New Law

[klunderbunker]

In Los Angeles, California, a new city law is going to require stores to provide shelter, food, water, rest rooms and other such things for illegal immigrants who gather in the parking lots of their stores. These people are day laborers looking for work in these stores such as Home Depot. The law is saying that the stores must take room out of their buildings which are already holding inventory or goods they plan to sell to make room for these new facilities. The law also says that it would only be for stores of more than 100,000 square feet. Is this law fair to the stores and the people that work in them?

In my opinion, of course not. These people are Illegal immigrants looking for work. By illegal, it implies they have no right to be staying in this country. If this is the case, why should they first of all be allowed to work in these stores in the first place, and why should they be given a place to stay and food and drink? Stores such as these are there for one reason: to make money. Why should they be required to have almost a lounge for people that simply gather in their parking lots during the day as they look for work? If they are in the country illegally, then no way should they be given such benefits. However, if someone comes into the country legally and is trying to find a job, by all means they should be allowed to do so. Why should taxpayers have to pay for things such as this for people that aren't here legally in the first place?

 

[Eternal Dragon]

Well...that's a very generous law to pass. I don't really see anything wrong with it just because they're "illegal" immigrants. Let them find a job. I could care less if they're illegal. People don't realize how hard it is to become legal in this country, how hard it is to get a Visa or a Green card, or god forbid, a US Passport. Some people just don't have the means to wait around for things like that, so I'm not going to condemn them for trying to create a better life for themselves. However, I don't know if I agree 100% with the law, it does seem excessive to give food and shelter, but I guess it is better than letting them be homeless or starve.

Flames Out
Dragon

 

[klunderbunker]

I have far fewer problems with the people that the laws are for. Like you said, they're here trying to make a better life for themselves, and that's ok. However, as bad as this may sound, they should always take a backseat to American citizens. We pay taxes, we live in this country legally, and we take the problems and benefits of living here. The problem with this to me is, what have immigrants such as these done to earn such facilities? It seems unfair to me that immigrants are being given things like these by city law. If a business wants to take part of their property and allow it to be used for such a purpose, they should have every right to do so. I don't think they should be forced to however.

 

[Shocky]

This is ridiculous. More people living here tax free, and I get to pay the pill for them. It's absurd. I understand where you're coming from Dragon, but disagree 100% whole heartedly. There is a big reason why the United States just doesn't open the door and allow everyone in. There is a reason people get put on waiting list.

All I'm asking, do it right. Why is it that people that are waiting in line to get in here legally get over looked because it's easy for Mexicans to cross an unprotected border. It's not fair for Indians, Chinese, or Eastern European, people of Middle East, or any other place to come to America. People that try to do it the right way and not cross a border that they happen to neighbor.

It's ridiculous to make laws like this. They are Illegal, they are not citizens, and they have no right, and they should be deported. You can come here, but come here legally.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

This is really not the best law. If the goverment is going to make it a law for stores to give shelter, water, food, ect to illegal immigrants it may send the wrong message that illegal immigrants are not allowed in this country but if for some reason u made it in you should get rewarded. This law will only lead to more illegal immigrants coming over because they will know that all the nessasities will be provided to you. More illegal immigrants will want to come over to America so they can get a free pass(or somewhat of a free pass). To me this is only sending the wrong message.

 

[Dark Blaze]

This law doesn't seem very fair, those people are illegal as in not allowed to stay in the US, yet they're allowed to receive food & shelter from the pockets of hard working tax-paying US citizens? Just doesn't sound very fair to me.

However, I do understand where they are coming, no matter what, these ARE people, and you can't just let them starve or stay homeless, that would just be inhumane. And another factor they need to consider is that, if these people are getting those things anyway, what will motivate them to try to get their papers? This just seems like motivation for more illegal immigrants to enter the country for a basically "free" ride.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Well...that's a very generous law to pass. I don't really see anything wrong with it just because they're "illegal" immigrants.

Why? The whole reason this is wrong is because they're illegal. They shouldn't even be in the contry, never mind eating our food and getting shelter.

Let them find a job. I could care less if they're illegal. People don't realize how hard it is to become legal in this country, how hard it is to get a Visa or a Green card, or god forbid, a US Passport.

What does that have to do with it? If I went to another country illegally I wouldn't expect to be treated like a citizen, or for them to do anything. All this law does is encourage people to become illegal immigrants.

Some people just don't have the means to wait around for things like that, so I'm not going to condemn them for trying to create a better life for themselves.

I need that million pounds someones just worked hard for. So yeah, I'm going to go steal it, but it's okay, I'm creating a better life for myself. Right?

I guess it is better than letting them be homeless or starve.

This sounds heartless, but let em. They chose to break the law in the first place, they can face the consequences.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

I agree that this law is sending the wrong message to immigrants but I have to respectfully disagree with Becca about "letting them starve". First let me say Im against a law like this and any that seemingly "reward" people who are breaking the law. It's stupid to think if u are a illegal immigrant and break the law you will get shelter, water, and food even though there are many "real" american citizens going hungry. All I disagree with Becca is about letting them starve, I say feed them and then ship them back and make them apply like everyone else, IMO.

