Immigration, both legal and illegal, puts huge strain on the country
By: STEVEN A. CAMAROTA - Commentary | ∞
Steven A. Camarota is the director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.
The debate over immigration has become one of America's most heated. In a new report published by the Center for Immigration Studies, we provide a detailed picture of the nation's immigrant population. Our conclusions will probably not surprise most Californians: First, legal and illegal immigration is at record levels. Second, immigrants are generally hardworking, yet they create enormous strains on social services. Why? Put simply, many are uneducated.
Looking first at the raw numbers, the Census Bureau data we analyzed showed that the nation's immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached nearly 38 million in March of this year. This is the highest number in the nation's history. No nation has ever attempted to incorporate 38 million newcomers into its society. As a share of the population, one in eight U.S. residents is now an immigrant (legal and illegal), the highest level in 80 years. About one-third of immigrants are illegal aliens. Moreover, 1.5 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) continue to arrive each year.
We found that immigration has a very large effect on the low-skilled labor market. Immigrants comprise between one-fourth and one-third of workers in cleaning, construction and food service occupations. Roughly half of these immigrant workers are estimated to be illegal immigrants. In contrast, just 9 percent of journalists and 6 percent of lawyers are immigrants, and almost none are illegal immigrants. This partly explains why the argument that "immigrants only do jobs Americans don't want" is widely accepted in the media and among elites in general. But the fact is, the overwhelming majority of low-wage jobs are done by less-educated native-born Americans not immigrants.
Unemployment and non-work has grown significantly among less-educated Americans. In 2007 there were more than 22 million adult natives (18 to 64 years of age) with no education beyond high school either unemployed or not in the labor market. Wages and benefits for such workers have also generally stagnated or declined in recent years. Most Americans do not face significant job competition from immigrants, but those who do are generally the poorest and most vulnerable.
The low-education level of many immigrants not only means that they compete with less-educated natives, it is the primary reason so many immigrants live in or near poverty, lack health insurance and use the welfare system. This is true even though a larger share of immigrant households compared to native households have at least one worker. If this problem was put on a bumper sticker it would read: "There's a high cost to cheap labor."
In California, immigrants and their young children comprise nearly 60 percent of the uninsured. Illegals alone are 27 percent. The latest data also show that almost half of those in the state's public schools are either immigrants or the child of an immigrant. We also found that 39 percent of immigrant-headed households in the state used at least one major welfare program, twice the rate for native households.
Because 38 percent of adult immigrants in California have not completed high school, six times the rate for natives, even immigrants who work full time often end up poor, lacking health insurance and accessing social services. Our welfare system, particularly food assistance, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal are geared to help low-income workers with children, which describes a very large share of immigrants.
We can see just how important education is to economic success in two different ways. First, we found that immigrants with a college degree have incomes and use of social services similar to natives. Second, when we look at legal immigrants who have very little education we found that their rates of poverty and welfare use are as high or higher than illegal immigrants. For example, we found that 56 percent of households headed by a legal immigrant who lacked a high school diploma used at least one major welfare program, triple the rate for natives. This is important because an estimated 57 percent of illegal immigrants have not completed high school. Therefore, legalization would not solve the problem of low income and heavy use of social services.
Immigrant use of social services might not be a problem if they generally paid more in taxes than native-born Americans. But the median income of immigrant households is 21 percent lower in California than that of native households, and immigrant households are 36 percent larger on average. The household is the primary unit by which taxes are assessed and services paid. This means immigrants will tend to pay less in taxes than natives and tend to use more in services. This is not the same as saying immigrants do not pay taxes. In fact, even illegal immigrants pay some taxes. However, it does mean they will be a fiscal drain.
If we want to avoid these problems we are going to have to reduce the number of legal immigrants allowed in who have relatively little education. We are also going to have to enforce the law and cause illegal immigrants to go home. Of course, the immigrants themselves clearly benefit by coming to America. And this could be used to justify continuing current policy. But the latest data show that less-educated American workers, public schools, health care providers and taxpayers will feel the effects if we continue down our present path.
