NationStates Jolt Archive

Canadians exempted from expanded U.S. fingerprinting plan
Last Updated Fri, 02 Apr 2004 18:02:09

WASHINGTON - Border guards at U.S. airports and seaports will fingerprint and photograph visitors from some of Washington's closest allies, beginning this year.

The Department of Homeland Security said on Friday it was expanding a program called US-VISIT. Introduced in January, it requires people from a large number of countries to have their pictures and fingerprints taken when they arrive in the U.S. by airplane or boat.

As of Sept. 30, visitors arriving from 27 more countries, including Britain, Spain and Japan, will have to do the same.

Canada and Mexico are not yet affected by the new rules.

COUNTRIES AFFECTED

• Andorra
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom


All the countries affected are on the "visa-waiver" list, meaning citizens from those countries can visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.

About 13 million people from those countries visit the United States each year.

Their visa requirements won't change, so they won't have to submit to the lengthy process of consulate interviews and background checks required of visitors from countries not on the list.

Canadians only need visas to enter the United States to work or attend school. The Department of Homeland Security made the changes because most countries on the visa-waiver list won't meet an October 2004 deadline for developing passports that include biometric information.

Since January, five million visitors have been fingerprinted and photographed at the border. The U.S. government says more than 200 persons with prior or suspected criminal or immigration violations have been caught because of it.

The rules have caused resentment in other countries, however. Brazil has responded by requiring U.S. citizens to be fingerprinted and photographed before they can enter that country.


Canadians exempted from expanded U.S. fingerprinting plan (http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/04/02/world/fingerprint_040402)

We all remember this controversial plan for American homeland security? For those of us who are Canadian, there is a repreive for us suffering as their northern neighbour through their (US gov't) rampant stupidity -- we are exempt from the rules... At least for now.

This is a good thing...

Your thoughts on this topic?

PS -- PLEASE TRY AND KEEP THIS CIVIL! NO FLAMING OR FLAME-BAITING!

I think the EU should follow Brazil's example.

I'm surprised the Middle Eastern countries aren't on the list.

I'm surprised the Middle Eastern countries aren't on the list.
You see, America is Europe's "friend". So eeerm...uh.. they want to fingerprint them for their own safety. Yes, thats it.

I'm surprised the Middle Eastern countries aren't on the list.

Pssh, those from the Middle East just get sent to prison apon arrival! :lol:

I know, a bit of a hyperbole, don't jump on me.

Well, as a Canadian, it makes sense to me. Why would any Canadian want to go to the US and stay? We have a much higher standard of living here in Canada.. and while our weather sort of sucks in the winter. we have more freedoms as well.

Also, we were after all the ones who took all the airplanes into our skies and let them land on our soil and took all those people into our homes when we ourselves didn't even know if there were still terrorists on those planes. We were not afraid. Canadians are just about the nicest people in the world I figure. (I'm sure some would disagree) however.. as I see it.. what would be the reason to finger print us? I don't see a need for it. Although.. give it time, maybe they'll find a reason. I personally don't care. In my youth I travelled all across the entire USA.. I've seen it. There is much more beautiful places in the world to visit then the USA.. so I had no intention of ever going back any way. ;)

I'm surprised the Middle Eastern countries aren't on the list.
You see, America is Europe's "friend". So eeerm...uh.. they want to fingerprint them for their own safety. Yes, thats it.

Oooh! So that means every one who isn't on the list aren't the Americans' friends. Ah, it all makes sense now. Wait a minute...that means Canada...AHHHH! THEY COMIN' FOR ME! JEEEEEEEEEEEEBUS!

*****Transmission Lost*****

I'm surprised the Middle Eastern countries aren't on the list.
You see, America is Europe's "friend". So eeerm...uh.. they want to fingerprint them for their own safety. Yes, thats it.

Oooh! So that means every one who isn't on the list aren't the Americans' friends. Ah, it all makes sense now. Wait a minute...that means Canada...AHHHH! THEY COMIN' FOR ME! JEEEEEEEEEEEEBUS!

*****Transmission Lost*****
*taps microphone* Hello?
Q? Hello?

Well, as a Canadian, it makes sense to me. Why would any Canadian want to go to the US and stay? We have a much higher standard of living here in Canada.. and while our weather sort of sucks in the winter. we have more freedoms as well.

