1. I agree. Communities should not be criminalized. However, individual criminals should be dealt with according to their crimes. (Note, I'm not calling border crossing criminal--they're not--but fraudulent use of IDs and working without authorization can be.)

2. I agree. There is no need for militarization along a peaceful border. However, there is no reason that the border shouldn't be made secure from intrusions.

3. Disagree. We are perfectly within our rights to exclude those who break our laws.

4. Disagree. A guest worker program is better than an illegal worker system which gives illegal laborers no rights and sub-standard pay.

5. Disagree. Employer sanctions are an important component to immigration policy. They help reduce the incentive to break the law.

6. Agree. But a "path to citizenship" does not mean immediate citizenship. It means that "your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more, and you may hereafter make use of the normal procedure for naturalization of LPRs."

7. Agree.

8. Agree.

9. Huh? Labor rights and living wages? I feel like the immigrant community may have some infiltration issues from Democratic strategists.

10. Education and LGBT immigration legislation? WTF?

they [illegal immigrants] also need to go though a very tough background check by the government [to gain LPR status].

also, i'm not real clear on the LGBT thing, what the heck is that all about?

che, with respect to human rights, don't i, as a law abiding citizen, have the right to expect those in my midst to also abide by the nation's laws? if not, what's the point of having laws in the first place?

You aren't trying to deny that it's factual, are you.

The National Immigration Solidarity Network claims that the STRIVE act would require illegal aliens to return to their nations of origin as part of the "path to citizenship."

That's not true. Title VI of the Act creates a new category of immigrant called a "conditional nonimmigrant." There is no requirement that illegal aliens return to their nations of origin to get conditional nonimmigrant status. Once they've got that, they can earn citizenship (adjust their status) after they've met the following requirements:

(1) Meet employment requirements during the six-year period immediately preceding the application for adjustment;
(2) Pay a $1,500 fine plus application fees;
(3) Complete criminal and security background checks;
(4) Establish registration under the selective service (if applicable);
(5) Meet English and civic requirements;
(6) Undergo a medical examination;
(7) Pay all taxes;
(8) Show admissibility to the U.S.; and
(9) Meet a "Legal Reentry" requirement during the six-year period in conditional nonimmigrant status but no later than 90 days before filing an application for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status. Paperwork processing is performed in the U.S. An exit and re-entry through any port-of-entry is required. Limited exceptions apply.

There are some important things to note about these requirements. First, the six-year period can begin before the illegal alien applies for conditional nonimmigrant status. In other words, if they meet these requirements (excepting no. 9, for the moment) they can adjust status immediately upon receipt of their conditional nonimmigrant status.

The only brake put on the process is the requirement that the immigrant enter with inspection not less than 90 days before they apply to adjust status. Once they've got the conditional nonimmigrant status, they will be able to enter and exit the U.S. through the official ports of entry. So, there's no problem meeting that requirement.

Also, note that the legal entry can be through any CBP inspection--the illegal alien does not have to return to their country of origin and then come back.

How many of y'all would be willing to pay the higher prices that said food would cost if growing and picking done by citizens and/or legal residents exclusively?

While I'm sure wages vary considerably across different states and industries, I did find one reference source:

I am based in the Russian River Valley and grow Pinot Noir. I will tell you than my workers earn between $11 and $18 per hour depending on their experience. On some grape picks I pay an hourly wage, other times I pay $1.50 per bandeja (or picking tray). It works out at about $250 per ton, plus the hire of the forklifts and the wages for the tractor driver and leafpickers (usually at the $11 or $18 dollar rates.) and the delivery to the winery (total is about $450p/t). In addition, I offer a prize for the team (I usually pick with three teams) that picks the cleanest. The tractor driver, leafer and me are the judges. The guys go really fast, but the extra 100 prize for the team ($20 for the cleanest picker) makes for super clean fruit (sin hojas...uvas muy limpia), and a good natured competitive spirit between the teams.

And we are talking about illegal immigrants in case anyone was wondering:

They live here on the edge of poverty while their family lives in a pueblo in Mexico like royalty on the cash they are sent - A very unique and strange arrangement.

In general they don't look at it as being taken advantage of. They are very happy there is a place they can go to make real money. Most have some story or another of a familiy member in need and a problem they need to solve back home. The spend their 2 or 3 years and then head home.

Now, I'm not sure ag workers would be paid much differently if they were citizens. I would imagine the large US ag producers are unionized like Gallo, and Gallo pays:

The new UFW agreement covers all 310 Gallo farm workers in Sonoma County. Including a unilateral raise Gallo granted in April, the Sonoma workers will see their base hourly pay rise 9.5% to $8.98 by the end of the 30-month contract."

iow, it doesn't look like there would be a huge increase in farm workers' pay should the illegal immigrants be given citizenship.

But, for discussion sake, let's assume farm workers should be paid significantly more if the illegal immigrants were given citizenship.

Most ag products, unlike wine, are commodities. iow, if it's cheaper for the consumer for the Alberstons and Vons of the US to buy their commodity ag products from countries that can produce it for less than we can in the US, then they will (and do) do so.

In that scenario the US loses farms, farmers, workers, trucking co's, etc., etc.

All that said, we already did a big amnesty program that we could learn from.

ie., food prices did not go up.