 

[HBK-aholic]

But in the end that's what's happening. They're being rewarded for breaking the law. Feeding them is something they're getting from doing something wrong. They're benefiting from a crime, which is why this is wrong in my opinion. I'm sure there is a law which states that anything a criminal acquires from a crime is taken away from them. So why give them something for it in the first place?

 

[My$terio_Fan]

I no we cant reward them for breaking the law. That would be stupid and only make crime rates rise. I think I just either misread what you wrote or interupted the wrong way. I thought you were gonna let them starve after they got caught. I'm just saying if their in custody they should recieve food and water and not be held with out such nessasities. Also even criminals who are jailed get food/water, so isn't that in a way rewarding criminals? For people who live on th streets and dont have food to eat it they commit a crime and then get a shelter, food, water, and sometimes other things such as cigarettes, tv, newspapers ect. All in all this law will only make illegal immigrants want to come here more.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Oh no, of course not. If they're in custody, they should get the same treatment other prisoners do, until they're shipped back. Which should happen REALLY quickly. But I mean this law saying that shopkeepers should have to give them food or water and shelter. I am completely against it. It's just going to make illegal immigrants think it's okay to break the law. What a great way to set up a country. All it'd do is raise the amount of illegal immigrants entering the country.

 

[Dark Blaze]

Oh no, of course not. If they're in custody, they should get the same treatment other prisoners do, until they're shipped back. Which should happen REALLY quickly. But I mean this law saying that shopkeepers should have to give them food or water and shelter. I am completely against it. It's just going to make illegal immigrants think it's okay to break the law. What a great way to set up a country. All it'd do is raise the amount of illegal immigrants entering the country.

Yes it is true Becca, but think of it like this, an immigrant comes to the USA, has a couple children but are unable to support them due to the fact they have no food or shelter or whatever....is it right that the children pay for their parent's mistakes? Would you just let them "starve" because of something THEY had no control over?

I am against this, but I think it was you saying "Let them" was just stupid. What if you committed a crime now, and your innocent child is being bullied, beaten etc due to how horrible your act was or something.. Would you say just "Let them abuse him/ her?" Nope.

 

[HBK-aholic]

No, but that's what the social services are for, don't you think? And it's up to whatever country they came from to sort that out. I'm not American, so I'm taking this from a British standpoint. It's the people who pay tax who pay for the services such as that. Care homes and everything else. Why should I have to pay for kids who aren't even from this country and who don't belong here? There's enough LEGAL children who need help, and I'd rather focus on them as they're supposed to be here.

 

[Dark Blaze]

No, but that's what the social services are for, don't you think? And it's up to whatever country they came from to sort that out. I'm not American, so I'm taking this from a British standpoint. It's the people who pay tax who pay for the services such as that. Care homes and everything else. Why should I have to pay for kids who aren't even from this country and who don't belong here? There's enough LEGAL children who need help, and I'd rather focus on them as they're supposed to be here.

Like I've already said, it is unfair for taxpayers, and the passing of this law is just wrong from a legal and financial point of view, however from a MORAL point of view it does make some sort of sense. And though the deaths of a few illegal immigrants wouldn't bother me, it just doesn't sound right to just say "let them" pertaining to starving/ dying. Like I said before, if you were in that case, as a child born to a pair of illegal immigrants, you wouldn't say no to help now would you?

Now all I'm wondering if there was a way that food, clothing, shelter or whatever could actually be provided to those who are actually interested in trying to find jobs etc and interested in bettering their life in which case those amenities could be provided whenver they're unable to provide for themselves, instead of all sort of moochers getting them.

 

[HBK-aholic]

The thing is, there are thousands, maybe millions of children in this world who come from a third world country with parents who want a better life, but who choose to do it without breaking the law. Does it seem fair to you that we're helping the ones who will break the law but leaving the ones who are abiding by it? All the money spent on the illegal immigrants should actually be given to help those countries.

 

[Dark Blaze]

The thing is, there are thousands, maybe millions of children in this world who come from a third world country with parents who want a better life, but who choose to do it without breaking the law. Does it seem fair to you that we're helping the ones who will break the law but leaving the ones who are abiding by it? All the money spent on the illegal immigrants should actually be given to help those countries.

Who's to say they wouldn't break the law for a better life if given the chance? Sometimes, when you're in a terrible situation, you do anything, and I mean anything to get some sort of a better life, despite the consequences. There are just those who think of it, who dream about it, and there are those who actually go after what they want regardless. Not because action hasn't been taken, there's no guarantee plans aren't there, the only thing that makes a difference is opportunity and courage.

But yeah, anyway, I never liked the law, I was just saying that it sucks that some persons have to die despite having no control of the situation they are placed in. Life is just unfair.

 

[HBK-aholic]

It is sad yeah. But it happens everywhere. It's sad that people get cancer and die. They had no control, and it was just a situation they were placed in. I wish it didn't happen but it does. And people don't pay taxes to look after every other person in the world. We have to sort out what's happening in our country first. We pay taxes to get things such as hospitals and healthcare. We work to feed our families. Through choice or not, those people don't. And as an English person, my priority is with those not breaking the law.