I Want You to Leave My Country | Talking With People Immigration Edition

Summary

Podcast Summary: Louder with Crowder Episode Title: I Want You to Leave My Country | Talking With People Immigration Edition
Release Date: July 21, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of "Louder with Crowder," host Steven Crowder delves into the contentious topic of immigration in the United States. Titled "I Want You to Leave My Country | Talking With People Immigration Edition," the episode features on-the-street interviews with immigrants from various backgrounds, aiming to gauge public sentiment and understand the complexities surrounding the nation's immigration policies.

Host's Street Interviews on Immigration

Crowder takes to the streets of Dallas, Texas, engaging with immigrants to discuss their views on President Trump's deportation agenda. The objective is to capture authentic opinions from individuals who are directly affected by immigration laws, bypassing mainstream media narratives.

• Initial Interaction:
  • Host [00:00]: Opens with a provocative statement challenging immigrants' identification with America, questioning their right to reside in the country if they do not identify as American.

Perspectives of Immigrants

Two primary guests, Steven and Armando, share their personal experiences and perspectives on immigration, integration, and their ties to both their homeland and the United States.

• Steven's Views:

  • Steven [03:04]: Emphasizes that most immigrants, including himself, contribute positively by paying taxes and seeking better opportunities for their families.
  • Steven [04:20]: Advocates for the legalization of immigrants who abide by the law, arguing that many are hardworking individuals seeking a better life without intending to undermine American society.

• Armando's Insights:

  • Armando [06:28]: Discusses the cultural challenges faced by immigrants who strive to maintain their heritage while adapting to American values.
  • Armando [22:57]: Shares his family's journey from Cuba, highlighting their contributions to American society through hard work and entrepreneurship.

Media and Government Policies on Immigration

The discussion shifts to the role of media in shaping public perception of immigrants and the effectiveness of government policies.

• Host's Critique:

  • Host [08:07]: Criticizes media coverage, suggesting it often fails to highlight the positive contributions of immigrants and instead focuses on negative stereotypes.

• Chico's Observation:

  • Chico [10:12]: Points out that media often overlooks the stringent measures the government takes to deport criminals, implying that responsible immigrants are unjustly targeted.

Economic Impact and Taxes

A significant portion of the conversation centers on the economic contributions of immigrants versus the perceived costs.

• Host's Assertion:

  • Host [08:33]: Claims that illegal immigrants cost taxpayers $400 billion annually and are more likely to commit crimes, urging for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

• Steven's Rebuttal:

  • Steven [18:02]: Argues that immigrants like himself pay taxes and contribute economically, debunking the notion that they are a drain on public resources.

• Armando's Perspective:

  • Armando [25:26]: Suggests implementing a remittance tax on immigrants who send money back to their home countries, aiming to mitigate financial outflows.

Comparisons with Other Countries' Immigration Policies

The episode draws parallels between U.S. immigration policies and those of countries like China and Mexico, highlighting differences in strictness and intent.

• Host's Comparison:

  • Host [15:03]: Contrasts the lenient deportation practices in the U.S. with China's strict immigration controls, questioning the latter's humanitarian aspects.

• Chico's Input:

  • Chico [16:15]: Acknowledges China's need to update its immigration procedures to attract foreign talent while maintaining control over its population growth.

Personal Stories of the Immigrants

Both Steven and Armando share heartfelt narratives about their reasons for immigrating, the challenges they've faced, and their aspirations in the United States.

• Armando's Journey:

  • Armando [22:12]: Details his parents' escape from Cuba via a banana boat, their subsequent military service in the U.S., and their entrepreneurial endeavors in California.

• Steven's Struggle:

  • Steven [10:02]: Discusses his efforts to obtain legal status, the difficulties of living in Mexico due to cartel violence, and his desire to establish a stable life in America for his family.

Host's Views and Conclusions

Throughout the episode, Crowder maintains a critical stance on current immigration trends, emphasizing the need for assimilation and questioning the sustainability of policies that allow immigrants to enter and exit the country rapidly.

• Host's Closing Thoughts:

  • Host [25:01]: Challenges the viability of building a nation when immigrants come solely to take advantage of temporary opportunities without long-term commitment.