Steven A. Camarota is director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.
The debate over immigration has become one of America's most heated. In a new report published by the Center for Immigration Studies we provide a detailed picture of the nation's immigrant population. Our conclusions will probably not surprise most Californians: First, legal and illegal immigration are at record levels. Second, immigrants are generally hard working, yet they create enormous strains on social services. Why? Put simply, many are uneducated.
Looking first at the raw numbers, the Census Bureau data we analyzed showed that the nation's immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached nearly 38 million in March of this year. This is the highest number in the nation's history. No nation has every attempted to incorporate 38 million new comers into its society. As share of the population, one in eight US residents is now an immigrant (legal and illegal), the highest level in 80 years. About one-third of immigrants are illegal aliens. Moreover, 1.5 million new immigrants (legal and illegal) continue to arrive each year.
We found that immigration has a very large effect on the low-skilled labor market. Immigrants comprise between one-fourth and one-third of workers in cleaning, construction and food service occupations. Roughly half of these immigrant workers are estimated to be illegal immigrants. In contrast, just 9 percent of journalists and 6 percent of lawyers are immigrants, and almost none are illegal immigrants. This partly explains why the argument that, "immigrants only do jobs Americans don't want," is widely accepted in the media and among elites in general. But, the fact is, the overwhelming majority of low-wage jobs are done by less-educated native-born Americans not immigrants.
Unemployment and non-work has grown significantly among less-educated Americans. In 2007 there were over 22 million adults natives (18 to 64 years of age) with no education beyond high school either unemployed or not in the labor market. Wages and benefits for such workers have also generally stagnated or declined in recent years. Most American do not face significant job competition from immigrants, but those that do are generally the poorest and most vulnerable.
The low education level of many immigrants not only means that they compete with less-educated natives, it is the primary reasons so many immigrants live in or near poverty, lack health insurance and use the welfare system. This is true even thought a larger share of immigrant households compared to native households have at least one worker. If this problem was put on a bumper sticker it would read: "There's a high cost to cheap labor."
In California, immigrants and their young children comprise nearly 60 percent of the uninsured. Illegals alone are 27 percent. The latest data also shows that almost half of those in the state's public schools are either immigrants or the child of an immigrant. We also found that 39 percent of immigrant-headed households in the state used at least one major welfare program, twice the rate for native households.
Because 38 percent of adult immigrants in California have not completed high school, six times the rate for natives, even immigrants who work full time often end up poor, lacking health insurance and accessing social services. Our welfare system, particularly food assistance, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal is geared to helping low-income workers with children, which describes a very large share of immigrants.
We can see just how important education is to economic success in two different ways. First, we found that immigrants with a college degree have incomes and use of social services similar to natives. Second, when we look at legal immigrants who have very little education we found that their rates of poverty and welfare use are as high or higher than illegal immigrants. For example, we found that 56 percent of households headed by a legal immigrant who lacked a high school diploma used at least one major welfare program, triple the rate for natives. This is important because an estimated 57 percent of illegal immigrants have not completed high school. Therefore, legalization would not solve the problem of low income and heavy use of social services.
Immigrant use of social services might not be a problem if they generally paid more in taxes than native. But the median income of immigrant households is 21 percent lower in California than that of native households, and immigrant households are 36 percent larger on average. The household is the primary unit by which taxes are assessed and services paid. This means immigrants will tend to pay less in taxes than natives and tend to use more in services. This is not the same as saying immigrants do not pay taxes. In fact, even illegal immigrants pay some taxes. However, it does mean they will be a fiscal drain.
If we want to avoid these problems we are going to have to reduce the number of legal immigrants allowed in who have relatively little education. We are also going to have to enforce the law, and cause illegal immigrants to go home. Of course, the immigrants themselves clearly benefit by coming to America. And this could be used to justify continuing current policy. But the latest data shows that less-educated American workers, public schools, health care providers and taxpayers will feel the effects if we continue down our present path.
