Here and Now: Immigration Reform

I lived and worked legally in two other first world countries. The companies that employed me applied for the appropriate visas and like anyother alien resident I registered with the police and was able to open bank accounts, rent or buy property and move freely. I was bound by the time limit on my visa but one could apply for resident status if they followed the guidlines in place. I am a democrat but I simply don't understand why illegal aliens aren't required to leave and reenter legally. Like most things in this country that we've ignored until they are broken this will cost us but ultimately it is the right thing to do for our nation. We can be humane but firm about the immigration status of non-citizen visitors. Surely we are creative enough to find a way to bring in people even if they are not initially sponsored by a specific company.

I am currently a Phoenix resident, previously a Tucson resident commuting to work at a property outside of Nogales just a few miles from the border. I want to comment on my own experiences.

While commuting to and from Tucson I went through border check points daily. I think the mobel check points are most effective, however it is still possible to go around them with a little knowledge of the residential roads surrounding the highway.. I've done it when traffic back up is heavy, being on a work schedule I must be to work on time!
While at work, almost daily, I came in contact with illegals just crossing the border.. Bleeding, dehidrated, lost, desperate for work, children starving with bloody feet. All I could do is give them water, a sandwich and immediately call Border patrol to come and pick them up on the property, only to be shipped back after little medical treatment if any. It literally broke my heart to see these people, especially the reminents of their travels through the wash outside the town.... Childrens shoes clothes, blood stains, remnents of fire pits (fire season). It seemed that the traffiking of illegals had some order 5 years ago, I'm assuming "Cartell" control, suddenly that all fell apart and we saw that play out on our highways with shoot outs and horrible accidents.
Finally the Government starting taking a real look at our borders after 9/11, but instead of real thought they proposed a WALL. These people aren't some pesky neighbor dog invading our front yard, they are PEOPLE!!!! My friends and I couldn't see why they would waste so much money and man power on such a rediculous proposition. The best way is to install solar flood lights, cameras, sensors, and border patrol posts every say 30 to 50 miles recieving the feed when the sensors are tripped the lights go on and the camera records! I have just heard that some officials have proposed the same sort of thing, it's about time.
As far as making people leave and re-enter is not realistic. The south west, I estimate, has at least 25% illegal population! there are barrios full of them... I am not Mexican. I have definetly noticed that Mexicans are extremely family oriented, I think thats a great value to have and shouldn't be torn apart by policy, they have their immediate and extended family in or close to their houses.
Basically what I am saying, they should stay where they're at. They should still apply for citizenship through the available channels. But those channels don't work for the average immigrant, they are commonly poor in their own country as well as illiterate, their children are their communicators because the kids learn faster in our schools. It seems to me that no one is really looking at the situation, they're thinking with hate.... Americans feel they don't have enough of anything and want someone to blame. I'm only 25 years old I've been layed off twice, forced to quit twice for non payment all in the last 7 years, But I'm not blaming immigrants. I blame the BBB for not regulating small buisness close enough, I blame the IRS for taking 40% of my check, I blame myself for holding my work ethic above my ability to support myself which should be a good value to have... But it doesn't feed me or put a roof over my head. We as americans have forgotten we are the children of immigrants, all of us... The only natives are the Native Americans, and they don't have a life nearly as good I do, and I'm considered poverty!