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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 23, 2006 Since WE Asked: Options for immigrants The debate over immigration is heating up, with rallies around the Rogue Valley and the nation. We asked: "Should there be a process for illegal immigrants working in this country to become citizens?" Advertisement After you read through the answers from our Web readers, check out our new question, which pertains to the May primary election. No! Citizenship cannot be the reward for illegal behavior. Illegal is illegal. Disregard for our laws should be a felony just like bringing in drugs. Enforce this law. — Boyd, Medford No. They have already demonstrated their complete lack of respect for U.S. laws by their illegal entry. We have enough U.S.-born criminals already. — Gloria K., Central Point No, they should have to do it like everyone else. — Matthew D., Central Point Go home and get in line at the U.S. embassy! We need a bracero program for males only. — Howard G., Medford I know our illegal immigrants are frantically having children in order to establish residency. We sometimes get tough and send mothers away from these children. We need to reward workers with access to permanent birth control. Marriage, not welfare. — Traci J., Medford They should be legal before they can get jobs. The fact that they have benefits frustrates me, so I say no way. — Becca A., Gold Hill No, they are only coming here for the money to send back to their families in Mexico. — Shawna, Central Point No, that would encourage other to come and do the same. — Caroline, Medford Illegal and immigrant do not belong in the same sentence. Anyone here illegally should be sent back immediately. Then they can apply for legal entry. — Wick C., Talent Absolutely not. I can think of no other situation where breaking a law is excused simply because there are a lot of people doing it and because many others benefit from it. What would happen if all of our laws received similar treatment? — Dee D., Rogue River No. Espousing immigration laws — yet continuing to assist individuals in breaking those laws — diminishes the effectiveness of those laws and creates a formula for continued failure. — Diane D., Gold Hill Close border, now! Use National Guard. Dispel illegals’ attitude that this is their country and they have rights. Fine companies hiring illegals. Don't Balkanize America! — Ed W., Ashland No. They have no respect for our immigration laws and because they have broken the law, they do not deserve U.S. citizenship. — Mike A., Central Point Yes. Go home and then go through the legal process for immigration. — Mike F., Medford Absolutely. However, the process of "naturalization"is one of "assimilation." If any person already livingand working here who is obeying our laws, showing awillingness to learn our official, primary language,and practicing the respect for our country that itdeserves, should be offered some type of program tolegally become one of us. At that point, they shouldbe considered equals to any other citizen, sharing inall of the benefits and burdens the rest of us do. We"grandfather-in" plenty of things in our society. But, at the same time the borders should be, ideally,locked down, but realistically, tightened dramatically to stop the flow of unknown people in and out of this country at will. The terrorist threat is very real and should change the status-quo of our relaxed attitude towards our borders. Requiring visas and passports is the only means we have of identifying people from other countries. It's not fail-proof, but it's all we have right now. The lawyers fight every tool law enforcement has tried to develop to identify possible threats. Because theborders are basically "open" law enforcement has notbeen able to use the existing processes of identifyingpeople crossing over. So, profiling was developed andthen shut down by the lawyers. Added videosurveillance is met with screams of "Big Brother".Everything is a perceived violation of someone’s civilrights except for being blown up in an attack. The folks that are here and not causing any problems,on the whole are decent people. There will always be a threat from terrorist cells planted years ago. Our lawenforcement community is trying to gain the tools todeal with this new type of threat. We need to know whothe new folks are that are coming in. The common working person is not the problem — no matter what their country of origin is. Being proud of one's heritage does not mean it is an automatic form ofdisrespect to the USA. And vice-versa. — Mike B., Central Point This week’s question Eight Republicans and three Democrats are vying to become their party’s candidate for governor. The primary election May 16 will choose the nominees. We ask: "Who has the best chance of leading the state as governor — a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent or a third-party candidate?" Please keep your answers brief and on the issue at hand. Responses received without your name and town can not be considered for publication. All responses will appear on the Web site a week from today. You may submit your answer by using the form here on the Web site, or you may respond directly to Since WE Asked: Options for immigrants ">[email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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