Illegal Immigration and How Americans Are Responding to It

We've seen it in the news. Mostly Mexican nationals that were supposedly sneakily crossing the border between the United States and Mexico illegally and were caught and brought to some detention center somewhere. From there, they are "processed" and are then sent into the back of a van or onto an aircraft back to Mexico. The only thing is, 90 percent of them will be seen again the following week, if caught again.

There are entire Mexican neighborhoods now in many areas, and in the just the state of California alone, they are considered now the majority ethnic group since some time at the beginning of the twenty-first century. This is a total change as of more than ten years ago from this day; there was definitely more Caucasians to every Mexican here in the state of California. That has long since changed, and because of Hispanic population visibility, they are now more than ever courted by both the Democratic and the Republican parties. There are labels in grocery stores that have both English and Spanish written. In restaurants there are menus that both come in an English written version and another in a Spanish written version. In telephone calls to automated machines, they let you select an option of receiving spoken information through either Spanish or English. A Spanish-language television channel was unthinkable twenty years ago, but now there are more than four to five major Spanish language television channels on cable. Now more than ever, there are even advertisements in normal American TV channels that even court Spanish speaking people, and Hispanic pop culture oriented TV shows and sitcoms. There is also now the option to get your voter ballot in either English or in Spanish.

Things have changed a lot since then. To the point where maybe one day, you might even see a Caucasian man or women become president, but find out that his or her last name or maiden name is or was Valdez, Garcia, Guzman, Carrera, or even Gonzales.

Despite of the progressive changes, there is still a stigma that is so prevalent in today's society, which it pervaded almost like an unspoken truth that you can only feel against your skin, and is felt in the air and was seen as a fogging mist. The insinuated stigma being that nearly all Hispanics that has ever entered this country are in on the big scheme. That as you are never too sure if the Hispanic next to you ever went through the long process of lines, or simply jumped over a fence. And those who are legit in being this country are in fact, aiding and abetting law breaking Mexican nationals within the United States. And if that is not what people think of Latin-Americans every time they pass one up in a hallway or at a crosswalk, being the problem right now, that it isn't what people are thinking of all these illegal immigrants here in the United States. It's something that any one person in a group of Blacks, Whites, or Asians could be thinking or has had the thought crossed their mind more than once. It's a disturbing and ground shaking reality, and an unpleasant one that no one wants to admit to or point fingers with that as their excuse. What's more interesting is that even some Blacks, Whites, and Asians also aid and abet these illegal immigrants, so not whole fault cannot be laid up on just Hispanics alone.

Yes, it sounds most ridiculous to even guess someone's thoughts or read into someone's actions, but it doesn't undercut that possibility out as a real fact. There is written history in the United States, where once in California, there were laws instituted to oppress Mexicans from gaining land or retaining land where gold was found, and where there was an abundance of a resource. Where they were disallowed to vote, hold office, or have a lawyer represent them in a court of law. Similar things happened in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, among other places, other than where the Gadsden Purchase was applied or where territories once belonged to Mexico was annexed to the U.S. In Texas, there was a law that if you could not provide proof on the spot that you're a U.S. citizen, you'd be detained and then deported to Mexico. Hundreds of other stories and injustices were committed against plenty other Hispanics, and not just against Mexicans. This is one of many reasons why most Hispanics have no qualms or no such guild in harboring illegal immigrants, as they see that this country is much theirs as Anglo-America. This has in some small to greater part stemmed from mostly the hundreds of injustices from the past to even now, in the present, due to racial injustices against them. But the pervasive feeling of ethnic solidarity amongst Hispanics and Latin's is now an equal driving factor.

There is nothing wrong with having honor-bound feelings towards your own ethnic group, to want to see yourself and those of your own skin color to succeed and progress as a culture, but how it is gone about, could be put to question.

