Very Simple wrote on May 13, 2007 1:24 AM:The Heritage Foundation is a legitimate organization. The Immigration Policy Center only focuses on contributions, not the hundreds of millions that the illegal costs us in handouts!

Big richard wrote on May 13, 2007 5:46 AM:This whole reform bill issue is a waste of time. It doesn't matter what terms they come up with. Unless they decide to enforce the rules they make why even make any rules.

Mine too! wrote on May 13, 2007 6:36 AM:Really?! Johnson says "Moreover, the children whose education is counted as a cost in the report often grow up to earn higher wages than their parents..." As well and his and mine and my brothers and most of the rest of the CITIZENS of this country. HOWEVER, I'd like to break it to him gently, are you sitting down - that's not because of immigration reform, it's because of a little thing called INFLATION! Have you heard of it?!

don't post wrote on May 13, 2007 6:46 AM:what?

Harold wrote on May 13, 2007 7:02 AM:Have all the studies you want and all the good intentions you want. Unless the border is effectively controlled, they are meaningless. Thus far, there is no national will to do so. As the invasion continues, these new folk will vote accordingly. Their values will be different, similar to the cut in line approach that brought them here to begin with.

Gig wrote on May 13, 2007 7:28 AM:A country is a group of people. Without people, there is no country. With more people, the country is made stronger and more powerful.

Concerned-1 wrote on May 13, 2007 7:32 AM:We are enjoying an unprecedented standard of living during this alleged immigration problem. So we boot everyone out then what happens? We all get a new big screen TV, a new car? Without immigration we will hve negative population growth. I challenge you to show me one country that flourished with negative growth. Look a Russia right now, they are offering $10,000 to anyone who has a baby. The only thing the $22,000 figure proves is that we have a ridiculously flawed health care system, in which we are being systematically raped by corporate medical and pharma. Ironically doctors have kept their wages high by specifically excluding doctors from immigrating.

Greg wrote on May 13, 2007 7:37 AM:Gig says "with more people, the country is made stronger and more powerful" hmmmm, so that means it makes Mexico less strong and less powerful using the reverse "logic" if true Mexico wouldn't like it so much. You could do a study showing alcoholics help our country and contribute to our economy BUT that doesn't mean we shouldn't arrest them when they break the law by drinking and driving (which kills FAR more than our current war - YEARLY).

Real Citizen wrote on May 13, 2007 7:50 AM:Any article that Edward Sifuentes writes is full of porous facts. He is the pro illegal puppet of the North Chicano Times.......oops the NCT. I highly doubt this will be posted like most posts that disagree with this leftist paper.

whatever wrote on May 13, 2007 8:16 AM:"negative population growth" sounds like just what we need now ...we have too many people here draining our resources at our expense!! Whoever made it a law that an illegal has a baby on US soil and that baby becomes a citizen was CRAZY!! Deport the whole group! We need to do what Canada has done...if you want to come live here, you have to be skilled at SOMETHING, not just sponge off our taxpayers!! If it keeps up at this rate, in 20 years or less, it'll be like we're living in Mexico and the middle class will have vanished :(

Big Richard wrote on May 13, 2007 8:18 AM:I agree with Harold. Unless something is done to stop this invasion things will continue to go downhill. Something earned is worth much more than something given and as long as we continue to give away everything we have worked to achieve then eventually it will be worth very little and then fall apart.

you are right wrote on May 13, 2007 8:25 AM:illegal immigrants make us stronger. we need them more than most nativeborns.

Sam wrote on May 13, 2007 8:27 AM:Will the ultimate cost be factored in here - the cost of a civil war with millions of reconquesta go to war within our own borders and try to setup Atzlan? When this happens cost will have to be calculated in human life.

what's a law? wrote on May 13, 2007 8:57 AM:Cost? We have immigration laws, just like we have traffic laws, narcotics laws. We have borders for our country. Stop treating legal citizens as though you have no respect for them. We want our borders safe and we want all law breakers brought to justice as the law now requires. Those that are in the position of law maker, local politician or higher, Chiefs of Police etc. you should resign your positions if you choose to not support the law.

