Issue of the Week

1. How long does the process take to become a legal citizen/ why didn't those illegal immigrants just apply for citizenship before?
The United States actually has one of the least strict immigration policies, making it easier for people to just sneak in than go through the legal processes. The process includes waiting for an immigration visa, and then waiting on a list with other people from the country they're coming from. I think we need to have stricter consequences for those who enter the country illegally, while making the process to come here legally more convenient. That way, coming illegally will not seem like the easier option.


2. What happens if illegal immigrants have children that were born in the US? Are they (the children) also considered illegal immigrants?
Children of illegal immigrants are considered citizens. This is because of the 14th amendment which should be repealed. The amendment was originally created to ensure children of slaves would still be considered US citizens, however we obviously don't have that problem anymore.I think Glenn Beck gave the best 21st century interpretation of the 14th amendment saying,
All persons who successfully sneak into the country will be allowed to stay indefinitely. All crimes committed by those lawbreakers (i.e., identity theft, fraud, and tax evasion) will be ignored. These non-American Americans will be afforded free health care at emergency rooms, free education,, and special in-state tuition deals at colleges, not afforded legal citizens. All children born of these lawbreakers shall immediately become citizens of the United States. Any person attempting to thwart this revision of Section I will be labeled racists, hatemongers, xenophobes, and all-around bad people."
This is pretty relevant to what the 14th ammendment now means.From most of the things I found it seems that you can still be deported if you have a child in the US, but it makes it a lot harder.

"3.What are the repercussions that employers that hire illegal immigrants are faced with?
There are both civil and criminal penalties for hiring illegal immigrants. However, it seems this crime often stays under the radar. It is also hard to prove that someone knowingly hired one. I think this is almost as much of a problem as the immigrants themselves. Illegal immigrants come into this country knowing they can probably find someone willing to hire them. Employers don't mind because they can pay them so cheap, but if this is cracked down on more, they would be less likely to hire aliens.

Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4925092_us-immigration-process-work.html