Anonymous #4 2d

I’ve seen 2 DUI arrests 😭

14

Anonymous #7 2d

The immigration laws are not being enforced at all lmfao

13

Anonymous #3 2d

The immigration laws say people have the right to seek asylum and it’s illegal to employ people who don’t have work authorization (and the employer can be charged with a crime). But this admin has it switched up

6

Anonymous #3 2d

It’s funny because the vast majority of people aren’t here for asylum. They apply for asylum, but they don’t qualify for it. Asylum seekers need to be fleeing their home countries due to persecution. The vast majority of them don’t fit that.

-1

Anonymous #5 2d

It’s funny because you can’t determine that until they have their time in immigration court. And you can’t have that if you keep firing immigration judges

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Anonymous #3 2d

Millions of people aren’t going through that right now. You seriously think more than 20 million illegals all met those requirements?

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Anonymous #3 2d

You’re not quite right on the first part there. People have the right to seek asylum, but only if they go through a proper port of entry—not if they just cross the border illegally…

0

Anonymous #6 2d

You’re right, I forgot that changed a year or two ago. But you can still try to get withholding of removal or something else even if you cross between ports of entry

14

Anonymous #6 2d

Yes

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Anonymous #8 2d

So you think our current immigration laws constitute a crime against humanity?

-1

Anonymous #7 2d

I think it would radicalize anyone to see your neighbors get kidnapped and sent who now’s where without due process. Furthermore just because something is law does not mean it is right

11

Anonymous #6 2d

Yes

8

Anonymous #8 2d

Can I ask how and why?

-2

Anonymous #6 2d

Personally I am for globalization and open borders and cooperation between nations so I believe the concept of boarders to be violent. People should have freedom of movement.

7

Anonymous #8 2d

That is how it used to be too until recent history

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Anonymous #8 2d

You could just walk across the boarder and everyone was cool with it. Wasn’t just from the south border. Idk if you are familiar with the history of this nation but we are nation of immigrants and not all of them would technically be considered legal by today’s standards

5

Anonymous #8 2d

So even if I accept all that, I don’t get the crime against humanity part?

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

It’s not legal to kidnap someone and send them to a concentration camp in el salvador

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Anonymous #8 2d

Also freedom of movement is a human right given to everyone on this planet earth and it is illegal by international standards to impede that

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Anonymous #8 2d

But it’s technically legal to deport someone here illegally to any country that will accept them provided certain conditions are meant

-1

Anonymous #8 2d

How is it illegal by international law to enforce a border?

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

Just because it’s a law does not mean it is morally or ethically right. It was legal in Nazi Germany to send people to concentration camps and kill them and it was illegal to shelter Jewish people in your home but that doesn’t mean either of these this are right

8

Anonymous #8 2d

So you don’t even think they should go to prison anywhere?

-3

Anonymous #6 2d

Yes. If there must be a penalty then fine them; it’s a civil offense (same as jaywalking btw)

6

Anonymous #8 2d

You mean you want it to be a civil offense? Right now it’s a misdemeanor with up to six months in prison…

1

Anonymous #6 2d

Misdemeanor sorry my bad 😅 But yes a fine would be okay. Would obviously prefer there to be no punishment but that’s a little too far for some people

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Anonymous #8 2d

So I guess my biggest question is how you imagine this would work. Like, we would be overran in a matter of months if not years, right?

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Anonymous #6 2d

First of all, do you know how large this country is? Second, immigration would stimulate the economy silly goose. More people paying taxes = more money to go into social programs

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Anonymous #8 2d

Well, I think the economics are a lot more involved than that. But I mean just practically speaking, these people can’t speak English, can’t support themselves, have no housing or healthcare and we’d have no idea who they are?

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

So, I don’t know who you are, and I don’t really have much of an issue with you, other than the fact that you can be a bit of a silly goose sometimes. Also, they do support themselves and put a lot of work into this country. Some of these people even come with money. And if they are “undocumented,” they still pay taxes but don’t get anything from the government in return.

8

Anonymous #8 2d

Also this is a diverse country made up of diverse people. That’s what makes it a great country despite it’s many faults

8

Anonymous #8 2d

So I think I’m maybe operating at a less abstract level than you are. Where are we going to house millions of people amid a cost of living crisis? What jobs will they work when people here can barely get a job? How will we deal with the increased burden on first responders and hospitals? What about when they have children in this country who are citizens and so eligible for welfare?

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

Are you aware of the current situation going on in Japan? (Walk with me I have a point)

7

Anonymous #8 2d

Am I yea

0

Anonymous #6 2d

Sorry *I am

0

Anonymous #6 2d

Japan is currently facing a crisis with an aging population because it is a very ethnocentric country that has historically had low immigration. As a result, Japan now has a labor shortage since there are too many elderly people and not enough younger people to fill jobs. Birth rates are also low because many people don’t have the time or resources to date and raise children.

