Jim wrote on Oct 15, 2005 10:02 AM:Mexicans are destroying this country. Every neighborhood they move into, it quickly turns into a dump. Do Mexicans know what a trash can is? If not, would someone tell them that they should throw their trash into a trash can and not on the ground.

Mary wrote on Oct 15, 2005 10:32 AM:The problem isn't that penalties for employing illegals are lacking; we have penalties on the books right now. The problem is that there is virtually no actual effort to uncover and impose these penalties on employers. Unless and until our existing laws are actually enforced I believe all talk of more penalties is just that - talk. A first step would be to require all employers to use the existing phone-based verification program for all new hires and to checking existing employees over a period of time going forward. Taking this first step is so simple and easy - the verification system is already in place. Any enforement proposals that don't include this requirement are obviously not serious.

Fred wrote on Oct 15, 2005 11:26 AM:The best way to reform Mexico is to round up all the illegal Mexicans in this country, arm them with AK47's, then parachute them into Mexico City.

Ed wrote on Oct 15, 2005 12:36 PM:"Americans who call for solution of Mexican illegal immigration to America must also see the necessity of a range of measures in this solution. Yes, assist Mexico to advance its economy so its citizens will stay home to work and go to school there. At the same time, if American employers hire illegal Mexican immigrants to work here, then enforcing the law to stop this illegal practice must also take place. Sealing the U. S.-Mexico border to stop illegal entry also serves as an measure in this solution (with the byproduct of increasing national security). Empowering and requiring local police to detain Mexican illegal aliens for deportation must happen, too. Yet, Americans cannot ignore the demand for inexpensive farm labor via illegal Mexican immigration, and so a guest worker program must address this demand while controlling the flow of foreign labor. Hardly anybody mentions the American financial burden of incarcerating the Mexican criminal illegal aliens, but reducing their presence by the above measures would relieve state and national budgets. Furthermore, America has enough criminals, and should not allow more into the country. Finally, fewer illegal Mexican immigrants in America would reduce the other costs associated with their presence. "

Barb wrote on Oct 15, 2005 1:54 PM:Go into the department store in the Post Office center to see what a store looks like with a mostly Hispanic clientel. I went in there the other day and asked for directions to the purse department and the bathroom. Neither employees I asked spoke English. The aisles were filled with fallen goods, children were running wild. That is Escondido's future, no matter how upscale the city council hopes to paint our future.

Tu Madre wrote on Oct 15, 2005 2:18 PM:Since when is the USA responsible for Mexico? Money sent there from Mexican nationals living here are their biggest source of revenue, even surpassing oil. And if you think it's just Mexicans that are crashing the borders you ain't paying attention. Since when is rewarding criminals a good idea? 11 million illegals living here and they want more visas? Unbelievable.

Rae wrote on Oct 15, 2005 7:22 PM:Mexico is responsible for their own economy, which they constantly point out to the US by telling us not to intercede in thier political processes. The bottom line is enforcement first of all the laws on the books. This includes employer sanctions (a warning, then fines, then jail terms), and seal the border (build a 16' block wall and incorporate technology systems all along with border, beginning with the southern border). Do away with birthright citizenship (at least one biological parent must be proven to be a US citizen) and repeal the Plyler decision (which allows illegal alien children to attend public schools for free at taxpayer expense). Add onto these things a fraud proof ID card for being employable in the US and that would resolve the issue of illegal aliens. If they can't work here, and they can't receive services and freebies here, such as subsidized housing and medical care, they would leave voluntarily. Border security first, then interior security. That should be the motto

ROGER wrote on Oct 16, 2005 5:15 AM:THEY SHOULD SHUT THE BORDER DOWN AND SORT THE GOATS FROM THE SHEEP. ANY SHEEP SHOULD HAVE TO LEARN ENGLISH. LOOK AT CANADA. NOW THE WESTERN PART WANTS SPLIT OFF. IT DOESN'T WORK. MEXCICANS WOULD EVEN WORSE THAN THE FRENCH. NO MORE BILL RICHARDSONS!!!

Katie wrote on Oct 17, 2005 2:41 PM:I think what people are overlooking here is that some of the Mexicans who are living here "illegally" have families and other ties here that are important to them. Not all Mexicans are criminals. The comments that I have read posted to this article make Mexicans seem like animals. I find this hard to believe in a country built on the backs of immigrants. None of us have a right to this land. Many of the ideas proposed would hurt our economy more than help it. I think the United States should find a humane way to deal with this issue and take into consideration the families that would be effected by some of these plans.