Big richard wrote on May 13, 2007 9:07 AM:To_ "you are right" Spoken like a true invader

Nick wrote on May 13, 2007 9:11 AM:To Gig & You are Right: I am Native American and Native Born, over 5 generations right here in North County. Where are you 2 from? We do not need more people and we DEFINATELY do not need 20 MILLION ILLEGAL Immigrants. San Diego is not the jewel it once was, it is overcrowded, overpopulated, and resembles 3rd World slums more and more every month. How is this a positive for our community? Why should my children have to put up with ESL classes so the non-english speaking kids can catch up? We speak 4 languages in our household because we choose to, not because we are forced to(English, French, Spanish, and Cherokee). Yep Cherokee, some of us actually still speak our Native tongues, unlike like my grnadfather and his father who were forbidden to speak Cherokee and forced to go to the white mans school, speak English and adopt Christianty. First the Government shoved English down my peoples throats and now they want to shove Spanish down it. Hmmmmmmmm....really makes you wonder doesn't it? Send those in this Country Illegally home, secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. It that really to much to ask?

woops! wrote on May 13, 2007 9:14 AM:I must have missed this in the NCT. The TEXAS Town voted 68% in favor of the 'landlord' enforced immigration law. NOT A WORD in our local paper?? Local city councils, you are not doing enough in this area, Vista especially, watch Escondido, over night parking laws. They are proven and fair & they work. Talking about code enforcement of garage conversions is a good start, even SD is taking on the mini-dorms, of course what 'group' does that attack? the college student,

El Jeffe wrote on May 13, 2007 9:33 AM:Why is it so unfair to consider what an immigrant can contribute to the country based on measurable, marketable skills? Just because a female can rush across the border when no one is paying attention & drop a child on US soil should that give them the right to stay here illegally? How many unskilled workers do we need swabbing toilets? How many people blowing leaves & picking up trash? I had a person apply for a housekeeping job that did not even know how to plug the vacuum cleaner into an electric socket because she never owned or operated one in her country of origin. A disproportionate increase in unskilled labor breeds more poverty & ignorance! Where are our future brain surgeons, scientists hi-tech workers & engineers going to come from? This country is sliding into mediocrity very fast!

To Real Citizen wrote on May 13, 2007 9:45 AM:The only thing real about you is that you are real rude. Why do you read this paper if you hate it so much? You must read all of Edward Sifuentes reports since you are such an expert on him. Why do you read it? Why do you post such negative posts? Please do yourself and all of us a favor and shut up. You have had you opportunity to free speech why not let Edward have his? Peace

Open The Border- wrote on May 13, 2007 10:12 AM: Just enforce our immigraion laws or open the borders and kiss America good by. It is already happening! Let the sick, contagious diseased, criminal, illiterate, lazy, immoral, child molesting, drug addicted, mentally ill, pysically deformed, antisocial, unskilld, un-employable, elderly , disabled, feeble, lazy, come across our borders. This country is up for grabs-and It has always been! The Native Americans were too weak to hold this land. The land is being taken again, because legal Americans are too weak and morally defunct as a people to hold it.

EG wrote on May 13, 2007 10:22 AM:Just think how this debate would look if all employers we're required to verify the legal status of the employees they hire. We already have a system in place for a credit check, so if employers were allowed to use that system for a legal immigration check, we'd all be better off. But of course that would not address all of those employers that engage in illegal activities themselves or the underground economy, but at least it would be a start.

QUENT wrote on May 13, 2007 10:24 AM:The increasing stream of illegal aliens into this country is alarming enough, without adding to the deluge by passing a bill to legalize their status here! Such a bill would be bait to attract more and more invaders. Making illegal aliens legal is amnesty pure and simple. Amnesty is amnesty is amnesty. Unfortunately, most of those who migrate here from Mexico and other countries are at the bottom of the heap in their own country, having no or low skills with some of them fleeing criminal charges. The greed of American employers is the culprit but they complain that they can't determine the status of job applicants. That's all the more reason for a system that can determine status. A good start would be the real ID which would be similar to ID's now used by banks and others for security purposes. Incorporating fingerprinting and other unique markers would be important.

Americans too immoral- wrote on May 13, 2007 10:25 AM:The majority of Americans do not care who comes here, they are too involved with television soap operas and sports. They are spoiled, immoral, lazy and worship the almighy dollar.