5

Anonymous #8 2d

I don’t think you realize how much the U.S. economy depends on undocumented immigrants and how much better it would be for everyone if they were documented. If they were documented, they could be paid fair wages instead of the near slave wages many currently receive. The exploitation of undocumented workers is one of the reasons wages stay low, and raising their wages would raise the floor, meaning you would also be paid more.

6

Anonymous #8 2d

Higher wages mean people are able to spend more money and therefore stimulate the economy. More people also mean more money to hire more public sector workers such as first responders, and more funding for education, healthcare, and better infrastructure. I’m also sure that if we focused less on our military, we would have a lot more money to actually put toward helping our own people.

3

Anonymous #8 2d

So a couple points: 1) Why is immigration the solution to falling birth rates? Don’t you think addressing low birth rates is something we ought to prioritize over immigration when so many people want children, but simply can’t afford them? 2) No, my wages would not increase—and even Bernie Sanders recognizes that. Low-skill immigration disproportionately increases the supply of labor relative to demand. And that is uniquely harmful to low-skill workers already living here.

-1

Anonymous #8 2d

3) Regarding the military, I really don’t think you want to stop spending money there—and definitely not right now. The military has been a fantastic investment because it’s essentially what guarantees global trade, and that trade has made us incredibly wealthy. Even putting that aside, we already have one major conflict in Ukraine. The last thing anyone wants is to see another one kick off in Taiwan. That war would be unlike any other, and the only way to prevent it is peace through strength.

-1

Anonymous #8 2d

4) If mass immigration is really so awesome, why is Japan and much of the Western world reacting so viscerally to it? Even left-wing parties in Europe are gradually waking up and realizing that remigration must happen if they want to stave off a right-wing resurgence. Granted America is much more friendly to foreigners (and “our” illegal aliens don’t have anywhere near the problems those in Europe do), but there’s a reason why white identitarians and Christian nationalists are on the march…

-1

Anonymous #8 2d

5) The other problem with your whole theory is that it doesn’t hold empirically. Illegal immigration surged in the 21st century, and yet I don’t hear anyone saying things are better now economically than they were in the 90’s. Now I recognize that’s wildly reductionist, but if you think that the idea of mass immigration as a silver bullet is gonna go over well right now politically, you’re sadly mistaken…

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

I think you’re missing an important point about immigration and demographics. Immigration is not meant to replace addressing birth rates. It is one of several tools to stabilize the workforce while longer-term demographic changes play out. Even if policies encouraged people to have more children, that does not fix immediate labor shortages because it takes decades for those children to enter the workforce. Immigration helps fill those gaps now and keeps the economy functioning.

1

Anonymous #8 2d

6) Finally, please do take a look at the Minneapolis mayoral election if you haven’t already—I’d be curious to hear your thoughts because the right is already screaming from the rooftops about it.

0

Anonymous #8 2d

As for wages, the evidence does not support the idea that immigration significantly drives them down. Most studies,, show that immigration has little to no negative impact on native-born workers’ wages overall. What actually suppresses wages is the exploitation of undocumented workers since they lack the legal protections to demand fair pay. Legal status and worker protections help prevent that.

2

Anonymous #8 2d

And regarding the military, the United States already spends more than the next ten countries combined. Cutting excessive spending does not mean abolishing the military. It means reallocating some of those funds toward domestic priorities like education, healthcare, and infrastructure, which also strengthen national stability and long-term security. A country’s strength is not just measured by its weapons but by the well-being and resilience of its people.

2

Anonymous #8 2d

I think you’re missing the bigger picture here. Immigration is not a bad thing. It is actually one of the best things for our country. Immigrants keep our economy running, fill essential jobs, start businesses, and contribute billions in taxes every year. They also help balance out an aging population and keep our workforce strong. The problem is not immigration itself but how our system treats undocumented workers.

2

Anonymous #8 2d

When people are denied fair wages and basic protections, it hurts everyone. If all workers had the same rights and could safely stand up for fair pay, wages would rise across the board. Immigration has always been part of what makes the United States stronger and more innovative. It brings new ideas, energy, and culture.

2

Anonymous #8 2d

Again, I think you’re looking at this from an overly academic perspective. Can you explain how bringing in millions of low-skilled immigrants will increase wages for domestic workers who are now competing for the same jobs? Doesn’t that strike you as rather counterintuitive? And when you speak of evidence, what precedent is there for such a thing? Can you cite any evidence that would be relevant at this scale because to the best of my knowledge, there’s no real precedent in all of human history…

0

Anonymous #8 2d

They commit disproportionate amounts of crime compared to citizens, they take jobs away from Americans, drive housing costs up, and while it is true that they contribute to taxes, they’re still a net negative. They’re a drain to the taxpayer. 150-450 billion a year is used on them. That includes the amount they pay in taxes.

