[lupatus]

The USA has an orderly and, from what I understand from my immigrant friends and coworkers, not too difficult immigration process already. The meritocracy is here already. The article's author decided to cheat the system and be a criminal.

[pmb]

"Not too difficult". Hah. http://immigrationroad.com/green-card/immigration-flowchart-...

The shortest route is 10 years.

[pfedor]

It's not true. I got an employment-based green card a little over a year after I set foot in the country.

What is true is that the system is rigged against Indians and Chinese. If you are Indian and don't have a PhD, then yes, you may have to wait 10 years, probably longer in fact. Unlike the hardships of illegal immigrants, this hardly ever gets any attention though.

[icarus_drowning]

I'm an American who has contacts with a group of people who are illegal aliens. We have been trying to go the correct route for years. Trust me when I say it is a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

The entire reason we have a problem is because there isn't a good way to "do things legally".

[chaostheory]

I had to wait over 8 years to get my citizenship and wade through tons of bureaucracy and paperwork. In my experience it was anything but easy. It took a letter to the governor of my state, asking for help so that I can vote for him; to get things moving. Suddenly everything magically fell into place within two weeks of writing that letter.

It's probably only 'easy' for Canadians.

[rplacd]

In all seriousness, though, would you recommend anyone else do that after being able to prove you've "done your time" in the system?

[chaostheory]

Recommend writing a letter to your governor or local politician? Yes.

Dismantle the bureaucracy that makes immigration so difficult? Yes. I believe in free markets.