Skip wrote on May 13, 2007 10:30 AM:LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ! Yesterday in Farmers Branch, Texas, an ordinance cracking down on illegal immigration by blocking illegal aliens from renting houses and apartments has passed 2 to 1 receiving approximately 68% of the vote! All over America, United states Citizens are fed up with the Costs and Burdens of Out of Control Illegal Immigration.

Al wrote on May 13, 2007 10:30 AM:Close the freaking border and enforce existing laws concerning the hiring of ILLEGAL"s. Most of our problems will go away in a heart beat. Mexico has tough border security enforcement along it's southern border to keep the Guatemalan's out. Total hypocrisy in Mexico, a 3rd world cesspool telling the United States how to run it's business. Washington politicians are a digrace. Vote everyone of them out of office.

Benefits of Immigration- wrote on May 13, 2007 10:37 AM:America has always benefited by controlled immigration. The European illegal immigrants subjugated and killed off the majority of Native Americans. Without controlled immigration-legal immigrants,who are invited here because we need the skills they offer, the country as we know it will disappear.

Skip's Illegal Alien Poem wrote on May 13, 2007 10:56 AM:I come for visit, get treated regal, So I stay, who cares I illegal? I cross border, poor and broke, Take bus, see employment folk. Nice men treat me good in there. Say I need to see welfare. Welfare say "You come no more, We send cash right to your door." Welfare checks, they make you wealthy, Medicaid it keep you healthy! By and by, I got plenty money, Thanks to you, American dummy. Write to friends in motherland, Tell them come as fast as you can, They come in rags and Chebby trucks, I buy big house with welfare bucks. They come here, we live together. More welfare checks, it gets better! Fourteen families they moving in, But neighbor's patience wearing thin.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on May 13, 2007 10:59 AM:First, I figured Ed Sifuentes would censor my first post. To Americans too immoral; sure, we're going to believe every word you speak or write. Americans put a man on the moon when countries like Mexico can't even employ or feed their own people, which is why their citizens are fleeing there in droves. Secondly American have achieved things that other nations couldn't even begin to do. So, go crawl under the rock from which you came. And the total hypocracy is how "patriotic" Mexicans are when it comes to flying the Mexican flag. They flee, escape, or abandon Mexico yet disply their proud heritage. Total hypocracy at it's finest.

Studies wrote on May 13, 2007 11:28 AM:If you start a study with an objective you can make that study show whatever point you are trying to make. That said boot all ilegals out. We gave them amnesty 20 years ago and look what it got us, a flood of new ilegals to replace all the ones we gave a free pass to. Enough! We will never be able to secure our borders. No matter how big of a wall we build they will find a way around under or over. Interior enforcment is the best way to deal with this problem. Better security on who we issue identification to and bigger penalties for hiring ilegal's. Why bother with new laws when we aren't enforcing the ones we already have?

Point System wrote on May 13, 2007 11:57 AM:I like the idea of a point system. That is what many countries do. Some require that you speak the language before you can apply for citizenship. Perhaps that would help people realize that 'immigrants' are human beings and remove barriers of 'us versus them'. The US will never deport all of these people. You have to be more realistic than that. Put some benchmarks in place. Make sure English fluency, education and for those who were illegal to pay fines and pay back taxes as goals. NO amnesty. And make sure that labor cards start getting issues where these workers can return home and then return to work. We are forcing many of these workers to remain here and not cross the border as they are afraid they can't come back. Ask any farm or ranch- they depend on this labor to place fresh fruit and produce on your table. Again, let's tone down the racism and bigotry and look for real solutions. Sorry folks but mass deportations are not going to happen.

Adam wrote on May 13, 2007 12:11 PM:Voters in Farmer's Branch became the first in the nation today to prohibit landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants. The ban was approved by a vote of 68% to 32%, with two-thirds of precincts reporting. Now if only we can do this in Escondido.