I suppose you're not including economic freedoms.

I remember after Sept. 11 my law/economics teacher telling me about all the people that were interrogated and under suspicion just for talking shite about the American government (while living there).

Imagine what it would be like if that happened in Canada? We would need millions more police :) We'd all be in jail! But hey, any liberal is better than Stockwell 'Doris' Day.

Well, as a Canadian, it makes sense to me. Why would any Canadian want to go to the US and stay? We have a much higher standard of living here in Canada.. and while our weather sort of sucks in the winter. we have more freedoms as well.

I suppose you're not including economic freedoms.


???
Canada is a capitalist country

Well, as a Canadian, it makes sense to me. Why would any Canadian want to go to the US and stay? We have a much higher standard of living here in Canada.. and while our weather sort of sucks in the winter. we have more freedoms as well.

I suppose you're not including economic freedoms.


???
Canada is a capitalist country

Shh don't tell them that! Let them keep believing that all we do is drink beer, watch hockey and live in igloos.. it's better that way, trust me.. LOL :P

Well I thought Canada had higher taxes then they do, but Canda's taxes still are 6% more of their GDP than the USA's. Its about 10% higher on Goods and Services on the National level, though.

Shh don't tell them that! Let them keep believing that all we do is drink beer, watch hockey and live in igloos.. it's better that way, trust me.. LOL :P

I'm always disapointed by the ignorance americans seem to show for Canada. When i was younger, i went to a camp in the US and decided to tell everyone i lived in an igloo with a pet polar bear named mogluk. I lived in a snow igloo because ice igloos were too expensive. I sadly convinced people :(

and my hockey tickets for the world cup came in.

Well I thought Canada had higher taxes then they do, but Canda's taxes still are 6% more of their GDP than the USA's. Its about 10% higher on Goods and Services on the National level, though.

Ya, and we also get free universal health care, so I really don't mind at all :D

makes sense to me. This kind of measure makes a whole lot more sense that some other aspects of 'the war on terror'.

Actually the list is of nations that have been extended the curtesy of being on the "visa-waiver" list, meaning citizens from those countries can visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. Most (not all) Nations not on the list require a visa along with passport to enter.

I regularly travel to Canada and have for many years. I enjoy the people and country. It is really good to be able to view that type of socialism up close.

I will also give the Canadians quite a bit of credit for learning from many of America's mistakes concerning the environment. In turn I believe that America has learned from the mistakes made by the Canadians politically.

Well I thought Canada had higher taxes then they do, but Canda's taxes still are 6% more of their GDP than the USA's. Its about 10% higher on Goods and Services on the National level, though.

Yet Canada has ran a budget surplus for at least the last 8 years.. and we have ran a trade surplus for pretty much a decade.. we may pay higher tax.. ok.. but we also have a social safety net. No person will ever have to decide in Canada if they are going to have to give up their home or have that life saving operation. We do have some homeless people.. but studies have shown that 99% of those people have mental health problems and choose to stay on the street. Certainly we can't force people to accept help they don't want. To be fair though.. the USA does make a much better movie then we do.. ;)

Indeed, I was just saying that there's more "freedoms" in terms of economics on the American Side.

Also found out : Canadian Provincial Tax Rates are what I was missing. Significantly higher than American States, although I believe Income taxes only end up being a few points higher on the top rate in Canada than the US, although thats only on the top - the poor pay more in Canada, I believe.

Tourism operators in the US must be rather pissed off atm....

Indeed, I was just saying that there's more "freedoms" in terms of economics on the American Side.

Also found out : Canadian Provincial Tax Rates are what I was missing. Significantly higher than American States, although I believe Income taxes only end up being a few points higher on the top rate in Canada than the US, although thats only on the top - the poor pay more in Canada, I believe.

The thing is we don't really piss and moan about taxes like they do in the states. We realize what good they do for us. We don't go as far as some European countries where there are extremly high unemployment rates because welfare is almost the same as a working wage, but we also don't let our citizens down (or TRY not to). Obviously nothing is perfect, but at least we are happy and proud :D And I know we complain about tuition here, but think of how nuts it is in the states, yikes, though it should be free, because it is investing in Canada's future.

