The Supreme Court will decide if Donald Trump can be kept off 2024 presidential ballots

[Messianic Israelite]

My opinion is something has to be done about the fact that illegal immigrants are pouring in to the U.S at a fantastic rate. With no selection process the U.S is getting all sorts of people pouring in including some of the worst criminals. Moreover, a sizable proportion of illegal drugs in the United States, particularly cocaine and heroin, is smuggled across the US–Mexico border. Illegal drugs have long flowed from Mexico to the more remote parts of the U.S. But with the rise of fentanyl, cartel associates have pushed more aggressively into Montana, where pills can be sold for 20 times the price they get in urban centers closer to the border. For many Americans whose ancestors migrated lawfully to the U.S.A I can see why it is frustrating to see immigrants coming to the U.S outside of lawful channels. With so many undocumented immigrants, the U.S.A has a crisis on their hands. These people may not speak English, or may not be able to get jobs due to their status, therefore a number of them turn to crime and drugs therefore, they are draining the U.S economy and may be unravelling the moral fabric of the Country. According to a report by The New York Times, the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now stands at around 11 million, as in 2024, a threefold increase from the figure in 1990.

 

[Wandering Monk]

My opinion is something has to be done about the fact that illegal immigrants are pouring in to the U.S at a fantastic rate. With no selection process the U.S is getting all sorts of people pouring in including some of the worst criminals. Moreover, a sizable proportion of illegal drugs in the United States, particularly cocaine and heroin, is smuggled across the US–Mexico border. Illegal drugs have long flowed from Mexico to the more remote parts of the U.S. But with the rise of fentanyl, cartel associates have pushed more aggressively into Montana, where pills can be sold for 20 times the price they get in urban centers closer to the border. For many Americans whose ancestors migrated lawfully to the U.S.A I can see why it is frustrating to see immigrants coming to the U.S outside of lawful channels. With so many undocumented immigrants, the U.S.A has a crisis on their hands. These people may not speak English, or may not be able to get jobs due to their status, therefore a number of them turn to crime and drugs therefore, they are draining the U.S economy and may be unravelling the moral fabric of the Country. According to a report by The New York Times, the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now stands at around 11 million, as in 2024, a threefold increase from the figure in 1990.

So much disinformation being pushed by Republicans.

Here are facts:​

• Fentanyl smuggling is ultimately funded by U.S. consumers who pay for illicit opioids: nearly 99 percent of whom are U.S. citizens.
• In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.
• Over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes, so U.S. citizens (who are subject to less scrutiny) when crossing legally are the best smugglers.
• The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them.
• Just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever.
• The government exacerbated the problem by banning most legal cross border traffic in 2020 and 2021, accelerating a switch to fentanyl (the easiest‐to‐conceal drug).
• During the travel restrictions, fentanyl seizures at ports quadrupled from fiscal year 2019 to 2021. Fentanyl went from a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90 percent.
• Annual deaths from fentanyl nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 after the government banned most travel (and asylum).

https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-smuggled-us-citizens-us-citizens-not-asylum-seekers

 

[Kathryn]

For an example, my daughter in law is Korean. She is married to my son. In spite of being married to him, it still took her nearly ten years to get her citizenship! Now, a global pandemic occurred, and they also lived most of that time in Guam, where everything happens on Guamian time. Oh, and did I mention the expense? It cost a lot of money! Too much, I say.

 

[Kathryn]

So much disinformation being pushed by Republicans.

Here are facts:​

​

• Fentanyl smuggling is ultimately funded by U.S. consumers who pay for illicit opioids: nearly 99 percent of whom are U.S. citizens.
• In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.
• Over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes, so U.S. citizens (who are subject to less scrutiny) when crossing legally are the best smugglers.
• The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them.
• Just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever.
• The government exacerbated the problem by banning most legal cross border traffic in 2020 and 2021, accelerating a switch to fentanyl (the easiest‐to‐conceal drug).
• During the travel restrictions, fentanyl seizures at ports quadrupled from fiscal year 2019 to 2021. Fentanyl went from a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90 percent.
• Annual deaths from fentanyl nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 after the government banned most travel (and asylum).

https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-smuggled-us-citizens-us-citizens-not-asylum-seekers

You may be interested in a book called Dreamland. I really found it informative. It's by Sam Quinones and it won the NBCC Non Fiction book of the year as well as many other awards. I will never look at a non descript car in a chain parking lot the same again.