Jeff wrote on May 13, 2007 12:15 PM:The American Immigration Law Foundation is essentially an immigration lawyers organization. They are the advocates for immigrants as they come up against the immigration laws of the country that they have broken. A more accurate name for the organization would be "Ignoring American Immigration Law Foundation," because that what they mostly aim to enable. They are professional, highly-skilled, highly-paid and remorseless dissemblers. No honest journalist should treat them as a legitimate research organization. That is simply not what they do. Sifuentes' own description even illustrates this when he noted the organization " focuses on the contributions that immigrants make," which is absolutely antithetical to what honest research is about. That effectively says they are going to ignore anything that doesn't further their agenda. What they do even makes the elite media's similar agenda not look so bad, that is if you can ignore that the principles of ethical journalism and the lawyer's typical "win at any cost" amorality are so fundamentally opposed. I don't know why Sifuentes didn't get into the divide between real studies like Heritage's and the CBO's analysis of last year's Senate amnesty bill, a bill that Harry Reid plans to introduce this week if he doesn't use the committee bill that preceded it, an even more egregiously bad bill.

Syl wrote on May 13, 2007 12:30 PM:The vote on Saturday in Farmers Branch, TX is the first time illegal immigration has been tested directly at the polls, and the results are a wonderful gift to the folks of Farmers Branch and to all who value American sovereignty, rule of law, and preservation of American language and culture. This vote sends a very clear message: The American people do not want amnesty for illegal aliens! Are you listening George W. Bush, RINOs, and Democrats?

From the People of Farmers Branch: wrote on May 13, 2007 12:36 PM:Illegal Aliens, Get Out!

Man on The Moon- wrote on May 13, 2007 12:42 PM:Man on the moon-what 1969-70? America was- what Different? A leader than in the world of manufactuing and innovation. Most of those people are dead by now and look who is running the show. Politicians prostuting themselves to get a vote! Open borders, amnesty, porno on our television, an illiterate lazy population, that can not compete academically with India. Resting on our laurels, patting our own backs, for what prior generations achieved. A population, that is stupid, lazy, complacent, or too greedy to offend big money-big labor by stopping cheap foreign illegal labor, people who come here to do jobs Amercans think is beneath them, and would rather collect welfare than work. Just ask one of our spoiled White American teens to mow a lawn or sweep a sidewalk, or pick up garbage, or walk to school. Work ethic-where?

Point System-Never; wrote on May 13, 2007 12:51 PM:Never happen-dream on! There is no OFFICIAL LANGUAGE in this Country. There is no poltical will for ENGLISH ONLY. ASK George- Amnesty yes! Open borders yes! Cheap labor yes! Multy Cultural, multy lingual- yes! Face it-the WHITE ANGLO is past history as well as ENGLISH ONLY!

fedup wrote on May 13, 2007 1:10 PM:the only good illegal alien is a deported illegal!

American woman wrote on May 13, 2007 1:41 PM:You're slipping, Ed, this piece is almost fair and balanced. Anyone who takes the time [please do so, folks] to check the two studies' results can't help but derive the obvious: The results of the Heritage Foundation study has it all over the Immigration Policy Center's thin, poorly-presented one. Not only that, but the Heritage Foundation calls it as it is...a problem with i-l-l-e-g-a-l immigration. Somehow,IPC's "investigatory" processes can only reference "immigration" and the effect of the "poorly educated" in their study. One HUGE problem we have to eliminate is the provision of the Fourteenth Amendment which awards BIRTHRIGHT citizenship to American-born children of illegal aliens. This was NEVER meant to be! The provision was to ensure well-deserved American citizenship to slaves and their family members after the Emancipation Proclamation. That was over 140 years ago! Surely the founding fathers never meant for the provision to extend to the families of those who would invade our sovereign nation! They couldn't have envisioned the current waves of humanity flowing by thousands every day into the U.S.! WE, THE PEOPLE can do something about birthright citizenship. If every voter would contact his/her Congressional Representatives, and demand a modification to the provision, banning this right to illegal aliens, the government would have to address the problem. Only Congress can make the changes required to set limits on birthright citizenship. WAKE UP, AMERICA! We are losing our country.

Big Richard wrote on May 13, 2007 2:00 PM:This is for "to real citizen" Real citizen is not the only one who has noticed that edward tends to SLANT his stories in favor of the illegal immigrants. I consider this yellow journalism. It is real citizens right to be dissastisfied with biase reporting so why don't you shut up.

sdraoul wrote on May 13, 2007 3:17 PM:So, a small white enclave in Texas voted for an illegal law. The courts will throw it out. It matters not that a majority voted for it, it is illegal and uncosntitutional. A majority voted for Prop. 187 in 1994 even as its msot ardent supporter Yale-educated Governor Pete Wilson KNEW it would never pass court muster. Seven (7) read SEVEN state and federal judges including conservative Republcian judges enjoined Prop. 187 from being enforced. One tiny protion of that Proposition amde it through the courts, 98% of it was declared unconstitutional. As for majority rule, remember Adolf Hitler? A huge majority of Germans supported him after he became Germany's ruler and do recall that Sadaam Hussein receive 100% of the vote.