Steven A. Camarota is Director of Research at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.
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Question wrote on Dec 16, 2007 7:49 AM:Do our laws mean anything to you?
Sam wrote on Dec 16, 2007 9:20 AM:This is exactly what we have been telling our Legislators for the last 10 years and they just won't listen to those of us out here in the real world. FYI, If you need to be taken to an ER, go in an Ambulance else you will have a 6-8 hour wait to see a physician. At any California hospital the place will be packed with illegals. Mostly DUI accidents, gangbanger wounds and babies with snotty noses.
So true! wrote on Dec 16, 2007 10:59 AM:Thanks for the review of the situation. Teaching in Escondido, I have watched our quality of education fall drastically. We are now having to deal with kids who don't speak English and parents that don't seem to be very supportive of the goals of education.It is very difficult to teach at the appropriate level.
RG wrote on Dec 16, 2007 12:42 PM:Thank you, Steven A. Camarota for explaining what many of us in Southern California have been saying for years. When will our "leaders" do something about it? Maybe a long time since we have people like Wayne A. Cornelius, a “Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at UCSD” telling us to just relax, there is no problem with immigration.
Reardon wrote on Dec 16, 2007 1:41 PM:The two “Perspectives” on illegal immigration in today’s NCTimes take two looks at opposite sides of the same coin. Illegal immigration is both a blessing and a curse, but the problem is what economists call “externalities” – which is to say that the American who benefit do not pay, and the Americans who pay do not benefit. This nation needs a strongly enforced Bracero Program (which program, incidentally, SDRAOUL, Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin led the defeat in Congress); a doubling of fast-track LEGAL immigration quotas for all Latin countries; and the deportation of only those illegal aliens who have broken any significant laws (document fraud and motor vehicle laws included). Recent federal efforts have reduced the number of illegal aliens previously ordered deported by courts to “only” 600,000 people, a number which is grossly unsatisfactory. Ideological advocates on both sides of this issue need to find a WORKABLE solution to a complicated problem.
Cherubim wrote on Dec 16, 2007 3:19 PM:In Mexico there is a very rich ruling class of elites. Mexican citizens should stop marching in the streets of the U.S., and go to their own government and demand the officials in their government stop being corrupt and stop taking money from the drug cartels. I fear that the ruling elites on both sides of the border are in a plot together: The ruling plutocracy on the Mexican side want to dump their poor into the U.S. so the U.S. Middle Class tax payers will take care of their education and health needs, while the ruling plutocracy on the U.S. side want to get slave labor and cheap ocean front property. By the way here is the forbes.com list of Mexican billionaires. Why won't the Mexican citizens in the U.S go home and march in front of their streets: Mexican billionaires: Names Personal worth in billions Carlos Slim Helu Mexico 49 U.S.billion dollars (Carlos Helu has now surpassed Bill Gates, and is now offically the richest man in the world) Alberto Bailleres Mexico, 5.0 billion dollars Ricardo Salinas Pliego, 4.6 billion dollars Jeronimo Arango, 4.3 billion dollars Emilio Azcarraga Jean, 2.1 billion dollars Roberto Hernandez Ramirez 2.0 billion dollars Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala family, 2.0 billion Isaac Saba Raffoul & family, 1.8 billion dollars Lorenzo Zambrano & family, 1.7 billion dollars Alfredo Harp Helu, 1.6 billion dollars
Hank wrote on Dec 16, 2007 4:48 PM:Interesting. Two back-to-back Perspective pieces appearing to contradict each other. Mr. Camarota cites many percentages to emphasize the negative effect illegal immigration has on our society. Professor Cornelius questions the validity of those percentages. Many of us will blindly accept Camarota or Cornelius merely because they support our preconceived notions. Few of us will independently research the validity of their arguments. And so it goes on, and on ... In my opinion, Professor Cornelius won this round when he criticized the Camarota piece thus: "This is not a contribution to reasoned debate on U.S. immigration policy; it only feeds fear of immigrants as a "permanent underclass" whose members are destined to fail in the U.S. economy and become a burden on the (native-born) taxpayer."
