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Unconfidence t1_j3spe1l wrote

Reply to comment by spokenrebutal in Colorado to stop busing migrants after pleas from NYC and Chicago mayors by callingforduty

Considering the process has changed drastically since your family did it, maybe you should reconsider. After all criminal prosecutions for illegal border crossing didn't happen until 2004.

Immigration law has drastically changed within our lifetimes, and become incredibly restrictive relative to what it was for the entirety of American history. For all the poeple decrying "semi-open borders" we have the most shut borders America has ever had in its history. And that's not even tackling the question of "Was it even smart to change our immigration policy away from the one under which we became the world's foremost superpower, or were we just in shock from 9/11?"

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spokenrebutal t1_j3ssvne wrote

I'm actually quite familiar with the system. I know how expensive it is, how long it takes and that it needs an overhaul. I also know that the vast majority of Americans couldn't pass the test. However now it has become a political point with sanctuary cities, locking people in cages, pandering to certain demographics, those seeking asylum or whatever other rhetoric you wish to include. To gain access to one of the greatest countries in the world you just have to claim asylum since Central America is in it's current state. I feel bad for them just as I do those that can't afford basic necessities. However we turn a blind eye to those already here and send aid and attention elsewhere which makes zero sense to me.

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Unconfidence t1_j3sv6wg wrote

>However now it has become a political point with sanctuary cities, locking people in cages, pandering to certain demographics, those seeking asylum or whatever other rhetoric you wish to include.

Right, the political point being that one side is anti-immigrant nativists who have extreme overlap with the racist elements in the nation, and the other side just treats them like normal people?

It should be easy to immigrate to America, that is the immigration policy under which we became the world's foremost economic powerhouse.

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spokenrebutal t1_j3sx5si wrote

So you think the right has either of our best interests at heart?! Stop with the us verses them mentality please. Have you compared how other developed nations in the world deal with citizenship and immigration?

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Unconfidence t1_j3sz7wc wrote

I have, but I didn't find it particularly relevant, because America is not those countries. Our historical identity was practically formed on immigration and free trade, very reflective of the Netherlands during its glory days. The Dutch way of economics was a very strong component of the fabric of American identity, the idea that people should be able to trade and exist freely within the territory. While other countries closed themselves off and restricted who could enter, we accepted just about everyone. And for that we became the greatest economic powerhouse in world history. Until 9/11, and then we decided to start prosecuting illegal border crossers criminally instead of civilly. How have we been doing since then?

Imagine being a passenger on the MS St. Louis in 1939. You're Jewish, and you've managed to get all the way from Germany to the shores of America, along with 900 others. Then, you're informed that you'll have to turn around and seek asylum elsewhere, because the US won't take you. Imagine that. Now imagine a family fleeing cartel violence, showing up at the border, and being told to wait in line because right wing Americans think the country is "too full". History rhymes.

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