What do you think should be done about illegal immigrants?
deport them unless there are very, VERY exceptional circumstances
have an amnesty every few years to allow them to become legal
something else
What do you think should be done about illegal immigrants?
I chose the first option because
1. I don't like crooks or cheats.
2. New Zealand has a small population. It's selfish I know, given I'm on my way there, but I hope it stays that way. If you start giving illegals a way to get residence, and that message gets out, the population won't stay low for very long.
I'm glad you added after 'deport them', 'unless there are exceptional circumstances'. The U.S. has such a huge problem with illegal immigrants. The exceptional circumstances are the kids who are brought to the U.S. illegally as small children. They didn't make the choice and know no other country.
Amnesty for anyone been here over 20 years and contributing to society...but no access to public funds for a further 10 years...deportation for everyone else
I don't think it's right to call illegal immigrants crooks and cheats. I get the pragmatic reasons for limiting immigration but I don't think it's necessary to act morally superior to people who do what human beings have always done.
I totally agree with this, in the USA it is a huge problem, but honestly, a child who was brought over illegally when he was 2 and lived there all his childhood.... well, they know no other country! I think though, with that it should be banned that those children should not be allowed to sponsor anyone.
I don't think that using the words 'crooks' and 'cheats' is being morally superior. They're descriptions, not judgements. Someone who's broken a law is a crook. Someone who's got where they are by lying or otherwise giving a false impression is a cheat. I take the point that some human beings have always done these things, but I think it's also safe to say that, down the ages, those who DIDN'T, and who were trying to play fair, would always have resented the advantage gained by the ones who chose to ignore the rules.
No. I'm sorry. Crooks and cheats is laden with judgment. Are people who get speeding tickets called crooks and cheats? Are people who jaywalk called crooks and cheats?
I wasn't saying "some" human beings have always done these things. I'm saying ALL human beings have migrated to better their lives through all of human history. Like I said, I get the modern pragmatic need for immigration laws to protect not only the citizens of a given nation but also to protect the illegal immigrants from exploitation. But I don't think it is necessary in enforcing or desiring enforcing those laws to label people with derogatory terms. This "playing fair" business is quite a new development in human history and has been reserved for those who live in privileged nations. I would say that most people who find themselves in the situation where illegal immigration becomes the best option are desperate to provide safety, food and shelter to their families. So, any resentment by those who "play by the rules" is completely misplaced. I'm not saying there aren't actual horrible people with bad intentions who are illegal immigrants, only that they are not the norm. I've known many many many people who are illegal immigrants and they are amazing people who take great risks to life and limb to give their families a chance. There is no denying they have broken a law but unless you start calling every person who commits a traffic infringement a crook, labelling desperate people as such only serves to judge, other and diminish illegal immigrants as people.
It's possible that your comments may be based on illegal immigrants in your country of origin, rather than in NZ. I might have more sympathy with some of them, based on documentaries I've seen and information I've read. I do think there's a range of culpability, but not all illegal immigrants are victims, or angels. I know from my NZ family about a whole grey economy of overstayers - and I'm thinking of ones I know of who were on WHVs from first-world countries - who have no more right there than I have (as under current law I'm not eligible for residence). Yes, they're cheats.
I don't think we're going to agree on this, so I'll leave the discussion.
I hate queue jumpers. I hate people who demonize legitimate asylum seekers (economic disopportunity isn't persecution to my mind). I hate questions that try to oversimplify a complex question. I love online polls.