Jaydee wrote on Dec 16, 2007 6:22 PM:wake up people lets all get togeather and stop paying or tax's and then and only then will the white house listen to us the middle class.. no money no power. why to we give millons to other countrys taht hate us anyway.............J.D.
Shameful wrote on Dec 16, 2007 7:06 PM:Great Article. Someone should send this to Congress. They just cut all the money that was to go to our border fence. Gotta have that hispanic vote.
Nick wrote on Dec 16, 2007 8:54 PM:"Jaydee", it's a great idea to not pay taxes to get the White House to listen, but all that will do is get the IRS to take your bank accounts. Then you will have to unravel all that mess. Get rid of the IRS, PERIOD! The get rid of all the ILLEGALS draining our taxes. Now there's a start.
Bettybb wrote on Dec 16, 2007 9:56 PM:Absolutely correct! We Americans know ti is. However, it appears the "elite" (see David Brooks's of the NYT article a couple weeks ago) have decided free trade, Nafta etc is the way to go. Hence they are pushing for open borders, North American integration etc. The windfall profits to big business would be unbelievable. Americans would get screwed and we would loes our country by they don't care. First of all.. URGENT.. PASS THE WORD... Huckabee's "tough immigration program" is a total sham. It has a touch back provision, so illegals go home, get papers and walk right back in. Go to Alipac for details. HUCKABEE is trying to PULL A FAST ONE ON YOU. - WEASELY LANGUAGE TO HIDE HIS PRO AMNESTY STANCE! It is really imnportant to get this info into the first caucus /primary states so that people know exactly who they are voting for. Anti legal immigrant, pro illegal supporters cause is RACIST. The illegals, almost all Hispanic, want a HUGE PREFERENCE OVER all other races in America when it comes to immigration. The policy is family reunificaiton, but other races in America DO NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, due to geography, to bring in their family and ethic group illegal, and increase their share of the voting block. Our Constitution prohibits this type of discrimination and provides that all Americans have equal protection under the law.
JanetP wrote on Dec 17, 2007 2:56 AM:It is clear that U.S. Citizens are not going to get relief from the ills of illegal immigration until the current government is replaced. They have demonstrated their inability, or lack of will, to stop the invasion. The only answer is to replace them with candidates who are not beholden to business. Let's be ready in the '08 election cycle to begin a migration of our own - sending the current office holders back home.
Ben wrote on Dec 17, 2007 4:10 AM:Ever since I started following Camarota's articles and testimonies on immigration,it seems to me that his researches are always designed to study the negative effects of immigration (illegal and legal). I think this is a scientifically biased research methodology. The research should be designed to look at both the positives and the negatives. And the legals should be separated from the illegals since the effects (both negative and positive)can not be the same for each category of immigrants, moreso when the negative effect of one can easily erode the gains of the other. This center should rather be called The Center Against Immigration, which it appears to be any way. Thanks.
3456456 wrote on Dec 17, 2007 4:45 AM:Just look at the types of comments the "center's" articles attract. It's from the intellectual bottom-rank.
Bottom line wrote on Dec 17, 2007 7:32 AM:The more that this problem is ignored the worst the problem becomes.
I agree with Jaydee wrote on Dec 17, 2007 11:53 AM:NO MORE TAXES, Federal or State until they do the job we pay them for, enforce our laws!
