Immigration March Draws 500,000 in L.A.

Sure bet the anti-war people could get that many people out to support their cause. They're lucky if they can muster 1/10 of those numbers when they go out and make noise.

I don't understand how all these people can protest.

Our borders are a serious security threat and they should be strengthened. Laws need to be enforced to move all these illegal aliens out.

This is a tricky issue. Being a Californian, I realize how much of our work force are Mexican nationals. A big part of the problem is the fact that they work under the table but still utilize many of the services paid for by actual taxpayers. This is a tremendous burden on the state. There has to be a way to get them to pay their share (I don't mean union dues). The surcharge on moneygrams to Mexico is a start, but it's a drop in the bucket.

Drewcifer if you do some searching you will find out how this country was created and on which people it's based on (immigrants) and maybe then you will understand why they are protesting. Criminals? They didn't come here to steal anything or kill anybody, they cam here seeking a better future as all our ancestors did. And trust me most of the legal alients were illegal ones in the past, and this comes from one of those. Coming here legaly is not even close to being easy, the immigration system sucks BIG time, and maybe before saying "oh lets declare them criminals" they should look for better solutions. Nobody wants to be illegal, but being legal is almost impossible the way regulations are now. If you ask me, a system is needed with better regulations about becoming legal, a law to deal with the 12 million illegals that are already here (and don't tell me deporting 12 million people is the solution), and THEN making borders strict. It's always easy to talk when you have no idea how it is on the other side of the coin.

Oh, dear.

I can understand both sides of this one. Without Mexican immigrants the labor shortage would be a crisis. They are willing to take jobs that Americans aren't. And we have made legal immigration so impossible that the illegal flow is our own fault. We need them, but we make it horrible for them.

On the other hand, border security IS a problem. I don't have the answers to this. I just know that sweeping statements like "laws need to be enforced to move all these illegal aliens out" is not a cogent argument.

The people in the photo are not all illegals. I'm willing to bet that most of them are legal, since it would be an INS roundup if they were all illegals.

In the state where I live, Mexican immigrants are welcome, and their incredible work ethic makes them popular with employers.

@Walt D

IIRC;

Illegals, pay income, and other taxes, but they will not draw Social Security. Nor other benifits which require proof of citizenship or SSN.

This protest looks like a great opportunity to capture some illegals, law enforcement can start with the ones waiving Mexican flags in American Streets. Proud to be Mexican? Great ! Now go home & fix your country instead of fleeing to ours.

You like having your private club then? If it's so great in our country, why don't you want everyone to enjoy it, even if they didn't happen to be born here? Are you just racist or do you not want to have to compete for your job? Just because they're Mexican, why shouldn't they be able to live here? Just sounds racist to me.

webquack I can name at least 10 jobs. In fact I have personal experience. Where I live there was an open position for a waitress/waiter in a dinner.. but only for night shift (10pm-7am). 6 days a week paying $4/hour . no benefits of course no nothing. The job was open for 3 months..guess what? All aplicants were illegal immigrants. Not even ONE American, homeless or not. Wanna know who took the job? ME !!! And that happened 4 years ago when I first came and before I become permanent resident. And I ahve millions examples like this to give you.

legals, pay income, and other taxes

How and more importantly, why would you pay taxes on undeclared, undocumented cash income?

How and more importantly, why would you pay taxes on undeclared, undocumented cash income?

If they're working through a 'valid' employer, the employer will withold the money. They also pay sales tax.

Walt go check IRS website and you will see that they don't care if you are legal or illegal. As long as you have at least an ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) you HAVE to file for income tax. And all immigrants (illegal or not) get one when they first come. I know I did. and the funniest thing? Even IRS knows you are illegal when you file, they dont inform INS because they dont wanan lose your money.... what irony !!!

@ AHB

There is nothing wrong with immigrants coming to America, as long as they do so lawfully. It's just when they hop the border illegally that there's a problem.

If they're working through a 'valid' employer, the employer will withold the money.