DMann wrote on May 13, 2007 3:30 PM:12 American citizens lose thier lives to illegals every day. This is the stat no one wants you to know.

Sculpin wrote on May 13, 2007 3:46 PM:This all sounds well and good, but the horse left the barn decades ago. All I hear from the left and from the right are ridiculous, simple minded ideas that speak more to how they want it to be rather than how it should be fixed. What has a border fence got us? Secure borders...hardly. A border fence only puts more money in the pockets of the coyotes, and makes it harder for IA's to get back to their country....so they're stuck here and they can't go back. Score one for the right. What has amnesty got us? More IA's...score one for the left - no wait..that was Reagan. Let's enforce our laws! Too bad no one wants to pay for it. I'm very confident that if you give an employer a system that they can use and rely on, they'll use it. They're not stupid. Why can money flow across borders but not labor? You want the US to be a manufacturing giant again? Let labor cross the borders. We have the cash, the know-how, and the ingenuity...why send it all to China? And all this talk about culture and ESL and crime/disease...there all excuses for resisting change...change is gonna happen, so either get in front of it or get out of the way, but no one is stopping it. I mean what is wrong with this country that it is now afraid of change?!? You think Rockefeller thought like this? or Morgan, or Geneen, or Welch? Come on America..time to throw out the old and embrace the new...if a country is going to let their people leave, let's take them all, put them to work, show them what opportunity can do, and make them Americans!!!

fedup with fedups wrote on May 13, 2007 4:56 PM:the Heritage Foundation's "research" is accurate and legitimate as Minutemen's patriotism, yeal alright, a bunch of hate mongers, that's it.

John wrote on May 13, 2007 5:11 PM:Too bad there is no focus in this article about the amount of money these "immigrants" (illegal OR legal!) DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY, due to them sending money "back home" that ought to be spent HERE in the USA! Then I would believe they are contributing to the local economy! Until that is shown, there is NO PROOF they are having ANY "economic impact"!

12 million illegals came over the border and our leaders in government were asleep! wrote on May 13, 2007 5:46 PM:Make you wonder what is happening today that our leaders are not addressing.

Point System would be Good wrote on May 13, 2007 5:59 PM:I support the idea of a point system. It will allow us to bring in the types of Immigrants that we need and want, and make the system much more objective. Speaking English at a minimal level should be a requirement for employment (other countries, such as Sweden, have such a requirement).

Reform? wrote on May 13, 2007 5:59 PM:So-called comprehensive immigration reform that does not require landlords to verify citizenship/immigration status, just a employers are require to do now, is not comprehensive enough!

No Amnesty! wrote on May 13, 2007 6:03 PM:Within a day after the amnesty bill passes, there will be thousands of NEW illegal aliens invading our communities. They will not be eligible for the benefits of 'comprehensive' immigration reform! Within a few years, millions of NEW illegal immigrants will be here waving Mexican flags and demanding amnesty! Will this Mexican invasion ever end?

real americans wrote on May 13, 2007 6:19 PM: hey you real americans? please explain to me what does this word mean AMERICAN ____________ I HAVE SEEN THIS WORD IN ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENTS.

Mary wrote on May 13, 2007 6:23 PM:>>Republcian judges enjoined Prop. 187 from being enforced. One tiny protion of that Proposition amde it through the courts, 98% of it was declared unconstitutional.>> You mean the law that was chosen by 65 percent of the legal voters of California, which was then invalidated by a coalition that included the Mexican government? The law that Mexican-"American" (quote marks fully intended) Antonio Villaraigosa publicly thanked the Mexican President for his help in overthrowing? THAT law. I guess no one is concerned that the MEXICAN GOVERNMENT has more voice in California political affairs than native-born law-abiding taxpaying AMERICAN CITZENS.

