Thread: Needed: Illegal Immigration Talking Points

I haven't been a member of this group long enough to know if media reports on illegal immigration are a regular topic of discussion. However, I want to say that, if nobody else has noticed, some of the coverage has been very slanted. I listen mostly to National Public Radio, and I've been shocked by the near-complete omission of commentary or reporting on opposition to illegal immigrant amnesty. There are lots of glowing reports on "grass roots" immigrant activism, and uncritical interviews with the activists. There are statements presented as fact like "economists agree that the presence of undocumented workers is good for the economy." There is widespread use of the word "immigration" to refer to legal and illegal immigration as if the terms were interchangeable. I've been wearing out my keyboard emailing "All Things Considered," "Day To Day" and "Morning Edition" as well as the NPR Ombudsman, but I don't know if it's doing any good.

There are definitely some talking points we who oppose illegal immigrant invasion should work up. We need quick responses to the following assertions from politicians, alien advocates and the news media:

*Illegal Immigrants Come Here To Escape Desperate Poverty
*Illegal Immigration Is Good for The Economy
*Illegals Take Jobs That Americans Won't To Do
*Undocumented Workers Help Keep Grocery Prices Down
*The Immigration Movement Is The Same As The Civil Rights Movement
*America's Economy Would Collapse Without Illegal Immigrants
*There Are So Many Illegal Immigrants Here, We Can't Deport Them All
*Opposing Illegal Immigration Is Racist
*Illegal Immigration Is Our Fault Because of NAFTA
*Illegal Immigration Happens Because Our Legal Immigration Process Is Too Slow
*Illegal Immigrants Aren't Islamic Terrorists So We Shouldn't Fear Them
*Illegal Immigrants Pay Taxes Just Like Everyone Else

Each and every one of us needs to be able to respond firmly and coherently to these arguments. And without using profanity, I should add (I know it's tempting). Any ideas for quick responses?

Stuff

Here's something I posted on another website:

Can anyone tell me how illegal aliens especially from Mexico make for good residents? The actions of the illegal aliens and their supporters are exactly what I expected from the Mexican people. It's a shame we now have them in our State government. gloria romero the mexican senator is trying to make California into a third world country like the one she came from. It's already started, we have:

- the most number of pregnant teens
- the most in prisons
- the most poor
- the most crime
- the most gangs
- the most unemployed
- the most failing students
- the most high school dropouts
- the most parents without a high school degree
- the most on social programs
- the most making and using drugs
- the most single mothers with numerous kids all with different names

It's no wonder Fresno and it's surrounding communities are soooooo well known.....

*Illegal Immigrants Come Here To Escape Desperate Poverty
"The Grass is always Greener on the other side" Their Poverty is due to their Laziness to effect change in their own Government. What if the May1st protest was held in Mexico City? You would see changes in Mexico's Domestic Economic Policies rather quickly. Mexico is also one of the richest countries in the world( Source: CIA web site & Rand Corporation) with vast oil supplies and stratigic minerals, so where is the money going?

*Illegal Immigration Is Good for The Economy
Wrong! It depresses wages for working class americans and creats unfair competition in labor market on various levels of the labor industry such as Construction, Food Service, Manufacturering, Etc.


*Illegals Take Jobs That Americans Won't To Do
Wrong! Illegals have displaced Americans Workers in all Industries simply because they will work for substandard wages and no heath insurance.

*Undocumented Workers Help Keep Grocery Prices Down
Wrong! Grocery prices are more effected by Transportation cost and Market forces more than the cost of labor, paying farming Laborers a living wage would only increase food prices by a small percentage, example is a head of lettuce would increase by 10 to 20 cents.

*The Immigration Movement Is The Same As The Civil Rights Movement
Wrong! The Civil Rights Movement which was initiated by Dr. Martin Luther King for the improvment of Civil Liberties and Equality of Depressed Enthnic Minority Americans, to compare this to the Criminal Illegal Aliens protesting in the streets of America is rediculous because under current US Law they have no rights.

*America's Economy Would Collapse Without Illegal Immigrants
Wrong! Illegal Aliens are actually exporting wealth back to Mexico. Americans taking up these jobs will actually increase the stardard of living in the United States because they spend the money here, Legal Taxable income would increase, interest rates would drop because of increased savings, Market Forces will adjust.



*There Are So Many Illegal Immigrants Here, We Can't Deport Them All
Wrong! Just enforce the laws such as heavy fines for employers who hire Illegal Aliens, No Welfare, No Drivers Licenses, No Mortgages, No nothing and they will leave on there own.


*Opposing Illegal Immigration Is Racist
Wrong! Race has nothing to do with enforcing the Law.


*Illegal Immigration Is Our Fault Because of NAFTA
Wrong! Illegal Aliens were flooding our borders long before Nafta, it's Mexico's Domestic Economic Policy that's at fault , not ours.