Much of the feelings today, are now a jumbled and mixed in concerns with illegal immigration. There is the matter of providing hope and opportunity to all people, and not just the few privileged, but there is the issue of the many people already residing here with illegal status that are breaking the law, where others had to jump through hoops to come to this country. There is also the issue of the many children raised here and have gone to school here, and are as American as the next child who was actually born here or has parents that are legal citizens here, but these same children residing here with parents who have broken immigration law could very well be indirect victims if not considered. Then there are those people who've done the entire process, jumping and hopping through hoop to platform and through hoop again to gain legal residency here. What about them? Was all their effort a joke?

There is a lot said in many statistics that point out the living standards and the successfulness of each minority that makes up the U.S. today. And much of it reveals much of the Hispanic ethnic group and Hispanic culture and Hispanic successes as a subculture in the U.S. Are these statistics meant to demean us, to tell untruths that would instill a sense of inferiority in all of most Hispanics? Or do they reflect a falling short of the goal, but by no means suggests that Hispanics have no such potential to rise to a higher plateau. Hispanics and African Americans are often a statistic that is shown to have the most "falling short" in many surveys and polls (mostly, we are depicted as having a good sized prison population), and typically, Asians as a model minority. But why is that? All people of all known skin color or national leanings have the same brain, the same red blood, and the same typical two eyes, two hands, and two feet. So what's the difference? Maybe it has a lot to do with cultural aspects passed down from generation to generation, where Hispanics fail themselves to put more importance in education, as a key to success as it is made so in many Asian-Americans. But isn't culture a form of habit, in of itself? All it takes is for someone in a family to break the trend, and Asians as a model minority would cease. Despite what some may think otherwise, that is, really, all it takes.

So what can Hispanics do to rise above there condition, the stigma, and to better represent themselves in American society? In my own personal opinion, for one, they can actually start by respecting the law. And play the vindictive game of naturalization fairly. And institute and instill in Hispanic children, not just the sense that they can do whatever they want, as long as it makes them happy, but expose them to other options. To let them know, that they can too be scientists, engineers, politicians, and lawyers, or be a part of any other white-collar job that should be available to just about anyone.

There are a lot of feelings running in this, many confused as to what should be done about the problem.

This very, very important and it relates as much to the Hispanic community as well as to every neighborhood and the greater U.S., because this is the here and now and it's happening in our streets and in our backyards, and it's in our homes, our businesses, and it affects our families. That this is something that has to be looked into seriously, with what has happened already, such as the attacks at September 11^th, 2001. Is this a case of racism against one group, or is it more to do with security within a nation? More seriously, than ever, many people's lives are on the lines that have come to regard this country as home.

Prior Research:

There is research that appears to be split in a divide on how to best deal with illegal immigration. There is mostly the thinking that there are only two ways. Either open the border up to allow free passage of immigrants and the other to take a solid stance and close the border completely through increased policing to full on militarization of the area.

Research conducted by Time magazine on 1004 adults had shown that there is about a 79% favor for a guest worker program, and almost the same percentage of Americans (78%) are in favor in making illegal immigrants into US citizens if they learned English, had a job here in the US, and paid their taxes. Similarly, there is about a 56% favor in letting illegal immigrants in the US to apply for legal, temporary-worker status. (Gross 2006) There is also a 65% favor in allowing legal status to be applied to illegal immigrants from ages 18 to 34. (Gross 2006) There is also a 51% polled belief that illegal immigrants do "mostly make a contribution" to America, whereas 29% believe they are "mostly a drain." (Gross 2006) It was also shown further that in one poll that when asked "Do you think illegal immigrants who are living and working in the United States now should be offered a chance to keep their jobs and eventually apply for legal status, or do you think they should be deported back to their native country?" A great majority (61%) said that undocumented immigrants should be allowed to keep their jobs and apply for legalized status, compared to the minority (36%) who believed that they should be deported. (Washington Post 2005)

