Brenda, when I said "you people" I meant the people posting messages-- I was NOT pointing out a group as you believe. I do understand that Native Americans did not write our constitution. If we are going to sit here and review the history of the Unites States and how it came to be we will be here all day. What I am saying now is, our country is over populated, shools are over crowded and our social services department is in huge debt. This has to do with many factors but we must be realistic and see that illegal immigration(from any country) is part of the problem. My sister who is a US Citizen had a medical issues some years back. She was a part time employee and a student without Medical coverage. She needed surgery and went to a county hospital. She did not qualify for any medical benefits because of her part time job status and had to pay $11,000 for her medical care. Being that it was a county hospital there were two other people in the room with her. They were illigal immigrants(we know because it came up in conversation and they were asking my sister for advice) and they did not have to pay one cent for their entire medical stay and care. Now you tell me that is fair. You tell me that a hardworking legal citizen should get passed over on any benefit so an illegal can reap the benefits. Wether the government is trying to redirect the attention to something else doesn't matter either. The point is that this is a problem as well, whichever way you want to color it and it needs attention as well.

Can you believe this? well, I am sure some of you will agreed. The Mexican government is saying that it will sue the United States if the National Guard is place in the borderline of the United States and Mexico....this is unreal! Sue the country for protecting its borders? they claim that the National Guard might violate the human rights of Mexican crossing the border.....then the Mexican government should be sued by the other countries south, because they really violate the human rights of people from South and Central America when crossing the Mexican land....Mexico always playing double standards.

Carmelita
"You people need to stop being so ignorant or judgemental.Instead of the United States solving everyones problems you should be blaming your countries who can't provide you with a good job, education and decent living conditions."
You are right in that we live in a great country but you are very wrong to address others as "you people." It seems to me that your trying to point some group out. Also, the US does not try to solve everyone's problems,(we are not that good)we simply like to stick our nose into everyone's business and overuse the excuse of protecting the nation's security. The US once again is trying to redirect the public's attention to something besides the Iraq War and rising gasoline prices. The most important part that you are forgetting is that the people of America (including illegals and citizens) make it great, it was not just born that way. Thank everything you have for the work that FOREIGNS did, because you probably know that the Native Americans weren't the ones who made up our constitution.

Carmen,
Thank you for taking a position, and yes, I am too proud of my culture, values and heritage, but, I am also greatful and appreciate that this country embraced me, and has given me the opportunity to education,job, and freedom. All of you who complain, and complain of the US, be greatful, if not why are you here?

What a great nation!!!! we are able to express our oppinions and our differences.

God Bless America

I must not have been so off that now ALL protestors are carrying AMERICAN flags. You people need to stop being so ignorant or judgemental. It is not that I don't have pride for my culture and heritage. I am grateful that I have such a rich background but I am also blessed to have the liberties that I have in this country. You all want to trash this country without considering why illegal immigrants are leaving their own countries. Instead of the United States solving everyones problems you should be blaming your countries who can't provide you with a good job, education and decent living conditions. When they get illigal immigrants inthose countries the police DO act like immigration officers and take you to jail where you are then returned to your country. Where you can't go to school or get medical attention if you are not a citizen of that country. Why is it acceptable for those countries to do it but at the thought of the US doing something similar you call this country unfair. Educate yourselves on how governments in your countries treat it's own people and illegals before you judge THIS GREAT COUNTRY!
And Francisco, I think you are a perfect example of how the education system is failing our kids now. Standing for what I believe in does not mean I am not proud of my culture. POLITICS and CULTURE are two separate issues.

oh and Carmen.....You dom=nt sound to proud about your culture.....you probbaly thinking that your brown in the outside but white in the inside. A proud person would defend their culture not talk bad about it. I am 17 and I was born here. But guess what...I am proud of being Mexican-American, I am proud of my heritage and my culture.....Us legal hispanics should help the illegal immigrants to keep pusuing the ameris=can dream

The HR 4437 is the most ignorant bill ever. Immigrants are not terroist. They are just trying to make a better living and pursue the american dream. What the U.S. government is trying to do is not only kick them out of them country but make them a felon. This bill should not be passed. If anything, they should grant amnesty to immigrants that have not been a burden on this country. Remember that these immigrants are doing the jobs that you dont do. We are all immigrants in some way. You can trace your acenstry back and you will fid that your also an immigrant

i am a sixteen year old student born and raised in los angeles. my mother was mexican and my father guatemalan. mr. matute and carmen have been white washed and need to realize that they are going against their own people if hr 4437 is passed. mr. matute was once and immigrant and would have been against this bill if he would still be one. now that he has been helped it doesnt matter if other immigrants that are trying to come up like he did make their dreams come true? isnt that the same dream he had? there is soo much contraversy on the terrorist attacks that have taken place in the u.s. that you dont even realize that it was the U.S. GOVERNMENT that did that to their own country to try and cover up that Bush was buying oil from the middle east. now the government is building a wall, cutting back on school budgets, and cutting aid for our people. for what? and what is wrong with waving the mexican/salvadorean/guatemalan/columbian/hondureana flag around? everyone is proud of their native country. but why not go back if we love it so much? maybe because there arent the same opportunities to get a good job or a better education over there thatn there is here. we are not putting the u.s down. its the government that is being opposed. a lot of immigrants dont even make the minimum wage and still work hard to get that money? why because its better than what our native countries can offer us. everyone is entitled to a fair paying job and a ecent education. and the u.s. is a great place to do just that. unfortunately we cant get that in latin america. trust me if we could then the u.s. would not have 1 million immigrants a year.
this bill is going to cause a lot of trouble to the u.s. after the 9-11 attacks everyone discriminated against people that looked to be middle eastern. now everyone that looks hispanic or latino is going to be labled an immigrant. everyone just needs to put themsleves in the position of the people that this bill will affect.