• Host's Policy Suggestions:

  • Advocates for stricter immigration controls, including identifying and deporting illegal immigrants effectively, to preserve American identity and economic stability.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Host [00:00]: "Americans... don't want people here who don't identify as American. Is that fair? Because you shouldn't be here if you're not American."

• Steven [04:20]: "We don't come over here to steal jobs, steal cars, steal money, steal land. Only come here to work, you know, looking for a better life."

• Armando [06:28]: "It's very interesting to see all that... they just want to keep going with this narrative of, you know, immigrants should be allowed to do whatever they want and free."

• Host [08:07]: "The media is feeding lies. So that man is actually... he's being brought back."

• Armando [22:57]: "It was very inspiring to see the American dream come true for some of the people that came here. My parents being one of them."

• Host [25:26]: "They should be taxed. Some kind of tax. Remittance tax."

• Armando [25:18]: "I personally think they shouldn't [be allowed to leave]. If they do that, it should be taxed."

Conclusion

This episode of "Louder with Crowder" presents a critical examination of the United States' immigration system through the lens of immigrants themselves and the host's own perspectives. By juxtaposing personal anecdotes with broader policy critiques, Crowder invites listeners to reflect on the balance between welcoming newcomers and maintaining national integrity. The dialogues underscore the tensions between economic contributions, cultural assimilation, and security concerns, painting a nuanced picture of the ongoing immigration debate in America.

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Note: This summary distills the key discussions and viewpoints presented in the episode, integrating direct quotes to preserve the authenticity of the speakers' opinions. It provides a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the podcast, capturing the essence of the conversations and the host's investigative approach.

Transcript

[Host]

Americans, I will say this, and I'm half Canadian, don't like it when they hear you say I'm Mexican. Then we don't want people here who don't identify as American. Is that fair? Because you shouldn't be here if you're not American.

[Armando]

You left there for a reason. Your culture wasn't working. I mean, I'm not saying that your culture is bad, but the government's not working. And if you start bringing those kind of elements back into the government, you're going to get the same thing you.

[Host]

Had where you came from right at your house. Do you wave the American flag, Chinese flag?

[Chico]

Oh, we don't have any flags.

[Host]

Get an American flag. We expect that of immigrants here. This week. I'm back in the streets of Dallas, Texas for the latest edition of Talking with People, in which I talk with people. It's pretty self explanatory. It's just seeing what people think, gauging the temperature, people who don't work in cable news or social media. And this week, just like ice, I was looking for some immigrants.

[Steven]

If you're going to have 21 million.

[Host]

People and if we have to get.

[Steven]

A lot of them out because they're criminals, we're going to have to act faster. We can. Do you think we can give 21 million trials? Hey, where's your warren?

[Armando]

Where's your Warren? No, you.

[Host]

Luckily for me, I found some legal ones. I assume. I didn't ask for their papers, but I did pick their brains on how they viewed President Trump's current deportation agenda. Too hot, Too cold. Just right. Is their perception, like many of us, shaped by media or their experiences? And as immigrants themselves, with backgrounds ranging from Mexico to Cuba to China, they all had different points of view. And you can choose whose perspective you line up with most comment below. At the end of all this, we decided that I think they can stay in the country. Well, most of them. This is talking with people. What's your name, sir? Chico. Nice to meet you, Chico. Steven. Nice to meet you, Chico.

[Steven]

Meet you my friend.

[Host]

So you live around the area? You visiting?

[Steven]

It's like five minutes away from here.

[Host]

Yeah. Do you like it here?

[Steven]

I love Dallas.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Good city.

[Host]

We've had some people complain about the heat, saying it's bipolar.

[Steven]

Today, of course. No, today is beautiful.

[Host]

Yeah, this is nice.

[Steven]

I'm like, what are you complaining about today? Maybe next morning It'll be like 100 degrees. So yeah, there's nothing to complain today.

[Host]

I know. I was raised in Canada where we get negative 40 so I'll take a little heat if that means I don't get nine months of blistering cold.

[Steven]

Yeah. For real.

[Host]

Obviously, a big topic in the news is immigration in this country. Deportations have stepped up. We've seen these riots, protests in the streets. What are your initial thoughts on that as far as immigration in the United States?

[Steven]

You know, I think as they do something like a really, like a hack for. For us, I think, because I'm immigrants too. And then how I say, though, they know her like really bad.

