not enough H-1B visas available. Last year, when applications were turned in, it exceeded the limit on the first day. Since there were so many applicants, the subscription for visas were starting to be only once a year.
The USA faces a shortage of highly skilled workers because of the H-1B problem. The reason there were so many jobs available for foreigners with visas/working papers is because too few Americans were going into scientific and technical fields.
According to the National Foundation for American Policy, the average high-tech company has four hundred seventy opening it can not fill. Microsoft needs more than four thousand. Looking at this research, it is hard to not see and try to solve a problem.
President Bush along with three major presidential contenders, have expressed their desire of increasing the amount of H-1B’s to give to applicants. The only problem is, the people that were against it such as the labor and anti-immigration groups in Washington.

Resource:

View on Immigrants

Church's Thoughts

Churches, of course, always have their own way of dealing with things as well. People from the churches, mostly the ones in charge, such as priests, pastors, reverends, etc. help immigrants who need it. They basically believe that the more the merrier. The church does not like the idea of closing the borders, they believe, it is “intruding on their obligation to care for strangers.”

"Would the US Congress have told the Good Samaritan not to help a stranger in the ditch?"
Just because people think immigrants don’t belong does not mean they can be refused help. Any type of help, whether it is medical, or physical, they should have the right to be taken care of because they are people/ human beings. This statement is true because before we even know the status of the person that is being helped, we rescue them.

Resources:

Church's Thoughts

What is an Immigrant?

Immigration is the movement of people between countries. An illegal immigrant is a foreigner who either illegally crossed an international political border, or a foreigner who legally entered a country but still overstayed his/her visa in order to live and/or work. This is what and immigrant is nothing more nothing less. Some may say we are all immigrants. If you were not born in the country you are living in, yes you are an immigrant of that country. If you have you citizenship for that country, you are still considered an immigrant.
To be technical, we are all immigrants anyway, our ancestors were not born in this country therefore, we are immigrants. We all know about what happened throughout the world with interracial relationships. So we know that we are not really from here directly, no matter what, it goes back to another country. Everyone with a certain decent is considered an immigrant.

Resource:
Definition

The Big Question

First, the average worker gets many taxes taken out of their paycheck. Every immigrant that works also gets taxes taken out of their paycheck. Therefore, off the back, we already know that they pay some type of tax. Now, when shopping, there are taxes with whatever you buy. Another way they pay taxes is if they are buying clothing that costs 150 dollars or more. Assuming immigrants are “working on the books,” they are automatically in the system, so dodging the IRS is not going to happen. They would have to file their taxes, with no choice other than to be arrested. If an immigrant is not working “on the books” how exactly can he/she pay to live, with all the housing, utilities, and prices to pretty much everything, how can one afford to work so many hours and get so little pay? This is in some situations possible if no family involved, but eventually it will be revealed once the bookkeeping of the business is put through. If not caught because of the business, then they still have the chance of being caught by immigration and being deported which makes matters even worse for the person. Either way… from all research, it was said… “"Do illegal immigrants pay any taxes?" the answer is clearly yes.”

Resources:

Proof of Defense

A little of the TRUTH

People believe that because of immigrants, America’s economy is no good. Please, if we looked at half the things that the government does with all the money there is, people would actually realize that it is not only immigrants "draining the economy." We ARE in all these other countries, in a war, and even giving, for example, China money for help. What about the 500,000 dollars that we gave China for the earthquake. Where could that money have possibly come from? yet the economy is horrible, the government can possibly become bankrupt, and there are no jobs because "Mexicans" (because that's what people think when hearing immigrants...the people that have so much to say but know very little) take everything there is. Illegal Immigrants do all the "dirty work". Okay, so if they do all the dirty work what about all the decent jobs. The jobs where you need an education, or degree. Most illegal immigrants can't even pay for higher education so what about those jobs? Where exactly do they go? Not saying that U.S. citizens are lazy, but if you are complaining so much about there not being any jobs, why is it that you cannot just settle for what there is. There is always someone hiring, all you have to do is look. Research does help; doing well in school will give major points as well. Yes, it is wrong for people to come here by crossing the boarder, they should try and go about the situation a better way, but some people just have no choice, they feel that’s the only way they can survive. Starting a new life in a new home. Everyone thinks differently and has their own opinion. Nevertheless, to speak of something serious and really not know is not a good way to try and make a point.

Resources:
Solutions to Illegal Immigration?

Actual Story

A family that was born in their country, married couple with four kids, decided to come to America. The parents thought they could live a better life and support their family in the best way possible. Throughout the years while the kids were growing up was when, the oldest started feeling the pressure. Applying for colleges was hard, getting certain jobs were even harder. The family applied for getting their LPR but this process is very long and looked through, therefore, there was not enough time to change the oldest child’s mind. The oldest went back to the country they came from. Going on through hard times without their son/brother, the family eventually started getting together again and going strong. The one thing that messed them up was their status. Now this family came with a B-1 Tourist Visa and was here to tour for six months but stayed the rest of their lives and started dealing with the difficulties. After September 11, immigration got worse and harder to get through so the family was stuck with obstacles that were not near easy. Eventually the two that were oldest got married and received their LPR through marriage. There is one left struggling to get through everything that the siblings went through. Things are very different now and everything gets harder and harder. The longer the wait the harder the fall.
This family has gone through most things in the list. They are all taxpayers, do not get any financial help from the government and are still waiting to get that call back for the Legal Permanent Residency. The most one can do is sit and wait. Dealing with the government is no joke, disagreeing with them alone could affect delays in answers, appointments, and even loss of records. Just as it is not hard to trust immigrants, it is even harder to trust the people with the power.

