"People want to be together as families," Packard said. "We do not support criminal behavior. The problem is we have people living here contributing to our economy and contributing to our community as well."

Sounds like double-speak. Families are broken up when someone is caught breaking the law. And you qualify your "supporting the law" by saying it's OK because they contribute to our economy and community?

Packard can't have it both ways. Criminals living here and separated from their families back in their home countries are being supported by her organization.

I get SO tired of the song and dance of these people! WE are not breaking up families! These criminals, intentionally choose to disregard their family when deciding to break our immigration laws. THEY are the ones risking their family status.

IF breaking up families made ANY sense whatsoever, this same sick argument would pertain to sending a citizen bank robber to jail - and breaking up their family!

Sheesh!

Senora Packard says that illegals contribute to the economy and live in the community. She's correct on the latter. They not only LIVE in the community, they destroy the community. The leave trash, mostly Bud Lite cans dropped on the ground, drive around (which they are doing w/o licenses) blasting ranchero music, form gangs,and put a drain on the economy in many ways. The reap many more benefits that they contribute. After all these years they don't seem to know or care if they are here illegally. I think we'd better post big signs on the border saying "just a reminder, amigos. When you enter without documentation, don't be surprised or feign surprise when the authorities crack down on you. Maybe someone can speak very slowly to them and spell out the meaning of i-l-l-e-g-a-l! And those who support this criminal activities, how about leaving with them. This country doesn't need traitors.

What is it that needs to be studied for 16 months?!! Someone can't figure out that if you entered the country without going through the proper procedures (illegally), it is a deportable crime. It only took me a nano second to figure that out!!

As Glenn Spencers American Patrol Website has said, while Bush and McCain are working to instill a sense of identity to people in Iraq, they are trying to destroy the sense of identity of Americans. But some Americans, just for the sake of a little profit will never understand how dangerous this is. Are you satisfied with America being an "Economic Zone" for anyone in the world to exploit? Dr. Ron Paul President 2008, do the right thing, write him in.

This bill doesn't go far enough. Until the employers are prosecuted for hiring the illegals, we will continue to have the problem of these criminals in our country. By the way, if a thief over here is sentenced to prison, does anyone care that he is seperated from his family? Send the family back with the illegals. If the parents are illegal, then any children form them should also be the same.

What is HR4088? Is there even such a number?

I agree that the "family argument" needs to be used much less by Immigration Activists. It really is a poor excuse, and one that merely tries to pull at the heart-strings of everyday Americans.

However, some of you seem to think that the only Illegal Immigrants in this country are Latinos. While they do represent a fair sized portion of the population, there are still quite a few undocumented workers from Eastern Europe, Britain, Russia, and even Canada. The illegal "Canalien" population has been growing exponentially in the last few years.

So, argue for a governmental crackdown on illegal immigration (which I agree with, whole-heartedly), but don't stereotype the debate into "Latinos vs. Gringos."

Why July 2009? Why not now?