[Host]

Don't worry about it.

[Steven]

We have, we have like, mostly people coming from Mexico, from different place to South America, Central America, come to work for opportunity, for. For our family, you know. And then also we make family here too, when we get married with a American, but when we become women from the same country too.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Was it on the front? And then now the problem. I understand why he do it. No, but now a lot of people have family here. You know, you get separate kids, they born here. It's understand they. They don't know nothing about over there. And then have a lot of people live over here for like 15, 20 years, you know, they. They already over here.

[Host]

Sure.

[Steven]

This one is a difficult.

[Host]

It's difficult. So what do we do with someone who broke the law and came here a while ago and is still here.

[Steven]

Illegally, you know, trying to fix that problem, you know, a lot of people like me, we pay taxes. We do all the things, especially on the road, you know, Only the problem we do is what we come in here, it's only double. It's only one, One thing we broke.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

From here, you know, I have a lot of people over here, even American people, they broke the law like many times.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Then USA don't do nothing to that. No, we come over here.

[Host]

Well, if they don't get caught.

[Steven]

Yeah. We don't come over here to. To steal a job. We don't come over here to. To steal cars, to steal money, to steal land.

[Host]

No.

[Steven]

Only come here to work, you know, so. To looking for better life. Yeah, Better life for. For ourselves, for our family, you know. And then I think, say, but the USA is difficult to fix our paper. To me, I live here for nine years, you know, and married for two years. The country, they not pay me even a green car, you know.

[Host]

Yeah. It takes a while.

[Steven]

Yeah, it takes a while.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

More than two years. And then they give in. No, get nothing, you know.

[Host]

Right.

[Steven]

It's still the same.

[Host]

So you're married to an American.

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

Yeah. So you're not at risk of being deported.

[Steven]

Then over here, it's not very dangerous. But you see what happened in California, where it's more my people over there.

[Host]

When it's like, what do you mean your people?

[Steven]

My people is like Mexican. I'm Mexican.

[Armando]

You know, both my parents came here in 1960, my dad came here in 63, but my parents 65.

[Host]

Okay.

[Armando]

And growing up our whole lives in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by a lot of immigrants, surrounded by a lot of, you know, ethnicities, surrounded by a lot of culture. They still said it doesn't matter what that says.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

Still 1% American. The country comes first. This is the country that gave us freedom. Our country took away our freedom in one day.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

You know what I mean? So it was very interesting to see all that. And it was very interesting to grow up around that kind of environment and still have that mindset. And what boggles my mind is that people don't see that. They just want to keep going with. They want to keep on going with this narrative of, you know, immigrants should be allowed to do whatever they want and free. I just.

[Host]

It kills me if I were to go to Mexico and live there. And by the way, I can't. I can't protest. I can't even own waterfront property in Mexico. Right. And I said, no, no, but I'm American. I'm not Mexican. That would not be tolerated. Americans, I will say this, and I'm half Canadian, don't like it when they hear you say I'm Mexican. Then we don't want people here who don't identify as American. Is that fair? You shouldn't be here if you're not American. Is it?

[Steven]

You know, I think this one is a world freedom for everybody. I think land is no on for nobody. I think people need to go wherever they want. I understand the rules about the countries. You know, I think mostly Latin or Hispanic people, maybe 90%, they not broke the rules. They only come here for work.

[Host]

They don't have this at your house. Do you wave the American flag, Chinese flag?

[Chico]

Oh, we don't have any flags.

[Host]

Get an American flag. We expect that of immigrants here. You come here, you gotta be American. Gotta love America.

[Chico]

Yeah, I'm still trying.

[Host]

Oh, guess what. Guess what. Just start. Start considering it. Tryouts.

[Chico]

Oh, maybe. Maybe it's life.

[Host]

Well. Cause Americans, I will say I'm half Canadian, was raised there. Americans don't take very kindly. Actually, let me show you. These are the riots of protests. What do you think they would do in China?

[Chico]

It's the one in la?

[Host]

Yeah. What do you think they would do in China if you were protesting and waving a foreign flag?

[Chico]

This will never happen.

[Host]

It seems like people who flee actual communism.

[Armando]

Yes.

[Host]

Are very patriotic.

