Friday, May 11, 2007

Texas sucks

The Dallas burb of Farmers Branch is trying to pass a law requiring land lords to verify the immigration status of renters. If they fail to do so and rent to an illegal, they will be subject to a $500 fine per day.

I swear to god I'm not making this up.

10 comments:

Steve said...

It is illegal for a reason to just cross into this country and set up shop.

That said though, why should the burden be on the land lords to catch those that come here illegally?

That's like saying if I commited a crime that you could fine my land lord for not figuring out that I was a criminal, even if I hadn't been caught or convicted yet.

I'm against people entering this country illegally, and all for better processes to allow people to come to this country legally.

But by skipping the process you are breaking the laws of this country and should dealt with accordingly.

What are your thoughts on illegal immigrants? How should be best deal with the issue?

I don't really have a solution to the problem, but I don't think this is it either.

Steve.

Tom said...

It's pretty simple.. enforce the law, and change the immigration law to allow more people to become citizens.

Anonymous said...

Steve said:

That's like saying if I commited a crime that you could fine my land lord for not figuring out that I was a criminal, even if I hadn't been caught or convicted yet.

I'll give you a few clear legal precidents.

1. If a bar knowing lets somone drive while being intoxicated, then they are liable for anything that happens. No one has been convicted of drinking and driving, but it's a preventitive measure.

2. If you witness a crime and don't say anything, then you are an accomplise. Called "Good Summaritan" laws.


Honestly, I don't care what you do for the ones currently here as long as you plug the border problem. We need to know who is in this country. It's not about hating anyone, it's about security.

That said, I think giving amnesty to the ones here is a slap in the face to the ones who came legally, but I also think deporting all of them presents some logistical problems.

All in all, I think our immigrations policies are fine, they just need to be enforced. Why would we need to let more people in?

Tom said...

I'm pretty sure the people that mow my lawn are illegal. Are you going to do it if they get deported?

Steve said...

"Why whould we need to let more people in?"

Why not? America is a pretty sweet place if you ask me. I'm one lucky son of a bitch to be born here. Just because someone was born elsewhere doesn't mean they shouldn't have the same opportunities I do. So I say, let them in.

Provided of course they aren't criminals, drug addicts, etc.

I'm also not so much sure about the illegals already here. They broke the law sure. If they're criminals beyond that.... give em the /ckick (country kick). Otherwise set them up with a way to become legitimate either citizens or green card holders.

But yes we need to strengthen our borders, not cause people aren't welcome here, but as you said, security reasons. There are a lot of bad people out there that want to do us harm. And honestly, it's not that hard to get into this country... just ask the dude cuttin Tom's lawn. :)

Steve.

Anonymous said...

I am all for helping their government creat a better life for them there so they won't want to come here. But if they are already here, then help them become a better legal citizen.
L

Anonymous said...

OMG! Tom would have to mow his own lawn!

[Insert Apocolypse Now picuture]

THE HORROR....


But seriously, it's not that I would do it, and actually I might depending on the pay, it's that other people would. Admitedly, the unemployment rate is at an all time low...but I think you are setting yourself up to create a semi-permenant underclass.

As for letting more people come here you are right. It's a great place to live. However, if you let too many people come and the unemployment rate starts to rise then you have a lot of people out of work, most of whom could be employed -the immigration raise.

As for the ones that are already here, the problem with amnesty is, just like when Reagan did it, it just sends the message that says "Hey! If you can get in illegally, you'll be a legal citizen someday!" I dont really think that's a message you want to send. At the same time, I don't think it's logistically possible to deport them all.

But back to the topic at hand, I think that extremely high fines for people that do business with illegal immigrants (ie: Do business with known felons) is a great deterent for people coming in illegally.

Tom said...

LOL.. what?

extremely high fines for people that do business with illegal immigrants (ie: Do business with known felons) is a great deterent for people coming in illegally.

That's uh.. lol

I'm not going to check anybody's immigration status, nor do I even have a way of knowing if they are a "felon" or not. Just because they may be here illegally doesn't mean they are a felon as.. you know.. you actually have to have been convicted of a felony to be a felon..

And a semi-permenant underclass? Permenance is either permenant or it's not permenant.. and I highly doubt they consider themeselves underclass considering they are much better off then most people in Mexico, or wherever the hell they came from. That's kind of the point of leaving one area and going to another.

What if it was statistically shown that immigration (even the illegal variety) improves the economic condition of the local community? Would that change any misconceptions that people have?

I find it very strange that a country built on immigration has become so xenophobic.

Anonymous said...

Being here illegally is a felony. If you higher somone you know is here illegally, you are aiding and abetting a felon. They don't have to be convicted, you just have to have reasonable suspicion.

And a semi-permenant underclass? Permenance is either permenant or it's not permenant.. and I highly doubt they consider themeselves underclass considering they are much better off then most people in Mexico, or wherever the hell they came from. That's kind of the point of leaving one area and going to another.

Oh, so that's how you justify paying them a pittance.

"Oh, well, the $4.00 an hour they make mowing my lawn is more than they get down in Mexico, so that's fair."

What a douchebag. Seriously, how do you justify human exploitation under the guise of helping them out? Yeah, they get more than they would in Mexico, but pitifully low for any society that calls itself modern. Good job making my point for me.

Oh, and of course it's semipermenant. We don't live in a caste system, so there is always legal room for mobility socially. However, the fact that you are paying them substandard wages means that that becomes harder and harder for them to do, and exponentially more unlikely to happen.

What if it was statistically shown that immigration (even the illegal variety) improves the economic condition of the local community? Would that change any misconceptions that people have?

It really wouldn't matter. See, you fail to understand that it's ILLEGAL! Economic progress through illegally means is known as organized crime! What do you not understand about that word? They broke the law. They are felons. Just like if anyone else breaks the law, you punish them...why not these guys?

I find it very strange that a country built on immigration has become so xenophobic.

I guess if by xenophobic you mean...lawabiding...then yes. I have no problems with immigrants. None. IF, and only if, they come here legally. My aunt is a naturalized citizen originally from South Korea. I love her. She's a wonderful person, and there are a lot of other immigrants, legal and otherwise, who are wonderful people. The difference is, this is a nation of laws, and one set of immigrants followed the law, and one didnt.

I also happen to think that we should be able to take care of the people who are already here before we let a ton of new people in.

Tom said...

God damn.. it's not a felony, and that's not even the point.

I'll stop there...