Website to anonymously report illegal immigrants

[ShyGuyInChicago]

There is a website that allows people to report illegal immigrants on three conditions: no children, no addresses and the info given must be true. What do you think? Do we have a duty to report illegal immigrants? It is also said that this website could be an alternative to Arizona's illegal immigration law. Do you agree with that?

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/New-website-encourages-citizens-to-report-illegal-immigrants-98411309.html

HOUSTON -- A new website that went live this month claims it is “the first public anonymous publishing service for reporting on illegal alien activity in the United States.”

IllegalAlienReport.com belongs to 26-year-old George O’Brien, who has been following the illegal immigration debate.

“I realized I wouldn't recognize an illegal alien if one was standing right next to me,” he said.

Anyone can anonymously post information about undocumented immigrants and companies that employ them. O’Brien said he also wants it to be a forum for vigorous debate and a place where undocumented workers can also report bad bosses.

The website does have rules in place: no bad words, generally no using children’s names or photos, any street addresses are allowed. All personal experiences posted must be "100% true," O'Brien said.

KHOU asked him how that's being enforced.

“I'm just one guy,” he said.

The webmaster by trade said he has an automated check system and promises to bust violators.

Even so, is this legal?

“Certainly it's legal. The first amendment protects this,” KHOU Legal Analyst and South Texas College of Law Dean Gerald Treece said.

Treece added, if a posting is plain wrong, the victim can sue the writer if he can be found.

The victim can also sue the webmaster if he's been alerted and “the webmaster knows it’s false and doesn't take it down,” Treece said.

O'Brien said he sees his website as an alternative to the controversial Arizona law.

“As opposed to randomly pulling people over looking for their paperwork," he said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no comment on the website.

I honestly do not think that this would even work very well. It can be difficult to determine what is true or false. Plus even if some people use it there is no guarantee that it will make much of a difference.

[Marky]

I dont believe that that should be implimentated for a few points.
> first of all the US. is based on immigration how do you think we all got here
>Second, there are those who cant afford to pass over legally so does that give is the right to deny them a free or safer life (like those leaving juarez for example)
> and Third, if they are doing no harm watsoever and they do all that they can just to berly scrape by in the world why the hell would you want to report them

[Amnesiac]

I dont believe that that should be implimentated for a few points.
> first of all the US. is based on immigration how do you think we all got here

The immigrants who came here in the 20th century did so legally, with proper documentation.

>Second, there are those who cant afford to pass over legally so does that give is the right to deny them a free or safer life (like those leaving juarez for example)

I'm all for reforming the immigration process, but it's unfair to those who do come here and go through the ridiculous process (like my family) to just let the illegals get a free ride. The U.S. can't serve as some safe haven for every person looking to escape from a worse world; I'm sorry, but that's not something the country can afford.

> and Third, if they are doing no harm watsoever and they do all that they can just to berly scrape by in the world why the hell would you want to report them

Because they didn't come here properly. It's not fair. My family's spent thousands of dollars and plenty of time obtaining the right visas and paying the right fees to live here, and all these illegal immigrants are just getting in for free?

There should be paths to citizenship and visas, but it's simply not fair and not organized to let immigrants in for free.

[Sith Lord 13]

There should be paths to citizenship and visas, but it's simply not fair and not organized to let immigrants in for free.

This.

[scuba steve]

Good system, shame it'll be jam packed with xenophobes and racists though. But there seems to be a strong support policy for legal action from the site to objections that are untrue, this could however demotivate people to even report in the first place, given the USA's "suing culture."

[Korashk]

The immigrants who came here in the 20th century did so legally, with proper documentation.



I'm all for reforming the immigration process, but it's unfair to those who do come here and go through the ridiculous process (like my family) to just let the illegals get a free ride. The U.S. can't serve as some safe haven for every person looking to escape from a worse world; I'm sorry, but that's not something the country can afford.



Because they didn't come here properly. It's not fair. My family's spent thousands of dollars and plenty of time obtaining the right visas and paying the right fees to live here, and all these illegal immigrants are just getting in for free?

There should be paths to citizenship and visas, but it's simply not fair and not organized to let immigrants in for free.
Who cares if it isn't fair? Nothing new/improved is fair to those that got it in the past.

[Amnesiac]

Who cares if it isn't fair? Nothing new/improved is fair to those that got it in the past.

Yes, but buying something early instead of waiting for improvements is an option. That's Apple's entire business model.

