wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Ricardo Rezk from Manhattan April 11, 2008 - 10:42AM

  Immediate integration is crucial for immigrants who intend on staying in this country. They should make an effort to learn English and American codes and customs in order to deal with those who are already here. I know many Hispanics who convince themselves that Americans exclude them. In reality, it is immigrants who are excluding themselves.

  I am an immigrant from Argentina who learned to live among Americans. Have I lost my identity? No, because my identity is who I am. My identity simply developed.

  
  
• [2] andrea sandvig from nyc April 11, 2008 - 11:58AM

  I have a neighbor on the upper west side who heen here for over 10 years and still speaks no English. She is illegal. I don't want her deported. I just want the flood to STOP.

  You said you have debated immigration. I listen for 8.5 hours every day and have never heard legal immigrants or those waiting in line express their views. Nor have I heard discussion of why we should accept the wave of Mexican illegal immigrants when Mexico enforces its southern borders harshly. Why is this law so flouted? I am a Liberal. I am also willing to pay a lot more for my food to pay agri workers a decent wage.

  I am tired of paying taxes for illegal immigants using public services. I understand they work hard. They are still illegal. I welcome anyone who comes legally. I am only a second generation American myself. My family came to a place Americans did not want to settle. Stop being so PC, illegal is illegal.

  
  
• [3] World's Toughest Milkman from the_C_train April 11, 2008 - 12:10PM

  I agree with andrea sandvig to some degree and whole heartedly with regards to the PC shift. How the hell can someone be here for ten years and not speak the local language? That's utterly pathetic!

  Immigrants are fine, but sorry folks no the illegal ones. The liberal media endlessly blurs the issue with words like "undocumented" and other incorrect descriptions. I'm not advocating a round up but certainly at least the enforcement that has been on the books.

  
  
• [4] Jerry from NJ April 11, 2008 - 12:50PM

  Somehow not everybody is as excited from the illegal immigration as the host of the show and "liberals" (ia. anything goes). As the guest said, in his mind, illegals deserve access to free schools, medical care, social services etc., all paid by the U.S. taxpayers. I find this kind of claims fascinating as most of the country does lately. I wonder what they do in Mexico w/their illegal population? For that matter anywhere else in the world? English is not my native language, I'm a legal immigrant, otherwise I would not be in this country.

  
  
• [5] Fernando from Midtown, NY April 11, 2008 - 01:30PM

  Latest surveys show that Latino immigrants and their children (88%) are more than willing to embrace the English language. So it's myth that Latinos don't want to speak English. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/644/english-language-usage-hispanics

  The great majority of US Latinos are American-born citizens whose primary language is Shakespeare's. As far as undocumented immigration, IT IS JUST A NATURAL PHENOMENON since the US is a MINORITY country in the Western Hemisphere. Most Western Hemisphere inhabitants are not English-speaking, and not as rich as Americans. Also, US monopolizing corporations force FOUL-TRADE AGREEMENTS on these countries, causing displacement and widening income gaps among local populations and nations. Lastly, undocumented immigrants usually pay taxes to the government, hoping they will someday become documented. They usually get no benefits back.

  
  
• [6] Oscar L. Pena from Connecticut April 11, 2008 - 03:58PM

  I am a legal immigrant from Honduras, and I've heard alarmed forecasters argue about how the flow of illegal and legal immigration will hurt the country's future. Perhaps that's not the case if we first understand that the U.S is experiencing a social transformation. i agreed with some commentators ( Ricardo and Andrea ) on one point however: if illegal immigrants want some recognition, they have to immediately integrate to the living statandars. But, if there's someone to be blamed for such disaster; our government should plea guilty for not providing good immigrant reforms and for the failure to secure our borders.