Is it so wrong to wave a Mexican Flag? Is it so wrong to be proud of your culture? It doesn't mean we spit and disrespect this country if we scream "Viva La Raza". Hey it's a movement that you prossibly could not comprehend because you do not go threw what these people have to live in their everyday life. This country need immigrants to do their dirty jobs. We are what keeps the ecomony running. I was at the LA protest today were 500,000 people put a city on hold and not only were they carrying mexican flags or salvadorenean flags but also American flags. We are proud people Carmen we love this country but it doesnt mean we cannot love our country and our roots. Mexico might be corrupted and might be a a 3rd world country, but theirs a beauty that goes beyond that. Our culture of sticking together for our family and our people. That's what we are proud of thats what we are willing to fight for. Just like white's and blacks, and Asians have the right to be proud of waiving their flags. I wonder if you parents ever suffer, I wonder if you ever suffer. I wonder if you ever been stop by cops for just been brown, or black or just different. I Have...You name it I done it and im only a 22 immigrant.

Is it so wrong to wave a Mexican Flag? Is it so wrong to be proud of your culture? It doesn't mean we spit and disrespect this country if we scream "Viva La Raza". Hey it's a movement that you prossibly could not comprehend because you do not go threw what these people have to live in their everyday life. This country need immigrants to do their dirty jobs. We are what keeps the ecomony running. I was at the LA protest today were 500,000 people put a city on hold and not only were they carrying mexican flags or salvadorenean flags but also American flags. We are proud people Carmen we love this country but it doesnt mean we cannot love our country and our roots. Mexico might be corrupted and might be a a 3rd world country, but theirs a beauty that goes beyond that. Our culture of sticking together for our family and our people. That's what we are proud of thats what we are willing to fight for. Just like white's and blacks, and Asians have the right to be proud of waiving their flags. I wonder if you parents ever suffer, I wonder if you ever suffer. I wonder if you ever been stop by cops for just been brown, or black or just different. I Have...You name it I done it and im only a 22 immigrant.

My parents are mexican and I was born here. The one thing that bothers me so much is that immigrantants who come here for a "BETTER" life are the same ones you see waving the Mexican flag around talking about how great Mexico is and how that is their country. I am all for patriotism and I am proud of my culture but how can you have so much love, respect and devotion to a country who can't even provide you with a job to feed your family. Instead of coming here and bashing for all this country does wrong appreciate what it has done for you. I am so sick of this "Viva la raza" and "Mechica" stuff. Br proud to be an American and help your fellow people as the good Americans that you are. It's a slap in the face to work, eat and live here and then wave around a Mexican flag in front of the country that has helped you survive. If you love MEXICO so much--go back and see what they have to offer you!

I was born in Mexico, but I became a United States citizen about 6 years ago. I strongly disagree with Rep. Sensenbrenner and Mr. Matute. I just cannot believe how some people can be so ignorant in this country. What really bothers me the most is that they are making us feel like we are the terrorists in this country. Did they forget who flew those planes into the towers and The Pentagon? All my people the come to this country, come for a better future for their families thats all! We are not asking for nothing else. If we would have oppertunites in Mexico none of us would be willing to RISK our lives while crossing the border.
I would just love it if one day we could all agree for all illegal and legal immigrants in this country to stop working or buying for a couple of days and see what consequences would be. Last friday here in Chicago we held a rally against the bill HR 4437. There was over 100,000 people against this bill. It was such a wonderfull feeling how all our people got united. So please say NO to HR 4437!!

Mr Mature. go back to your roots and try to get in same kind of school for ignorant, and get help

Dear Matute.

