wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

"a" - so since some people who are anti-immigrant are racist and paint all foreigners with the same broad brush, that makes it okay for pro-immigrant advocates to do the same thing? Come on, doesn't that make you the thing you despise? When a debate sinks to name-calling, there can be little progress.

P.S. I like that you show so much courage behind your opinions that you can't even state your full or even your first name.

"Why is it that anyone who makes an argument against illegal immigrants is automatically put in the redneck camp with intimations of racism?"

Um...maybe because so much of the rhetoric by the people who make those arguments contain the intimation of racism!

It's refreshing to hear an elected official speaking out for immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants. It would be equally refreshing if elected officials State-wide decided to do something on a wider level.

Throughout the interview, Councilman Montserratte referred to anyone who disagreed with his pro-immigrant stance as "small-minded" or extremist, which he wasn't called on by Brian. Why is it that anyone who makes an argument against illegal immigrants is automatically put in the redneck camp with intimations of racism? And why wasn't he called on this? So much for fair and balanced public radio.

The id card is not for "legalizing" undocumented immigrants, but to make somethings that are actually happening safer, such as walking with a lot of cash on a payday. Even those who call themselves "democrats" seem pretty hypocritical when they are willing to buy chepaer goods at the corner deli, get their lawn mowed, houses built, kids taken care of and houses cleaned by undocumented immigrants but engage in a "all-or-nothing" approach when trying to make their lives more livable.

It just occurred to me that yesterday the Fed govt sent letters to Calif proprty owners housing Medical marijuana clinics telling them they are breaking federal law by housing these clinics.

Today the Fed Immigration agency raids New Haven rounding up illegal immigrants just following local attempts to launch local ID program.

It looks like the Feds are squashing State or local efforts to provide solutions for problems that the Feds have no solution for.

Why not let small govt act as labortory for change instead of flexing muscle with nothing to offer ut reinforcing their power.

Its a shame.

You may be able to "dig deeper".

One of the few things the Guiliani administration did right was totally ignore the city council. I hope we go back to that mode of operation soon. The entire lot of them are a waste of tax payer money.

Well doesn't the term "illegal" alien kinda tell you it's, well, ILLEGAL!! Why would you support illegalities? I don't care who comes to this country like my grandparents did a century ago to better their conditions and those of their children but I think rules must be made and practiced. Just speed up the process to get folks legal. For christsake what's the problem. This debate is really becoming a pain in the...!

People speculate that New Haven's ID program instigated ICE raids -- what is the likelihood of that happening in New York?

In a city like New York, with such a high concentration of undocumented immigrants, isn't it ominous that ICE hasn't been more active? Is this asking for it?

Your guest should not group everyone who opposes this program and illegal immigration in general as right wing extremists. I've been a Democrat and almost every single person I know who is left leaning is also opposed to undocumented immigration. Any person on any side of the isle faces a shaky political future if they continue to go down this road.

h

Your guest has to stop using terms like 'extreme' 'small-minded' - these terms are not helpful.

I am a registered Dem and I don't like this ID card idea.

There is a call for immigration reform by ALL Americans.

Simply because something is difficult to do, namely finding illegal immigrants and putting them through the legal system, it does not mean we do not do it. What next, do we allow illegal immigrant to vote in our elections? Why not, they are affected just as citizens are by the decisions made by the government. As long as there are laws, they should be enforced!

Absolutely not, official identification should only be issued to citizens and legal residents. Providing an official identity document would simply further undermine the need for people to legally immigrate and for the federal government to uphold hte law.