Wow...I think it would be hard to answer all three of those things here. I think that immigration is necessary for so many industries in this country. We need people from other countries for the jobs that Americans no longer seem to want to do and there aren't enough people graduating with the right technical degrees to fill positions. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

What do I think? Good luck. - Steven Perez

I think that as long as we want cheap goods in this country, we owe it to the people who do the work to protect them from abuse and they are basically abused way too much right now. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

I think this might spark one of those "real conversations" Alex warned us about. I hate to admit that I know pretty much nothing of the current immigration bill. What do I think about immigration and reform? Well, I am pretty liberal when it comes to immigration, in that I see us all as descendants of immigrants, therefore we should be understanding and welcoming of those who wish to immigrate. That being said, we should establish some rules and control over the influx of people into the states. We definitely need to reform what we have now 'cuz it's not working very well. - Jenny

Yeah, unfortunately, I don't know enough about the immigration bill(s) before congress to talk intelligently about that part of the question. I just think the current system of "we say we don't want illegal immigrants, but do nothing about it" is nuts. The prudent thing, in my opinion, would be to decriminalize those who are already here, make it easier for other workers to come here and effectively deal with the illegal side of things... - Scoble, Alex Scoble

I think we need to ask the questions "Why do people want to come here?" and "What does America have to offer you that your own country does not?" When we understand more about the reasons people want to immigrate, we can make better policy decisions regarding who should and who shouldn't be allowed to immigrate. - Jenny

Unfortunately, immigration is one of those hot-button issues that really seem to divide us as a country. And with most polarizing issues, it is really difficult to find common ground and make compromises regarding policy and reform. Which sucks, because it seems like we get stuck in this perpetual tug-of-war and nothing ever seems to change in a positive way. - Jenny

I shall say something shocking: if it wasn't to the advantage of the rich, I don't think there would be an immigration issue. I don't beleive that films have the final answer to the scope of problems but they do raise (sometimes) awareness of "the other side". For me, "The Gangs of New York" raised several issues about immigration that I had not thought about from "the other perspective". One of the problems I have seen constantly resurface is the blindness to capacity. People hear about Disney world and a new attraction. What happens? Scores of people want to go to Disney World....all at once. People hear there might be a shortage. What do they do? They head for every food outlet they can think of, stock up whether they need it or not and pretty soon its bare-shelf city in town. People in other countries have to deal with hard times because of genocide, greed of the few over the many and tales are told late night furtively around campfires in the the hiding places: America the land of the free and the rich: let's go there. Only they don't come to America with the means of the pioneer spirit and settle in land that is unsettled. They come to the already over-crowded cities with the all ready poor and job-hungry and try to find "El Dorado", the City of Gold from their campfire stories and hiding place dreams. When your dream tries to steal the dreams of those already long-waiting, what do we think is going to happen? - Melanie Reed

I want to say that I'm pro-immigration. Without it, Los Angeles would just be full of midwesteners. But, I think the immigration policies of the US should change. I'm sick of hearing stories of Latinos rounded up and deported, when here in LA we have full neighborhoods of undocumented Israelis and Russians who are never targeted. IOW, it shouldn't just be about skin color. I know many people here from Australia, England and Canada who never worry about deportation. They get jobs and have lived here for years. Meanwhile, in my current neighborhood, Latinos who were born here could tell you horror stories about their experiences in this country. - Anika

Immigration is fine. But, when it comes to illegal immigration I think that if it is deemed that someone isn't doing anything good in the country they should be sent back to the country they came from. But, if they are here illegally and trying to make something of themselves and doing some good then they should be allowed to become a citizen. Although, if they don't want to be a citizen then they should be sent back to where they came from. - Mathew™ aka Youngblood

You make an excellent point, Melanie. I think in a lot of cases, immigrants are lured here by the promise of work and security. Once here, they realize it's not quite the Shangri-La they had pictured. - Jenny

Mathew, the problem then becomes who decides if the illegal immigrant is doing something good here? I am sure all would insist they are trying to make something of themselves and do some good, even if they aren't. - Jenny

I don't know enough about what an immigration bill in the current Congress would look like to have an opinion on it. Generally I'm in favor of streamlining legal immigration processes to make it simpler for immigrants to comply with the law and ending draconian treatment of undocumented immigrants. If there are penalties for illegal immigration, they should fall primarily on businesses that hire undocumented immigrants. Also, the border wall is a waste of money and should be stopped. - John (bird whisperer)

Melanie got this one right. This situation is to the benefit of the wealthy in this country. It's a popular wedge issue for the far right and no meaningful regulation or reform is going to happen any time soon. It's kind of like abortion - it's an issue that exists primarily to polarize people and have them fall in with the fake two-party system we have. I feel sorry for the people caught up in it, but I have no confidence things will change at all any time in the next 20 years. - iTad

I mean those who can prove that they are working, etc. And not doing anything that would be considered illegal. - Mathew™ aka Youngblood

Exactly. My other point is: what is the statute of limitations on those already here? On those born in this country from generations back? You have a capacity issue here and I don't think there is one of us here who would like it if tons of immigrants came into a situation where jobs are all ready scarce and thought, "Ok, I'll step aside and let them take my place." I'll wait another 5-10 years to maybe make my hard work mean something. I mentioned this being a "Rich demographic" issue be cause they are not worried about competing for jobs in a shrinking labor market. The old phrase still carries weight and we should give careful thought to what it means: "Them that has the gold rules." These are the ones who make the decisions of who stays and who gets squeezed out based on how it serves their human capital base for jobs and production. - Melanie Reed

I think it would be difficult for most illegal immigrants to prove that they are working, unfortunately. - Scoble, Alex Scoble

Jenny, thanks!! - Melanie Reed

Exactly, Alex. Their employers would have to vouch for them, thereby incriminating themselves in a crime. We would have to provide amnesty of those employers in order to get them to back up their valuable, albeit illegal, employees. - Jenny

Melanie, the more I see unemployment rates rise in this country, the more I think about what you're saying. At one point in my life, I was way more willing to accept the influx of undocumented "competition" because I figured they weren't really competition. i.e. They were taking all of the jobs none of us rich, spoiled Americans wanted. The current state of things? I see a lot of people out of work and I know they're looking for those jobs that are currently dominated by illegal workers. :-/ - Jenny

there are some immigrants that work hard and try to support their families. There are other immigrants that are just looking for trouble. There are children of those immigrants that study for hope of a better future. Yes there are people that will work for less than you would. I think people should see beyond the skin color. Make bridges, not borders. - Alfredo 亜瑠布れっど

Jenny R. Precisely. A country is like a family and you have to see to the needs of your family first before you can give adequately to those outside of it. America does not seem to understand this anymore or rather those who's self-interest stands in place of the "ideals" of America are willing to continue fanning the subtle flames of anarchy because they live behind gated communities where they think such things won't harm them. I think some of them really believe that the desperate will work for whatever they are willing to pay them. Others callously don't care. But bottom line: they want what the law says they can't have and that is workers willing to work for modern-day economic slave wages. And they will do most anything "legal" (and not so legal) to obtain that. Once the workers become secure enough to challenge them, the hunt for new desperate economic slaves begins again. - Melanie Reed