[Armando]

Absolutely. It's because, well, they understand what they're. They understand what they've lost. I mean, they understand what they've left and understand what they're gaining.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

And they're willing to put in the effort and the work into what they're gaining versus what they never have.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

And I think that's a really good. You know, it's the only country that we know of that nobody wants to leave, but they want to talk as much crap as they want about it. I know it's the only one that.

[Host]

We know of, and I appreciate that you are working, but you and I both know that's not all. People coming here illegally. And also hundreds of terrorists were captured at the border. Right. When the border is open, there are more slaves on earth than ever. 40 million, many of them, you know. You know, the cartels. Right. If you try and come here, you know that for every person like you there, there's a dozen people who were captured by the cartels, taken advantage of. Right. They run the southern border and that illegal immigrants are two to five times more likely to commit crimes. And they cost taxpayers $400 billion a year. So Americans are saying, hey, come here legally. Get on the. In other words, someone like you who pays taxes, who works, they don't have a problem. They will have a problem with you saying you're Mexican, not American.

[Steven]

Yeah.

[Host]

Because come here, you're American. But we do need to find out who's coming.

[Steven]

The problem to come here legally, it's difficult, really difficult to get like a visa or like, how I say in English, My English. Really bad.

[Host]

No, actually, it's not bad. It's good. I appreciate it.

[Steven]

It's really difficult to come illegal over here to USA for this one. Mostly people do that way. You know, it's the way we have to come here.

[Host]

You know, you don't. You could stay. In truth, you don't have to come to the States. It's not a law.

[Steven]

It's. It's difficult for a lot of people to stay in Mexico because Mexico, they have a problem about cartels. You know, where you go live. I have a lot of people there run away from cartels. You know, they. They looking for a place to live, like, and I guess happy or skip.

[Host]

They'Re escaping violence or crime or poverty. Yes.

[Steven]

Other people coming over here because they fort they have his family. They don't have money or they want to do something better to them, you know, like, it's better here. My mom. We have a. Like a decent house, you know, But I want something better for my mom.

[Host]

Right.

[Steven]

Not something better for my sister, you know?

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

I'm trying to come over here legally. Before, when I was in the college, USA didn't offer me the opportunity to.

[Host]

Come over here, you know? Yeah.

[Steven]

And when Mexico gets really difficult to live when I have a. My two sisters and my mom and my dad died. So I need to find the solution.

[Chico]

Same place for, like, processing criminals first. But also, I don't know if it's just the media or, like, what I'm reading is there are a lot of, you know, just on the street people getting arrested, some people for no reason.

[Host]

So, like, probably. Let me. Let me guess. Okay. And I'm just gonna guess. You probably read about the man who was deported to an El Salvador prison.

[Chico]

Yes.

[Host]

Yeah. So. And. And he shouldn't have been deported. Right.

[Chico]

I. I don't know about this matter, like, as well.

[Host]

So you're saying the media. That's a famous one.

[Chico]

It's just, like, there's a lot of, you know, coverage on these topics. So I think maybe it's just not as known to the public that what are the, you know, what are the steps that they're taking to. To make this happen? Yeah, I think that would be a good message to let the public know.

[Host]

I agree. Yeah, I agree. And that's the thing is part of the country is trying to. And the media is feeding lies. So that man is actually. Ms. 13 is a human trafficker. He's being brought back.

[Chico]

There you go. Yeah, I think those things are not getting highlighted.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chico]

Every single example, you know, these are the, you know, standards that we're going after. I don't think those are. At least I have, like, seen those.

[Host]

Well, I think we need to deport everyone here illegally because we don't know who they are. Yes. And because of the crime and because of the drug cartels. And I understand people are seeking a better life, but the problem is you're empowering really bad people. And if you don't, just, like, in China, they wouldn't tolerate it. Right. If you were driving without a license in China, you're probably going, yeah. Whereas here they just deport you. They go, oh, you're not supposed to be here anyway. You're driving without a license or you got a dwi. But we're Going to deport you. And then that's seen as plane tickets. Yeah, yeah, send them back. They can self identify, deport and come back. I know I had a lady actually right up here at this hotel. I was there for New Year's and privileged white lady, you know, of course. And she was blaming the current situation in Cuba on the United States.

[Armando]

Really?

[Host]

What? She goes, yeah, well, the embargoes. And I go, okay, Cuba. Here's the horrible part about Cuba. It has the perfect climate to grow anything.