When the government makes something a law, then forces only some people to abide by it and lets others get away with breaking it, and the law isn't discriminatory or in violation of human rights, then it's unfair and needs to be fixed.

[ManyPearTree]

Yes, but buying something early instead of waiting for improvements is an option. That's Apple's entire business model.

This is a true statement. +1

I do not think that it is our duty to report illegal immigrants. I honestly thought that it is the government's job to secure our borders. Websites like the one in the OP make me feel somewhat obligated to report illegal aliens in an effort to stop them from reaping our sworn liberties.

[Marky]

>>> Comander awesome said The immigrants who came here in the 20th century did so legally, with proper documentation

My responce >>>what about those who traveled by foot before america began such as indians and mesoamericans


>>>> Commander awesome said I'm all for reforming the immigration process, but it's unfair to those who do come here and go through the ridiculous process (like my family) to just let the illegals get a free ride. The U.S. can't serve as some safe haven for every person looking to escape from a worse world; I'm sorry, but that's not something the country can afford.


My responce >>> I can agree with the safe haven thing. but hey the government already supprt many families with food stamps and such and there are a lot of people who abuse that right. so there should be a program funded by the U.S to help those who qualify to pass over freely or at a cheaper cost. And hell my family came over from Mexico legally also and illigaly but now there citizens though proper paper work



>>> Comander awesome said Because they didn't come here properly. It's not fair. My family's spent thousands of dollars and plenty of time obtaining the right visas and paying the right fees to live here, and all these illegal immigrants are just getting in for free?


My responce >>>> those who scrape by and work there ass off to be able to live here eventuallygo to get there papers when they are able to collect enough money together. No one wants to stay here illegally and risk a high chance of being deported back. Also my family some came illegally, they worked there asses off for a couple years and paid there citizenship, they wernt able to pull the money out of there ass

[Amnesiac]

>>> Comander awesome said The immigrants who came here in the 20th century did so legally, with proper documentation

My responce >>>what about those who traveled by foot before america began such as indians and mesoamericans

Gee, that was before the United States of America even existed, and the idea of documented immigration existed. I said the 20th century.

>>>> Commander awesome said I'm all for reforming the immigration process, but it's unfair to those who do come here and go through the ridiculous process (like my family) to just let the illegals get a free ride. The U.S. can't serve as some safe haven for every person looking to escape from a worse world; I'm sorry, but that's not something the country can afford.


My responce >>> I can agree with the safe haven thing. but hey the government already supprt many families with food stamps and such and there are a lot of people who abuse that right. so there should be a program funded by the U.S to help those who qualify to pass over freely or at a cheaper cost. And hell my family came over from Mexico legally also and illigaly but now there citizens though proper paper work

I don't like the idea of a "qualify for a free/reduced ride" idea. I mean, why should immigrants from Mexico pay less than immigrants from other countries? Immigration fees should be based on the services a worker can provide. The U.S. doesn't need more low-wage immigrants, it needs more white-collar educated workers to compete with the upcoming Asian economies.

>>> Comander awesome said Because they didn't come here properly. It's not fair. My family's spent thousands of dollars and plenty of time obtaining the right visas and paying the right fees to live here, and all these illegal immigrants are just getting in for free?

My responce >>>> those who scrape by and work there ass off to be able to live here eventuallygo to get there papers when they are able to collect enough money together. No one wants to stay here illegally and risk a high chance of being deported back. Also my family some came illegally, they worked there asses off for a couple years and paid there citizenship, they wernt able to pull the money out of there ass

Well, too bad then. It's not fair. I don't care if they "worked their ass off" to get here, that's not fair. The people who got everything in order and followed the right procedures deserve to be in this country, contributing to the American economy, not the illegal immigrants from Mexico who were most likely heralded in here hastily under false promises and are now a liability to their employers and American society.

I may sound like a douchebag, but immigration is a process that needs to be structured and uniform, not something that applies to some people and not to others. Yes, the immigration process needs to be reformed, the visa limits need to be raised and the United States needs to be less economically protectionist. But that does not mean we should sacrifice the nation's security and let anybody seeking 'refuge' from their 'terrible' lives in Mexico just come in.

[Sage]

I'm not going to get into my feelings about the clusterfuck issue of illegal immigration, so I'll keep this short and simple. While I can understand the necessity of law, I also know, from my parents and others, the struggle a lot of people face in their home countries and the very difficult and often unfair hoops they have to jump through to leave. If someone must skirt the law to survive, so be it- it speaks a great deal more of problems with the law than the people breaking it. I am always going to place more importance on human lives than upholding the law. Even if I did know any supposed 'illegals', I'd still not use this reporting site. My conscience doesn't allow it.

