Posted by Pete Green, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2007 at 5:35 pm

I find it rather disappointing that our country fails to accept the fact that our very own history is built upon by immigrants. Therefore, we need to be less harsh on the people who have already been living in the United States for decades. If they have been paying taxes and contributing to their community, then why all of a sudden do they need to be deported? Evidently "Operation return to sender" is still supported by the government, otherwise these raids would not occur. Despite the fact that the ICE was supposed to end that operation on June 13, 2006, I am afraid to admit that I see little change based on the number of deportations of recent. The impact on the Ramirez family will be profound, and it affects their friends and relatives too. There must be a better solution to solving this immigration issue. Perhaps rather than spending money on ICE raids, the ICE could aide these illegals in becoming citizens. They should give these people options, because quite frankly, they are not giving them a chance at having the American dream we all have. After all, America is an advanced country, right...? Well, let us take initiative, and allow the whole Ramirez family come back and live a life without cardboard box roofs and scorpions on toilets.

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2007 at 7:52 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Draw the Line, a resident of Stanford, on Jun 6, 2007 at 6:36 am

I, myself, am an immigrant, as is one of my parents.

We need to remember our country was built on LEGAL immigrants, and all countries have the right to invite whomever they wish into their country, and turn away others, just as people are not obliged to accept everyone who wishes to enter their home.

This is a tragedy, no doubt, for this family. Look to the Mexican govt for the horrific policies which have fostered the extreme poverty over the last 100 years to blame for their desperate citizens. We blame nobody else for our problems.

My hope is that Mexico will start to look inward as they can no longer look outward for their economic fixes. We are 1/7th of their "income", through illegal immigrants sending money back to their poor families.

Now,I WILL agree that we do NOT have a reasonable immigration policy. I don't think the new bill in the Senate is a good one, and I hope it doesn't pass under its current form, but at least it is a beginning of being on the right track.

We need a format for admitting people legally into our country, who wish to work and BECOME CITIZENS. We need to have benchmarks for them as they complete their English language and American civics education, and as they refuse any govt aid for X number of years, until they earn citizenship.

What we have now is ridiculous, not allowing some of the hardest working people to immigrate to the USA. This country was built by uneducated, hard working legal immigrants, and to deny entrance on the basis of education only is silly. Each wave of immigrants cared for their families enough such that by the NEXT generation, the immigrant group was fully assimilated and sufficiently educated.

I would like to see us return to that type of thinking. Not to create an "underclass" ( which we already have through turning a blind eye), but to allow the type of people into our country who have always come in and reminded us what hard work looks like.

First, before we can do that, we must shut down our border so that we know who every single person is who comes into our country. Then we can winnow through those already here. Then we can start admitting new people from south of our border.

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 7, 2007 at 12:44 pm

The fault is with Mexico, not us. Ask them why they, as rich as they are, cannot provide for the basic wants of their citizens. Shame them, don't cover for them.