Political Views on Immigration

George W. Bush on Immigration
Our president believes that we can improve and lessen immigration by protecting the borders and having them more secure. He believes that the government "will never fully secure our border until we create a lawful way for foreign workers to come here and support our economy." The ideas he suggests are a good way of thinking and trying to make immigrants being here an advantage instead of trying to force them out. He also mentions that we need to resolve the status of the illegal immigrants who are already in our country. In this process of attempting to change the status of the people that are already here, how long do they suppose this procedure will take? While putting all efforts to resolve the immigrants that are already here, putting their guard down to the borders who's to say that there will not be a period in which many people come in without anyone else noticing. With all the immigrants living in New York alone, this will take years to fully process and go through honestly and fairly. On Bush's thoughts alone, there can be many contradictions, proving that this subject is not at all easy to touch and look upon.


Hillary Clinton's on Immigration
In Hillary Clinton's Q&A's, she thought outside the box and said we should "do more with our neighbors to the south to help them create more economies opportunity for their own people." Although we have enough of the U.S. going to other countries, sometimes if it is for what they really say they are going for, it would be a good idea because if the people of other countries see that the country they are looking to go to is helping them, they would most likely want to stay to see where they can really go. Hillary Clinton did have a good strategy but what the government needs to understand the U.S. would not be going to these other countries to change them to how we want them to be but to try to give them advice on how they can be very much like us.


John McCain on Immigration
In agreement with Bush, McCain believes with a good worker program, the people living here illegally will be better off as long as they have their working papers. It is true to try to secure the borders, if the borders are fully secured, and people are still being able to "sneak in" what would the government have in mind then. Would there be jobs of citizens lost because they are helping the immigrants come in?



Resources:
George Bush's Thoughts
Hillary Clinton's Thoughts
John McCain's Thoughts

Different Forms of coming Into The U.S.

Everyone is required to have a visa when coming into the United States. Each visa has a limit of how long you can stay in the U.S. The following are some of the different types of visas available:

1. B-1 Business Visa - Who ever chooses to come to the U.S. for business purposes that do not involve receiving salary or payment are eligible to apply for this visa. Now screening and interviews are required. For a business visa with length of stay, the maximum amount of time permitted to move here would be six months but the immigration officer at the port of entry determines how long each visitor are allowed to stay. For the B-1 Business Visa Change of Status, the visitor is eligible to change their status to permanent resident if they qualify.


2. B-2 Tourist Visa - Those who visit the U.S. for tourism are usually given 90days to stay. Those who get a visa length of stay, get at most six months as well. There is also a B-2 Visa for medical treatment, which requires additional documents to be submitted. US Visitor Visa Change of Status should be eligible to become a LPR with proper documentation and see if they qualify.


3. B-1/B-2 Visa Extension - Extensions must be approved by the USCIS with the I-94 as proof of when the visitor first came.


4. C-1 Transit Visa - This allows foreigners to pass through the U.S. as long as it is not the final destination. The c-1 transit eligibility requirements are the maximum of 29days in the United States.


5. E-1 Treaty Trader Visa - This allows commercial treaties to enter the U.S. to engage change to substantial nature between the United States. The requirements are to carry out substantial trade or develop and direct operations of enterprise(s), which deals with commercial trade.


6. E-2 Treaty Investor Visa - You are only able to obtain an e-2 treaty investor visa is the U.S. is affiliated with that treaty of commerce. The purpose of the foreigner must be to carry out trades with the United States. The requirements of the applicant must be to come to the U.S. to manage the operations of an enterprise. Unless the applicant is coming as an employee, he/she must own at least 50% of the investment.


7. E-3 Visa for Australians - This visa is only for Australian citizens, they must only be going to the U.S. if it is to work in a specialty occupation.


8. F-1 Student Visa - Enables foreign students to come to schools of higher education. Must be a full-time student. The student can stay as long as it takes him/her to finish their education.

These visas are very carefully given out. In some countries, it is not easy getting a visa in order to come the United States. Especially if you are, have nothing to lose in the country you are leaving. Even if you have family members living in the U.S. they will sometimes not let you go if they think you will try to overstay you limit. Every government takes this very seriously and it is not easy to get away with getting a visa for only a long vacation. As stated in one source, you must have a good enough reason to come to the United States. You cannot just say, "Because I want to." There are rules to why you are coming to immigrate in this country and if it is not followed correctly, you can do time.