[Armando]

Anything.

[Host]

Yeah, anything. It's like slapping God in the face putting communism in there.

[Armando]

Absolutely.

[Host]

Also, they have the two biggest trading partners at communist China and Russia, and they still can't make it work. How is this our fault?

[Armando]

Yeah, it's not. It's not. And only that. I mean, Cuba is actually the gateway to the West.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

You know, I mean, as far as the ports in. During, I'm sure that, you know, during the American Civil War, Spain was backing the Confederacy and they said, hey, yeah, if you win the war, we'll give you fuel.

[Host]

Yeah. Well, it even goes back further than that with that 100. But it's funny that you mentioned that A lot of people don't realize Mexico was only a country for like, is it 23 or 27 years?

[Armando]

I think it was like, 27 years.

[Host]

Yeah. 27 years.

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

So USA, stolen land. And that was a treat. It was. And then we were watching the, the live riots. They go. We say the most dangerous, dangerous immigrants ever were from 1492. I'm like, you mean the Spanish?

[Armando]

Not even British or American or French or German. It was the Spanish.

[Host]

If you like conversations like this, hit the like button or subscribe or tune into the Daily show. Weekdays at 11am Eastern. Let's continue with talking with people. Why would you just say people are escaping a country? Drug cartels, poverty. Right. More opportunity here. It's better. Why would you identify with the country that you had to leave to seek that opportunity? Don't you think it shows to people here who work and pay taxes, go like, hey, that seems like a lack of gratitude. If you're here, you should want to be American or you shouldn't be here.

[Steven]

Not Mexican, you know, I'm trying to fix that thing. Of course I'm trying hard, you know, I told you already two years to fight to stay here. Because now I want to stay here. This one is my house now. I live over here now.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

My family is over there. You understand? Yeah, of course. I'm born over there. And still identification Mexican because I'm born in Mexico, but I lived here for like almost 10 years. I'll go stay here, I guess if the governor he go, let me stay here. Yeah, no, I don't already get married. I want to have my children here. You know, I should make my family here.

[Host]

Well, Cuba is. I've been. So I'm one of the. At least it. For a portion of time I went and entertained the troops in Guantanamo Bay. And then as, because I had a Canadian passport, I went there to shoot a commercial. So I was one of the few people who legally had both passports stamped Guantanamo Bay because only Americans go there. No Canadian military anyways. But then also in Havana and I'll tell you, it's. It's really sad to see.

[Armando]

It is absolutely horrible. It is absolutely horrible. I have friends that visited there and they've left their suitcases and all their belongings there. Just so, you know, people get in and you know, and then they say it's the greatest. You know, it's like, oh yeah, it's a great country. I'm like, what are you guys talking about? Like they have nothing. They're literally living in dirt houses and trapping in holes and like, what do you. Communism is the worst thing in the world. Yeah, communism is the worst thing in the world.

[Host]

Well, especially because it's like you take Cuba, you go, you have everything that if communism would work, it should work here a pretty amount. I mean that's slaves that came over, so there's a lot of black Cubans, but pretty homogeneous compared to the United States. Absolutely, very, very fertile soil. Right. Huge trading partners and they've had it on federate. And it's only got worse.

[Armando]

It's only gotten worse. It's never gotten any better. And I don't understand why they can't see that. And then of course, it's always our fault. It's always America's fault.

[Steven]

It's always.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

You know, it's always us saying that. Well, you guys haven't. We guys haven't tried to open up any trade or any kind of roots with them or any kind of negotiations them and like they don't want to. They're making so much money hand over fifth. Why would. I mean, why would they want to change that? Yeah, I mean everything. Well, just like you said, everything goes directly to the government. Yeah, nothing goes to the people. Well, whatsoever. You know, people always say Communism works. I'm like, explain to me how communism works. And they say, well, on paper looks great. I said yes, now let the Human. The human mind into it.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

You know, greedy. Well, greedy people. Evil. Well, evil people. And it doesn't matter if they're the topper or on the bottom. It doesn't matter. They're going to take advantage of the situation as much as possible now.

[Host]

Centralize that power.

[Armando]

Correct.

[Host]

See what you're going to promise.

[Armando]

Exactly the same thing here. It just blows my mind.