Indeed Its the people of Canada's perogative if they want to have those tax rates, as they can control it through the ballot box. (Well, Ontario and Quebec can :D ). So I don't really have any gripes with it, just saying taxes are higher so there's more monetary freedom here.

Well I thought Canada had higher taxes then they do, but Canda's taxes still are 6% more of their GDP than the USA's. Its about 10% higher on Goods and Services on the National level, though.

Taxes in Canada are actually lower for over 50% of our population than in the US. We do, however, tax the wealthy at a higher rate. And even at that you could still compare from various provinces to differnet states. For example the rates overall in Alberta are lower than those in Massechusets. Of course- that is pitting our lowest taxed province against you highest taxed state - but it was just to illustrate that the rates are very similar in general.

And of course, we DO get that free health care for essentially the same tax dollar.

Actually Wikipedea has a pretty good page on the economic diferences between the countries - which are probably much less than you think (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_and_American_economics_compared)

Taxes in Canada are actually lower for over 50% of our population than in the US.
How can you go lower than 0?

Indeed, I was just saying that there's more "freedoms" in terms of economics on the American Side.

Also found out : Canadian Provincial Tax Rates are what I was missing. Significantly higher than American States, although I believe Income taxes only end up being a few points higher on the top rate in Canada than the US, although thats only on the top - the poor pay more in Canada, I believe.

The thing is we don't really piss and moan about taxes like they do in the states. We realize what good they do for us. We don't go as far as some European countries where there are extremly high unemployment rates because welfare is almost the same as a working wage, but we also don't let our citizens down (or TRY not to). Obviously nothing is perfect, but at least we are happy and proud :D And I know we complain about tuition here, but think of how nuts it is in the states, yikes, though it should be free, because it is investing in Canada's future.
Welfare in Europe is not almost the same as working wage.

Taxes in Canada are actually lower for over 50% of our population than in the US.
How can you go lower than 0?

Well, in that case.... the same! lol.

Although, I think we all strive to make enough to make a bit more than that... or to make so much that you can taxe advantage of offshore shelters and still pay $0

Well, from what I understand from here : http://www.kpmg.ca/english/services/docs/tax/rates/Pers_Table2.pdf

and here : http://www.fairmark.com/refrence/index.htm, (Married filing jointly, the most common IIRC), the 50% mark seems a bit dubious, pre-Tax Cuts it would probably be true, but not now...

Taxes in Canada are actually lower for over 50% of our population than in the US.
How can you go lower than 0?Don't be stupid. Everyone pays tax in some form--not everyone pays income taxes. And if you're in the lower income levels and working, you pay a larger percentage of your income in poyroll taxes than those in the highest income tax brackets pay for all their taxes combined. but that wouldn't fit into your limited little worldview of "taxes=bad" now would it?

Well, from what I understand from here : http://www.kpmg.ca/english/services/docs/tax/rates/Pers_Table2.pdf

and here : http://www.fairmark.com/refrence/index.htm, (Married filing jointly, the most common IIRC), the 50% mark seems a bit dubious, pre-Tax Cuts it would probably be true, but not now...

But still close enough to dispell the myth that we pay a lot more taxes than the US. And, as has been mentioned we do get a number of benfits for our taxes such as fully funded health care and subsidized higher education.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong but your tax cut's have not yet been made permanent. Ours have dropped almost every year for the past five or six years, and in each case it was a permanent change.

And we are still running budget surpluses in the pursuit of retiring our national debt. Once we manage that, our taxes will drop to well below yours.

but that wouldn't fit into your limited little worldview of "taxes=bad" now would it?

Gee this thread was going OK too... :roll:

Everyone pays tax in some form--not everyone pays income taxes. And if you're in the lower income levels and working, you pay a larger percentage of your income in poyroll taxes than those in the highest income tax brackets pay for all their taxes combined.
Indeed but the topic was income taxes. Considering, I believe, the only way to solidly get that Alberta pays less than Massachusettes is to add the state/provincial income taxes to the federal ones. So, since the poorest in the USA pay 0%, but from those sites I (that I can see) the poorest in Canada pay more, the point still stands.