Bruce wrote on Dec 17, 2007 12:30 PM:I agree totally!!! " NO MORE TAXES, Federal or State until they do the job we pay them for, enforce our laws! "
Patriot wrote on Dec 17, 2007 1:37 PM:I agree with Ben that the distinction needs to made between legal and illegal. Unfortunately, our public schools aren't even allowed to ask about immigration status when a student is enrolled. One might think the parents here illegally were all in the witness protection program the way this information is obscured from the public. Look at the California state budget and you will see that half of your taxes go to public education. This information is freely available. However, your Federal Government will not allow you to know how many billions of your tax dollars are spent on families of those who live in the country illegally. In this country, certain information is free, but other information is information that our government would prefer not to share to protect the corrupt.
azzrsss wrote on Dec 17, 2007 3:36 PM:I am a legal alien who has worked hard and honest here in the U.S. I love my heritage and my roots. I believe that many people like me who migrate to this country are here to make a better life for them and their family. But, I am sadded by people who come to steal and destroy what other law obeying residents have builed for their families. I am a victim of identy theft and don't or ever will support this criminal act.
You don't say! wrote on Dec 17, 2007 4:37 PM:We remain in the cross-hairs of a cultural time-bomb that already exploded in Europe. Their legal immigrants from poverty stricken regions in Africa and the Middle East accelerate social chaos, isolation, language separation and poverty. Harsh facts show them not assimilating into host countries. Multiculturalism and diversity prove a nightmare for Europeans.
kicemout wrote on Dec 17, 2007 7:58 PM:Have you also taken into account the infrastructure of this country: the roads, bridges, parks, etc. How about water, gas, electric and the pollution all these millions of people create. And then there are the courts,prisons, etc. There is a lot more involved here than food stamps, medical and education. But why should this even matter? It is against the law to be in this country illegally and those that are should be sent home.
Bobby wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:02 PM:It is so clear what the massive illegal immigration is about to various groups of people. To the American taxpayer citizen and legal resident, it just means higher taxes, and less service for them. To the Mexican reconquista groups, it means power. To the employers it means cheap labor. Funny, none of it seams to have an up side for American citizens. The Democrats push it and expect us to swallow their beliefs about racism, equality, human rights, etc. but as the great writer and philospher Ayn Rand said, "Those who support slavery should at least be gracious enough to call it by its real name."
Concern Citizen wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:14 PM:This was a very good study of immigration and its effect on American society. The end result is a nation that is headed toward third world status. The issues have become too big to solve anymore. As long as most politicans will not read the report, illegal immigration will only increase. As long as the special interest groups, and other think tanks are directing the domestic and foreign policies of this nation, your voice will not be heard in Washington.
John wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:25 PM:Mr. Camorata writes, "...immigrants are generally hardworking, yet they create enormous strains on social services. Why? Put simply, many are uneducated." Gee... Maybe we should just educate them if that is the only reason they are a drag on our system. However - I think the real problem is that we have too much demand for labor and not enough domestic supply. We also have lousy labor standards in the US and spend too much money on wars and rebuilding the middle east. We need shift priorities and invest in social services at home. Raise wages while we close the gap between the rich and poor. If workers were paid a living wage - they would not be dependent on social services. And the immigrant labor pool we need could support themselves.
Bobby wrote on Dec 18, 2007 1:29 AM:John, your points are well taken, however, I don't think big business really wants to pay a living wage. In fact, I believe that big business will not want amnesty at all, once the amnestied people join labor unions. It wouldn't make sense, their supply of cheap labor would be cut off. This is why I believe that those who are open borders are essentially for slavery and I'm only being half facetious.
willie wrote on Dec 18, 2007 6:54 AM:The illegals are here because they work cheap. As long as native born employers can line their pockets with the sweat of the illegals brow, they will keep coming. It is a force of nature and cannot be stopped by further stomping on the people exploited by the greedy employers. We have met the enemy and he is us.
Construction down wrote on Dec 18, 2007 7:17 AM:and American workers can't get work because of illegal aliens being hired at below industry wages. Is the labor board doing anything? NO! Is Contractors State License Board doing anything? NO! Me thinks maybe it is time we stop paying taxes and join the illegal aliens and the US government in illegal acts. They want taxes, tax the illegals because the Americans are through paying for the governments corruption.