Resources:
Visas
Ways to Immigrate in the U.S.
Tourist and Business Visas

How people really feel

I know plenty of people who have no problem with immigrants and think that it is not at all a crime to come to the U.S. and try to become legal. Of course, then there are the people who think this is a crime and have a problem with living around immigrants. Without a doubt, some immigrants do commit crimes. For example, some people come here in a boat; some come with a visa and just never go back. I believe that coming here should not be considered a crime at all. After all immigrants do pay bills and buy as much as citizens do. Most even, pay taxes. People think badly of immigrants right away because they think they do not pay taxes or they live here for free. If they were to really think about it, how can someone possibly be here and not live the same lifestyle a citizen lives? How do these "citizens" know that immigrants do not pay taxes, or that all immigrants do is work here to send all the money back to their country? Unless you really do know, I do not believe someone should judge any immigrant without really knowing all the facts about what they go through. Yes, all citizens do pay taxes, most immigrants do as well, as a matter of fact, range of studies show that immigrants pay between $90 and $140 billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes. As for the undocumented immigrants and ones even without "working on the books", they pay taxes as well and the government gets taxes that cannot be matched to workers’ names and social security numbers, which means that is $20 billion unaccounted for. Some people feel as if immigrants are here to take over their jobs as well. This really has nothing to do with trying to take your jobs away. It is said that there are not enough jobs in the United States for residents but that does not mean that it is the immigrants who are taking the jobs that are left over. Some people have no choice but to come to a different country and try to make a better living. You cannot blame them for being brave enough to practically start a new life. Just because you a citizen of the United States does not make you more qualified for a job than an immigrant. It takes a lot out of an employer to choose who gets a job. If you are not qualified than, it was simply just not meant to be. There are even a lot of jobs other than government jobs that require you to be a citizen or a legal permanent resident, so what happens to those jobs, why is it that citizens don't apply to those jobs which immigrants cannot even step foot near? So does this mean that you just do not look for a good high paying job or you are not qualified? What else is there to prove? Immigrants are people just like citizens and if you think about it, the things they go through to become legal permanent residents and citizens is way more you as a citizen will ever have to go through. The citizenship test alone has a whole lot to do with the United States' history, now many citizens do you know that know everything about their country???



Resources:

Should illegal immigrants pay to stay in the United States?

Facts about immigrants

Becoming a Permanent Resident

The first thing that needed in this process is how you are going to apply for your Lawful Permanent Residency (LPR). There are two ways to get your LPR. The first is through a family member and the second is through employment. Each way has various steps to follow and each step must be followed correctly and carefully. Any mistake that occurs will have a consequence and maybe even a fine. Depending on what the person came to the U.S. for, they need to see which way fits them best.

Getting your LPR through a family member begins by having a family member that is a U.S. Citizen or is already a permanent resident. If the relative is a U.S. citizen, then they can sponsor only a husband or wife, an unmarried child under 21 years of age, an unmarried son or daughter over 21, a married son or daughter of any age, a brother or sister (if the sponsor is at least 21 years old), or, parent (if the sponsor is at least 21 years old). Now, if the sponsor is a Legal Permanent Resident he/she can only sponsor a husband or wife, or an unmarried son or daughter of any age. After picking the correct relative, the first step is to be approved by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services according to the visa petition, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative you give them. The petition is filed out by the relative that is helping you and you must prove that this person is really related to you. The next step would be to wait for the Department of State to have an immigrant visa number available for you, which will then allow you to apply for that number. In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate, they must meet these standards: They must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and provide documentation providing his/her status. They must also prove that they can support you at 125% above the mandated poverty line, by filling out an Affidavit of Support.

Getting your LPR through employment: To become an immigrant based on the fact that you have a permanent employment opportunity in the United States, you must go through a multi-step process. You and your employers must determine if are eligible for lawful permanent residency under one of USCIS' paths to lawful permanent residency. Then the U.S. employer must complete a labor certification request (Form ETA 750) for the applicant, and submit it to the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. Labor must either grant or deny the certification request. Third, USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition, Form I-140, Petition for Alien Worker. The employer wishing to bring the applicant to the United States to work permanently files this petition. However, if a Department of Labor certification is needed the application can only be filed after the certification is granted. The employer acts as the sponsor (or petitioner) for the applicant (or beneficiary) who wants to live and work on a permanent basis in the United States. Fourth, the State Department must give the applicant an immigrant visa number.

Resources:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website

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The Beginning

There are many things that people go through when coming to a completely new country. People’s lives change and they do this mostly for the better. When people come to the United States, for most, they come to get a better life and live happier. I believe making the choice of leaving where they come from to trying to do better is such a hard and brave step. Having to leave all their family alone is hard enough, but going somewhere they know nothing about and do not even know the language is, I believe, the greatest challenge.
The first thing is coming here and getting settled. Getting used to where they are and how the people are around them are. The REAL reason why people make up their final thought about coming here will always be a mystery. Yes, it is said it's to better their lives but who's to say that they just didn't feel right where they were. How do we know they aren't here to do bad?
And this is where it all begins... What do we really think?