[Host]

What's. Do you know what the immigration policy is like in China?

[Chico]

It's very strict. It's very. Not welcoming as far as I'm understanding. Yeah, I think it's very hard to get in. It's very hard to stay. But I think right now, as you know, to stay, based on their current growth in terms of population and economy, they definitely need to update their procedures as well.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Chico]

So that they can not only attract foreign talents, but also, you know, have the local talents to stay. So they now have a pretty big luggage.

[Host]

So you would acknowledge that it definitely is easier for you to immigrate here than for people to get into China.

[Chico]

So. My husband is American. We talked about it a lot. So, you know, depends on how it goes. We either either need to stay here or, you know, we can move back to China. But I think it's.

[Host]

You would move back to China, really.

[Chico]

You know, just have the possibilities open. But I think we're. As we're talking, it's just like, you know, it's gonna be a lot easier for me to stay here than like him coming to China.

[Host]

Is America the greatest country in the world?

[Steven]

America for me, they premium everything, you know, make me happy.

[Host]

No, not selfishly. Is it the greatest country on earth?

[Steven]

Yes or no?

[Host]

What country is better?

[Steven]

I know things are not going to be better. Every country they have, they. They cross. You know, they have a. The good things that they have, the bad things everywhere. They know how like a happiness.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Place in the world never, you know, go find it.

[Host]

That's the big difference. When people talk about we're a nation of immigrants, and that's true. But you know, the Italians, the Irish, the Poles, Germans, at one point in time, there's a big difference. First off, that was pre welfare. Right. You pay taxes. You know, a lot of illegal immigrants don't. That's one of the benefits. But all those people came to this country and every single one would say, I came to the greatest country in the world and I'm grateful to be here. And if not, they went back and left. This is the first generation of people who come here and say, yeah, but it's not that great.

[Steven]

A lot of people come here for opportunity, you know, a lot of that's gravy. Maybe like 50. They only conquer four years and they go back. Yeah, then they go back four years and they go back.

[Host]

Yeah, that's done. No more of that. That shouldn't be allowed.

[Steven]

One thing is because.

[Host]

Do you agree that shouldn't be allowed? You shouldn't be allowed to come here, benefit from the system and go back. What's the benefit for Americans if you come here for four years?

[Steven]

The problem is America, they're not paying you the money for free. You know, we work for the bank, we work.

[Host]

No, no, the problem is coming here and sending the money back.

[Steven]

No, but when we get the check, we pay the taxes, you know, we print the taxes exam. When I'm. When I get it, when I get my first check and my check, they say, you know, this one is the money you go bring to America, you know. No, all the money is for me. America get percent too to understand taxes for my work. Yes, I'm working for that.

[Host]

Cuz you pay taxes.

[Steven]

Yeah, I pay taxes. So I'm not everyone here and I come over here to take the money only and then go. I'm work over here, I'm pay percent of the taxes. Mostly people do, because I think mostly, mostly check tax. They take you the tax out.

[Host]

Sure.

[Steven]

On your check.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

So it's no, it's not true to say, oh, the people come over here and then take the money and then go back.

[Host]

No, what I'm saying is how do you build a country with people who come in, take advantage of the opportunity and leave, you know, a lot you can't. Mexico doesn't allow that.

[Steven]

A lot of people, yeah, Mexico. Other peoples come to Mexico. I do the same thing. You know, mostly people stay because maybe they love Mexico, they like Mexico or these things. You know, a lot of Americans go to Mexico and live in Mexico. Mexico, they don't pay taxes, they work with computer and they get money far.

[Host]

Fewer than coming to the states. And you're not even allowed to own waterfront property in Mexico. Their immigration laws are way stricter. No, in Mexico, yes, they are.

[Steven]

They, they're not asking for taxes like here, you know, you know, get checked from over here and Mexico say premium taxes. Whatever you win. No, you don't pay taxes.

[Host]

You don't pay taxes in Mexico.

[Steven]

If you're American.

[Host]

No, if you're, if you're, if you're living, you become a Mexican citizens don't pay taxes or even on tourism.

[Steven]

A lot of Americans, they stay live in Mexico City a lot because I went to college there. You know, they rent apartment there, you know, they don't pay taxes to Mexico. They only get a check from usa, pay the rent, buy the things.