Survivor wrote on Dec 18, 2007 7:39 AM:I am arming myself and going off the radar (no tax trail)for the coming chaos, it will be the only way to survive this invasion.
Bobby wrote on Dec 18, 2007 1:24 PM:The general spinelessness of most Americans in the face of this invasion and usurping of citizens resources can only be termed, "BREATHTAKING."
Dan wrote on Dec 18, 2007 3:27 PM:The solution is in the article. 1. Stop all immigration (legal and illegal)! According to the article, "Second, when we look at legal immigrants who have very little education we found that their rates of poverty and welfare use are as high or higher than illegal immigrants." So seems its not just the illegal's sucking up our resources. 2. How about those 22 million unemployed and welfare natives get up off their butts and work hard! If there are no jobs for the immigrants there is no reason for them to come into our country.
Dan wrote on Dec 18, 2007 3:48 PM:The solution is in the article. 1. Stop all immigration (legal and illegal)! According to the article, "Second, when we look at legal immigrants who have very little education we found that their rates of poverty and welfare use are as high or higher than illegal immigrants." So seems its not just the illegal's sucking up our resources. 2. How about those 22 million unemployed and welfare natives get up off their butts and work hard! If there are no jobs for the immigrants there is no reason for them to come into our country.
W. D. Russell wrote on Dec 18, 2007 7:05 PM:It's time to vote every last one in Washington out and send them a message!
weasaw wrote on Dec 18, 2007 9:33 PM:Unless citizens in this country start showing up and casting a vote for the candidate who truly is interested in protecting this country then we are lost. You can no longer afford to trust those elected officials to do what is right for this country because it is all about money and power. Hold their feet to the fire and if they don't perform kick their butts out. There is no time to waste people. No time at all!!!! Stand up for America!! Do it now! Make sure you are registered and that you actually vote. Call your representatives and fax or email them and tell them what you think.
bill wrote on Dec 19, 2007 6:22 AM:It makes me sick to think of all the programs and materials that have to be cut so we can have multiple english as second language classes and for every dollar paid in medical services to illegal aliens' benefit it takes away from needy citizens. I don't know what to do, I read all the time abuot this subject and see people fed up, but there needs to be unity and noise made to get this thing moving! The dems want amnesty and the gop are ruining our country. where are the marches by citizens like there were by the illegals. We can't just sit back and let this thing run it's course or we are going to ruin everything for the future of our country, IT IS TIME TO BE HEARD!!!!!!!
Fred H wrote on Dec 19, 2007 8:39 AM:If studies of this nature are labeled 'misleading or racist' they are most certainly accurate. The truth hurts!
Ken wrote on Dec 19, 2007 10:28 AM:I agree with all of what Steven has said. It is time to make our elected officials hear us when we say "I AM MAD AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE." Enforce our laws, make the employers that hire ILLEGAL ALIENS really heavy. Get our local and city governments to get our law enforcement officers trained to handle and enforce our immigration laws. Then we will be able to start seeing that the ILLEGAL ALIENS will start self-deporting themselves out of our country and back into their own country. WAKE-UP AMERICA, AND BE HEARD!
JerryN wrote on Dec 19, 2007 12:03 PM:Tell us what we don't know.
Bobby wrote on Dec 19, 2007 3:42 PM:One wonders if the day will ever come when the American citizenry refuses to take any more cr-p from these politicians and big business and with an iron will, with one voice, simply put the forces aligned against them on notice?
Skip wrote on Dec 19, 2007 7:52 PM:Two Thumbs Up
Patriot wrote on Dec 20, 2007 8:01 AM:And now twice convicted felon Elvira Arellano (remember her?) is making noise about returning to the U.S. illegally to lead a pro-illegal immigration march on Washington D.C. next year. Twenty years of lax law enforcement has emboldened people to ignore our laws and flaunt their disdain for our laws.
