I don't know if they really don't get it, or if they're just not getting it on purpose.

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There are some people who deliberately don't get it.  If the media can spin more straw into gold by misunderstanding than by understanding, then they will.  And that goes for Obama, McCain, Clinton - anybody they can send up the flagpole to fill the 24-hour potential void.

Beats working.

Geoff Gibson wrote: I find that unacceptable because of the human toll on a great many good people who came here, like my great-grandfather, to make a better lives for themselves and their children.

Did your great-grandfather sneak across the boarder or did he arrive via Ellis Island or another legal immigration port?  HUGE difference in defining immigration in this country and deciding to frame your support based on your great-grandfather.

While that may be the case for some people, it isn't for me. For me, the
key word is "illegal" as in "break the law". I have no problems with
immigration of any one through the proper channels. I have zero tolerance
for illegals though, regardless of race.
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I would agree if it were a just and fairly administered law. But it is not. I am
not opposed -- per se -- to some form of penalty, in the form of a fine or
some such pecuniary penalty but deportation is both unrealistic and unfair.
We are a nation of immigrants -- when we forget that we lose our soul.

I'm 100% for deportation only because they broke the law to get here.  They committed a crime.  There should never be even a reward for committing a crime.  In my mind, if an illegal is caught, they should have the option to immediately file for legal status and then be deported while their application is processed.  But....if they return before it's processed and they have legal status, the next deportation should be permanent and they should never be allowed to apply again.

Some may think it's harsh, but they had the option doing it legally in the first place and instead elected to break the law, knowing full well they were doing so, and enter illegally.

Now for a little humor in the thread.  Obamatopia

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XIRaFfMGNSc

Right, Geoff, and more, is it possible that the laws themselves are what need looking at?  Why are so many people breaking the laws?  Is it because they are all criminals, or is it because the laws are unjust, and do not work to serve the people?

The John Byrne Forum can be seen as a metaphor for the way immigration policy should work. The JBF is Mr. Byrne's forum - he can dictate the rules and who gets to play. It's his playground, not ours.

Similarly, a would-be immigrant cannot simply show up and declare, "I'm going to be an American (or a citizen of any other nation, for that matter)." They may ask for admission, but it ultimately is up to the host nation to say "yea" or "nay."

Perhaps exisiting immigration laws need reforming; I don't know. But I do know for certain that there is a big difference between lawful immigration (the kind your grandfather used to get to this country, Geoff) and illegal immigration, which shows utter disrespect for the host country.

Geoff Gibson wrote: Ellis Island. But I fail to see a substantive difference, except, when he immigrated to this country it was a far more open process than it presently is.

I don't see how you can't see the difference, Geoff.  There are legal and illegal ways to live in the United States.  Your great-grandfather, as mine as well, did so legally.  I certainly can't speak for what your relative would have done had the option not been available to him, but I'm not sure you can either just to substantiate your belief that it's fine either way.  In any event, it's a terribly difficult situation and, as such, I do find it more than a little offensive that you would characterize someone who has a problem with some of the measures being proffered, such as amnesty and drivers licenses to current illegal immigrants, as a person who may be responding in a racially motivated manner.  I think that's incredibly black & white, no pun intended, and most certainly looking for an explanation using the simplest of routes.  In the end, I think we can neither be a nation that opens it's doors to all and lets anyone and everyone move here without checks or balances nor one that closes every border and locks every door into the system.  For me and where I stand, there just has to be a better way that blanket amnesty because I see that as such a short term solution to what is a long term problem.