[Host]

Oh, you mean they're being paid from the States? You mean like if they're on their Social Security, stuff like that? Yes. Yeah. They're not working a job that's very different. What I'm saying is coming here, working and going back in four years. How do you build a country on people who come and lead.

[Steven]

They people, they come to help you. You know, they, they people build that thing. The people build that piece. Build this one, build this one.

[Host]

Could Americans build it?

[Steven]

Put America, they go stay over here. They're not going take with them.

[Host]

But could Americans build it?

[Steven]

I guess they got any more time.

[Host]

Really. What you think that is good?

[Steven]

I guess we are the workers really hard in this country. And then you see it. If you go looking everywhere, this one's going to lie. You know, I not say this one because I'm Mexican. I say this one because I see this, you know.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

I see Latin, Hispanic, Mexican work and the street work and that thing work. And this one, I don't see a lot of Americans do that. You understand? It's hard work in this heat, you know.

[Host]

But do you think that maybe, maybe that's because illegal immigrants are cost a company less?

[Steven]

Because they cost less. They cost less.

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

So what if Americans would do it for a fair way.

[Steven]

Yeah, for that one too. You know, if we are legally, you know, people ask you for 30, 35, 40.

[Host]

Right.

[Steven]

Four hours, you know.

[Host]

Right.

[Steven]

We get 20, 22. And also we get this $22 per hour.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

We pay taxes. You understand how difficult it is when you pay taxes. Obviously pay taxes. I think when you get a check, because when you are a company, construction company, the government, they will ask you who you hired, who it is.

[Host]

Is America a better country than China?

[Chico]

I think it is better. I think it's definitely a better place to, you know, have a better work life. Balance like cost of living is not as high as. Especially in Dallas, Texas.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Chico]

So. And then just overall not as much. I don't feel as much of peer pressure here. So definitely for me, I think it's a better fit here.

[Armando]

My dad came here on a banana boat. Chiquita banana boat. He hid in the bananas. Came here in 1963, landed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, joined the army.

[Host]

Wow.

[Armando]

And again, first joined. Well, first joined the Army. Then he. Then once that was done, because the Bay of Pigs was killed after Kennedy was assassinated. So the army gave him an option. You could either stay in or we can ETS you. And you could. And you can go on your way. And he's like, I'm on my way.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

And so he met up with some friends and some Cubans that he met. They got an apartment together, and they've worked together and they paid taxes. They became American citizens. 19. My dad became American citizen in 1986. My mom became American. Since 1988. My mom had.

[Host]

She's Cuban.

[Armando]

Yes.

[Host]

Okay.

[Armando]

Yeah. Yeah. My mom left Cuba in 1965.

[Host]

Okay.

[Armando]

And so my. My mom at the. My mom and my dad sort of met. They went to New York. One winner in New York. They're like, we're done.

[Host]

I get it.

[Armando]

We're done. So then they came back to Florida and then they said, look, there's not. There's no work here. We need to work. So. And we want to contribute. So they went straight to California, found tons of work there. My mom worked for the Los angeles zoo for 20 plus years. My dad worked for the zoo as well.

[Host]

And I guess she worked other jobs, too. Like, yes, all Cubans I know have side hustles because they go, wait, I get paid more if I work overtime because it's so over there. You work as long as they tell you.

[Armando]

Absolutely. Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, she did that. She did. They. So she worked at the LA Zoo. My dad worked nights. She worked days. And what they did is they tried to buy a small little, like, restaurant in Burbank, California, or Glendale. And whoever was not working, they would go work the shop and then they would switch off when the person got off of work. So it was something of that, you know, was. It was very, very. It was very inspiring to see the American dream come true for some of the people that came here.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

And my parents being one of them.

[Host]

What's your duty to America? What. What do you owe America for giving you the opportunity? What's your duty to this country?

[Steven]

I guess not broke the law. Work hard. Maybe when you go print me the papers, I will come to help more. But, yes. No, I cannot do nothing.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Steven]

Only work and then respect people and not disrespect that country. Because this country paid me a lot. You know what I'm going to do.

[Host]

I think that's a good attitude. Yeah.

[Steven]

Only that I can tell right now I cannot do nothing. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Host]

Well, I think that's a Good attitude. You won't be riding in the streets like in Los Angeles, burning down cop cars. I don't think so. I think you're a working man with a family. It seems like every Cuban American I know.

