MY CASE
I was waiting overseas in the American consulate line after 2 graduate degrees, 3 professional certifications, scholarships in hand from 3 universities and all the financial support they needed and my visa application was still rejected 2 times. I had given up job to start focusing totally on coming to the U.S. to pursue education. My widow mother had pledged her only home, her lifetime of savings to show support for me. It seemed like nothing was enough at the time.

After marriage, my wife had to wait for 3.5 years in line, submit tons of documents although I was a U.S. citizen. This pain and frustration was all for standing in line legally and following all the rules.

ONLY THE BEST CAN GO?
We followed the law, followed every single rule, gave honest answers. My family told me since childhood that pursuing higher education was not a child's play. We were told that only academic achievers with high grades can go overseas. My gold medalist brother won a national scholarship to pursue a Ph.D in the U.S, my gold medalist sister won a national scholarship to pursue Ph.D. in Russia.

I did not have health insurance during my entire period of college and never relied upon on public assistance (emergency room etc.). I talk among educated immigrant community all the time and have never heard anyone using emergency room, food stamps, CHIP and any government programs for free. I have not come across one.

WE DID NOT SEE IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S. WHO FOLLOWED THE LAW
Upon arrival in the U.S., I found it wasn't anything like I was led to believe. People came in illegally. Most immigrants in Queens NY were not educated, many were living for a generation without speaking much English. Here in Texas, I talked to people who just crossed the border - a river or a hill.

How was a I supposed to feel? I was disappointed.

IMMIGRANTS, INDEPENDENTS, MODERATES LIKE TRUMP'S PROPOSAL
Many people do not know but a large number of immigrants and voters like Trump's bold actions on immigration. It was considered a sacred cow, a large voter base and previous presidents after Reagan did not act much on immigration. The can was kicked down. Qualified and educated communities overseas are excited.

LET US TALK DACA
How about the children in Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Bangladesh and many countries around the world? Why not airlift them? If we are the true guardians of humanity and compassion, let us show to the world the kindness and compassion we stand for and we feel. If we allow DACA class kids to get absorbed 'with the entire family" they come with, why not just keep the borders open? Why do we want to do better like the other advanced societies in the world like Canada, Australia, England, France who allow over 50% of immigration based on points system. In the U.S., that percentage is barely 12%.

THIS IS HOW DEMOCRATS LOSE ISSUES
This is exactly why we democrats continue to lose on issues. We grabbed the health care issue from the republicans, we did well there but we have lost religion, nationalism, defense, family values issues to them. Now it is immigration. They are doing something that will gain approval from independents and moderates. For decades, democrats pandered to the immigrant voter base thinking a large Hispanic, Indian and Asian voters will vote democratic. This is totally untrue. The majority immigrants from around the world are not happy with illegal immigration at the Southern border. Even the majority Americans are for reducing illegal and increasing legal immigration.

@St-Sinner We have to make it less costly and cumbersome as well as shorten the application process...I still don't think we should punish the kids brought here...it is out of their control...we can't go backwards in order to go forwards...other than that, I am all for legal immigration reform.

@thinktwice We disagree on one issue. I think ALL illegal immigrants must be sent back. This includes kids going back with their families. We all pay and reap benefits of the actions of our parents. That is called upbringing and launching children into this world. Parents must think of the consequences the children will bear. How many exceptions should be make for law breaking? If we should, why not granting pardon to juvenile criminals? Because it is really not their fault for their parents not raising them properly. If we want make exceptions, let us extend them to all categories.

@St-Sinner It is like sending them back into a culture that they are not familiar with...they grew up here and know our stories, our culture, our songs, etc. They have contributed to our society through work, ideas, etc. Being in this country illegally through no fault of their own is just like saying if your parent commits murder, you are also guilty...how does that make sense? We make a lot of exceptions to the law...people go a few miles over the speed limit, take the sweetners off the restaurant table, let their kids sip a bit of wine at dinner, etc. etc.

@thinktwice If that is the case why stop taking them into the future? Because asylum takes a few years, kids grow fast. Even after 3 to 4 years of processing time (that is the average time), kids will get used the U.S. environment. So why uproot them? This will be a continuous vicious cycle. There will be an outcry that time as well.

