What is your assessment on the hidden cost of illegal immigration?

Question

Please read the link before commenting. Thank you
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0319/p16s01-cogn.html

Answer 1

Reduced labor costs is NOT good for our economy.

These people are already getting paid little. Why not kick them while they are down, and pay them even less???

Ask any American in the construction business if they like our illegal invasion. No good can come out of it.

Answer 2

The cost is going to be staggering. It will take a generation or two before the illegals' children would be able to find a level of education where their contribution outweighs their take. Like many poor people, what they pay into the system is far less than what they take. Millions of illegals are already straining the system - health, education, welfare - to the point where schools and hospitals in the affected areas are on the verge of closing if they haven't already.

There are hidden costs, like the spread of disease. Social ills, poverty and ignorance all have their costs. That is why we learned last century how important it is to control immigration. If it gets out of control, and we are there already, the bills will start to mount, and the honest citizens will be forced to pay.

Also, there is going to be some serious race and class conflicts coming as people get pushed and squeezed.

Kennedy's reasoning, stupid as usual, is to blame the consequences rather than the causes. You see, according to Ted, the problems are created by the government which is doing its job, not the illegals who brought the problems on themselves by breaking the law.

Answer 3

Rector calculates that the average household of a high school dropout pays about $9,600 in taxes, including payroll, sales, excise, possibly income (often offset by the Earned Income Tax Credit), property, etc. That same household receives about $32,000 a year in government services. These include Social Security, Medicare, education, welfare, highways, police and fire protection, etc.

The fiscal costs of illegal immigration do not end with these major cost items. The total costs of illegal immigration to the state’s taxpayers would be considerably higher if other costs such as special English instruction, school nutrition programs, or welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal alien workers were added into the equation.

I think that says it all. The benefits do not out weigh the deficits.

Answer 4

I think the biggest costs aren't the dollar figures mentioned in that report but what the overcrowded schools with too many kids who can't speak English and too few funds to address that means to education of our own children. It is their future, and the $1400 or so more I pay a year in taxes to cover illegals pales beside that cost.

To another point in your article, I agree that the enforcement now is just 'for show' to get a bill passed. Environmental groups long ago found that business could pressure agencies (responsive to lobbied politicians) not to enforce in any meaningful way. So the environmental groups demanded citizen suit ability to sue the government to enforce the law.

Whatever law is ultimately passed will be a disaster without enforcement. If they really mean to enforce, they should add a citizen suit provision.

Answer 5

"Low-skilled individuals, legal or illegal, cost the government much more in services than they pay in taxes."
I agree with it. It was put in such a way as I had to wonder if this also included American citizens. American citizens who are low skilled and seek to become more skilled or educated are being passed over for people who others feel more sorry for and/or feel they can exploit easier. In addition, they are losing entry level jobs to these people. This puts our bottom layer on par with illegals rather than other citizens. How would you feel if you were constantly lumped in with illegals and others based solely on skill level and financial status rather than all of the other things who make up who you are? Such as your potential, your effort, your loyalty, your events, and your citizenship. The number one cost in all of this is the disloyalty American citizens are shown by other Americans who had better opportunities. Instead of reaching out to those of us who are reaching up, they reach out to those who made a run for the border. It's very discouraging.

Answer 6

In my humble opinion, the cost is relevant and we will never know the true cost. Illegal means illegal and is against the law. It appears that laws have no meaning and only applies to legal citizens

Answer 7

Until we can put a price on the loss of innocent lives caused by illegal immigrant crimes we cannot put a price on the cost of illegal immigration. How much is a life worth? A high percentage of illegal immigrants are violent criminals.

Answer 8

How about the illegal immigrant mexican that nogales border patrol caught today? the guy was wanted in georgia for not registering as a sex offender.

Answer 9

First off, let me say one thing......I don't read Christian Science Monitor, thank you.

To me, illegal immigration is bleeding this country dry. The jobs citizens lose to them.......the cost of the healthcare they need.......many things are being put upon legal citizens to pay for.

Yes, most of them are hard workers.......but for whom? They keep just enough to stay afloat, and send the rest back to their families whereever they came from. That drains the economy, too.......that's less dollars being used to buy local goods.

It really does need to end.

Answer 10

they are costing American citizens more then they are worth. there is a cure for this problem and our govt refuses to do it. the reason there are fewer illegal immigrating is because they are all here already. my sisters old man is from Mexico. he said it took him along time to become a citizen of this country, it is now his home. he owes his loyalty to the united States of America. he has tried for the past two years to help his mother and sister come here. they said no, Mexico is their home. it seems the woman are more loyal to their country in Mexico.