[kabar]

Agree, we need a merit based system that brings in the skills we need to be competitive in the global economy. We don't need the current 1.2 million permanent legal immigrants a year along with the 650,000 who come in annually as guest workers on temporary work visas. 20 million Americans are unemployed or underemployed. We need to create 125,000 jobs a month just to keep up with population growth. And coincidentally, we are bringing in 125,000 immigrants a month, admittedly only about two thirds are workers.

Four million Americans graduate from high school every year.

[rodguy911]

Its a mess and if we don’t capture the Presidency in 2016 it may not get better.

[Seattle Conservative]

IIRC it was Ann yesterday that brought up the Australia and New Zealand immigration systems and what you have to do to immigrate to those countries. There were about 4 points, having skills the country needed and being self-sufficient are 2 that come to mind. While some are coming to the US to make better lives for themselves and their families, as also stated (I think it was Ann), many are coming because they believe in the welfare state (e.g., they’re socialists and not ever going to vote for a Pubbie).

As a side note, I would add that immigrants need to assimiliate into the American culture and learn the English language. Like most people back in the day, when my Grandfather came over from Europe, he wanted to be an American and part of the American community/culture. He learned English (on his own), was very proud to become a citizen, worked hard, raised a family, etc. One of my big gripes is that you see pictures (albeit mostly Mexicans) that don’t want to assimilate - - they are illegals that march down the street caring Mexican flags and flipping us off.