On the other side of the argument, there is a good 71% favor in support in making and enforcing penalties on employers that hire illegal immigrants into their work force. (Shulman 2006) In addition to this, there is 62% favor in stopping illegal immigrants from crossing the border through "whatever [means] necessary."(Schulman 2006) But there was a meager 41% support in deporting all illegal immigrants. (Schulman 2006) It seems that both sides do, at about 67% to 32%, have no confidence that a fence would deter further illegal immigration. (Gorss 2006) In light of the job market, there is a good 51% polled that think that illegal immigrants "take jobs that Americans don't want", compared to only 29% that feel that jobs are actually being taken away from Americans. (Gross 2006) As for the guest worker program goes, Americans are split in the middle with whether illegal immigrants should be able to apply for the program in US (50%) versus them being sent back to their country of origin (46%) to apply for such a program. It's obvious that a new approach with immigration reform has appealed to everyone, across the board. Men, women, Whites, Blacks, older, younger, educated, and less educated adults all seem to agree that deportation is not a feasible answer to be applied anymore in concerns with the illegal immigration problem. (Washington Post 2005)

Despite GOP sentiment that such proposals are out of the question, many Republicans seem split in the middle in their ranks. There is 55% that support illegal immigrants retaining their jobs and to apply for citizenship, whereas 43% supporting deportation. (Washington Post 2005)

And in looking into the what has been done by both of the House of Representatives and the House Senate, it becomes clear that though there is no real split in each house by itself, both are at polar ends in a battle front. In the public, there is an over whelming majority supporting the Senate Judiciary Committee's approach to immigration reform, which allows illegal immigrants to get a temporary-work visa, versus the House of Representative's proposal to criminalize illegal presence in the country and to bar any and all undocumented people from ever legally working or staying the US. There are only 25% of people who actually support the House version, in contrast to 72% in favor of the temporary-work visa approach. Among out of the Republican side, only 32% favor the House approach. (Schulman 2006)

Method:

The means of how I gathered by information through a survey was done in a period of only two days, where I had to politely approach people of varying backgrounds to have them take my survey. It involved first a visit to the local Highland Community Library in the late afternoon, and later at a local bookstore business, Barnes and Noble, from six in the afternoon to sometime late at night.

The variables measured in this survey were gender, age, and ethnicity. Other variables that were considered but not measured as part of the survey was economic status, style of dress, years in the US, first impressions, legal status, immigrant generation, and if such person had a job here in the US. The variables not measured in the survey would be considered controlled variables.

The survey itself is two pages long and has 24 questions totaled. Most of the questions come from many varying surveys picked up though internet media outlets, but mostly consisting of three major sources, and a couple of questions of my own making.

There will be a use of abbreviations in order to accommodate space on graphs, especially in concerns with ethnic national group names. This system is listed as follows:

· AiA: (Asian-Indian American); a person who is from India or is from the region southeast of Asia, i.e. Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.

· AfA: (African-American); a person who is of African ancestry.and lives here in the United States.

· AsA: (Asian-American); a person from Asia (i.e. China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Burma) and lives here in the United States.

· AngA: (Anglo-American); a person who is Causaian (European origins) and lives here in the United States.

· NatA: (Native American / indigenous tribes); a person whose ancestry are the native inhabitants of the Northern or Southern Continental Americas, but this name is referring only to the ones found in the United States.

· MidEA: (Middle-Eastern American); a person whose from countries found in Asia Minor (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, etc) and lives here in the United States.

· LatA: (Latin-American); a person whose origins are from countries that use Latin rooted languages, i.e. Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, France, Cuba, etc.

Also, in addition to the above ethnic abbreviations, there are other abbreviations that should be self-explanatory in nature, as they would involve ratings or simple yes's and no's.

A lot of the sample gathered is from an area not as heavily diverse as some major cities, such Los Angeles, New York City, Sacramento, or even like the San Francisco Bay Area. Thus, this is not a fully representative sample of all demographics. So in other words, many abbreviations referred above may not be implemented at all in the survey.

Some of the variable information provided by participants was never fully answered in regards to age or ethnicity, for whatever reason, and I had to fill in for them to the very best of my ability and estimation. There is also the problem where in some questions, there was a double negative found in the question, and so some of the data may in fact be positives and some may be negatives. Such as the sixth question, the tenth question, and the fifteenth question. All three of which may not reflect actual survey responses, just so to acknowledge the slight error. There is also the problem with question six, as it can be construed as two questions, so there could be error there as well.

