The immigrant problem at our border is a symptom of a larger problem in the countries to our south...

[kentuck]

In my opinion.

Why would these people suffer the threats of life and limb to get to America? Is it really that good here or is it really that bad there? I tend to think the latter.

Obviously, all of them are not coming with backpacks full of fentanyl, as some would have us believe.

I do believe we should put more priority on our neighbors to the south. We should assist them in whatever ways we possibly can. One might think our elected Representatives could figure out some way to improve the situation, rather than point fingers for political gain.

The vast majority of these folks at our border are not criminals. They are desperate for a different life. I'm not sure America can offer it to them? But, for sure, the countries they are fleeing certainly cannot.

[snowybirdie]

1. You are so right

Our country needs to concentrate on why they are leaving those countries. Someone needs a strong focus on our neighbors to the South.

[jimfields33]

4. When we had Ellis island, immigration was perfect.

Why can’t we have some sort of building down at the southern border that can have various offices to help. It’d be a way to keep a log of everyone and what they need. It’s not rocket science.

[MichMan]

6. In the peak years, Ellis island had an daily average of 1900 people

Now there are 10,000 or more per day.

Not only that, it was the only port of entry and people came by boat. Lot easier to manage than a border 1900 miles long.

[pwb]

2. Never any mention of seasonal crop workers?

Farmers ask for them, put them on buses and put them to work.

[kentuck]

3. They can now get better pay as roofers and construction workers...

Farm workers are much more difficult to find nowadays. The rewards of capitalism.

[lapfog_1]

5. I have a young friend in Colombia

she had a hair salon in Medellin, her roommate drives a delivery scooter.

Covid hit them very hard, the roommate almost died... she survived with tanks of oxygen ( purchased at outrageous markups ) by her friends and family ( I bought a few ).

Covid was an ordeal, no vaccines for a long time, no support checks from the government, everything became more expensive.

The salon closed, the delivery service was good, but money was very tight... For a while both girls went homeless and ended up in a homeless encampment, violence and bad sanitary conditions, etc.

Post covid my friend re-opened her salon... and a customer didn't like her hair cut and stormed out after cussing out my friend... my friend lost her temper and slapped the customer... who was an off-duty police officer. My friend was convicted of simple assault and spent almost a year in prison. She just got out. Yes she shouldn't have lost her temper but... yikes.

The roommate decided to try to come to the USA... the delivery service went bust when the scooter broke so bad it really couldn't be repaired. She made as far as Mexico... the coyotes were vicious criminals and the Darrian Gap almost killed her. I tried to discourage her but she thought it was her best option at the time.

I don't know if they are typical of South Americans or even Colombians... but they want to live a simple "western" lifestyle ( clean water, food, a roof, TV, cell phone, and a comfortable bed). But that seems almost out of reach for people in that country.