While our great nation was founded and built by the minds and labor of immigrants, the subject has taken on a starkly different meaning in recent decades. The issue, as I see it, is finite resources and who can and should have access to them. I am deeply troubled by how Hispanic the United States has become: I should not have to press 1 for English when calling a business, nor should citizens be shut out for jobs because they are not bilingual. That having been said, monies spent on providing services to illegal immigrants is a huge waste of money. Huge. I am no more an advocate for embracing illegals than I am doing the same for someone who breaks into my house and decides the living room is theirs.
That being said, however, I do not in any way advocate any element of discriminatory behavior. All people are entitled to dignity and fair treatment. We simply do not have the resources to accept the continuing glut of illegals. I do believe that very cheap labor in the form of immigrant workers is exploitive and drives down wages. And, es, I would be willing to pay more for produce and other goods and services to support legitimate wages and jobs for citizens. Part of the reason that farms hire migrant workers so cheaply is because others would be hesitant to do the same work for the meager wages.
I think legal immigration is down because illegal immigration has become so easy and it takes so long to get citizenship legitimately. Both of these must change. Border states, such as California and Texas have high rates, but non-border states, such as Georgia and even Delaware are seeing increases, as well. Many Mexican illegal immigrants are essentially sold into slavery to come to the U.S. It is a thriving business.
Health care and education are among the services provided en masse for illegal immigrants that we simply cannot afford. We have legitimate citizens in need of services and monies are being wasted.
Policies to curtail immigration seem to send mix messages: on the one hand, it limits access to some entitlements but also rewards those who have been hiding out long enough to get amnesty.
Then there are security issues post September 11th: could a terrorist get into the U.S. by first coming through Canada? I think we should put a 15 year total freeze on immigration while we sort out the costs and solutions to address illegal activity. If we have stringent laws in place - and enforce them - it might discourage border activity. Some might view that as racist against Mexico, but let's face it. We only share a border with two other countries and there are not floods of Canadians coming into the U.S. If we shared a border with Yugoslavia, I would have the same view.
The issue of illegal immigration is one of complacency and security. If your home is repeatedly broken into, it's time to take a serious look at why.
your first paragraph is somewhat offensive, You shouldn't have to press 1 for English? The United States was an immigrant country in the past.the first inhabitants or REAL Americans were the Indians.. Many different nationalities make up the US therefore for English to be the main language would be somewhat ignorant. The immigrants that you are speaking of are the same ones you hire to get a job done that you wouldnt want to do, so what makes them American enough to do your yardwork and not to get healthcare?
ReplyDeleteYou are very right about the country being one of immigrants but it is also a melting pot. That means that there is one central, generic culture among many people while people also have their cultures. This is not North Mexico: I should not have to learn Spanish in order to function in the United States. If English were not the "main language" as you call it, then what? How many languages should native citizens have to learn?
ReplyDeleteI take offense to your presumption that I hire illegals to do my yard work. I don't. That is indeed prejudicial. I am all for LEGAL immigration but oppose the influx of illegals, no matter what skill, no matter what country of origin. The law is the law. People who do not contribute through taxes should not avail tax-provided services. Our nation can no longer bear the financial burden of people who take from the system but do not contribute.
I really don't have any issues with having to press 1 for English. I like you do take issue with illegal immigration and the financial burden thrust upon our economy by those that do not contribute by way of taxes. I feel that the immigration laws should be enforced but there should be a path to citizenship for those people who are looking for the same opportunities and freedoms as those who boarded a certain ship in 1620.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with majority of what you said except the part where the U.S. puts a 15 year freeze on immigration.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that I should not have to press 1 for English, if immigrants want to come to an English speaking country, they should learn English and not the other way around. Same way when I went to Montreal in Quebec...majority of the people spoke French and the signs were all in French, I definitely had a hard time getting around, but I managed to learn the basics to get by and did not expect them to speak English as it is their culture and how its been working there.
Also zkhader when you mention "so what makes them American enough to do your yardwork and not to get healthcare"...it does make them UN-American as they are not citizens and do not pay taxes to receive those benefits. If we as Americans work hard and piss away 40% of our income on tax for the benefits we and other Americans receive, why should they not pay the same? Why should they get a free ride? If Congress got a little sensible tomorrow and passed the Fair Tax, you would see how these illegals would immediately increase their prices for wages and start expecting higher wages.
Also when you mentioned the 15 year immigration freeze, did you mean on all immigration period? If so, that would just isolate us like some third world nations and would be counter productive. We should definitely encourage legal immigration as it would help keep jobs in America and not get outsourced overseas and keep a competitive market within our borders.
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ReplyDeleteThere is a great deal of personal opinion in your blog but a severe lack of facts. You have this notion of illegal immigrants, particularly from Mexico, are simply abusing social services without paying anything for their “reward”. However, the vast majority of public services have eligibility requirements that define ‘qualified aliens’ and I assure you none of these definitions include an illegal immigrant, in fact, many restrictions are imposed on legal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are NOT eligible for Food Stamps, Welfare, Medicare, or Social Security. You seem to think they use healthcare benefits in massive amounts, when in reality the only access they have to hospitals is the emergency room. The problem is that most estimates about illegal immigrants using the emergency room are very misleading because most hospitals do not inquire about immigration status. In fact, the big estimates you see are insured vs. uninsured patients, not necessarily illegal immigrants. Immigrants compose about 3% of the US population; therefore, it is ridiculous to assume they are bankrupting the system. Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office indicates that between 50% and 75% of unauthorized immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes. The studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office estimate that illegal immigrants pay about $7 billion a year into social security, yet they are not eligible for one cent of that money. Some illegal immigrants work with fake social security numbers and names, therefore, they pay the same taxes the average American citizen has to pay but they do not receive a refund for it, the federal government received $1.5 billion of unclaimed tax revenue in 2005.
ReplyDeleteTo address your education concern, primary education is a universal tenet and NO ONE should be denied access to it. In fact, those millions of people who cross the border or overstay their visa to have a better lifestyle should be regarded with respect, not labeled as ‘criminals’. If there is a crime being committed in this country is not allowing college-bound students who graduated from American high schools the opportunity to pay in-state tuition. Most of these students are dedicated, hardworking, and intelligent individuals who could make great contributions to our country in the future, yet we shot down their dreams of pursuing a higher education. I simply cannot address your comment “I am deeply troubled by how Hispanic the United States has become” because I find it dimwitted to say the least. Nevertheless, I can address your question, “Then there are security issues post September 11th: could a terrorist get into the U.S. by first coming through Canada?” Yes, terrorist can come from everywhere; in fact, the terrorist that flew two planes into the twin towers, causing the death of approximately 3,000 Americans had legal status in the United States. I personally feel blessed to be a legal immigrant and I am thankful to be the kind of person that looks at the wider picture and for being open-minded. Immigration is a matter of moral ethics and any person in their situation would do the same. Would you prefer to watch your children starve rather than violating a ‘diplomatic law’? I bet these border laws become very irrelevant when you cannot afford bread.
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