 

[Subduction Zone]

You mean illegal immgrants? Like this:
First thing that showed up when I asked Bing if illegal immigrants keep coming back to the US by the way. The redicivism rate is around 27 percent according to this:

Breaking Down the Immigration Figures - FactCheck.org

Encounters on the southern border of those trying to enter the U.S. without authorization have gone up significantly under President Joe Biden. Government statistics show that in the initial processing of millions of encounters, 2.5 million people have been released into the U.S. and 2.8 million...

www.factcheck.org

That is because you keep conflating refugees and illegal immigrants. For the most part they are not the same thing. Yes, some applying for refugee status will be rejected. 76% are granted refugee status:

https://humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Asylum-grant-rates-fact-sheet-August-2023.pdf

Can you show that those rejected keep coming over the border once rejected?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Let's make them constitutional then. You know, with a constitutional AMENDMENT. People are living longer. I say let's start making some changes based on that. I mean, I will be nearly 70 before I can get my full SS benefits, even though I have been putting in for decades. So let's do this.

Do you know how hard it is to get a Constitutional Amendment passed? That is even less likely.

 

[Kathryn]

That is because you keep conflating refugees and illegal immigrants. For the most part they are not the same thing. Yes, some applying for refugee status will be rejected. 76% are granted refugee status:

https://humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Asylum-grant-rates-fact-sheet-August-2023.pdf

Can you show that those rejected keep coming over the border once rejected?

Like I said, the recidivism rate is around 27 percent as far as anyone can tell.

 

[Kathryn]

Do you know how hard it is to get a Constitutional Amendment passed? That is even less likely.

Hey, I'm just throwing ideas out there. We've passed Constitutional Amendments before.

 

[Subduction Zone]

My opinion is something has to be done about the fact that illegal immigrants are pouring in to the U.S at a fantastic rate. With no selection process the U.S is getting all sorts of people pouring in including some of the worst criminals. Moreover, a sizable proportion of illegal drugs in the United States, particularly cocaine and heroin, is smuggled across the US–Mexico border. Illegal drugs have long flowed from Mexico to the more remote parts of the U.S. But with the rise of fentanyl, cartel associates have pushed more aggressively into Montana, where pills can be sold for 20 times the price they get in urban centers closer to the border. For many Americans whose ancestors migrated lawfully to the U.S.A I can see why it is frustrating to see immigrants coming to the U.S outside of lawful channels. With so many undocumented immigrants, the U.S.A has a crisis on their hands. These people may not speak English, or may not be able to get jobs due to their status, therefore a number of them turn to crime and drugs therefore, they are draining the U.S economy and may be unravelling the moral fabric of the Country. According to a report by The New York Times, the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now stands at around 11 million, as in 2024, a threefold increase from the figure in 1990.

You are conflating several problems. Our current problem is not illegal immigrants.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Hey, I'm just throwing ideas out there. We've passed Constitutional Amendments before.

Yes, but they did not threaten the jobs of the people passing them. It first has to pass by a 2/3 vote in both the Senate and the House. Can you see them arguing for that and passing it when they are the ones that would lose their jobs?

Then 3/4 of the state legislators much pass it. That might be easier since turnover at the national level would make it easier to win election to Congress:

The Constitution | The White House

Why a Constitution? The need for the Constitution grew out of problems with the Articles of Confederation, which established a “firm league of friendship”

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[Kathryn]

You are conflating several problems. Our current problem is not illegal immigrants.

I beg to differ. That's what has so many people up in arms - ILLEGAL immigrants. Not people who are here legally.

 

[Kathryn]

Yes, but they did not threaten the jobs of the people passing them. It first has to pass by a 2/3 vote in both the Senate and the House. Can you see them arguing for that and passing it when they are the ones that would lose their jobs?

Then 3/4 of the state legislators much pass it. That might be easier since turnover at the national level would make it easier to win election to Congress:

The Constitution | The White House

Why a Constitution? The need for the Constitution grew out of problems with the Articles of Confederation, which established a “firm league of friendship”

www.whitehouse.gov

Right. I know it's problematic but by golly, I want to see term limits. No one should go into politics poor and come out wealthy and yet it happens all the time.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I beg to differ. That's what has so many people up in arms - ILLEGAL immigrants. Not people who are here legally.

The problem is refugees and refugees are not illegal immigrants.

 

[fantome profane]

And you are not even living here! You sure do seem invested in American politics for someone who is not even living in this country.