Please allow illegal immigrants from all countries. They all want to work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy and society. There can be more smart legislators like Ilhan Omar. Let us open all border and have the world come over and contribute here. Why just the DACA type?

@St-Sinner I think we are talking about two different groups...I am not talking about the newly arrived...yes, they should go back...I am talking about the the ones who have applied for Dreamer status...no criminal record, a job, etc. I think that door has been closed already...so perhaps we do agree?

@thinktwice If you allow one batch and not allow similar kids in the future, it is totally unkind and discriminatory. Reagan had allowed 6 million immigrants to be legalized but this never stops. The line keeps building at the border and new issues build up. We need to solve the root problem - which is it is possible to cross borders illegally and get asylum.

I am almost sure that Trump is going to score big on the immigration issues. We progressives will complain but a large community of rural America (the silent majority) including moderates and independents (certainly ALL conservatives) agree on Trump on immigration. That is what wins elections. Healthcare is a strong winning issue for democrats but other than Bernie (who cannot be elected), not many are talking much. Most are just bitching about Trump.

It is anger and hate but not much strategizing beating Trump with cool heads.

@St-Sinner there is no other batch in the same situation...but I get what you are saying...the root of the problem has to be solved...most of the dreamers I know did not come through the Mexican border, however...their parents were here on work visas that expired...no one checked...they stayed...almost 20 years or more...it will be the economy that will make the difference...no matter who wins will have to deal with that first...

@thinktwice This is from Pew Research. 80% are from Mexico. It is a travesty. If we are still wondering why Trump resonated with voters in 2016, here is one of the answers.

But we progressives are living in a parallel universe thinking Hillary was good. No, she was not good.

@St-Sinner Oddly, until he talked about the wall as a rally cry, most people were not impacted by this...it wasn't until he drummed up incorrect "facts" that were often accepted as truths...of course, states bordering Mexico were already conservative states, but, a farmer in central PA had no issue with it and actually needed migrant workers to help out...amazing what marketing will do...and yeah, my friends are from Mexico awaiting approval of their visas...but they came by plane into PA...

Actually they were more discriminatory and horribly bias then!

There were quotas on every country of origin of those coming here!

They have treated Hispanics horribly for over two hundred years, by deporting whole families of Hispanics who were natural born citizens of this country that a whole other story of pure ethnic discrimination.

Yes! The immigration laws suck!

So do the Visa, Green Card, H1B Visas programs!

H1B Visa are used by corporations so they can get qualified individuals at half the price of US qualified individuals to do the same type of work!

@of-the-mountain Not totally true. There are categories of workers in high skilled IT field, where employers have complained for decades that they cannot find qualified IT employees. I have worked with many IT guys for 30 years from blue chip companies to public sector. Immigrant IT are really motivated to succeed and smart cookies. I am not making this statement lightly. Indian IT skills in large and small software and work ethics are unparalleled - SAP, SalesForce, PeopleSoft, Linux, network, cloud computing. I have seen plenty.

@St-Sinner
Still you did not state that those companies are paying a lot less than their US counterparts!

Yes, in India they are high paid by Indian standards not by US Standards!

As former WAN Compliance auditor using foreign H1B visa!

@of-the-mountain

1. It is true that H1-B workers get paid less than U.S. workers.But is it not one of the appeals of H1-B? Why are U.S. factories are moving overseas? It is just plain economics. Businesses must save costs to be competitive or perish in competition

2. It is not true that Indian workers get paid less in India. That was 20 years ago. Microsoft, Intel, Google, Apple, Uber have offices in India at 4 cities and have started hiring at par or often higher rates in India right out of college.

India has become a very expensive hiring market. Agriculture and Industrial employers have started complaining that they do not get workers because all new graduates want to do IT... lol... I cannot afford going to some upscale restaurants in India but I can afford it here. So go figure. The biggest advantage for India has been English speaking and educated class in cities (only). 86% of India lives in rural parts and is not English illiterate. All the progress and outsourcing you hear about is riding only on the 12% population.

There is a discussion if India is affordable anymore for outsourcing. Israel was a hub for outsourcing one time but employers moved out once the labor market became expensive. The same thing will happen to India. East European countries are coming up with a new English speaking generation with a very low cost of living. They could not speak English for 70 years.

Employers do not have love for any country. They will go anywhere that serves their purpose.

@St-Sinner
You answered your own question!