Well, from what I understand from here : http://www.kpmg.ca/english/services/docs/tax/rates/Pers_Table2.pdf

and here : http://www.fairmark.com/refrence/index.htm, (Married filing jointly, the most common IIRC), the 50% mark seems a bit dubious, pre-Tax Cuts it would probably be true, but not now...

But still close enough to dispell the myth that we pay a lot more taxes than the US. And, as has been mentioned we do get a number of benfits for our taxes such as fully funded health care and subsidized higher education.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong but your tax cut's have not yet been made permanent. Ours have dropped almost every year for the past five or six years, and in each case it was a permanent change.

And we are still running budget surpluses in the pursuit of retiring our national debt. Once we manage that, our taxes will drop to well below yours.

I believe some of the tax cuts have been made permenant while some haven't, and a lot of GOP are pushing for them to be permenant. However to assume that once Canada's national debt is payed off the government will then go to cutting taxes assumes that they don't want to spend it on more things, or more things require it - the baby boomers are retiring, that alone will cause a substantial increase in healthcare costs.

Well, from what I understand from here : http://www.kpmg.ca/english/services/docs/tax/rates/Pers_Table2.pdf

and here : http://www.fairmark.com/refrence/index.htm, (Married filing jointly, the most common IIRC), the 50% mark seems a bit dubious, pre-Tax Cuts it would probably be true, but not now...

But still close enough to dispell the myth that we pay a lot more taxes than the US. And, as has been mentioned we do get a number of benfits for our taxes such as fully funded health care and subsidized higher education.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong but your tax cut's have not yet been made permanent. Ours have dropped almost every year for the past five or six years, and in each case it was a permanent change.

And we are still running budget surpluses in the pursuit of retiring our national debt. Once we manage that, our taxes will drop to well below yours.

I believe some of the tax cuts have been made permenant while some haven't, and a lot of GOP are pushing for them to be permenant. However to assume that once Canada's national debt is payed off the government will then go to cutting taxes assumes that they don't want to spend it on more things, or more things require it - the baby boomers are retiring, that alone will cause a substantial increase in healthcare costs.

Well, actually given today's vote on the pay-as-you-go bill (http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040331/6064842s.htm), it seems that it will still be tough getting the cuts made permanent. However I could point out that by maintaining surpuses and eliminating debt, we can at least keep taxes constant. Given the direction your deficits are going I think that eventually you will either hit a wall or just receive even fewer services than you already do for your taxes. Our social security and health care are still stable. The future of yours seem in doubt.

If in 20 years you are paying the same taxes with few apreciable benefits, while we pay similar taxes with all of our current benefits still covered - which is worth more?

I'll take free health care, a better safety net in case I ever wind up unemployed for a brief period, and not having to worry about a second mortgage to put my kids through college over what little it is you get for your tax dollars any day of the week!

-Z-

-Z-

Zepp you nailed the issue perfectly. The problem isn't that we pay too little in taxes in the US--it's that we don't understand what we're paying for and allow those who are rich enough to not require a safety net to sucker us into believing that we're getting ripped off. I want the safety net. I want health care. And if that means I have to pay for it in the form of taxes, so be it. But anti-tax people are acting as though there's no problem that the free market can't solve and that's so much bullshit. There are tons of things in the US that the free market not only couldn't compete with the federal government in, but that wouldn't want to in the first place. I'm not saying that government can do everything better, but if this really is supposed to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people, then it seems to me that the people ought to get a little something out of it, and health care and a safety net doesn't seem like too much to ask for.

this wouldn't even really be a problem if we didn't have the most inept politicians on earth. the liberals are incredibly wasteful with our taxes, which really pisses me off. I don't mind paying more, but when they dump it down the toilet I get a little peeved.

this wouldn't even really be a problem if we didn't have the most inept politicians on earth. the liberals are incredibly wasteful with our taxes, which really pisses me off. I don't mind paying more, but when they dump it down the toilet I get a little peeved.Oh, I think that politicians in general are inept with taxes--the idea that conservatives are less wasteful, especially in recent years, is a load of crap, no disrespect intended. Remember, it's under a supposedly conservative president and congress that we have the largest deficits in history, and they can't blame all of that on 9-11.

this wouldn't even really be a problem if we didn't have the most inept politicians on earth. the liberals are incredibly wasteful with our taxes, which really pisses me off. I don't mind paying more, but when they dump it down the toilet I get a little peeved.Oh, I think that politicians in general are inept with taxes--the idea that conservatives are less wasteful, especially in recent years, is a load of crap, no disrespect intended. Remember, it's under a supposedly conservative president and congress that we have the largest deficits in history, and they can't blame all of that on 9-11.

er sorry I meant big 'L' Liberals, as in the political party. my mistake.