I live in the world. I am aware that there are other countries besides my own. Do you find that strange?

 

[Messianic Israelite]

So much disinformation being pushed by Republicans.

Here are facts:​

​

• Fentanyl smuggling is ultimately funded by U.S. consumers who pay for illicit opioids: nearly 99 percent of whom are U.S. citizens.
• In 2021, U.S. citizens were 86.3 percent of convicted fentanyl drug traffickers—ten times greater than convictions of illegal immigrants for the same offense.
• Over 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, not on illegal migration routes, so U.S. citizens (who are subject to less scrutiny) when crossing legally are the best smugglers.
• The location of smuggling makes sense because hard drugs at ports of entry are about 97 percent less likely to be stopped than are people crossing illegally between them.
• Just 0.02 percent of the people arrested by Border Patrol for crossing illegally possessed any fentanyl whatsoever.
• The government exacerbated the problem by banning most legal cross border traffic in 2020 and 2021, accelerating a switch to fentanyl (the easiest‐to‐conceal drug).
• During the travel restrictions, fentanyl seizures at ports quadrupled from fiscal year 2019 to 2021. Fentanyl went from a third of combined heroin and fentanyl seizures to over 90 percent.
• Annual deaths from fentanyl nearly doubled from 2019 to 2021 after the government banned most travel (and asylum).

https://www.cato.org/blog/fentanyl-smuggled-us-citizens-us-citizens-not-asylum-seekers

Hi and good evening Wandering Monk.

Thank you for that. I'm more that willing to change my opinion on this subject, but from what I have read about the situation, illegal immigration is not a good thing. I believe in law and order. I believe everything should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). There's a right way to enter a country and a wrong way. Those who enter in the wrong way will be inclined to operate in a way that is not necessarily lawful because the processes we have in place to get a job, apply for a mortgage, get on a course etc. mostly require identification. Under federal immigration law, unlawful presence in the U.S.A is a civil offense. The civil penalty for being in this country unlawfully is deportation, or removal

Fentanyl smuggling is mostly funded by U.S citizens, but the same organization says that 77% of drug traffickers are U.S citizens which suggests that 23% of smugglers are illegal immigrants. If that were the case, at least 2,530,000 illegal immigrants are responsible for drug trafficking. Further, it seems these statistics are at least two years old. Since Biden, many more illegal immigrants have poured in to the U.S and the problem has gotten worse.

Let's look at some of the other statistics. You have there 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, but are the routes of illegal immigrants known, or even closely monitored?

"Smuggling organizations remove a few inches from the bottom of 30-foot (9.1-meter) steel poles, which agents say can take as little as a half-hour. Columns sway back and forth, like a cantilever swing, creating ample space for large groups to walk through. Welders often attach metal bars horizontally across several columns to prevent swinging, but there are plenty of other places to saw. Agents say it takes up to an hour to drive from Lukeville along the gravel road to discover breaches — a large chunk of time when tending to so many migrants in custody. “Our officers and agents are responding to large groups of migrants, which means that some of our agents aren’t on the line, not really monitoring for some of those cuts,” said Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner. “If we don’t have anybody to respond, then you’re going to see what you’re seeing.” (source: Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress and the White House weigh major asylum limits)

Further, it's about what illegal immigrants also do when they get to the U.S.A. Very little research has been forthcoming about how they are supporting themselves.

Cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Experts say they make big profits helping smuggle people across, and those profits comprise a significant and growing portion of their vast riches. Gary Hale a drug policy fellow at the U.S. Mexico Center at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston said "Criminal organizations control the border,” so they control who and what crosses the border “And that becomes a lucrative moneymaker, a revenue generator for these cartels.”

"By getting into the smuggling business, the cartels have created a vicious cycle. Their main business — the *drug trade* — spurs unending violence in the border area. That violence causes more and more migrants to resort to using smugglers because they believe it will keep them safer. All the while, the cartels’ fortunes and power grow."

Cartels reap growing profits in the smuggling of migrants across the US-Mexico border

Mexican drug cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S. border.

eu.courier-journal.com

 

[Wandering Monk]

Hi and good evening Wandering Monk.