Results:

During the course of the study, there were people that felt somewhere in the middle, towards the right, and towards the left, and a mixture of both left and right.

The impression I had from talking to a lot of people that I've encountered in the study was that many feel that illegal immigrants bypassing the naturalization process was a cheat and a smack in the face to those who did the fair way, and others feel that there needs to be a serious change in the immigration process, most of which entails having an open border. There were also those that felt among both sides that the way the recent protests were conveyed in response to the almost passed legislation bill that would have made illegal immigrants felons, was gone about totally in the wrong way. And perhaps did more to damage credibility and support for the cause, than it helped.

I had the chance to talk to an elder Anglo-American who was very receptive and sympathetic towards many of these illegal immigrants, and had the view that the US is still very much a land of opportunity. And as such, should be made available to anyone. That these same people are people with stories and hardships and deserve a chance to be redeemed and a way to come into this country unhindered.

Afterwards, I got the chance to talk to an African-American middle-aged lady who also felt similarly about the plight of illegal immigrants, and also felt that these same immigrants should be given as much right in being here as well. And that by her feelings alone, she conveyed that limiting such people would be as much damage to ourselves as it is to them.

In the same building, I got to talk to an Asian-American middle-aged woman, who was very outspoken in her beliefs to me. How illegal immigration belittled her well earned drudging through the naturalization process. Much of her comments and opinions were mostly pro-American in nature and pro-government. Much of which applauded the government's job but also pointed out how people are the sole problem.

Again, I also met later that next day, an elder Anglo-American college professor, who with all astonishment to me, gave out very pointed reasons why the border should be open and why these same illegal immigrants. That they, illegal immigrants, are as much a contributor to this bustling economy as anything else found here in the US. He also laughed outright at the question of a fence still being able to stop any further immigration. To him, this question was as much a joke as the washed-out comedian, Carrot Top.

Another interesting Hispanic man also took the survey, and made a point that illegal immigration and border security isn't the real problem. That the real problem has a lot to do with the drive to engage in conflicts that had almost no other reason but than to control another country's natural resource. Especially if it meant obtaining an energy resource, which of course would mean a political agenda has to be hatched in order to justify anything. And mostly, it's just to start a war. Even though most of what he spoke sounded conspirator-y in nature. He did introduce some interesting facts. Most of which was far too elaborate for me to retain in memory.

I also managed to talk to a young-adult Asian-American female, who was the very polar opposite to the much older Asian-American women, of whom I had talked to. Much of her answers seemed pretty much in line and in majority belief that an open border is possibly the best option, at least to her mind.

Most of everyone else was rather most engaging to the survey, hesitant, to mostly outright opposing to it. Many people had some nervousness once they heard what the survey was about, and it was noticeable in how much they were reluctant to let me hand them the two-sheet survey.

Analysis:

All produced table charts are categorized by ethnic background along side gender, and are further separated into three groups of a younger generation, middle-aged generation, and finally the much elder generation past fifty years of age. There is in the first six questions simple yes or no, and then the next three are rated in terms of level of agreement to certain statements, and the rest continues as simple yes or no.

Responses to the question whether if the US has done enough in the past to address illegal immigration.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

2

1

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question whether if the US has done enough in the past to address illegal immigration, if it could have prevented 9/11.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

0

3

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

0

2

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question of whether that all Mexicans, whether legal or illegal in status, has every right to be here, because the southwestern-most states of the US once belonged to Mexico.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question if the border needs to be a top priority in light of foreigners other than Hispanic (Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran) that are crossing the US southern border.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

2

1

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question on whether the Minutemen are right in their stance against illegal immigration:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

2

1

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on whether a label of "Terrorist" and "White Supremacist" was an accurate description to the group called the Minutemen.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

2

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AngA female

4

3

1

Responses to the question on whether the Minutemen should be a concern over at Capitol Hill:

