Apart from the legal niceties, what is the difference between an illegal and a legal immigrant?

They are all working people trying to get on in life. Personally, having visited the US after a space of 25 years, I found the ethnic mix was a big improvement. I met Eritreans, Afghans, Russians, Egyptians, in fact people from all over the world. Everywhere is full of everyone these days. italy has loads of Chinese, Africa loads of Europeans, Kazhakstan has a 'thriving ex-pat community'. Get with the programme, land lubbers!!

America welcomes more immigrants than any other country. But in keeping open that door of opportunity, we also must uphold the rule of law and enhance our border security.

If our laws are not followed, believe me, no one would want to come here.

One is essentially a criminal which permeates his existence in society.

The other has shown at least a modicum of respect for the laws of the country he is entering.

A legal immigrant is an immigrant with a valid visa.
An illegal immigrant is an immigrant without a valid visa.

yes.... the difference between one who abides by the law and one that disregards the law and thinks that he is above it.

You are a fool if you don't know or recognize a different between legal and illegal. A legal pharmacist is a well trained and educated health professional -- an illegal "pharmacist" is a drug dealer. Any clearer?

There is a reason that there is an ethnic mix in the US. It's because of LEGAL immigration practices.

Your more that welcome to let illegal ruin whatever dump you call a country, in the U.S. we have laws. That's what makes America so great. Without laws, your just like any other third world crap hole. Obey laws, immigrate legally no matter what nationality you are and your welcome at my dinner table any time.

NOTHING WE ARE ALL HUMAN!!!!

lol Why are you asking this on here? Most of the people who answer questions and ask the questions here don't know the difference in them they think its all the same. They think if you not born here and you speck something other then English, well then your illegal and need to go home. MOST people on here don't get anything other then Money and English.

Illegals are criminals.

Is it because of you ethnicity that you see multiculturalism as a plus? We tax paying Anglos see it as an invasion.

I wanna live somewhere hot.

I too have spent 20 + years traveling and visiting other countries. No othe country lets illegals stay there after the initial 60 day period unless they have a work VISA ( because of security reasons).

The benefit of becoming legal is they can earn minimum wage, have access to all the legal stuff the we have access to.

By being illegal and you being ok with it is just like saying its ok for someone to rip you off everyday, because they dont pay taxes, 40% are on welfare, they use the E.R.'s for everyday healthcare instead of going to a doctors office (so thisbill gets stuck with the hospital), they dont even try to speak english. When I was living in Italy, I had enough respect for my hosts to try and learn their language, however hard it was.

By the way nice dream you have, snap back into reality.

Social standing.

our legal immigration system to set-up to give preference to well-educated, professionals. Thus, most if not all legal immigrants do speak English, do hold good jobs, live quite well here.

Ilegals dont stand a chance against our immigration laws...hence, they took the illegal route to enter into this county...just so they can earn a decent living for their families.

They ignore our laws, we pay for their childrens education and a multitude of social services are overloaded. They cost the country and the taxpayers millions of dollars. A legal immigrant respects the laws and pays their own way. I have no problem with legal immigrants.

Oh, I see -- you VISITED the United States and decided that illegal immigrants are okay. Spend a few months in Los Angeles or Texas or any other state where the illegal immigration invasion is most concentrated and see if you still feel that way. Also, what part of the I-L-L-E-G-A-L don't you understand?

Okay , this has NOTHING to do with race. I have two kids - both are a mix of white and Mexican. Now , the father of my son got deported. He doesn't pay child support because he CAN'T be tracked down in Mexico - despite my having the address.So I have to pay for EVERYTHING by myself. My son has no father- I have no one else to watch my son so I can't get a job or go to school or anything- my fam sucks and his lives in Mexico. Those legal nice-itys ARE nice :)

Apart from the legal niceties? ROFLMAO.

The difference between an illegal and legal immigrant.....is the difference between a criminal and a law-abiding person. The difference between respect, values....and disrespect and carelessness.

No one has a problem with the ethnic mix of the USA altering through immigration.

Just make it legal. ANd all will be welcome.

Get with the program that 78% of the USA's citizens are against illegal immigration.

Aside from some legal niceties what is the difference between a drug lord and a pharmacist?

Get a life following legal channels, we have a legal process to come to the United States is it really too much to ask that you honor our people and follow it? Other nations expect their laws to be upheld, we are no different.

Quota.

Poor people can't earn enough to pay in taxes for the benefits they use. It costs $10,000 per child per year to educate a child in California, more if they are nonEnglishspeaking or poor. That money comes from OUR children's education and the new immigrant's education is prioritized over our children's education due to the requirements of the no child left behind act which require the most difficult to educate groups to 'progress' at the same rate as those who learn easily. Once standard programs such as language have been cut from education for our children so that at middle school graduation, ours are the only children in the room who are NOT bilingual - with the disparity in ability to compete that goes along with that.

And all this while our kids are going to 'year round' schools due to overcrowding and are taught by teachers on 'emergency certificates', while we are the ones funding education for millions of children of those who shouldn't be here because they are above the numbers of poor immigrants any sane legislature would approve. We let in a million green card holders per year plus millions of others, legally. We let in more legally than all of the other countries put together. Our schools and hospitals are now failing our own people as our generosity and hospitality has been systematically abused.

Their better life is at our expense, and their children, poor, and elderly are NOT more important than our own. We need to enforce our limits and get rid of politicians who are unable to get with the program.

The difference is that illegals don't give a chit about our country or our laws and thinks that American owes them a living and the legal immigrant is proud to be a part of this country they work pay taxes and don't live off the government . They came here legally and therefor now have their American dream.
NOW THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

The first group get loads and loads of welfare cheques, whilst the secon group only get loads of welfare cheques.

Nothing. Everyone seems to forget how their own families got into the country so that they could be born here, and then they take the hard line against newcomers.

It's just hypocrisy.

ILLEGALS ARE FREE LOADERS...