Thank you for that. I'm more that willing to change my opinion on this subject, but from what I have read about the situation, illegal immigration is not a good thing. I believe in law and order. I believe everything should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). There's a right way to enter a country and a wrong way. Those who enter in the wrong way will be inclined to operate in a way that is not necessarily lawful because the processes we have in place to get a job, apply for a mortgage, get on a course etc. mostly require identification. Under federal immigration law, unlawful presence in the U.S.A is a civil offense. The civil penalty for being in this country unlawfully is deportation, or removal

Fentanyl smuggling is mostly funded by U.S citizens, but the same organization says that 77% of drug traffickers are U.S citizens which suggests that 23% of smugglers are illegal immigrants. If that were the case, at least 2,530,000 illegal immigrants are responsible for drug trafficking. Further, it seems these statistics are at least two years old. Since Biden, many more illegal immigrants have poured in to the U.S and the problem has gotten worse.

Let's look at some of the other statistics. You have there 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, but are the routes of illegal immigrants known, or even closely monitored?

"Smuggling organizations remove a few inches from the bottom of 30-foot (9.1-meter) steel poles, which agents say can take as little as a half-hour. Columns sway back and forth, like a cantilever swing, creating ample space for large groups to walk through. Welders often attach metal bars horizontally across several columns to prevent swinging, but there are plenty of other places to saw. Agents say it takes up to an hour to drive from Lukeville along the gravel road to discover breaches — a large chunk of time when tending to so many migrants in custody. “Our officers and agents are responding to large groups of migrants, which means that some of our agents aren’t on the line, not really monitoring for some of those cuts,” said Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner. “If we don’t have anybody to respond, then you’re going to see what you’re seeing.” (source: Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress and the White House weigh major asylum limits)

Further, it's about what illegal immigrants also do when they get to the U.S.A. Very little research has been forthcoming about how they are supporting themselves.

Cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Experts say they make big profits helping smuggle people across, and those profits comprise a significant and growing portion of their vast riches. Gary Hale a drug policy fellow at the U.S. Mexico Center at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston said "Criminal organizations control the border,” so they control who and what crosses the border “And that becomes a lucrative moneymaker, a revenue generator for these cartels.”

"By getting into the smuggling business, the cartels have created a vicious cycle. Their main business — the *drug trade* — spurs unending violence in the border area. That violence causes more and more migrants to resort to using smugglers because they believe it will keep them safer. All the while, the cartels’ fortunes and power grow."

Cartels reap growing profits in the smuggling of migrants across the US-Mexico border

Mexican drug cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S. border.

eu.courier-journal.com

Why do Republicans focus on the 10% of fentanyl coming across at places other than border crossing checkpoints? They screech and howl as if ALL of it is coming across those places? They want to make people think that the fentanyl crisis is caused by immigrants crossing illegally! It is NOT. They stoke fears of 'the other' and direct hatred at them in order to rile up their base. If the problem was reduced by 90% (stricter searches at border crossing checkpoints) they wouldn't have this issue to stir up that hatred and get their base angry enough to vote for them.

 

[Messianic Israelite]

Hi and good evening Wandering Monk.

Thank you for that. I'm more that willing to change my opinion on this subject, but from what I have read about the situation, illegal immigration is not a good thing. I believe in law and order. I believe everything should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). There's a right way to enter a country and a wrong way. Those who enter in the wrong way will be inclined to operate in a way that is not necessarily lawful because the processes we have in place to get a job, apply for a mortgage, get on a course etc. mostly require identification. Under federal immigration law, unlawful presence in the U.S.A is a civil offense. The civil penalty for being in this country unlawfully is deportation, or removal

Fentanyl smuggling is mostly funded by U.S citizens, but the same organization says that 77% of drug traffickers are U.S citizens which suggests that 23% of smugglers are illegal immigrants. If that were the case, at least 2,530,000 illegal immigrants are responsible for drug trafficking. Further, it seems these statistics are at least two years old. Since Biden, many more illegal immigrants have poured in to the U.S and the problem has gotten worse.

Let's look at some of the other statistics. You have there 90 percent of fentanyl seizures occur at legal crossing points or interior vehicle checkpoints, but are the routes of illegal immigrants known, or even closely monitored?

