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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:16 am Post subject: Most immigrants lived in California illegally, study says
Most immigrants lived in California illegally, study says
By Matt O'Brien
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 06/04/2008 09:22:00 PM PDT
More than half of new California immigrants who are permanent legal residents lived in the state illegally before getting green cards, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.
The study suggests that the conventional notion of a legal immigrant as a brand-new arrival who has waited in a home country to get a green card is not the norm.
"The idea (is) you sit at home, you wait, you get the green card," said research fellow Laura Hill. "That's certainly an experience for immigrants, but it's not the most common."
Of green card holders living in California, only 33 percent are new to the United States, never having entered the country before becoming legal residents here, according to the study. Another 15 percent previously visited the country at least once without violating immigration rules.
But a majority — 52 percent — had past experience living in the country illegally, usually without the government knowing about it, Hill said.
The numbers were based on a survey of 8,000 people with green cards who shared detailed histories of their migration experiences with researchers as part of The New Immigrant Survey in 2003 and 2004.
Thirty-five percent of the California green card holders had come into the United States at least once before by illegally crossing the border, while 18 percent violated the terms of a legal visit by overstaying a tourist visa or working when they were not supposed to.
"It highlights how overly simplified our understanding of immigrants and immigration can be," said Hill, who said a stark distinction between "illegal" and "legal" immigrants does not acknowledge the frequent correlation between both categories. "We need to be a little more cognizant of the variety and breadth of experience."
Along with California, the study looked at the country as a whole. It found that a somewhat smaller percentage of green card holders — 42 percent — have previously lived in the country illegally. Of those, 20 percent had crossed the border illegally and 22 percent had violated their visa terms.
Those who overstayed their visa before obtaining legal residency were most commonly from Europe and Central Asia, where the numbers were about 30 percent compared with 22 percent overall.
Latin Americans were those most likely to cross the border illegally — 41 percent compared with 20 percent overall. In California, the rate was even higher, with 62 of Latin American and Caribbean legal permanent residents having once crossed the border illegally.
Hill said her study also tried to compare current results against what might happen if the immigration reform measures that were proposed but dropped by the U.S. Congress last year were to come to fruition.
Those measures emphasize a more merit-based immigrant selection process compared with the family-focused immigration system in place since 1965.
The study reports that those immigrants now labeled as brand-new arrivals, who make up about 33 percent of current green card holders in California, would be least likely to be admitted under the proposed system because they are less likely to have relatives to sponsor them and, by definition, cannot obtain the U.S. work experience that would be an important factor in the merit-based system.
This shows what the effects are of state failure to enforce the immigration laws. Now there is an attitude in place that first you should violate the aw then they reward you by making you legal. What American citizens want the laws they pass do not count and besides even if you are illegal when you get here do not worry you will eventually be one yourself.
“It highlights how overly simplified our understanding of immigrants and immigration can be,” said Hill, who said a stark distinction between “illegal” and “legal” immigrants does not acknowledge the frequent correlation between both categories. “We need to be a little more cognizant of the variety and breadth of experience.”
This statement irks the hell out of me. It appears that it is a deliberate blurring of the clear distinction between legal and illegal. There is no blurring. It is black and white. If you entered the country illegally, you are in the country illegally (if you overstayed your visa you are in the country illegally, also) and NO GREEN CARD FOR YOU!!! _________________
"If you can't do business legally, then you have no business being in business." -zeezil Anything short of deportation is amnesty.
It is absolutely imperative that the U.S. implement a MERIT based immigration system instead of the current relative sponshorship family reunification haphazard mess we have now. _________________
"If you can't do business legally, then you have no business being in business." -zeezil Anything short of deportation is amnesty.
Of green card holders living in California, only 33 percent are new to the United States, never having entered the country before becoming legal residents here, according to the study. Another 15 percent previously visited the country at least once without violating immigration rules.
But a majority — 52 percent — had past experience living in the country illegally, usually without the government knowing about it, Hill said.
Thirty-five percent of the California green card holders had come into the United States at least once before by illegally crossing the border, while 18 percent violated the terms of a legal visit by overstaying a tourist visa or working when they were not supposed to.
"It highlights how overly simplified our understanding of immigrants and immigration can be," said Hill, who said a stark distinction between "illegal" and "legal" immigrants does not acknowledge the frequent correlation between both categories. "We need to be a little more cognizant of the variety and breadth of experience."
We need to make sure that the world knows if you come here illegally you will not get a green card and will be deported. We need to enforce the laws, amnesty has failed.