I just read your comment about the HR 4437 bill and your position is morally wrong. You are a latino. You were born in a third worls class country where gangs like "La Mara Salvatrucha" were born. You had the opportunity to come to the United States of America and become a US citizen. You should know better that immigrantswere, are, and will be the future of America. It is true that immigration has become the greatest source of population in the United States over the last two decades. Immigrants enter the United States at a rate of one million a year. About seventy percent of all foreign-born persons in the U.S. live in overly populated states such as New York, California, Texas, and New Jersey. Even as these numbers show that the United States is a great country because of all the people who want to live here, government officials want to reduce the aid immigrants receive, such as health care benefits and school funding. Officials want to cut school budgets that provide courses such as English as a Second Language for children who are new to this country. Kids that are now what one day you probably were Mr. Matute. One notion that these officials do not realize is that at this time, immigrants, especially children, are the future of the United States.
One peculiar reason for immigration into the United States is so people can have an opportunity to work. Most, if not all, immigrants in the United States come here from third world countries where they have limited resources. In order to maintain and support their families, people need to work a lot, and in order for that, they need to maintain a steady job. The U.S. is probably one of the few countries where a person can have a steady job for a number of years. Many of immigrants who come into the United States start off at dead-end jobs with bad pay and horrible benefits. But they choose to keep these jobs because they know that they need to stay in this country to provide a better life for their families. Today, a large number of immigrants do better in trying to provide a better and safer family environment for their children compared to a couple of years ago. The Census Bureau revealed that some immigrant families who came to the U.S. during the 1980s actually boast a higher household income than Americans. Immigrants come to America for the purpose of making it big here and among the immigrants who have lived here five to nine years; about forty-four percent of them own their own homes by that time. Many of them are extremely intelligent so they get jobs as engineers among other things. This is good for company owners because they know that they do not have to pay immigrants the same amount, as they would have to pay an American going to the same job. After a couple of years, foreigners begin to learn more and eventually get paid more like the Americans working too.
Officials also want to lessen school budgets because they believe that the states tend to spend more money that might not be available for special classes for immigrant children. When in reality, federal spending on bilingual education fell forty-eight percent during the

Greetings,

I am a Mexican-American born and raised in Chicago. I am a college graduate and I am working on my MBA. While both of you have valid arguments it seems to me that we should not be focusing on who makes more sense but on what we can all do collectively as Latinos to destroy this cultural genocide within our great nation. The in ability of this administration to combat issues of terrorism and the influx of illegal immigration effectively and intelligently has manifested a state of insanity within the walls of Congress..!! The mere attempt to alliviate our nations problems by inducing its citizens to act as informants demonstrates to our people that our government is DAZED and CONFUSED !! This mockery resembles a phenomenon that occured in the 50s known as Mcarthyism !! instead of pointing out the communist we are pointing out illegals !!! To what level has the Bush administration sunk to??? To resort to having to take a page out of history to one of this country's most darkest era !! Communism Terror!! POR FAVOR !! Latinos necesitamos unirnos y hablar con una VOZ !!! SAY NO TO HR 4437

Ms. Torres,
I agree that this bill should not pass at the senate level because it needs serious ammendments, which I believe is not goingt to, I just met with the office of Senator Feinstein, and I was assure that this bill will not pass. I think this bill needs serious amendments. This bill should have in its language to give ligalization to all undocumented if they qualify...not criminals...iligal criminals should be sent back.You are not getting my point, what I am saying is that the United States can build the wall if they want to, to protect its citizens...we have to rights to be protected by our government, and I am sure that Mexico would do the same thing or El Salvador or any other country by that matter. What can you tell me about the tunnel that was just discovered? I am an immigrant myself and I am not againts immigrants, but we cannot be complaining and blaming the united states for whatever they do. Our governments in Latinoamerica should should not be exporting people to the US while they are getting rich themselves...with so much corruption. I blame governments from Mexico, El Salvador and other countries for not providing what their citizens need to live like humans. If Mexico would provide what people need I am sure mexicans and salvadoreans would not come to risk their lives LETS STOP BLAMING USA FOR OUR PROBLEMS. You should be proud citizen if you really are.

You might say whatever you want to say. I am also a Citizen of this Country. A country in which I have lived and devoted my life to, but I am also not going to be ignorant. If this law HR 4437 is passed it will cause a huge problem. First of all economy will fall because there will be no one to work the fields and to built the roads. In other words Immigrants do the work no one else is willing to do. What would happen if the United States criminalizes all the immigrants? Where would the U.S. place all these criminals. All the immigrants would get sent back to their country but this proposition also says that anyone who helps or assists an immigrant will be penalized. So what about all these people? Will you put a priest in jail for helping someone in need? Will they put a doctor in jail for helping an ill immigrant? If you were a doctor and a patient in an emergency state came into your office would you just sit back and let him die because he was an immigrant? I would not because that is practically killing him. I know that you are also aware that the huge gang "Marasalvatrucha" is out there and willing to start a war against the U.S. because of this right? I just don't think this is the way to go. Practically half of the United States would have to go to jail for helping Immigrants. Oh and a message to MARIO MUTATE....you were an immigrant once too maybe you should go to jail for helping yourself? Don't be so ignorant look at where you come from before you speak........
these are just my comments and my opinion
THIS IS THE WORST MISTAKE THAT CONGRESS WILL EVER MAKE.

Good evening,
My name is Mario Matute, born in El Salvador and now citizen of this great nation. I just returned from El Salvador, I had a chance to be in a couple of TV programs and in both occations I was asked about immigration issues particularly the construction of the wall. I have received several phone calls of people repudiating my commends. My position is that the United States has the rights to protect its borders and the american people and the the governments from mexico down should be figuring out on how to improve the living conditions of their people so they dont have to come to USA instead of critizing United States.

I am running for member of the national assembly (as an alternate) for the Christian Democratic Party. Elections to be help March 12, 2006

Thank you