El Guero wrote on May 13, 2007 6:24 PM:'Many Republicans cite economic concerns in their opposition to legalizing millions of illegal immigrants.' And they're right to do so. But the economic costs pale in comparison to the social, political, and cultural costs of granting permanent legal residency to 12 to 20 million poor, uneducated, Spanish- or Mixtec-speaking immigrants from Mexico. As many of them freely admit with a microphone shoved under their snouts, their lives may be in America, but their hearts will always remain in Mey-hee-co.

Doesn't matter wrote on May 13, 2007 6:26 PM:What the studies show. People in this area are racist, xenophobic and ignorant. End of story.

It's clear to me wrote on May 13, 2007 6:44 PM:NCT continues to try to sell an English language newspaper to those that don't read or speak English! How does the NCT plan to stay afloat with EDWARD SIFUENTES writing junk like this at least once a week?

El Jefe wrote on May 13, 2007 6:53 PM:Say, "real americans" if you don't know what it means to be an American are you sure you belong here? Real Americans are people who care about the place they live & are happy with the way it was before the invasion of illegals. We can all show our frustration here & continue to vent & beat up on each other but it is all for naught if the decision makers aren't reading this & taking note of our frustration & disgust. The sad reality is that no matter how witty our remarks & arguments we need to impress our politicians to get off the dime & make a decision & enforce it. Anybody got a plan?

Doesn't matter wrote wrote on May 13, 2007 7:35 PM:I think "Doesn't Matter" was writing to me. Thank You for whipping out that race card so fast. People that support the illegal invasion and their demands always yell racist. It's all they got. Their side illegally entered our country. That makes ME a racist. They demand a drivers license, health care and education and STILL I am the racist. They demand what their own country would never give an American. Again, I am the racist. They wave the Mexican flag at protests and continue to demand. Still, I am the racist. What exactly, is your problem with legally standing in line like too many do to enter our country the right way?? Why exactly are you more important than those standing legally in line?? You continue to ignore our laws by driving without a license or insurance. Does that somehow move you to the front of the line?? Explain to me why YOU come first!! Why don't you take ALL your demands to Mexico and see how far you get. Answer all the above before you call me a racist.

Tattoon wrote on May 13, 2007 8:09 PM:"...we have too many people here draining our resources at our expense.." Hmmm... I always heard that from individual, who never gave nothing to his country....

To-EL Jefe- wrote on May 13, 2007 8:13 PM:Elections-this is a sad fact-but, the reality is Politicians will promise anything, say whatever you like to hear because they want to get elected. Once elected the promises made to people who elected them are forgotten. So if you want Englsh as an Official language, or enforcing our immigration laws it will probably never happen. You may get lip sevice, but that is about all. None of the presidential candidates in our last election were qualified to hold the highest office in the country. But we had to make a choice from several candidates not of our choosing. Manny, Mo, or Jack !

anayeli wrote on May 13, 2007 9:10 PM:Sdraoul: you are wholey misinformed about Prop 187. The authors did know it would need to go through the courts. The so called "7" of whom you speak were simply following the process of appeals. Then one judge took it upon herself to take the "whole enchilada" into her court where she held it for three or more years until Gray Davis (who had promised the voters as a candidate that he would uphold their will with regards to 187) convened a kangaroo mediation that consisted only of opponents ( you can google this and find quotes from those who were there). Lets have 187 redoux on the ballot and see if it still passes. I have no doubt it would.

US Citizen wrote on May 13, 2007 11:20 PM:I love reading these responses. Let me tell some of you where I stand. I'm not racist. I just don't like people that think the can come into our country uninvited, break our laws and think that we owe them something just because they are here. To me, if you expect to take more from our country than you are capable of contributing, you are a drain on our society and shouldn't be here. That goes for whites, blacks, hispanics or anyone else. If you broke our laws getting here, that means you will continue breaking our laws. I don't owe anything to you or the babies you breed . AND ... I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE YOU.

