There seems to be an assumption that there are millions of "illegal aliens" living in the USA and drawing welfare instead of working. If they're already drawing welfare then I don't get the argument that "millions of immigrants will go on welfare and drain our system." Assuming that all "illegal" immigrants are really on some kind of social assistance, why not make them legal citizens so that they can more easily get a job and contribute to the system?
Most illegal immigrants are Hispanic. Hispanics, as a group, do not contribute to the system. Therefore, legalizing unlawful immigrants will hurt the system. Currently, unlawful immigrants are draining the system: http://www.heritage.org/research/re...ful-immigrants-and-amnesty to-the-us-taxpayer
How? I'm just asking that you be a critical thinker, and not a talking head. Common sense tells me that legalizing immigrants will only help the system. The Heritage Foundation is racist. They have gathered a handful of ultra-conservative scientists with horrible credentials to promote their agenda. This is what happens when you try too hard: The article you cited relies on this racist's horrible research.
Illegal aliens, as illegals, are cheap for the employer. They are paid poorly, and can be disposed of at any time. As legal residents or citizens, they are eligible for all of our social services. Anyway these are low income workers so they are net drains on social services. ... in 2010, in the U.S. population as a whole, households headed by persons without a high school degree, on average, received $46,582 in government benefits while paying only $11,469 in taxes. This generated an average fiscal deficit (benefits received minus taxes paid) of $35,113. So we should only want people who are at least breaking even on paying taxes for services received. Legalizing 11 million mostly low income workers will cost us 6.5 Trillion over 50 years.
I don't disagree with your sentiments, but it does depend on what the reforms are and over what time frame you are considering. I personally don't think the current proposals have enough substantive changes that it will make much difference one way or the other except at the polls. Certainly I think the DREAM Act is long overdue, but I also think Obama's EO ordering immigration to use their legal discretion as an effective DREAM Act is probably an major overreach of his authority.
Because we are a nation of laws and if you are here illegally then you have already proven you cannot follow our laws. But to answer your question.....well you can answer it yourself with a yes or no. If you could wave your hand and all the illegals were gone, would the nation be better off?
All you have to do is look at California, where illegals are treated as if they were legal (and in some areas they get preferential treatment). CA is a disaster. And an additional problem is the extended families that illegals given amnesty will bring in. Many will be elderly who will not find a job or contribute to social security or medicarre, but will receive benefits. For example, in last years state of the union obama recognized Desiline Victor, a 102 year old Haitian woman who came to the US when she was 79, she doesnt work, doesnt speak English, but has received benefits for the past 23 years. The majority of illegals are low skilled and poorly educated, and are only employable because they are illegal and are paid low wages under the table and the employer does not pay the payroll taxes (social security, medicare, workers comp, unemployment insurance, etc). Make them legal and their employability goes away.
Read the link. That's it, really? Pray tell, what is the horrible research of Jason Richwine? Racism doesn't refute basic math. Thankfully, some in academia still know better; that's why Jason Richwine's PhD thesis was accepted at Harvard.