That's a big "if". One of the main industries that illegals work in is construction. Contractors gladly pay under the table to avoid worker's comp, health care, etc.

. And all immigrants (illegal or not) get one when they first come.

Do they hand them out on the banks of the Rio Grande? Don't get me wrong - I'm not sure what MY grandparents' status was when they got here. Plus my wife was illegal when she got here so I'm familiar with the processes involved in becoming legal. I'm not anti-immigrant. I just see a huge economic mess in my state (hospital closings etc.) behind this issue and I wonder what a reasonable solution would be.

Ansab: I've heard this argument before. So why is it so much better to come legally. Obviously, it's not too easy to immigrate legally. So why do only certain people get to come? Why can't we just make the whole thing a lot simpler: Fill out a half a page form with your name, where you came from, and where you plan on going...that's it, and then you're in? All the recent immigrants I've talked to say that it took them years to get in, and they almost quit. Why can't it just be easier?

I like bush's Idea, help regulate but not hinder the economy. This is really labor Union Lobbyist.... who do not want to export jobs or let the willing workers in ....they can't have both ways.

Either let the immigrants in, or export more jobs to Mexico.

You like having your private club then? If it's so great in our country, why don't you want everyone to enjoy it, even if they didn't happen to be born here? Are you just racist or do you not want to have to compete for your job? Just because they're Mexican, why shouldn't they be able to live here? Just sounds racist to me.

No one said legal immigration is wrong. Playing the racist card is pretty weak here. It's the ILLEGALS sneaking across our borders that 1) drain our economy to no end, and 2) put the safety of every LEGAL US citizen at risk, and 3) bring most of the drugs into this country.

Bottom line, you do something illegal, you should pay the punishment. I do not understand why/how the government is turning a blind eye to MILLIONS of offenders. Breaking into a house is a felony. How is breaking into a COUNTRY a lesser offense? Fence it up, post a Marine with a .50cal every 500 yards, and we're done. People (liberals & the illegals/criminals they protect) would probably whine and moan, of course "But! But! They're just trying to make a living!! blah blah". Good, then they can follow the legal course of action to become a citizen here. Otherwise, turn around.

Guess it'll be up to the people of this great nation to stand up and do something about it if our representatives won't. (See Minutemen).

Without the Mexican immigrants the US would be in the same situation as most large European countries... Dying out and having a stagnant economy.

Good, then they can follow the legal course of action to become a citizen here. Otherwise, turn around.

do you know what the course of action is? I don't think you do cause if you did you'd understand why they don't do it. It's not because they don't want to. It's because most of the times they just CAN'T.

Guess it'll be up to the people of this great nation to stand up and do something about it if our representatives won't.

FYI this GREAT nation was created by immigrants.. legal AND illegal

Hey, what happened to the numbers on the right of all the comments on Newsvine?

Off topic:

I suspect that they realized that they were kind of ugly and so took them away. (Or, at least moved them to the bottom left.)

Brian Ford: Thanks for the clarification. I actually liked them.

Obviously, it's not too easy to immigrate legally.

Because it is sooooo easy to come here illegally. If the borders are secured then it will make things a whole lot easier for people trying to come here lawfully.

Kai, your statement that "Immigrants are draining our economy" - can you back that up with a solid, unbiased source?

Well... who issued the papers for the people that came on the Mayflower?... If nobody did, then they were illegally here and their descendants should also be deported... Just a thought!

I am glad to see that there are a lot of comments backing up this bill. With everything there is an exception. There are such things as work visas that non U.S. Citizens can obtain via their employer in order to work in this country. There are also many other ways to legally come into this country. I don't see people protesting about paying taxes. A legal citizen working a legal job will pay taxes and follow the law. Yes, some illegal immigrants pay taxes and some don't. My point here is that tax laws change every year and we don't get so worked up about them. So if immigration laws change why get worked up about them.

How much crime and federal funding for social programs would disappear if we had no illegal immigrants?