"Smuggling organizations remove a few inches from the bottom of 30-foot (9.1-meter) steel poles, which agents say can take as little as a half-hour. Columns sway back and forth, like a cantilever swing, creating ample space for large groups to walk through. Welders often attach metal bars horizontally across several columns to prevent swinging, but there are plenty of other places to saw. Agents say it takes up to an hour to drive from Lukeville along the gravel road to discover breaches — a large chunk of time when tending to so many migrants in custody. “Our officers and agents are responding to large groups of migrants, which means that some of our agents aren’t on the line, not really monitoring for some of those cuts,” said Troy Miller, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s acting commissioner. “If we don’t have anybody to respond, then you’re going to see what you’re seeing.” (source: Illegal crossings surge in remote areas as Congress and the White House weigh major asylum limits)

Further, it's about what illegal immigrants also do when they get to the U.S.A. Very little research has been forthcoming about how they are supporting themselves.

Cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Experts say they make big profits helping smuggle people across, and those profits comprise a significant and growing portion of their vast riches. Gary Hale a drug policy fellow at the U.S. Mexico Center at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston said "Criminal organizations control the border,” so they control who and what crosses the border “And that becomes a lucrative moneymaker, a revenue generator for these cartels.”

"By getting into the smuggling business, the cartels have created a vicious cycle. Their main business — the *drug trade* — spurs unending violence in the border area. That violence causes more and more migrants to resort to using smugglers because they believe it will keep them safer. All the while, the cartels’ fortunes and power grow."

Cartels reap growing profits in the smuggling of migrants across the US-Mexico border

Mexican drug cartels play an increasing role in the surge of migrants fueling the most recent immigration crisis at the U.S. border.

eu.courier-journal.com

I made a mistake in my post. 23% of drug smuggling must be by illegal immigrants, but I am unable to get a figure to what the overall drug smuggling statistic is to work out how much the percentage would be in an actual round figure, but I am inclined to believe that this would be a lot. If approximately a quarter of all the drug smuggling is by illegal immigrants, then you have a big problem.

 

[Messianic Israelite]

Why do Republicans focus on the 10% of fentanyl coming across at places other than border crossing checkpoints? They screech and howl as if ALL of it is coming across those places? They want to make people think that the fentanyl crisis is caused by immigrants crossing illegally! It is NOT. They stoke fears of 'the other' and direct hatred at them in order to rile up their base. If the problem was reduced by 90% (stricter searches at border crossing checkpoints) they wouldn't have this issue to stir up that hatred and get their base angry enough to vote for them.

Hi Wandering Monk. Good evening.

Strictly speaking, I am not a Republican. I live in the U.K, although I am inclined more to the Republican view than the Democrat one. Furthermore, you could say in my faith we are more impartial than most, since we do not vote. We vote for Yahshua our Savior to return to establish His Kingdom. Perhaps you want to imply that Republicans are motivated by hate by suggesting there should be stricter controls at the borders, or that illegal immigrants should be deported, but even in Biblical times they were gates to which a person could enter in to the city, with the judge often sitting at the gate. They didn't just let people in to their cities, they asked questions and found out if they were acceptable to enter in to the city and they had good intentions. Might I remind you of Revelation 21 which tells us that the New Jerusalem will be guarded at the 12 gates by the 12 Apostles. If you do not qualify the inspection, you will not get in to the New Jerusalem. So having control over who comes in and out is Biblical and logical.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Hi Wandering Monk. Good evening.

Strictly speaking, I am not a Republican. I live in the U.K, although I am inclined more to the Republican view than the Democrat one. Furthermore, you could say in my faith we are more impartial than most, since we do not vote. We vote for Yahshua our Savior to return to establish His Kingdom. Perhaps you want to imply that Republicans are motivated by hate by suggesting there should be stricter controls at the borders, or that illegal immigrants should be deported, but even in Biblical times they were gates to which a person could enter in to the city, with the judge often sitting at the gate. They didn't just let people in to their cities, they asked questions and found out if they were acceptable to enter in to the city and they had good intentions. Might I remind you of Revelation 21 which tells us that the New Jerusalem will be guarded at the 12 gates by the 12 Apostles. If you do not qualify the inspection, you will not get in to the New Jerusalem. So having control over who comes in and out is Biblical and logical.

People who ask for asylum after reaching the US cannot be turned back based on US and International law. If their children are born here, those children are automatically US citizens according to the US Constitution. There is a process for screening applicants.

I don't go to Bronze Age religious texts for answers to modern secular issues.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

For many Americans whose ancestors migrated lawfully to the U.S.A I can see why it is frustrating to see immigrants coming to the U.S outside of lawful channels.

My ancestors arrived in what's now the US on the Mayflower and went through absolutely no lawful channels at all.

Once American citizenship became a thing, they were just granted it, DREAMer-style.