Ages 16-30

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X

X

AfA male

1

X

LatA male

3

X X

X

AngA female

1

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 31-49

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X

X

LatA male

2

X

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 50+

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X X

AngA female

4

X

X X X

Responses to the question if Mexico should be held just as accountable as the US in concerns with the border:

Ages 16-30

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X

X

AfA male

1

X

LatA male

3

X

X

X

AngA female

1

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 31-49

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X X

LatA male

2

X X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 50+

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X

X

AngA female

4

X

X X X

Responses to the question on whether the southwestern portion of the country of the US truly belongs to Mexico:

Ages 16-30

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X X

AfA male

1

X

LatA male

3

X

X X

AngA female

1

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 31-49

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X X

LatA male

2

X

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 50+

Total

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Middle

Agree

Strongly Agree

Don't Know

AngA male

2

X

X

AngA female

4

X X X

X

Responses to the question on whether illegal immigrants were not as serious a drain to the economy as we were first lead to believe.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

3

0

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question on whether illegal immigrants make some kind of contribution here in the US:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

LatA male

2

2

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on whether illegal immigrants have more loyalty to their country of origin than to their adopted country:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

2

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on if a fence are enough to stop illegal immigrants.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

0

2

LatA female

2

1

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

0

2

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AngA female

4

2

2

Responses to the question on if illegal immigrants should be allowed to gain status if they fulfilled certain requirements, such as: can read, write, and speak fluently in English, has a job in the US, and pays his taxes.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

3

0

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

2

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AngA female

4

1

3

Responses to the question on whether babies born to illegal immigrants should not be allowed to gain US citizenship within US borders:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

0

2

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

3

1

Responses to the question on whether illegal immigrants are just taking away jobs that Americans simply don't want.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

2

1

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

3

0

Responses to the question on whether a certain type of guest-worker program would get their support, with the stipulations: provide greater resources to better border security, enforce current laws that penalize employers of illegal immigrants, create a system where they can come forward, register, pay a fine, and receive a temporary-work permit, provide these same workers a multi-year path towards citizenship on the basis of having no criminal record, learning English, and paying taxes.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AngA female

4

2

2

Responses to the question on whether a certain type of guest-worker program would get their support, with the stipulations: registration of undocumented workers as temporary workers, provide temporary work visas for seasonal and temporary workers, provide newly registered workers with a multi-year process for legal residency and eventual citizenship, tougher penalties for employers and workers who violate these laws on top of the ones that already exist, and puts priority in re-uniting close family members.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

0

3

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

1

3

Responses to the question on whether there should be a policy that heavily regulates immigration from all countries, especially one's that harbor terrorists.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

2

0

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on whether immigration, legal or illegal, is too high right now:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on whether there should be concern of illegal immigration changing the culture here in the US.

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

2

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

0

2

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

4

0

Responses to the question on whether illegal immigrants should be allowed to have state driver's licenses:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

1

0

LatA male

3

3

0

AngA female

1

0

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

2

0

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question on whether people felt empathy for illegal immigrants even after a few counter-productive actions made by certain groups and protestors of pro-illegal-immigrants:

Ages 16-30

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

AfA male

1

0

1

LatA male

3

1

1

AngA female

1

1

0

AfA female

1

0

1

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

1

0

Ages 31-49

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

0

2

LatA male

2

1

1

AfA female

1

1

0

LatA female

2

1

1

AsA female

1

0

1

Ages 50+

Total

Yes

No

AngA male

2

1

1

AngA female

4

0

4

Responses to the question on if a person (being you) had a chance to fix the border problem, which of the options would you use:

a. Take hostile action against the neighboring countries

b. Institute an open border policy and begin a system of mutual cooperation and policing of the perspective borders equally.

c. Fully militarize the border and institute a kill-on-sight policy on any who would cross the border illegally

d. Invade and take over Mexico

e. Continue the path of continuously reforming immigration and naturalization, and hope that one day, it can fix itself.

f. Other: an answer by the participants own making.