[Marky]

hahaha ok first of alll i am not pinpointing Mexico. I am using it as an example since i know from my family just like you used your family. and second there are a lot of other places out there that are worse than Juarez and your saying we should let them suffer?. Well also immagrants who are not "whte collar" are taking the jobs "white collar" folk wont take. so infact if we just allow "white collars" to enter who is going to do the dirty work for america? Working from the bottom up. Immigration should be structured and fixed but they also got to realize that not only those who will benifit the country will only matter. you need someone to maintain the lower jobs that noone else is willing to take and to do. Some families risk being cought crossing borders to bring there children to a safer location (thats one reason my family crossed). Sometimes only the father will leave to america (legally or illegally), Raise enough money and pay for there family to come back. are you saying we should deny access to children also that can still be molded and shaped into "whitcollar" people who will work higher up and possibly change the U.S.

[Amnesiac]

hahaha ok first of alll i am not pinpointing Mexico. I am using it as an example since i know from my family just like you used your family. and second there are a lot of other places out there that are worse than Juarez and your saying we should let them suffer?

Sadly, yes, because we don't have the means to accommodate everyone from every not-as-great-as-America nation. Let the U.N. sort that out.

. Well also immagrants who are not "whte collar" are taking the jobs "white collar" folk wont take. so infact if we just allow "white collars" to enter who is going to do the dirty work for america?

Americans. There are plenty of Americans who are unemployed and can fill the jobs immigrants fill. There aren't enough Americans to fill high education jobs.

Working from the bottom up. Immigration should be structured and fixed but they also got to realize that not only those who will benifit the country will only matter. you need someone to maintain the lower jobs that noone else is willing to take and to do. Some families risk being cought crossing borders to bring there children to a safer location (thats one reason my family crossed). Sometimes only the father will leave to america (legally or illegally), Raise enough money and pay for there family to come back. are you saying we should deny access to children also that can still be molded and shaped into "whitcollar" people who will work higher up and possibly change the U.S.

You don't understand how immigration law works. The United States government doesn't let immigrants in because they want 'safer' lives. No, the government lets people in only if they can provide a certain service to the country, or want to study in the United States. Once they get fired, or finish college, they're out. Low-wage illegal immigrants aren't providing an essential service. Many of them are abused by their employers and live much worse lives after they enter the U.S.

Americans would do the jobs immigrants do if they weren't already taken by them. You see, many corporations just use immigrants as disposable, cheap labor. Eliminating that would put Americans back at work.

Letting all these people immigrate into the United States puts a strain on society and presents a national security risk. If a person is in such bad conditions that they need to escape their country, they should file for refugee status in the United States – that's a system that needs reform as well, might I add. Still, I seriously doubt the conditions in Mexico and other Latin countries where illegals come from are that bad. Mexico is a relatively wealthy country, the conditions there aren't near Africa-tier.

Kids in other countries can easily be molded into "white-collar" citizens if they work hard enough. It's ignorant to act like the U.S. education system easily pumps out high-class people. Compared to many countries, it does not. Pondering the 'possibilities' of children is a pointless argument, be it in immigration or abortion debates. The chances of them succeeding are negligent. We shouldn't risk security and stability today for the incredibly tiny chance someone will succeed tomorrow.

[Marky]

ok ok i will let you have this one im tired of it. hahaha and when i said i wasnt pinpointing mexicothat didnt mean i was moving to a larger scale to just go to latin american countries. i was talking all bad countries in general. And Illegal immagrants come over ships from many other places. you just see more from Latin root because we are conected by land and not seperated by oceans. ALSO I was not implying at all that america is like the only country that can shape whit collar people. I know that other countries can and do create whit collar people and those people are usually better than white collar full americans.



I still belive that imagrants should be given a chance. I know im looking at the problem from the emotional perspective and not the analitical perspective. My family deals with Finance so I get to see both sides. Well I would like to do this again sometime soon you got me to keep thinking. and how we can change things, I just hope when you read my post you dont automatically assume I am refering to one specific group unless pointed otherwise such as if i said (ONLY MEXICAN IMAGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED A CHANCE)


Gracias por tu tiempo.