Well, from what I understand from here : http://www.kpmg.ca/english/services/docs/tax/rates/Pers_Table2.pdf

and here : http://www.fairmark.com/refrence/index.htm, (Married filing jointly, the most common IIRC), the 50% mark seems a bit dubious, pre-Tax Cuts it would probably be true, but not now...

But still close enough to dispell the myth that we pay a lot more taxes than the US. And, as has been mentioned we do get a number of benfits for our taxes such as fully funded health care and subsidized higher education.

Besides, correct me if I'm wrong but your tax cut's have not yet been made permanent. Ours have dropped almost every year for the past five or six years, and in each case it was a permanent change.

And we are still running budget surpluses in the pursuit of retiring our national debt. Once we manage that, our taxes will drop to well below yours.

I believe some of the tax cuts have been made permenant while some haven't, and a lot of GOP are pushing for them to be permenant. However to assume that once Canada's national debt is payed off the government will then go to cutting taxes assumes that they don't want to spend it on more things, or more things require it - the baby boomers are retiring, that alone will cause a substantial increase in healthcare costs.

Well, actually given today's vote on the pay-as-you-go bill (http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040331/6064842s.htm), it seems that it will still be tough getting the cuts made permanent. However I could point out that by maintaining surpuses and eliminating debt, we can at least keep taxes constant. Given the direction your deficits are going I think that eventually you will either hit a wall or just receive even fewer services than you already do for your taxes. Our social security and health care are still stable. The future of yours seem in doubt.

If in 20 years you are paying the same taxes with few apreciable benefits, while we pay similar taxes with all of our current benefits still covered - which is worth more?

I'll take free health care, a better safety net in case I ever wind up unemployed for a brief period, and not having to worry about a second mortgage to put my kids through college over what little it is you get for your tax dollars any day of the week!

-Z-

-Z-

That is, of course, a Democratic bill. As it said in the article : "On one side are GOP leaders and the majority of congressional Republicans, who strongly support extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts". Most likely, they wanted to extend the tax cuts without anything else invovled in the bill budget-wise. There could easily be a counter-bill or another bill on the exact same topic on the floor now - or the President could just plain refuse to sign this one if it passes.

Given the nature of deficits we can still continue spending for quite a while until we will have to "hit a wall or just receive even fewer services than you already do for your taxes." - some countries have debt of over 100% of their GDP, I believe, and are substantially more socialistic than the USA. (I believe the Netherlands falls into this category).

If in 20 years you are paying the same taxes with few apreciable benefits, while we pay similar taxes with all of our current benefits still covered - which is worth more?

I'll take free health care, a better safety net in case I ever wind up unemployed for a brief period, and not having to worry about a second mortgage to put my kids through college over what little it is you get for your tax dollars any day of the week!
And I'll take the costs of defending the free world and being the strongest country in the world. We get quite a big benifit from that, both directly and indirectly. Of course, if anyone ever invaded Canada the USA would be there so you guys don't quite have to worry about spending more than the rest of the world combined. I'll take a slap on the face when I get unemployed, but I'll live. If I need to, I'll get public healthcare - after all, most of the uninsured aren't the American poor, but rather the American middle-class.

.. snip...

That is, of course, a Democratic bill. As it said in the article : "On one side are GOP leaders and the majority of congressional Republicans, who strongly support extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts". Most likely, they wanted to extend the tax cuts without anything else invovled in the bill budget-wise. There could easily be a counter-bill or another bill on the exact same topic on the floor now - or the President could just plain refuse to sign this one if it passes.

Given the nature of deficits we can still continue spending for quite a while until we will have to "hit a wall or just receive even fewer services than you already do for your taxes." - some countries have debt of over 100% of their GDP, I believe, and are substantially more socialistic than the USA. (I believe the Netherlands falls into this category).