Ages 16-30

Total

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

Option E

Option F

AngA male

2

X X

AfA male

1

X

LatA male

3

X X

X

AngA female

1

X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 31-49

Total

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

Option E

Option F

AngA male

2

X

X

LatA male

2

X X

AfA female

1

X

LatA female

2

X

X

AsA female

1

X

Ages 50+

Total

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

Option E

Option F

AngA male

2

X X

AngA female

4

X

X

X X

Summary:

The results from the study I did seemed to prove that most people are still on the fence, so to speak, on the Mexican-American border.

The consensus I got among Anglo-American males is that the US government has already long since stood back and left the Mexican-American border at a backburner. They want something done soon. It's made clearer that amongst most Americans, the problem of the border and possible terrorist threat, which it needs to be made a serious priority at Capitol Hill. Most Anglo-American women also feel similarly, but are more lenient in allowing more illegal immigrants to become citizens, in contrast to their male counterparts. African-Americans, both male and female, seem to feel similarly to the border issue, and are also part of the band-wagon of not allowing illegal immigrants to attain citizenship, though they are not opposed to opening up the border for more easier flow of commerce between the US and Mexico. Asian-Americans, specifically the females interviewed, seemed split, where on one side, there is an agreement where illegal immigrants should be given humanitarian treatment, a path to citizenship, and for the border to be open, but on the other hand, there is also an agreement that illegal immigrants should not be allowed a path to citizenship, no humanitarian treatment, nor have their children be granted citizenship if born within the borders of the US.

All across the board, almost the whole sample said that infants born within the US should not be granted citizenship, but it seems that most Anglo-Americans and Latin-Americans seemed opposed to this action. Literally all participants have had conveyed no confidence in a fence stopping further illegal immigrants from crossing through, other than a handful who felt it still would. It is also seen in the majority of people who took the survey that since the protests on HR 4337, the proposed legislation bill that was going to be passed by Congress; people correlate most illegal immigrants with treasonous behavior towards the United States. And despite evoked fears of illegal immigration affecting American society, it's generally believed that it won't change the culture here in the US, as well as that illegal immigrants do contribute in some way to the US. But there is a general split amongst the sample group that seems to state that illegal immigrants are more of a drain than a benefit to the economy, at the same time. Possibly insinuating confusion among people, and pointing out the fact that most don't know for sure.

In terms of how illegal immigrants are to attain citizenship, there is also again, a general split, in that though there is some general support for a couple of proposed plans, most Americans seem reluctant to though in their whole lot for any one plan.

Then there is the perceived view of the Minutemen, being partly right about their discontent over the US being sloth in action, most people do believe that the Minutemen should not be the ones in charge of patrolling the border, and the US should step in.

In light of this, there is some good deal of agreement in the sample that Mexico should take a good deal of the responsibility over the border as well, and not just the US, but there are still a few who are skeptical that Mexico would even be able to belly-up to the challenge.

What's more interesting is how most Latin-Americans are opposed to these same people trying to bypass the immigration system. Most of them are a good deal against them getting any sort of "break" or "free-ride" in terms of their status change. There are many that view these illegal immigrants as an actual drain on the economy, but at the same time agrees that these same immigrants are filling jobs positions that no one else wants. But they are still in the middle in many issues, but generally it's seen that most Latin-Americans view these illegal immigrants coming through with some measure of reproach. There is a divide that is very apparent in the Latin community, of whether to allow an open border or to completely shut the border, or invade Mexico. But most do agree, much of what needs to be done, also needs Mexico's full attention as well.

In comparison to the prior research conducting by others, it appears that there is little difference in results. In that, despite such a small sample, it almost came to reflect the larger and more accurate model. Most Americans are truly split, as shown in both my study and in other research studies on what proposed plan would best address the illegal immigrants already here. And most people that I have had surveyed showed in their response that they would not caste their whole lot in one path that may best help resolve the greater problem. Perhaps in dissatisfaction in how the proposed plan is laid and maybe a better guest-worker program needs to be further elaborated.