-3

Anonymous #8 2d

Also, the reason the economy is struggling has nothing to do with immigration. It has everything to do with billionaires and large corporations not paying their fair share in taxes and having too much control over our government. And honestly, how much is Elon Musk really contributing to society besides a few cars that seem to fall apart if you look at them the wrong way? The government handed him enormous amounts of money for “innovation” that he is never actually going to deliver.

8

Anonymous #8 2d

Do you know how much of the federal budget goes towards the military as a percentage? And then at an even more granular level, what does that breakdown look like? When you talk about spending more on education and healthcare, keep in mind the military budget includes things like the GI bill and the VA. By contrast, how much goes toward entitlement spending…?

0

Anonymous #8 2d

Can I ask exactly how much you’d like Elon Musk for example to pay in taxes…? And where would he get that money from? (I’m going somewhere with this—I promise)

0

Anonymous #8 2d

Oh, I saw the pie chart you posted, but that’s just discretionary spending. The actual number for the military is roughly 13%, so probably somewhere like 8-10% goes to the actual military.

0

Anonymous #8 2d

And hey, thank you for being so civil and reasonable throughout our conversation

0

Anonymous #3 2d

That’s also incorrect. It has been that way for decades now. I refer you to that now infamous clip of AOC and Tom Homan. Also, withholding of removal now just means you’ll most likely be deported to a third country…

-1

Anonymous #6 2d

No problem. I’m a community organizer and one of my main goals is to educate as well as building a better more inclusive environment for everyone at UTC. I apologize about the pie chart. I realized the data was from 2015 and I am trying to find more recent information for you. Trying to find a chart so I don’t have to have you go read a whole long ass article at 4 in the morning.

6

Anonymous #6 2d

Here is a good article about immigration that includes how immigration and status of immigrants contribute to the economy: https://cmsny.org/importance-of-immigrant-labor-to-us-economy/ Still working on the military budget for you although Not My Tax Dollars is a good one that is just how money going to Israel could be used for people here. Has a good breakdown of how money can be reallocated. Can even look at just Chattanooga

10

Anonymous #6 2d

As for how much Elon or other billionaires should pay in taxes, I’m not sure of the exact amount. I’m not an economist. But there should definitely be fewer tax breaks for them. They don’t exactly need or deserve them.

6

Anonymous #8 2d

Video about reallocating the military budget (sources and stuff are in the description): https://youtu.be/mnZYLGCnxwo

6

Anonymous #6 1d

The exchange where he brings up 8 USC 1235? From 2019 or so? And yes, I understand that you can be removed to a third country. But what I said about withholding of removal being possible after crossing between ports of entry is still true. See 8 USC 1225 and 8 CFR 208.30

1

Anonymous #8 1d

So I’m actually generally pretty pro-immigration. I just think this situation is a bit more complicated in two key respects: we’re talking about people who came here knowing it was illegal, and then just the sheer number of them. That makes them uniquely problematic because if we let them all stay, now we’re both establishing a precedent going forward and disfavoring folks trying to immigrate legally.

0

Anonymous #8 1d

And regarding Israel, I think I largely agree—the only thing that gives me pause is what Israel actually does with our military subsidies, namely buy American weapons. In that sense, (most of?) the money still makes it way back to Americans, albeit indirectly. But beyond Israel, I’m broadly in favor of gutting things like USAID and other foreign aid programs for precisely the reason you gave: there are better uses of that money.

0

Anonymous #8 1d

Well, my point in asking you that is because it’s not like Musk and other billionaires typically have mountains of cash lying around, right? Most billionaires just own a ton of stock, which isn’t exactly something you can really “tax” until they actually sell it. Now I know they get around that by just borrowing against the stock, but are we really going to compel to borrow against more stock or otherwise sell some of it to pay their taxes? Doing that opens a whole can of worms…

0

Anonymous #8 1d

Then there’s also the broader point: we don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. Say what you will about Social Security, but at the end of the day, it’s literally a glorified pyramid scheme. And as you very correctly pointed, we have a bit of a population problem, so that’s just one of many programs that simply aren’t viable in the long run—at least not without massive reform.

0

Anonymous #6 1d

What the fuck is remigration lmfao

4

Anonymous #5 1d

You’re right. They commit disproportionate amount relative to native-born citizens because they commit less crimes 💀

2