We need to be more cognizant in making sure all who come here, come legally! If you disrepect our laws, you will gain nothing! _________________ "If you love our nation, STOP illegal immigration!"
“It highlights how overly simplified our understanding of immigrants and immigration can be,” said Hill, who said a stark distinction between “illegal” and “legal” immigrants does not acknowledge the frequent correlation between both categories. “We need to be a little more cognizant of the variety and breadth of experience.”
This statement irks the hell out of me. It appears that it is a deliberate blurring of the clear distinction between legal and illegal. There is no blurring. It is black and white. If you entered the country illegally, you are in the country illegally (if you overstayed your visa you are in the country illegally, also) and NO GREEN CARD FOR YOU!!!
This is yet another reason why I think the borders need to be CLOSED!!!!!!! _________________ It's immoral to vote for any candidate who is not going to uphold the fundamental tenets of our Constitution.
Joined: Jan 02, 2008 Posts: 6909 Location: Mexifornia
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:
One could almost get the impression that those who enter the country illegally enjoy some sort of advantage over those who wait in their countries of orgin to enter legally. The numbers certainly suggest this to be a possible.
Joined: Jan 08, 2006 Posts: 377 Location: Washington State
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:
NoBueno wrote:
One could almost get the impression that those who enter the country illegally enjoy some sort of advantage over those who wait in their countries of orgin to enter legally. The numbers certainly suggest this to be a possible.
I hope that's not the case...
They absolutely do enjoy a clear advantage over those of us who have followed the rules. My wife and kids waited three years to get here legally on a temporary visa, 2 years ago. We have renewed that visa and it will be at least one more year before they get "green cards". I have a folder containing all the paperwork that I have filed on our case that measures 2 1/2 inches thick. I have spent around $12,700 for application fees, medical exams, records checks, etc. Did this all on my own, without hiring an immigration lawyer. They generally charge an additional $3000 to $10,000. I don't really have a complaint about the effort involved in immigrating legally, although I think the process is overly complicated. Those who follow the rules are basically getting screwed, relative to those who are being granted amnesty.
Those who follow the rules are basically getting screwed, relative to those who are being granted amnesty.
Sadly true and unacceptable. An upside down world.
--------
Here is Krikorian's take on this story:
National Review Online
the corner
Thursday, June 05, 2008
This Is Not Your Father's Immigration [Mark Krikorian]
A new report from a high-immigration outfit showing, yet again, that many of each year's new "legal" immigrants are actually illegal aliens using the system to launder their status. Nationwide, 42 percent of new legal permanent residents (green-card recipients) in 2003 were former illegal aliens, and in California, the figure was 52 percent. Among the new immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean, 62 percent were former illegal aliens. More proof that legal and illegal immigration are two sides of the same coin.
More than half of new California immigrants who are permanent legal residents lived in the state illegally before getting green cards, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.
If I found out who cheated the system to get a green card, I would deport them all and bar them from ever entering the country again. If they try to renter, they would be sent to prison for the rest of their lives.
This really makes my blood boil. It is obvious that they DO NOT RESPECT our laws. If they are going to break simple immigration laws, they will break other laws.
AND IF I EVER FOUND OUT THAT THEY CHEATED AND LIED TO GET INTO THE U.S., I WILL NEVER - EVER- ACCEPT THEM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSANCES. Not that they would care.
Joined: Jan 08, 2006 Posts: 377 Location: Washington State
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:
1. By law, there is a maximum number of green cards granted each year. Whenever former illegals are benefitting from an amnesty and getting a green card, the chances for someone who has followed the rules to get a green card are delayed. Often the cap on numbers is raised but this still puts the illegals ahead of those who have followed the rules. Message from USCIS, Kennedy, McCain et. al, to legal immigrants: "Screw you, sucker!".
2. By law, there is a yearly cap on the numbers of green cards and non-immigrant visas granted to persons based on country of origin. By law, that law is either 7% or 10% of the total, depending on the circumstances. Yet according to a report on Lou Dobbs recently, the numbers of green cards granted to Mexicans in 2007 was just under 16% of the total, while the total numbers granted to Filipinos was 6.9%. The maximum waiting period to get a green card at a US consulate in Mexico is 12 years, while in the Philippines the waiting period is 26 years (probably would be higher, but a lot of Filipinos die waiting for a green card or simply give up. Seems to be a real bias in our immigration policy against Asians and in favor of Latinos.