To SD Raoul wrote on May 13, 2007 11:48 PM:You do not trust democracy! Right now you are delighted with the United States being an oligarchy of appointed judges instead of a Republic. I see you claim victory in the Prop 187 case. Be honest. What really happened with Prop 187? California's appeal was moot because Congress passed the Welfare Reform bill which prohibited the granting of welfare and similar public benefits to illegal aliens. It is against Federal law to give Federal, State or local public benefits to illegal aliens. The only exceptions are those carved out by the Federal judical oligarchy (such as a free education to illegal alien children). 98% of the desired effect of Prop 187 is now Federal law. Some legal victory! I expect that Congress will pass legislation requiring landlords to check for legal residency, just like what now is required of employers. Employer sanctions against employers hiring illegal were passed in many states in the 1970's, including California, before it was adopted by Congress in the 1980's. This is a fight of years, not months! A large majority want landlords to be required to verify legal residency or citizenship of tenant. It will be the law. Democracy will prevail over the oligarchy of Federal judges.

Ingrid wrote on May 14, 2007 4:42 AM:One day an undocumented worker walks into a bank and pulls a gun on a teller, demanding all of the money in her cash drawer. She complies with the him, but unknown to the gunman, presses down on a foot-activated silent alarm that summons the police. The police arrive shortly and arrest the gunman before he can escape. However as they are reading him his Miranda rights and telling him he is under arrest for bank robbery, he loudly protests saying: Wait ! You do not understand ! I was not robbing this bank! I was merely making an undocumented withdrawal. UNDOCUMENTED WORKER my Aunt Fanny! Illegal Aliens should be referred to as to what they are - "ILLEGAL ALIENS"

Thank You Bilbray wrote on May 14, 2007 5:40 AM:Thank you Rep. Brian Bilbray for your never ending eye on liberals and their total disreguard of the invasion that is upon us all. Please remain the pitbull of Congress to end this insanity. It's clear that you have a tough fight ahead with Sen Reid and Ms Pelosi, but know there are millions of taxpayers with you on this one.

Robert wrote on May 14, 2007 7:34 AM:This story was carried in most mainstream newspapers a couple of weeks ago. I am really surprised Edward got around to doing this AP story as I have been quoting from it for a while now. The best quote is that "households headed by low-skilled workers -- people without a high school diploma -- received $22,449 more in government services and benefits than they contributed in taxes in 2004", and this applies to the majority of low skilled, low educated, and impoverished Illegal Aliens.

For WHAT?? wrote on May 14, 2007 10:17 AM:Thank you Bilbray for what?? He has not and cannot do ANYTHING as a member of the MINORITY. He's just a powerless loudmouth with no pull whatsoever. If north county wants something to happen, find a Democrat to run in 08 that sees things more or less your way, because guess what? The Congress is going to be even MORE Democratic in 08, AND the Presidency too! This country is SICK of corrupt, lying Republicans, and will punish them for their worthless years in Congress AND for ruining America with the idiot Chimp-in-Chief. The GOP is DONE for quite a while, so better to find a Democrat you like than fantasize that some Repub will help you. But hey, if you like being in the minority and wasting your vote, go right ahead!

AEQUITAS ET VERITAS wrote on May 14, 2007 12:41 PM:As usual, American woman is wrong. It takes at least 2/3 of BOTH houses of Congress PLUS at least 3/4 of the State legislatures to amend or repeal any provision of the Constitution which includes its amendments. She says, "Only Congress can make the changes required to set limits on birthright citizenship says, " Wrong. Also a Constiutional Convention can be used to amend the Constitution. Read Article V of the Constitution. The 14th Amendment will not be amended. It was NOT the sole intent of the framers of the 14th Amendment to make former slaves citizens, the main thrust actually was to ensure the citizenship of persons born to the massive number of immigrants then coming into the United States, just as now! The children of migrants ARE U.S. citizens, period. That will not change. Besides all of that, it's obvious that legalization of the migrants themselves with a clear path to naturalization is well on its way to passage, having the support of the leaders of both houses and of the President.!!

Jimbo wrote on May 14, 2007 2:40 PM:In regards to amnesty: My mother-in-law will be here soon visiting legally from a foreign country. Will she be eligible for citizenship if amnesty is enacted while she's here? No, of course not because she followed all rules and so forth. Anybody see where this whole amnesty nonsense breaks down? Or is it just me.

AEQUITAS ET VERITAS wrote on May 14, 2007 3:31 PM:#1) The children born in the United States to undocumented migrants ARE citizens under the 14th Amendment. #2) For those who would deport the migrants and take all manner of actions against them, if you are religiously inclined, please note the following from Leviticus, Chapter 19: "" 33 ¶ And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not avex him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt clove him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.""

