Comments about ‘Letter: Demand real immigration reform, not just political posturing’

Obama's illegal edict is a slap in the face to the principles upon which the country was founded and to those who -- unlike illegal aliens -- embrace those values.

The notion that respect for the rule of law constitutes racism, ignorance and fear is a flat-out lie, a lie commonly told by persons who want illegal immigration, such as unscrupulous businessmen in Utah who hire them.

Diversity is not nearly as important as unity of commitment to important values.

And yes illegal aliens can -- and do -- receive benefits, both directly and indirectly. Illegal immigration costs U.S. citizens upwards of $400,000 per year, in Utah ALONE.

The "reform" that is needed is for trespassers to start respecting this country and complying with the laws.

Obama is doing what can be done given GOP obstruction of the Dream Act. Anti-Liar's argument with its bizarre cost figures is a slap in the face to reality. What do you do when the principle of obedience to law runs smack up against the principles of compassion and realism? There's the problem. Like Groucho said, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like those I have others."

I have a novel idea. Enforce the law!! Quit tinkering, what we have is good enough just do it.

Jared, I have some bad news for you. The state recalculated the dropout numbers using new guidelines. Previously the state had only used grades 10-12 to figure those values. Once they took that to grades 9-12, the number of Latino dropouts increases to 50%.

Congress is controlled by Republicans. You're not getting the DREAM Act this year. Frankly you probably wouldn't even get the Republican version of the DREAM Act either (put together by Rubio it's roughly exactly what Obama just came out with, so now Republicans are running from it).

If what Obama did was so wrong then why haven't Republicans in the House at least voted on a measure that would undo it?

"Obama is doing what can be done given GOP obstruction of the Dream Act."

Wrong! Obama did what he did because he did not want Rubio's version of the Dream Act (which was about to be submitted to the Senate) to be passed with Republican support. Obama did it for pure political campaign reasons.

Meanwhile, by his action, he has placed many of those illegal kids in a Catch-22 situation. If they come forward for the help promised them by Obama's action, they will identify themselves "out of the shadows" whereby sometime in the future (every two years according to Obama's directive) they could be denied the work permits and be deported anyway.

If I was one of them, and ICE did not know who I was or where I was living, I would "stay in the shadows."

@anti-liar of Salt Lake, your arguments are faux at best. Reagan gave amnesty in 1986 and since absolutely nothing has been done since. The current administration has deported more undocumented than any other since 86. You are more upset that Obama has drawn first blood than you have an argument against it. Your Congress in their finest tradition has politized everything and has conspired to block everything Obama does. It is amusing that you get so angry that at least the President is trying to get things done. Maybe he should have asked for Mitt's permission.

Why do we need the DREAM Act? Do we allow bank robbers to invest the money they stole, and keep any profits that they make?

Why should we reward criminal behavior just because their parents brought their young children here illegally?

For many years now the children of legal immigrants could join the military and after serving for several years, were elegible for citizenship. If these immigrants want to be here legally, then their parents better figure out how to become legal immigrants, then their kids can join the military and become legal citizens.

Demand real immigration reform, not just political posturing??? Ok ... well... that would imply the obvious that we have to have a new president who is capable of leadership and not just political posturing. Obama is the poster child of political posturing.

Republicans have refused to act. Two years ago there was a legislation that Lindsay Graham was pushing. Suddenly, he pulled it back and refused to support his own bill. Does this give you a hint that the GOP will do nothing if they think that Obama might in any way benefit from it, even when it is the Republicans own idea? I'm glad the President showed some leadership, while the GOP just whines because he did and they did absolutely nothing.

An act can be morally right, legally right, economically right, and also serve a political purpose. Was this done for political reasons? In part, sure. So what?

We don't need comprehensive change, we need enforcement on a level to deal with the problem. Something we have not had for 20 years. Obama's pandering and selective enforcement only makes it worse.

What happens to these kids parents? Will we deport them, or allow them to stay to keep the family together?

This is the first step towards amnesty for all.

Why not just demand they (all) follow our laws, and punish them if they don't. These young adults need to learn to follow our laws and not demand we change our laws to suit them. They could of been legal at 18 under existing programs.

Re: "An act can be morally right, legally right, economically right, and also serve a political purpose."

Yeah -- but Obama's action was morally wrong, legally wrong, economically wrong, AND it was done for no higher purpose than to politically beat Marco Rubio and the Republicans -- whose approach is right on all counts -- to the punch.

So, what does your statement have to do with the facts?

"Undocumented students cannot receive any form of federal financial aid."

Why should they receive federal financial aid? If they want government aid they should look to the own government in their country of origin for financial aid.

"Why graduate from high school when such insurmountable barriers await?"

Why graduate from high school or any school for that matter, if the jobs illegals are to do, such as picking apples and strawberries, are those that American workers won't do?

"This can and must change. Initiatives such as the DREAM Act are critical for us all."

Illegal immigrants, we invite you to go back to your own country for your dream act. If you want to dream in America, please fill out the necessary documentation and get in line. There are millions around the world who want to come here and realize their dreams. It is grossly unfair to allow those who sneaked across our borders or otherwise entered our country and illegally stayed, to cut in line in front of those who would immigrate in the proper and legal fashion.

@atl134:

"If what Obama did was so wrong then why haven't Republicans in the House at least voted on a measure that would undo it?"

Give them time. There are some House members working on such action as we speak.

@VST:

"Meanwhile, by his action, he has placed many of those illegal kids in a Catch-22 situation."

These kids in a so-called Catch-22 should recognize the situation they're in and head back across the border to their countries of origin where they surely will be welcomed more than they are her. We can't use them here. We can't employ them. We have no work for them. We have 15 million Americans currently unemployed looking for work, drawing billions of bucks in unemployment.

If Obama thinks the amnesty he is offering is good for this country, he is seriously mistaken. It will only exacerbate our unemployment numbers.

>Procuradorfiscal
Obama's actions were morally right, legally right and economically right.
Morally right: it's morally wrong to deport law abiding people because their parents brought them over. Sorry, if you don't see that, then I suggest you reexamine your moral code.
Legally right: prosecutors have always had discretion deciding which cases to prosecute. It doesn't seem like a proper use of limited prosecutorial resources to go after people for misdemeanors committed by their parents.
Economically right: there's not a single non-partisan study of this issue that hasn't concluded that undocumented workers are a net plus economically. The State of Texas, for example, conducted a study that concluded: "The absence of the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas in fiscal 2005 would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion." Every other independent study has reached a similar conclusion.
And it was smart politically.