This article re-affirms the breakdown, ineffectiveness and malfeasance within our immigration system. If you enter the country illegally, you should NEVER be given legal status (unless you self deport and then begin the legal process). It is time for a complete 'time-out' on all immigration until we fix the loopholes and actually decide how many immigrants we should allow each year and what skill sets we need from those immigrants. In the meantime, we enforce our existing immigration laws and those illegals that don't leave of their own accord are deported.
Illegal is illegal, I don't care who you are, Your nationality, your level of education, how much money you make and whether you became illegal by entering the country without a visa or inspection OR overstayed a visa you had from legal entry. Giving amnesty and rewarding illegal behavior is not the way to build a good system of law and order. Anything short of deportation is amnesty. ALL illegals must return to their native land and, if they wish, they may then begin the LEGAL process of immigration to the U.S. _________________
"If you can't do business legally, then you have no business being in business." -zeezil Anything short of deportation is amnesty.
Joined: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 6480 Location: North Mexico aka Aztlan
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject:
This is the result of all the amnesties the US has given over the past 22 years. And you can see the result, we have a $20 billion deficit and declining quality of life.
Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 567 Location: Pennsylvania
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:26 am Post subject:
I have been informed that my recent post in response to legal4mykidsfuture has been pulled because it was perceived as an attack on a fellow board member.
For the record, I did not accuse, denigrate, or condemn legal4mykidsfuture or his family as he suggested in his reply, nor was that my intention. I simply couldn’t have since I knew absolutely nothing about him, other than what I was able to infer from his posts.
The inference I made, was that perhaps his arguments, which seem to be based solely on the effect the illegal aliens are having on the legal immigrant population only, with no reference at all to the effect it is having on tens of millions of disenfranchised Americans (both born and naturalized), may be due to his presence as a “legal immigrant” in this country under the guise of a visa program, which I believe to be just as destructive to this nation as illegal immigration. I stand corrected. I apologize to you all.
In my personal experience, the H1B and H2B visa programs, or any other of a myriad of work programs and falsehoods regarding jobs Americans are either unwilling or unable to do are wreaking havoc on too many qualified, capable, educated Americans who are currently underemployed, are struggling to pay of enormous student loans, and are on the brink of losing everything they’ve worked so hard for. Hundreds of thousands of these workers enter this country every year, living among us and enjoying all the benefits of American citizenship with none of the responsibilities. This cheapens us all. I believe this issue is the other side of the coin, and this, coupled with the illegal alien invasion is the reason this nation is facing a recession of unparalleled proportion. It is my firm belief that unless we address these atrocities as well as those of the illegal population we will certainly lose this nation.
I am most certainly not anti-immigrant as legal4 suggested in his reply. Both my husband and I are great-grandchildren of immigrants who made an extraordinary sacrifice in order to give their descendants the precious gift of American citizenship. I honor their selfless gift everyday of my life with my allegiance to this county and its rich immigrant heritage. The sad fact however, is that those immigrating to this nation in this day under the above mentioned falsehoods do not bring to the American table the same commitment to this nation’s people and her well-being as those of the past. This is evidenced in their blatant refusal to assimilate and their expectation of accommodation.
Just as I mistakenly misjudged legal4 (for which I will apologize directly to him), he has also mistakenly misjudged me. I am not “every bit as repugnant as the OBL/pro amnesty crowd.” I am an American, who, like so many other Americans, is distraught and utterly dismayed at what has been allowed to happen to this amazing nation. I am every bit as committed to this country, and would never presume that my commitment to this country is far more than legal4’s or anyone else’s on this forum.
I am the mother of 5 children, two of whom serve this country in the armed forces (one has finished a tour of duty in Iraq, the other is scheduled to ship out early spring of next year), and a daughter who is a policewoman. My babies, if you will, serve this nation both at home and abroad. The other two children have thankfully chosen not add to my worries. They are close to home and leading considerably safer lives. I do my share of holding my breath.
If the outcome of this indiscretion/misunderstanding is that these other atrocities are brought to the attention of those on this board, then my statements have served an important place on this board after all.
Great letter and thoughts, Marie Elena Schultz. Your opinions and activism on fighting against illegal immigration and the tsunami it brings along are appreciated.
Thank you and your sons's service in defence of our country. May all of you remain blessed and safe.
God Bless America as we need his blessing now more than ever. _________________
"If you can't do business legally, then you have no business being in business." -zeezil Anything short of deportation is amnesty.
Thank you for your response Ms. Schultz, and I wish the best for you and your family. And as Zeezil notes, I thank your children for their service to our country.
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