*Illegal Immigration Happens Because Our Legal Immigration Process Is Too Slow
There's an element of truth to this because of Red Tap, but it's also due to Quota's as well.

*Illegal Immigrants Aren't Islamic Terrorists So We Shouldn't Fear Them
Illegal Immigrants caused the 911 Terroist Attack, if we allow Illegal Immigration to continue, this will happen again.



*Illegal Immigrants Pay Taxes Just Like Everyone Else
A large percentage don't pay Taxes because they work off the books, plus they Export Capital and suck up Resourses, the trade off isn't worth it. America is on the loseing end.

wow great post reciprocity...

Great answers reciprocity.

One that was not on the list.

Illegals receive free medical care and send their kids to local schools for free.....while we pay health insurance and school taxes.

*Illegal Immigrants Pay Taxes Just Like Everyone Else

To add to your answer on this point. I lived out West in areas of high illegal influx. Tax rates are always much higher not lower in areas of high illegal influx. The simple fact is that when they say they pay lots of taxes it's a lie. Ask them to show supporting documents and their argument ends. They say just trust me, we are paying lots of taxes.....sure.

Originally Posted by Stuff

*Illegal Immigration Is Good for The Economy
*Illegals Take Jobs That Americans Won't To Do
*Undocumented Workers Help Keep Grocery Prices Down
*The Immigration Movement Is The Same As The Civil Rights Movement
*America's Economy Would Collapse Without Illegal Immigrants
*There Are So Many Illegal Immigrants Here, We Can't Deport Them All
*Opposing Illegal Immigration Is Racist
*Illegal Immigration Is Our Fault Because of NAFTA
*Illegal Immigration Happens Because Our Legal Immigration Process Is Too Slow
*Illegal Immigrants Aren't Islamic Terrorists So We Shouldn't Fear Them
*Illegal Immigrants Pay Taxes Just Like Everyone Else

Stuff

First off there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant. An immigrant is a lawfully admitted permanent resident. A person that is here unlawfully is an illegal alien or hostile nvader.

A sovereign nation's citizens have a right to refuse entrance to foreigners for any or no reason. The elected Congress passed laws in 1986 on behalf of citizens which have been willfully violated millions of times by millions of individuals.

The facts above are a stopping place, and enough for me. If you find after relating the above facts to an individual that there's still more discussion required then you're dealing with a morally bankrupt person rationalizing their illness. Save your breath.

Your talking points are worthy of discussion only after surrendering your country and its' laws.

*Illegals Take Jobs That Americans Won't To Do
*Illegal Immigrants Pay Taxes Just Like Everyone Else

Been gone for a bit.. but these 2 points are completely absurd,

a) The only Americans that wont do the jobs are the ones that cant afford crap pay and no benefits some cheap assed employers offer. If they dont want to pay higher wages or deal with health insurance and other related costs then they can consider sub-contracting 3rd party services. By hiring illegals that drain our resources they only compound the problem by forcing higher insurance rates and more taxes being wasted.

Also, how many illegals are making the SAME or MORE money then many Americans? The report on CNN a few weeks ago had an illegal making 25k a year as a kitchen supervisor.. excuse me, THERE IS NOT ONE AMERICAN OUT THERE THAT WOULD WANT THAT JOB??? I seriously doubt that one. I know LOTS of people not making that DAMN MUCH MONEY even in some cases with college educations!

b) How is an illegal paying the same amount of taxes as a legal citizen??? I WANT SOMEONE TO PROVE THIS CONCLUSIVELY. How can they pay the same taxes?? You MUST have a legal social security number to pay taxes. Also there is NO WAY TO TRACK those that dont pay taxes. You cant track what is NEVER REPORTED OR PAID WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION. No employer is going to report to anyone that they are paying non-taxable incomes. There is NO LOGICAL way to prove they pay taxes in the same rates that equivalent legal citizens have to pay.

Thanks.

Thanx, the problem is most advocates of Illegal Immigration don't like the truth, Remember no matter what you say, you will called a Racist or zenophobe.

When they call you a rascist - you know you have won.

That's what I always tell them. When someone calls me a rascist - I know there is no more ammo in their argument (assuming there ever was). They have nothing left but name calling - You've won - and remind them of that every time - and do it forcefully.

Reciprocity's responses to the talking points were excellent! Except for the one about legal immigration being too slow. My personal response to that one is, why should the process be fast? Obtaining American citizenship is a rare privilege, and besides, we are concerned about terrorist infiltration. Immigration shouldn't be a rubber stamp process. Then I would add that if someone wants to reform our immigration process, they should do so as a legal citizen. If you try to do it as an illegal alien, your reasons are entirely selfish and you have no credibility.

I will pass these talking point responses along to others. They will be useful!