If in 20 years you are paying the same taxes with few apreciable benefits, while we pay similar taxes with all of our current benefits still covered - which is worth more?

I'll take free health care, a better safety net in case I ever wind up unemployed for a brief period, and not having to worry about a second mortgage to put my kids through college over what little it is you get for your tax dollars any day of the week!
And I'll take the costs of defending the free world and being the strongest country in the world. We get quite a big benifit from that, both directly and indirectly. Of course, if anyone ever invaded Canada the USA would be there so you guys don't quite have to worry about spending more than the rest of the world combined. I'll take a slap on the face when I get unemployed, but I'll live. If I need to, I'll get public healthcare - after all, most of the uninsured aren't the American poor, but rather the American middle-class.


Yes - it was a Democrat sponsored bill - that nearly passed in a Republican dominated house because they were able to convince some Republicans to vote for it. Indeed, it took some arm-twisting to get some Republicans to reverse their votes in order for it NOT to pass. But as it stands, it is looking ver much in doubt that the Republicans are going to be willing to make the tax cuts permanent with the current fiscal dificulties.

But yes - the Netherlands DO have a a very high debt ratio. They also average nearly 60% taxes to cover it! (http://www.econ.ku.dk/pbs/diversefiler/SEPRtables.pdf) So - if that's the direction you want to go....

As to what personal benefits being the world cop gives you - I'd really like to hear what they are. Besides the pride you take in that - which does provide a nice feeling I guess. I'm really not sure where the personal benefit is though to hanging out in an Emergency room to see a doctor while the bills pile up ... nor am I sure why you seem not to care that even much of the middle class can't afford to be insured. So many famillies just an illness away from bankrupcy....

But hey - if those are your priorities I'm not about to argue with you. It's entirely your choice. They just don't happen to be mine.

-Z-

Because being the worlds foremost industrial and economic power means people will be willing to destroy us at the drop of the hat, being the strongest nation in the world does provide us with a bit of a good feeling - its quite expensive to invade landlocked mountanous countries with tons of cavern complexes. We need to do it sometimes, and it costs a crapload of money. Of course the Soviets aren't here anymore, but when they were that was also a big, conventional threat...

The likes of the UK, France and Germany, have large muslim populations now, and some among those populations have been radicalized over the last 10 years by extremist muslim clerics. Many of these people are citizens of these countries. The visa waiver allows such citizens to enter the U.S. with no background checks at all. The government move is a step in the right direction.

Canada also has an increasing muslim population, but with NAFTA there's not much to be done there, as the muslim extremists well know. Also, if they are really determined to get here, well, there's always the entirely pourous US/Mexican border to cross. One day, we'll wake up and station troops on both the Mexican and Canadian borders. It might stop a terrorist trying to gain entry; and regarding Mexico, it might have an added benefit - stopping more than 1 million per year unwanted third-world garbage from coming here.

Because being the worlds foremost industrial and economic power means people will be willing to destroy us at the drop of the hat, being the strongest nation in the world does provide us with a bit of a good feeling - its quite expensive to invade landlocked mountanous countries with tons of cavern complexes. We need to do it sometimes, and it costs a crapload of money. Of course the Soviets aren't here anymore, but when they were that was also a big, conventional threat...

And a nice justification for persecution! ^_^

j/k.

But, it did make life interesting because it was war, but not really war at the same time.

regarding Mexico, it might have an added benefit - stopping more than 1 million per year unwanted third-world garbage from coming here.

So these people are willing to come to the US, without any legal benefits, and do more work for less money, and they're 'unwanted third-world garbage' how exactly? If they were unwanted, maybe people wouldn't be clamouring to hire them.

Exactly, corporate types and farmers and all the others who want to keep wages low for the unskilled and unqualified. Having a huge supply of cheap labor is perfect for them. Not so good for low paid Americans though.

Exactly, corporate types and farmers and all the others who want to keep wages low for the unskilled and unqualified. Having a huge supply of cheap labor is perfect for them. Not so good for low paid Americans though.

maybe if they weren't too lazy to, you know, COMPETE for their jobs this wouldn't be a problem.

Actually, banning immigrants doesn't make much sense. If you let them come here legally, then force coorporations to pay them a fair wage, there's no incentive to hire them instead of Americans. So... yeah.