Illegal Immigration: What should we do?

[Saulbadguy]

Set up an Ellis Island type deal to allowed faster processing of immigrants. Set up certain dates throughout the year when people can legally immigrate, and adhere to those standards. Declare amnesty for all those currently in the US, however, set restrictions on what they can and can not do, and if they decide to return to Mexico, they have to come back "legally" through the "Ellis Island".

JMO - I think our friends to the South can be a huge asset rather than a burden.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Set up an Ellis Island type deal to allowed faster processing of immigrants. Set up certain dates throughout the year when people can legally immigrate, and adhere to those standards. Declare amnesty for all those currently in the US, however, set restrictions on what they can and can not do, and if they decide to return to Mexico, they have to come back "legally" through the "Ellis Island".

JMO - I think our friends to the South can be a huge asset rather than a burden.

I agree. I understand the desire by many, to not reward illegal behavior....but I'm trying to be realistic, I guess.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

I agree. I understand the desire by many, to not reward illegal behavior....but I'm trying to be realistic, I guess.

I'd like to know more about the naturalization process. I don't buy the line of people coming here just to suck off the governments tit. I'd be willing to wager the vast majority of illegals are here to earn money.

[Mr. Kotter]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

I'd like to know more about the naturalization process. I don't buy the line of people coming here just to suck off the governments tit. I'd be willing to wager the vast majority of illegals are here to earn money.

You are right.

Most are too afraid to take advantage, even of programs they qualify for. I've seen an extensive analysis of it at some think tank site (Brookings Institute maybe?) that basically says they create much more government revenue than they "cost."

I look for it later, if I get time....

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

You are right.

Most are too afraid to take advantage, even of programs they qualify for. I've seen an extensive analysis of it at some think tank site (Brookings Institute maybe?) that basically says they create much more government revenue than they "cost."

I look for it later, if I get time....

From CIS:

· Illegal alien households are estimated to use $2,700 a year more in services than they pay in taxes, creating a total fiscal burden of nearly $10.4 billion on the federal budget in 2002.

· Among the largest federal costs: Medicaid ($2.5 billion); treatment for the uninsured ($2.2 billion); food assistance programs ($1.9 billion); the federal prison and court systems ($1.6 billion); and federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion).

· If illegal aliens were legalized and began to pay taxes and use services like legal immigrants with the same education levels, the estimated annual fiscal deficit at the federal level would increase from $2,700 per household to nearly $7,700, for a total federal deficit of $29 billion.

· With nearly two-third of illegals lacking a high school diploma, the primary reason they create a fiscal deficit is their low education levels and resulting low incomes and tax payments — not their legal status or their unwillingness to work.

· Amnesty increases costs because illegals would still be largely unskilled, and thus their tax payments would continue to be very modest, but once legalized they would be able to access many more government services.

· The fact that legal immigrants with little schooling are a fiscal drain on federal coffers does not mean that legal immigrants overall are a drain. Many legal immigrants are highly skilled.

· Because many of the costs are due to their U.S.-born children, who are awarded U.S. citizenship at birth, barring illegals themselves from federal programs will not significantly reduce costs.

· Although they create a net drain on the federal government, the average illegal household pays more than $4,200 a year in federal taxes, for a total of nearly $16 billion.

· However, they impose annual costs of more than $26.3 billion, or about $6,950 per illegal household.

· About 43 percent, or $7 billion, of the federal taxes illegals pay go to Social Security and Medicare.

· Employers do not see the costs associated with less-educated immigrant workers because the costs are spread out among all taxpayers.

[StcChief]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Set up an Ellis Island type deal to allowed faster processing of immigrants. Set up certain dates throughout the year when people can legally immigrate, and adhere to those standards. Declare amnesty for all those currently in the US, however, set restrictions on what they can and can not do, and if they decide to return to Mexico, they have to come back "legally" through the "Ellis Island".

JMO - I think our friends to the South can be a huge asset rather than a burden.

near rio grande. El Paso would work