Racism plays a factor in it--whenever a minority is singled out, racism appears. That's why. Some people (I'm saying some--not all) just assume every mexican that looks mexican is illegal. Some mexicans have their papers or work visas or green cards or are Americans--but some people can't see past the brown skin.

A lot of people are angry at the illegal mexicans (or the ones with work visas,etc.) about taking away jobs from Americans. Why is no one angry at the guy HIRING the illegal mexican? He's out to make money, out screwing over a human being who is trying his hardest to just make some  money to get his citizenship or send money home to his kids or bring his family over, etc. No one is angry at the guy paying $3/hr to the human being that's out busting his back. They're angry that that person being screwed over is taking over that job. That's why racism can play a role.

Start getting angry at the people hiring them for dirt cheap. Start getting angry at the people who assume every mexican is illegal.

You didnt' say mexican, but that's usually the group of people who are singled out, just because there are a lot of them and it's easy.

I'm not saying that breaking the law is right--I'm just saying that racism can play a part, because if you're illegal--you have no rights. Your employer can take advantage of you and you can't say a thing. That's all you can do is put up with it and try your hardest to make some money.

loli_usn17 Jun. 9, 2008 at 11:05 AM

But getting hired for way less than minimum wage is NOT a racist issue: that's what happens when someone isn't here LEGALLY and therefore doesn't have the same rights and laws that the citizens are protected by.  That happens to any illegal whether they are Mexican, Chinese, African, Indian, or whatever.  And I do think the employers should get into some trouble for doing the hiring in the first place. 

The only reason Mexican illegals seem to be "pointed out" so much is because they ARE the largest group of all the illegals.  But that's only because our border joins with their border.  If we bordered with China then most of our illegals would be Chinese.   Just being against illegal immigration shouldn't be a race issue. 

ApplesnCarrots Jun. 9, 2008 at 1:49 PM

loli_usn17 Jun. 9, 2008 at 6:58 PM

feministmama Jun. 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM

Secretivme Jul. 19, 2008 at 8:56 AM

My husband is 100% Czech and very white skinned, but he will tell you differently.   His brother spoke no English when he started school.   His family and many of the Czech people here were treated badly from the "Americons" as they call us.  And they were white and here legally.  If they we illegal I am sure the red carpet would not be pulled out for them either.  But instead of complaining, they understood that inorder to be accepted as "Americans" they had to prove that they were law abiding, economically contributing citizens.   They worked hard for that.  They feel very strongly about it.  People in town would not hire them for a desent wage so they farmed.  They could not afford land so they share cropped.  They were dirt poor.  They  never asked for government aid, built there own church here and school here with what little money they had so that there children could be schooled in a school that reinforced there home culture.  They did this with only their hard earned money.  They did not demand that the local public school teach there children in Czech language.  They did it all themsleves and this was admired by the local people.  They beleive you earn acceptance, you just don't recieve it because you cross a river.  It took a couple of generations for them to assismilate, but they did and the Czech community is a values culture here now.  It is celebrated and even draws tourists here.

Many will say it is easier for them because they have white skin so they blend in more... Well, with a thick accent  and no vowels in your last name, you do not blend in.  People confuse it with Russian and there is are stereo typs associated with that. 

I do not believe that illegal immigration is a race issue, but people make it one.  Illegal immigration is a complicated issue dealing with economics, politics, law and national saftey.  Turning it into a racist issue makes it easier for people to overlook the harmful effects of it. For every hispanic who thinks it is is simply about race,  they can talk to my husband , the Czech community here in TX, or maybe the Irish a couple of generations ago. 

txkidsmom Jul. 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Well let's define racism...By Websters dictionary its:
 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination

So, by the second definition of prejudice or discrimination, that's exactly what border problems are.  To explain - you don't see many caucasian, english speaking, americanized illegals.  Sure, they may be some from Canada, but, if there's a problem there, it's not been publicized yet.  So, who are the illegals?  People who stand out as non-americans...likely not english speaking (or perhaps not as a first language), people who are not familiar with American culture, and likely non-caucasian (not all, but the most prevalent complaint is mexico, so non-white.) Now, we all know why prejudices are around, because like it or not, many of them appear to be true be it because of the media, or our own ignorance to put ourselves in those categories (I mean cmon, how many playboy bunnies are blonde?  lots, and have you ever seen them on TV?  They use the blonde excuse to act like an airhead or a pinup.) 

So, by definition, it is a racist issue.  Tell me which border we want to block?  Is it the one between American and Canada?  Do we want to put walls up around Florida to keep the Cubans out, or New York to keep the Europeans out?  No, the issue at hand is the American/Mexican border.  So we have singled out one group of people that we specifically want to keep out of the country.  Does that mean that it's just because we don't like Mexicans like definition one states, no of course not - it really does effect the economy, but until we want to (or need to) close ALL of our borders, it will always be considered a racist issue that specifically targets the Mexicans. 

I'm on the fence (no pun intended) on how I feel about illegal immigrants of any race, so I am only explaining the situation the way I see it.

mommamiller0809 Jul. 27, 2008 at 8:39 PM

Even by the second definition ILLLEGAL immigration is NOT a racist issue.  The only reason the Mexican border is singled out is because that's where the majority of the illegals are coming here through.  If people started coming here illegally through Canada then we would be having this issue with our Canadian border.  We stop Asian illegal immigrants when we catch them at the shipping docks off of L.A and other Pacific facing ports.  We stop Cubans off our coast when we see them.  No one is accusing the U.S or those that stop the Asian illegals or others that they are racist against Asians.  But if anyone stops a Hispanic illegal immigrant then all of a sudden it's a racist problem!     I'm sorry, but personally I think the whole racist propaganda is just a way to try to make people not look at illegal immigration as a real problem or issue and make us feel bad for wanting something to be done about illegal immigration. 

There are groups like La Raza (which means The Race in Spanish) that are pro illegal immigration and want some of our border states returned to Mexico.  They scream "racist" the loudest on the illegal immigration issue and yet they have a name that means The Race??!!  What would people think if a white group got together and called their group The Race?  My first thought would be that the group is a racist skinhead group. 

The bottom line on illegal immigration is that it's ILLEGAL.  We have immigration laws and quotas for very good reasons.  So the idea that illegal immigration is a racist issue is just smoke screening and trying to move the issue on another path away from the real path, IMO.

ApplesnCarrots Oct. 17, 2008 at 1:12 PM

Racism ,issue is a learned behavioral because a person has to have some spend time with a child.  It is like a dvd or tape with negative information.   It is passed from generation to generation so what are family values we can only live and teach positive values and good habits.   Some people are just angry because they are living in the past or are sick mentally.      Hope this helps 

illegal immigration is problem when expenses of medical and living cost is take from our country's citizens.      not racism your right     are we the world 's keeper ?

hazgreen360 Oct. 25, 2008 at 10:09 PM

I agree illegal immigration is not a racist issue, if any one comes here illegally from any country they are breaking the law no matter the color of their skin and should be dealt with according to the law. Last year a company in RI where I live got raided because there was illegal immigrants working there. But the way the news media reported the story was that we should feel sorry for them and their children (whom the illegal immigrants said were born here making them U.S. citizens). Because the parents had to go to jail and were separated from their children. I don't feel sorry for anyone who breaks the law! The owner of the company also got arrested for hiring illegal immigrants which I agree with because he was breaking the law.

bsgiga Nov. 12, 2008 at 3:28 PM