Lordy lord...look what they did here

If all the illegals left CA, the entire economy of the state would collapse and I think most of us that live here know that. The "anti illegals" would be the first ones screaming about having to pay $6 for a head of lettuce.

fuzzy_dogs_mom, what you said reminds me of the movie "a day without a mexican"[]

Being hispanic I get called a Mexican all the time, I'm not a Mexican I'm a hispanic American, really is a difference.  Some times out of no where someone will start speeking to me in spanish just because the way I look, I say "sorry but I don't know a word of spanish, do you speek english?" and they are surprized I'm not from Mexico.  I can't stand how it's so easy for people to steriotype other just because of the way they look.  I would hate the same thing to happen just because of the language a person speeks.  Just because they speek anouther language doesn't mean they have no education or can't communicate with english speeking people.  They are proud of their culture and they should be allowed to show it off freely without being punished for it.  Afterall isn't that what America is all about?  Our unique mix of cultures?

Edit: Somehow the debate over this issue reminds me of the fight over pit bull banning.  Just because the dog is of a certan breed doesn't mean they should be banned from of our society...

I don't think the languages should be banned at all, but I think that immigrants should make an effort to learn English as well.  That is the primary language, and if they want to succeed here, they need to learn some English as well.  They don't need to be perfect, and they dont have to use it at home, but an effort should be made to take every opportunity to become successful here.  I mean, isn't that why most people come to America, for the opportunities for success?  My sister has two friends at my mom's house in CA whose parents are from Mexico.  The little girls speak English, but the parents make no attempt at all to learn any English and have to rely on the daughters to translate all the time.  And, the school less than a block away offers free English lessons every week.  That is what frustrates me.  Nothing against those people as they are a very nice family, but the attitude frustrates me.

...I wish this would happen where I live. We have a TON of illegals here.

Hazelton, PA enacted a law like this over the summer.  As suspected, there are lawsuits being filed.  I just read in this mornings paper that a Philly Cheesesteak place is donating $10,000 to Hazelton to help defray costs of the suit (the cheesesteak place has a sign in their window that only English is spoken in that store).
 

 ...I have no problem with immigrants, but I do have a problem with people breaking the law to get here.

Me, too.  Plus all this having to learn a second language just to communicate here.  I think it's great to know other launguages, but I shouldn't have to know them to do business/live in my native country, especially way out here in "Redneck Country". 

I personally think that if you are arrested, part of the process should be the police varifying who you are and if you are supposed to be here--no matter WHAT you look like.
 
I don't know about where you all live, but HERE illegals DO take jobs that American want.  One of the top jobs for illegals in this area is construction.  Since the manufacturing jobs are fewer, guess which field most uneducated (by this I mean did not go to college or into the trades) young men go into?  Why should they have to compete with people who are breaking our laws by just breathing this air?
 
As far as language goes (although I do believe that people should be able to advertise in any language they chose) if people come here they NEED to learn the language that is spoken here.  If I decided that I wanted to move to France for work, should I then expect every French person I meet to accomidate me because I have failed to learn French?
 
My old landlord has Polish guys that do construction for her.  Two of them were fluent in English and one of then was trying very, very hard to learn more English--he would go out of his way to in fact. 
 
When my grandmother came down with Parkinsons the family decided to get her a home care worker.  She had two-the first was from the Ukrain (sp?) and the second was Russian.  They both spoke fairly good English and were always making an effort to improve their skills.  Olga, the Russian, would actually read American news papers and keep vocab lists of words she did not understand.  She read Russian papers but also kept up with the happenings in the US. 
 
I don't think that anyone should be shocked that this is happening, and illegals of ALL races, colors, and creeds brought this on themselves--you sneak into someones country, breaking their laws in the process, take jobs that Americans in *my* area at least DO want, refuse to learn the local language, drive up health care costs by using ERs for medical care and then not paying, and then get all pissy when *gasp* Americans want to make it harder to break the laws....

I personally think that if you are arrested
Doesn't say ARRESTED...it says "suspect" that means, if  you match a description...nothing more. Vastly different. 
 
ETA: probably better we don't go there.