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

And the way I had explained to.

[Armando]

Me, I said is.

[Host]

Well, because for us, when we first hear about, like, overtime.

[Armando]

Yes.

[Host]

You have to understand, like, a month's pay over there is a month's pay, and you can maybe get a bar.

[Armando]

So if you're lucky.

[Host]

Yeah, yeah. Someone. We come here, like, wait, I get time and a half. Wait, I can work another job that I choose.

[Armando]

Absolutely.

[Host]

And that's not what we're seeing right now with this current generation of im.

[Armando]

No, we're not. What we're seeing is what can you give me? And I don't want to give nothing back to you. And I want to. I wanna. I wanna change the entire culture to where I came from, because that's what makes me feel good.

[Host]

Right.

[Armando]

You know, but it's like. But you left there for a reason.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

Your culture wasn't working. That. I mean, I'm not saying that your culture is bad, but, you know, the government's not working. And if you start bringing those kind of elements back into the government, you're gonna get the same thing you had.

[Host]

Where you came from. Right.

[Armando]

You know what I mean? I mean.

[Host]

Well, it's like this week, the same guy, he talked about how he sent his money back home. They talked about a lot of people, they come in, they work for four years and they leave. So they don't cost taxpayers money. I said, okay, how do we build a country?

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

On people who send their money out and come here for four years and leave.

[Armando]

There's no way to sustain us now. There's no way to sustain that. Yeah.

[Steven]

I mean.

[Armando]

And that's the biggest. And that's the biggest problem with. Well, with that. I personally think they shouldn't. That they shouldn't be allowed to do that. If they do that, it should be taxed.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

It should be 100 taxed.

[Host]

Yeah. Remittance tax. Yeah.

[Armando]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Armando]

Some kind of tax.

[Host]

Well, just think about it. The Cubans. So when my mom was with me because I was a minor in Havana, a server, it was like at a restaurant, my mom with the tip on the receipt, I said, mom, remember? They don't. They don't get that. My mom being naive, sweet lady goes, oh, I'm sorry. She goes, let me take that off and I'll let you do cash. Because then the government would know that. She told them. Yeah. And okay, just. Just keep it. Leave it there. And here's some cash anyway, because we found out that all of it goes straight to the government.

[Armando]

Everything goes to the government.

[Host]

And so people don't want to send their money back to comedies government. It's very different from not fleeing communism in Mexico. They just see more opportunity here.

[Steven]

Sure.

[Host]

And so there's less gratitude in a lot of places in South America. Yeah.

[Armando]

And it's also a lot safer and there's a lot more to do out here. And you know, and you know, it's hard to get a business license in Mexico.

[Host]

Yes, it is.

[Armando]

You know, it's really hard. Yeah, it's really hard to get business license. The best way you can start up a business or even.

[Host]

Especially if you're an immigrant.

[Armando]

Especially if you're an immigrant. But even if you are an IM and you are actually a legalized Mexican, you go to the bank, you're like, hey, I want to get a business loan. They're like, that's nice. That's really nice. Well, what do you want to do? And they're just sitting there like, I don't know. I want to sell tacos. He's like, how about marijuana? Yeah, that's what we do. And that's what we do here.

[Host]

Thank you, chico.

[Steven]

Appreciate it, brother.

[Host]

Thank you. Thank you for the opinion, brother. Be well. Thank you. I hope you and your husband do well, and I hope that you get that citizenship. You guys can stay here.

[Armando]

All right.

[Host]

Thank you so much, Skyler. No, I appreciate it, man.

[Armando]

Yeah.

[Host]

Armando.

[Armando]

Yes. Armando Garcia.

[Host]

Armando. Thank you, man. Say thanks to your parents, too, for coming in and making the country a better place. Well, that was mostly nice. You can let me know what you think below. This has been talking with people. Stay tuned for next week in which I talk with this guy, meet. Let's call him Gay Brian.

[Armando]

I am of the belief that if we can help nine people and then one bad person comes in, I'm always worth help. Think it's worth helping those nine people?

[Host]

What if we know that if you said you9 have to stay in Mexico, we know that that one bad serial rapist, murderer, enslaver would be out of business.

[Steven]

But that.

[Armando]

That we might know that, but we also don't know that.