Realist wrote on May 14, 2007 3:43 PM:I fail to understand why the federal government doesn't enforce their own immigration laws? Is it for money, wealth and power? if so, we american citizens should vote them OUT of office!

Pat Riot wrote on May 14, 2007 4:18 PM:Lev 19:33-34 Quote: And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. So the contrast here is between the rules that apply to 1) the stranger passing through, versus the rules that apply to 2) the stranger who was dwelling with the Israelites. The point of the passage was INTEGRATION into the Israelite community by the stranger. The passage is saying not to apply the same criteria to the one who is merely stopping in versus the stranger who is to be considered a part of the community. Now here is the point that matters: in order for the stranger to be considered part of Israel, the attitude of the Israelites was that they were required to "love him as thyself"...which is a high standard. What did that "Stranger" have to do in order to be considered PART OF ISRAEL FIRST? The answer is that the stranger had to: 1) Become an Israelite 2) Agree to be Bound by ALL the laws of Israel 3) Agree to follow ALL of the rules of Israel 4) Agree to the SAME penalty as those who were part of Israel. That may sound casual to those who read this today. But there are two very important points: 1) Part of the Israel Law had "Death by Stoning" for many offenses, so joining the tribes who will stone you to death for breaking the rules has serious consequences. 2) The other part - is that in order to join Israel, he had to be circumcised. So, instead of the responsibility being on Israel to treat that PERMANENT stranger as part of the tribe, YES - that is what they had to do, But ONLY AFTER that stranger had agreed to abide by ALL OF THE LAWS OF ISRAEL, with death following shortly for many infractions. So when the Mexicans who want to join themselves to this land start by following the laws of this land and valuing the rules of our own heritage and founding fathers, then yes, it is appropriate to treat them as American Citizens, but NOT BEFORE.

Mimi wrote on May 15, 2007 8:33 AM:Calling an illegal .. "undocumented" ... is like calling a drug dealer an "uncertified pharmacist" To all illegals.... why don't you leave the USA for a decade or two and REALLY teach us a lesson!

AEQUITAS ET VERITAS wrote on May 15, 2007 9:48 AM:To Riot. Let's let the passage from Leviticus speak for itself without all the spin you've put on it. Any passage from the Bible can be twisted to fit the agenda of the twister. That's been done since the Bible was written. Stick to the plain meaning of the passage without all the phony and unsupported speculations and manufactured, fictitious history heaped on it to give it the meaning you want. Plainly, God admonishes us to treat the stranger who has come among us as we do our own people. You have added your own spin to God's word. For shame.

Are you kidding? wrote on May 15, 2007 11:27 AM:Brian Bilbray fixing anything is a joke. By the way, it was Bush and the Republican Senate and Congress who left the borders wide open for this massive illegal alien invasion to happen. They have, as you know, been in power for the last seven years. That kool-aid really does cloud one's judgement. Also, the automatic Citizenship for children was never intended for illegal aliens.

whatever wrote on May 17, 2007 12:01 PM:TATTOON...taxpayers/LEGAL residents do give to their country....in their taxes. I work legally!! What do the illegals give ?? I wash my own car, clean my own house & make my own food,,,,I don't need them here!!

Jim wrote on May 18, 2007 6:27 AM:California has a one politcal party type goverment caused by the immigration issue. We have lost our freedom because of this. If the current bill passes the Democrats will gain enough power over time to take over the nation and we will have a one party federal government and will lost our freedom (as we did in California). There will be no checks and balances, which is a very bad thing. That is the true cost of this new immigration bill.

Shocked wrote on May 31, 2007 6:30 AM:I am shocked by the postings here. Where do I start. First, if you want to complain about immigration law, you should learn what it says. IRCA requires employers to verify immigration status. If they don't, those employers are criminally liable. Perhaps we should begin enforcement of the laws with the U.S. Employers. Secondly, because IRCA requires employment verification, many undocumented workers do pay payroll taxes (ie income tax, social security tax and medicare taxes) through employer witholdings like all other legal workers, or the use of an IRS issues ITIN. In fact, in 2004, 10% of the Social Security Surplus was contributed by undocumented workers. Their contributions help keep these federal programs solvent...especially since undocumented workers never collect benefits from these programs. There is much more I could say, so I invite responses.