Bobby wrote on Dec 20, 2007 6:31 PM:Patriot, you got it. Neglect of the law. Lawlessness. And you know what, we Americans are to blame 100percent. We are involved in every possible activity imaginable, in order to sublimate our real problems. These politicians have practically been screaming at the citizenry, for the last twenty five years--"Hello, I am a crook and I am goin to scr-w you over every chance I get. Afterall, you won't vote me out anyway. "Stupid is as stupid does."
get a room wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:21 PM:hey Skip, Patriot and Bobby: get a room
Roberto1 wrote on Dec 20, 2007 8:28 PM:"get a room wrote on Dec 20, 2007 7:21 PM:hey Skip, Patriot and Bobby: get a room " REPLY: LOL!...I guess an obsession with illegal workers (or is it mexicans?) causes all sorts of side effects. My suggestion is don't be so paranoid just because everybody's out to get you!
Susan wrote on Dec 21, 2007 6:38 AM:Yes, immigration both legal and illegal does strain local economies but it's going to get worse now that the Secure Fence Act has been gutted of funds to build a double wall fence. This is all part of a lonterm plan that will eventually open our borders both north and south. It called the North American Union and if you understand what the end goal is then it all makes sense. We are being lead like sheep by corporate interests and members of the CFR. By the time people realize what's happening it will be too late.
To Susan wrote on Dec 21, 2007 8:19 AM:Good point. Look at all of these presidential candidates who are members of the CFR: Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Dodd, Romney, Giuliani, McCain, Thompson. The CFR is a non-governmental organization of monied and influential politicians, media elite, bankers, corporate leaders, and scholars with a pro-globalist ideology. This means abolishing American borders and yielding sovereignty to a central world government. If this comes as a surprise to you, you can check it out for yourself; the CFR position papers and CFR membership data are widely available online.
Hope springs eternal wrote on Dec 21, 2007 1:27 PM:Look at OK, AZ and GA. They are eliminating benefits for illegals, work for illegals and the illegals ARE self deporting. As more and more states look to them for inspiration and advice, more and more states will pass and enforce similar laws. IF the illegal doesn't "hit the gravy train" in the US, their beloved homelands will start looking better. Legal immigrants, who DO want to become citizens, will be protected and not have to compete for low skilled jobs. Employers will be forced to pay a living wage and taxes to/for legal immigrants who are willing to do those jobs. When home countries are forced to care for their own citizens, human rights violations will be down, worldwide. US isolationism, for at least ten years, is the only way this country will survive.
NO DUH? wrote on Dec 21, 2007 2:59 PM:A study by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday backs up the view that undocumented immigrants sap more tax dollars than they provide, especially in education, health care and law enforcement.
Jackson wrote on Dec 22, 2007 8:06 AM:This is so true...I am not against immigration, but how many people can this country support? All immigration needs to be examined...legal and illegal. We need to carefully assess those individuals that are allowed legal entry into the country. The laws that support special immigration status to certain occupations need to be scrutinized and enforced, not circumvented for business reasons. We need to look at the laws that allow family members to immigrate "freely" into this country. Best article I have read on the immigration challenge in a long time!
RickB420 wrote on Dec 23, 2007 7:33 PM:That other poster was right about the conspiracy- The north american union or canamermex. It is true and is happening as we speak. These illegal aliens have spread in their numbers through every state and now control has been lost.Due to fear of being labeled racist, true americans have allowed this to happen little by little. Now their numbers have grown and the local, state, and feds just look the other way. Time to stop this CANCER before its too late. Tune into the GLENN BECK program on HNN sat. ch 202 and you can get a better picture of what is really happening to this once soveriegn nation, secretly under attack. I guess it will take another 9/11 type of incident before anything will be done. Of the 1 million Illegal aliens that crossed into our country through mexico last year, 60,000 were from the middle east part of the world which has already proven their hatred for americans and the United States. More than likely its too late, the terrorists are already here or are on their way through mexico. We should of used 9/11 as our opportunity to button up the security of this nation. but nobody acted.
