Land of Opportunity

I have read these comments and I strongly object to Mary! I am a US citizen. I love my country. I know many Spanish speaking immigrants, legal and illegal, Mexican, Honduran, Cuban, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, etc. All of the ones I have met in Virgina, especially in and around Roanoke, are hard working individuals who want to support themselves and their families. As for not wanting to hear people speaking Spanish, she must be afraid they are talking about her! As for only wanting to marry Americans so they can become legal, it doesn't work that way! In fact, marrying an American can sometimes make it harder for an illegal to become legal and it makes it difficult for their families. There is always the fear that the illegal parent can be deported and leave the family with necessary support - financially and emotionally! She should quit spouting old wives tales and know what she is talking about before she starts running her mouth. And, by the way, I am not of Mexican decent! I can trace some of my family ties to the American Indian - did Mary's family ask them if she could come here and ruin their way of life? I think not!

i agree with the lady "JESSICA" because she is telling the truth thats why people come to usa to live a better life, work hard for their money and send to their family in their country. i also speak spanish and english i go to school and i am going to graduate in 1 year and i am going to do something good for this country and my country.another thing that i agree with is the part that she said that other people just sit around and not doing anything just waitting for uncle sam when we are working hard.people say that we are not doing anything for this counrty then who were the persons that bulit their house and made a better road for everybody and more.

It is well proven that there are lazy Americans and ones with criminal intent. Sad, disappointing and annoying. However, they are American citizens. Exiling or deporting criminals was used by the English, note Australia. It is a part of the American citizenry that must be burdened, begrudgingly.

Unemployed Americans can not readily sneak across a border to find work, nor should they be required to.

Instead of spending billions on illegals aliens, why not spend billions addressing the unemployment and health care needs of American citizens?

It may be easy to ignore American's in need because of the arrival of illegal immigrants, but how immoral. Mexico and the other originators of illegal aliens are responsible for the social welfare of their people, the USA is not.

From now on please refer to me as an Irish-Scottish-German-English-Virginia American. Society coming soon.

Jessica recently wrote suggested that criticism of illegal immigrants was "spreading ignorant prejudices and hatred". Following is some truth, which supports Mary.

The Roanoke Times and other national media seemingly prefer to present politically correct pictures of illegal immigrants, specifically hispanics. Even with a few of the reportedly 11 to 20 million illegal aliens working regularly, the majority of the illegal alien population does not work regularly and in fact lives off Uncle Sam, who is not their Uncle. In addition, individuals and groups supporting illegal aliens are almost unanimously hispanic. It would be nice if these individuals rallied for American citizens that are discriminated against with the gusto they exhibit for illegal aliens. Only the hispanic groups are asking for special rights, this is why there is anger and resentment.

What is not on the evening news and should be are reports such as "Mexican meth fills gap in U.S. market" presented on MSNBC on Sept. 18.

Health Care
Currently, one in four uninsured persons in the United States is an illegal immigrant. While precise numbers are not possible, based on figures from four areas alone health care-related costs for illegal immigrants easily surpasses $1 billion annually (Texas - $393 million; Florida - $40 million; Los Angeles - $350 million; U.S.-Mexico border counties - $300 million). Nearly half of illegal immigrants either have no health insurance or have it provided by taxpayers. In some hospitals, almost two-thirds of operating costs are generated by illegal immigrants. More than half of Hispanics, the nation's largest immigrant group, are without insurance. Because they lack insurance, a growing number of immigrants use hospital emergency rooms as clinics; E.R. care is among the most expensive. This problem is so pervasive some Mexican ambulance companies instruct their crews to take uninsured Mexican patients across the border to the United States.

see: http://www.jpands.org/vol10no1/cosman.pdf

Education
"The level of immigration is so massive, it's choking urban schools ...It's bad enough when you have desperate kids with U.S. backgrounds who require massive resources. In come kids with totally different needs, and it creates crushing burdens on urban schools," says David Stewart, author of Immigration and Education: The Crisis and Opportunities.

Incarceration
The U.S. government says it spent $5.8 billion incarcerating illegal aliens between 2002 and 2005.

Illegal immigrants are not coming for the American dream, but to steal the American dream.

Any comments on why a hispanic worker would be issued a time card with no picture or name? I wonder why!!!!

Yo hablo un poquito de Espanol. I speak a little Spanish.

I grew up in the Roanoke Valley. My roots go back hundreds and maybe even thousands of years in this most beautiful of places. Does this mean I am entitled to a free ride. God I hope not! I would not wish a free ride or attitude of entitlement on anyone I care for, or even on an enemy.

My father taught me to respect anyone who is willing to work hard. It was a very hard lesson; for both of us.

It is only natural for recent immigrants to want a "piece of the pie." If you find your piece has gotten too small, teach them to bake a pie. From what I've seen most of them are willing to work beside us. Just remember the old timer doesn't get a free ride either.
Welcome to America! Land of the free and home of the brave...land of OPPORTUNITY. No free rides.

Dear Site Owner,

That first comment, by Mary, was blatantly prejudiced and ignorant. I am appalled that you would approve it. It is filled with disdain for a group of people. She made a blanket unfair statement about Mexicans that is truly offensive and simply not true. Posting it only perpetuates her prejudice.

That is such an angry state of mind.

As a Mexican, I can speak from true experience that:

1. I was never taught to beg, borrow and steal.

2. I speak Spanish. But that does not make me an illegal. That makes me, bilingual. Since, I embrace America as my country, I proudly practice my right to speak my mind in English or Spanish.

3. As for my family planting their feet in this country, my parents did it legally.

I am not a special case. There are many that have come to this country to pursue the "American Dream" and do it legally. And yes, there are many that have come illegally. But from my experience, these people come to work hard. Unlike many people that sit around and wait for Uncle Sam to support them. They work hard. If they wanted to beg, borrow, and steal, they would do it in their own country. They wouldn't have to endanger their lives getting here, just to beg. They come for opportunity to work hard and get paid, so that they can make a living.

Immigration is a serious problem, but not one that is going to be solved by perpetuating ignorant prejudices and spreading hatred. Which is what this Mary person is doing.

Mexicans are corrupt people. From childhood, they are taught to beg, borrow and steal; that is what they do. They steal for "The American Dream," then have zero respect for it. My advice is to better control the borders and send back all illegals now! This is America, and we speak English, I too, resent hearing Spanish speaking illegals. They're taking advantage of the situation; why do you think we have so much identity theft these days???? My advice to American parents is to watch your sons and daughters, do not allow them to socialize with these illegal Mexicans, as all they want is to become romatically involved so they "have" to become legal by marriage!! There is no end to what they will do to get their feet planted in the USA! This happens more often than not and we can't be stupid and believe their "hard-up stories" any longer and allow this to continue!

America became strong on the backs of immigrants. I say if people want to come here and work, we all benefit. Instead of sending away willing workers, perhaps it would be better to exile some of our more lazy citizens.