US immigrant policy

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...yearning for a decent job paying a true living wage. This country was founded on immigration. I'm not quite sure where I stand on our current immigration situation. I have concerns that really the "problem" is with Mexican immigrants. (I don't have a problem with Mexican immigrants. But apparently many people do.) I think the obvious solution is to try to create policy that will pressure the Mexican government into forcing their industries to pay a fair living wage. Maybe that's an oversimplification of the problem. I'm not sure. But I know that our own current immigration policy is not fair to everyone.

Cuban? No problem. Welcome to the US.

Haitian? Go back to Haiti-we don't want you.

Mexican? Hell no. Go back home.

Etc... etc... etc...

I also think it's rather stupid to create new immigration policies when we aren't enforcing the ones we already have in place. Call me silly, but maybe if we cracked down on employers who hire illegals we might actually see some progress.

Meanwhile my husband has a buddy at work who is French Canadian. This guy is educated, law abiding, very intelligent, in short a yuppie. He's been trying to gain status as a permanent resident for years. To date he's paid at least $16,000 in legal fees. Our fantastic government has told him that if he wants permanent residency, among other ridiculous hurdles, his employer has to post his position nationwide to determine if there is anyone within this country who is qualified for his job. He already has the job and has held this position for years. Wouldn't it make more sense to ask his employer for a reference letter toward his residency?

If I understand it correctly, the immigration bill that died this week in the senate would have, in essence, pushed my husbands friend to the back of the line for residency...behind people who have been here illegally. So this guy, who has been here legally and has gone through ALL of the proper channels and paid a boatload in legal fees, who is law abiding, who has contributed to our society, has paid FICA & SS taxes, who owns property here, would have to stand behind illegals who sell fruit on the side of the road! Not that I have anything against people who sell fruit on the side of the road. I just think someone who has gone through proper legal channels and has paid taxes, etc should certainly be given priority. However it bothers me that there are people in this world who have no other options than selling fruit on the side of the road in order to live. That is a sad statement about our society.