jsc wrote on Dec 24, 2007 12:16 PM:Just a few examples from your local welfare office: 1) client received amnesty 1986. Client has continued to work part time for 20 years. Client has done nothing to improve his skills or work more. Client has done nothing to improve his situation except have 5 U.S. born kids. Client earns $800/mo. Client receives $1770/mo in housing subsidies; he pays only $80 month rent for a 5 bdr 3 ba house on 1/3 acre; taxpayers pay the rest. Same client receives Medi-Cal for entire family plus other benefits including earned income credit. He also had his 18 yr old pregnant daughter from Mexico (why she was born in Mexico since he's lived here forn 30+ years is suspect)smuggled here last year and she's receiving WIC, Medi-Cal and now cash aid for the baby.His earned income is about $10,000/yr. His Medi-Cal insurance premiums and Denti-Cal costs about $10,000/yr. Subsidized rent received is about $21,000/yr. Food stamps and WIC--$3000/yr. Earned income credit 0ver $3000 yr. Plus free school lunches, tuition for adult children plus cash aid $3500 yr for grandbaby. This amnesty alien pays no income tax, receives EIC, has done nothing to improve himself since being legalized, receives close to $38,000 per year in subsidies. I would rather spend the money to help the elderly and disabled than to have another amnesty with its associated costs. Please note the client still doesn't speak English and still breaks our laws by smuggling his pregnant daughter in. Of course if he really wanted his daughter to live with him he could have gone through legal channels,filled out the paperwork and sponsored her--oh wait, he can't sponsor her...he can't support himself or his current family. And under our reformed immigration rules he needs to earn the federal poverty level for his family size plus sponsored relative to do sponsor her. That's about twice what he earns. Plus if he waited, his grandchild wouldn't be bringing in $300/month. If you get my drift, illegal aliens and most amnesty aliens cost us far more than they contribute. This is not an isolated example. I can give you 1000's of others.
jsc wrote on Dec 24, 2007 12:27 PM:I need to tweak the above figures. Client would need to earn about triple his $800/month income since he has a family of 7 plus 1 = FPL for 8 required to sponsor, plus if he sponsored her before she was pregnant she would have been 17. Also my figures of subsidies are a tad low; some are known, but some like the amount of Denti-Cal expenses, are estimated. Also if you include misc perks like school lunches, tuition, etc, the figures would be $39,000 to $41,000 for this heavily subsidized amnesty ... family. No more amnesty!
Roberto1 wrote on Dec 24, 2007 3:20 PM:To all the Phobes and haters....Merry Jesus Christ our lord and saviours birthday...(you know, the thing we are all celebrating)...and may God have mercy on your soul.
Carl wrote on Dec 25, 2007 4:47 PM:Just propaganda and antiimigration histeria
Bobby wrote on Dec 25, 2007 4:55 PM:Roberto 1, yeah, yeah, yeah, haters, haters, Phobes, Phobes, etc. etc. blah , blah, blah, Merry Jesus Christ to you to , whatever you're trying to say............. In the meantime, long live the U.S. and its borders.
Daniel wrote on Dec 28, 2007 12:58 PM:This problem is not new. It has been around for decades. If there were an easy & workable solution, we would have heard of it, and probably seen in action, many years ago. The article here, like countless before it, is long on complaints and very short on tangible, feasible remedies.
A 1000 mile Berlin Wall will not stop the many thousands who come in through normal channels on false papers. Illegal tax evasion will not abolish illegal immigration. Conspiracy fantasies about the council on foreign relations or NAFTA do not affect the wage differential between California and Mexico.
As long as the complainers are busy pointing the finger at someone else, the problem of massive illegal immigration is not going to go away simply by becoming more and more vocally bent out of shape about it. Gripers who are neither full-blooded Dieguenos nor willing to admit that solving this complex issue will require many years of real economic sacrifice and political compromise, not to mention the overcoming of fears about tamper-proof national identity papers frequently checked, may as well pack up and move back wherever they or their recent ancestors migrated to SD County from.
Happy New Year, fellow immigrants!
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