[Amnesiac]

ok ok i will let you have this one im tired of it. hahaha and when i said i wasnt pinpointing mexicothat didnt mean i was moving to a larger scale to just go to latin american countries. i was talking all bad countries in general. And Illegal immagrants come over ships from many other places. you just see more from Latin root because we are conected by land and not seperated by oceans.

Exactly, so Mexico is the issue. It's reasonable to pinpoint Mexico, because that's where pretty much everyone comes from.

ALSO I was not implying at all that america is like the only country that can shape whit collar people. I know that other countries can and do create whit collar people and those people are usually better than white collar full americans.

Well, I was saying that Mexico can shape white-collar workers just as well as America can. If a young person is dedicated enough, they can move up the ladder. Mexico's education system isn't necessarily the reason why it doesn't produce high-paid workers.

I still belive that imagrants should be given a chance. I know im looking at the problem from the emotional perspective and not the analitical perspective. My family deals with Finance so I get to see both sides. Well I would like to do this again sometime soon you got me to keep thinking. and how we can change things, I just hope when you read my post you dont automatically assume I am refering to one specific group unless pointed otherwise such as if i said (ONLY MEXICAN IMAGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED A CHANCE)

I know debating is tough when you have an emotional attachment to it. It's not like I don't care about the illegals, I just don't think it's appropriate to create a refuge country out of the Southern and Western states. The immigration system needs desperate reform, reform that encourages more open borders and a less complicated process for entering the country.

But until that happens, it's about fairness and the law, and I just don't see it as fair to let people immigrate illegally to the United States and get away with it. For most of them, it doesn't improve their lives dramatically either.

Gracias por tu tiempo.

Thanks for your time as well.

[Marky]

One last thing. I think that if this problem gets all locked up the U.S. should help more other countries to produce more "white collar folk" (OH HOW I HATE THAT FRAZE)

[Amnesiac]

One last thing. I think that if this problem gets all locked up the U.S. should help more other countries to produce more "white collar folk" (OH HOW I HATE THAT FRAZE)

The U.S. could fix a ridiculous amount of problems in Mexico by ending the Drug War, but that's another topic for another thread.

Doing that and teaming up with the Mexican government to improve conditions in violent areas of Mexico would reduce illegal immigration rates and resolve national security problems with drug cartels.

[Sage]

The U.S. could fix a ridiculous amount of problems in Mexico by ending the Drug War, but that's another topic for another thread.

Doing that and teaming up with the Mexican government to improve conditions in violent areas of Mexico would reduce illegal immigration rates and resolve national security problems with drug cartels.

I have to agree with this. Finding new ways to send illegal immigrants out of the country more efficiently isn't cutting to the heart of the problem- improving living conditions and opportunities in Mexico would. You don't see any significant amount of illegal immigration across the US/Canadian border. Why? Because life in Canada is pretty decent.

[Amnesiac]

I have to agree with this. Finding new ways to send illegal immigrants out of the country more efficiently isn't cutting to the heart of the problem- improving living conditions and opportunities in Mexico would. You don't see any significant amount of illegal immigration across the US/Canadian border. Why? Because life in Canada is pretty decent.

Exactly. This is probably one of the only foreign aid projects I would ever support, if it ever comes up.

Illegal immigration across the border needs to be halted, existing illegals need to be located and given options – not hunted down and treated like terrorists – visa caps need to be raised, and immigration departments need thousands of extra staff to process both legal and illegal immigrants more quickly.

[AnnaxSanity]

I'm all for trying to stop the illegal immigrant problem, but there are reasons that we don't have anonymous reporting sites like the OP mentioned.

Mao Zedong implemented a system like this as part of the anti-rightist "Enemies of the State" program. He set up booths around China where anyone could drop a name in and the Chinese would investigate. The system was abused and the Communist forces would sweep in and destroy entire families based on the names in the booth.

For something as serious as immigration, you need to do more to make sure the report is valid, or else you'll have redneck Nutjobs reporting every Mexican in the country.

[TheMatrix]

you can't make that truely annonymous - they'll get your IP and track it. and if you use a proxy, they'll BS it. it's america people.
on the contrary, however, this is probably the same in other countries. *sigh*

[Spook]

I don't think that we have any business reporting illegal immigrants, as i agree that immigration is a popular thing in the U.S. Also, I think that it's a good thing when people immigrate because it gives them a better life and better jobs.

And what do you mean by "no children?" Is it that people can't report child immigrants, or that children cannot report immigrants on the site?

Anyways, interesting thread.