In light of other factors or questions that were never mentioned in prior research, is that there is still a good deal of support of allowing undocumented people state driver's licenses. It is also noticed that people seem to have a split in agreeing on whether illegal immigration would affect US culture. With a greater number saying it will, but this mostly stems from an older generation of people, and not at all from the younger generations. Most people also seem to think immigration is too high right now, but this again, stems from an older generation, and not from the younger generations of people. Also, more people seem to be against allowing children of illegal immigrants to attain citizenship if born within US boundaries, but this stems from a middle-aged generation, than rather the older or much younger generations of people here in the US.

As for my experience in doing this paper, it was rather interesting, and it is mostly noted in the Results section, but one situation made it all the more clear on how intense this topic is. It involved me being in the library in the middle of a conversation with the middle-aged African-American women of whom I was having tried to have taken the survey with. I only had assumed that this man was actually a Mexican, perhaps an American born Mexican or actually an illegal, with how he interrupted me and began telling me how I should not talk about illegal immigrants and the border, perhaps was in his mid-twenties, dressed in hood clothes, and talking to me as in a street tone and a Mexican-ghetto speech. The conversation began when he said that "I couldn't help hearing what you're talking about, out loud for everyone to hear." He asked me what I was doing my report on, and I told him. From there, it went down hill. He started off telling me that I was being a nuisance in the library and that I should take my survey somewhere else.

I tried telling him first that it was only a paper for school, but he insisted that I shouldn't be talking about the Mexican-American border and illegal immigrants because "kids are around" in the library at the time. And that I shouldn't talk about the past. And again, he continued berating me and telling me how I should talk about "real" problems like crime, black slavery, poverty, and welfare. I only suddenly had the recurring thought, "Isn't black slavery considered the 'past'?" I and this same black woman, of course, rebutted saying that black slavery isn't current events. He then continued on how I was being "lil' shit" in talking about something that had no business there, in a library.

I had to then explain over him (considering he was rolling off one excuse after another) that the Mexican-American border is a current issue, which affects all of us and has a lot to do with us as a people, and how we have responded in the past, the present, and how we are going to act now. Then I couldn't go on, because I could see he had trouble understanding my big words. And I'll admit, I tend to be a little technical, and really, it's a serious drawback I have. And by no means reflects on this gentleman and his intelligence, but this soon changes in a few minutes. He honestly had good reason to be upset, but has shown considerable ignorance for much of what he says. So I simply told him that the border problem is on the news and has been on the news since 9/11, and I was sure he had to have seen it on cable or something. "Nah man, I don't got cable, like you man. I ain't from that high class and have that kind of money!" Its moments like these that make me wonder how the hell he managed to get out of bed and have the common sense not to trip and fall on some gun, knife, metal piping, a jutted out wood plank, or into a pool of water with his plugged-in, turned-on, X-box in the water where he might fall in. But I hold off my tongue and try thinking that maybe he really doesn't pay attention to the news, and he wasn't trying to insult me by saying that I was some high aired, smart talking, snot-nosed fool. "Hey, nor do I!! 'Cause about all I got is a computer and an internet connection to keep me informed!! I mean, come on!!" I continued in my own defence, "It's just a paper, and something I need to do. It's not anything harmful, really!! I mean..." Of course, he wasn't to going to have it. And he soon left in a huff without letting me or the other woman have a chance to go any further with him.

It was then that I realized how touchy the subject is, and how some people might explode in your face if you so much as bring it up. It's a case of insecurity and doubt in the situation, in that some people are deeply connected with this hot topic, even when they choose to not engage in public discussion about it. A stark contrast with how this one man reacted towards me, who in all likeliness may have been an illegal immigrant, with this year's pro-illegal immigrant protests, consisting largely of undocumented people, that were staged in almost every major city and aired all across the globe. If this was any indication, this is a problem that has truly divided age groups, ethnic groups, genders, and even among Latinos.

Reference Page:

• Mark Schulman, Time Magazine / SRBI, June 30, 2006,

http://www.srbi.com/time_poll.html

• Michael Gross, Associated Press / Ipsos, April 2, 2006,

http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3035

• Washington Post / ABC, December 15-18^th, 2005,

http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=808