Immigration reform needed?

2015-09-02T10:56:32-04:00

More than half of the nation's immigrants receive some kind of government welfare, a figure that's far higher than the native-born population, according to a report to be released Wednesday.

About 51% of immigrant-led households receive at least one kind of welfare benefit, including Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches and housing assistance, compared to 30% for native-led households, according to the report from the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for lower levels of immigration.

Those numbers increase for households with children, with 76% of immigrant-led households receiving welfare, compared to 52% for the native-born.

The findings are sure to fuel debate on the presidential campaign trail as Republican candidates focus on changing the nation's immigration laws, from calls for mass deportations to ending birthright citizenship.

Steven Camarota, director of research at center and author of the report, said that's a much-needed conversation to make the country's immigration system more "selective."

"This should not be understood as some kind of defect or moral failing on the part of immigrants," Camarota said about the findings. "Rather, what it represents is a system that allows a lot of less-educated immigrants to settle in the country, who then earn modest wages and are eligible for a very generous welfare system."

Linda Chavez agrees with Camarota that the country's welfare system is too large and too costly. But Chavez, a self-professed conservative who worked in President Reagan's administration, said it's irresponsible to say immigrants are taking advantage of the country's welfare system any more than native-born Americans.

Chavez said today's immigrants, like all other immigrant waves in the country's history, start off poorer and have lower levels of education, making it unfair to compare their welfare use to the long-established native-born population. She said immigrants have larger households, making it more likely that one person in that household will receive some kind of welfare benefit. And she said many benefits counted in the study are going to U.S.-born children of immigrants, skewing the findings even more.

So... I ask you this. Should children born here be automatically granted citizenship and thereby receive taxpayer funded benefits???

source USA Today

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2015 11:03 AM

2015-09-02T11:03:10-04:00

Yes immigration reform is needed.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 2 at 2015 11:12 AM

2015-09-02T11:12:41-04:00

Once reform has been completed you have to enforce it!

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 2 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-09-02T11:21:03-04:00

Reform is definitely needed.Personally,i think there might not be so many illegal immigrants if it wasn't made so easy to stay here.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Sep 2 at 2015 12:07 PM

2015-09-02T12:07:06-04:00

Yes, reform. But the word by itself could mean anything from amnesty to deportation. It just means make a change to improve. But "improve" depends on who's talking. I would vote for a 3 step plan: 1. "Close" the border: Enforce border laws, empower states implementation of immediate deportations, and fund a double- wall 24' fence with cameras and detectors between.
2. Deport illegal alien felons: Freeze all federal funds to sanctuary cities. Enforce federal and state laws to prosecute and deport any illegal alien who commits a felony, within 24 hours of jury conviction. Maintain federal facial recognition database of alien felons to recapture and punish and deport any felon attempting to return. Use diplomatic and financial pressure on Mexico to punish and retain felons.
3. Build a path to "normal": Allow more green card visas for migrant workers while enforcing employer and employee tax laws. Enable path to citizenship for illegal aliens who meet strict criteria, including law-abiding, tax-paying employment for 10 years, no social welfare programs for 10 years, and demonstrated contribution to the community. Then normal citizenship application door would open, right behind all the legal immigrants.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 2 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-09-02T12:18:42-04:00

Immigration reform is needed badly. But in making the reform it needs to address big business and agriculture industries who use this illegal labor force as a cost cutting tool. We speak badly on illegals yet refuse to acknowledge our own culpability in the situation. If we want reform, start with those who benefit from it, then allow it to trickle down. No one's going to mess with the 14th amendment, so IMHO, these children are citizens.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 2 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-09-02T12:23:47-04:00

Since someone is providing the health care, honoring the food stamps and cashing the housing vouchers, someone is making a buck or two off this. I think this is called "socializing the loses and privatizing the profits"

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 2 at 2015 2:29 PM

2015-09-02T14:29:47-04:00

I voted "I don't know...but I really don't care" which is the best possible response.
First and foremost we need immigration laws to be reformed, Immigration (ICE) is almost as bad as the VA. They fail to enforce the laws in place and cannot complete paperwork in a timely manner. Come on now, its 2015 not 1915. We have computers and scanners and all sorts of equipment necessary to speed up processing with less mistakes. Having someone who is petitioning their family members be told that the wait is a minimum of 10 years up to 25 years or more is sickening.
Most of the illegals here are not working under the table, nor are they taking less pay for a job. They are being issued payroll checks and those employers are paying out taxes and other withholding as appropriate.
Bottom line is to fix the system not add more water to the mud hole.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2015 2:56 PM

2015-12-18T14:56:24-05:00

Yes, along with welfare and public spending.... too many leeches on the system, with no conclusion on the horizon. I mean, what kind of country are we if an illegal immigrant can get benefits for free, government issued ID (DL), even become a member of a policy making group, while we have our own citizens (ie. Veterans) who are struggling, with plenty of issues on all levels (from local to national) to go around? What about the legal immigrants that have to go through the proper channels and don't get to come here? What the fEWrk?

What are we saying to everyone? I'm my opinion (and I am usually right), going along with all the social trends and whatnots, we cater to the illegal, and they'll be taken care of by taxpayers, because we need to "help" everyone out..... Because the world depends on us, because it's our responsibility, right? We're making people come over, so we might as well take care of them.....

Same with people living here, synonymous to illegal immigration, the government caters to the unmotivated, uneducated, and therefore, predominantly brain dead populace.... Because it's all good, we just have to stay positive, and everything will be just alright... as long as someone else takes care of me and my family.................. :)

I seriously just want to let the bodies hit the floor...