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Immigration study misleading, negative
By: WAYNE A. CORNELIUS - Commentary | ∞
Like all reports emanating from the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., the latest one, by staff researcher Steven Camarota, offers a relentlessly negative view of the most recent wave of immigration to the United States. The economic benefits of immigration ---- even illegal immigration ---- to the average American are barely acknowledged, while the costs are estimated in such a way as to provoke the maximum degree of public anger and anxiety.
Camarota's estimate of the number of undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States is within the range accepted by most academic specialists in this field. However, he implies that the stock of illegals is continuing to grow at an undiminished rate. This is contradicted by another analysis of the same data source used by Camarota ---- the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. Senior demographer Jeffrey Passel of the Pew Hispanic Center has found that growth of the undocumented immigrant population peaked at the beginning of this decade and the growth rate has been moving downward since then. Camarota notes that there is "some evidence that immigration may have dipped after 2001," but then goes on to dismiss this evidence.
The report's conclusions about "welfare use" are misleading, because in Camarota's analysis food assistance (mainly food stamps) is lumped together with cash-assistance welfare programs. Camarota even classifies immigrant kids getting subsidized school lunches as "welfare." Only in this way can he conclude that immigrant-headed households are twice as likely to use "welfare programs" as native-headed households (33 percent vs. 19 percent).
However, when "welfare usage" is disaggregated, as Camarota does in a table near the end of his report, we see that food assistance is the only category in which there is a significant difference between immigrant- and native-headed households. Immigrants are significantly less likely than natives to use Medicaid, and they use subsidized housing and cash assistance programs at about the same (low) rate as natives. Camarota finally admits that "most households, immigrant or native, do not use the welfare system," but most casual consumers of his report will focus on the huge difference that it reports between immigrant and native households that use "any welfare program."
Camarota's report blurs the distinction between illegal and legal immigration, and for good reason: the CPS survey that is his primary data source does not ask respondents about their legal status. Using these data, there is no way to determine, in a direct way, the rate at which illegal immigrants use welfare programs, health care or any other public service. Nowhere in his report does Camarota explain precisely his methodology for assigning "illegal" status to respondents in the CPS survey, which asks no question about immigration status. No matter; his basic message is, "We're being overwhelmed by immigrants, they're failing economically and abusing tax-supported services, and it doesn't matter whether they're legal or illegal."
When researchers have collected direct evidence on health service utilization by undocumented immigrants, they have found that such immigrants underutilize the health care system, given their health needs. I have found this in my own research among Mexican immigrants in San Diego County. Similarly, a very careful study recently published in the respected journal Archives of Internal Medicine found that illegal immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries are 50 percent less likely than U.S.-born Latinos to use hospital emergency rooms in California. The undocumented are also less likely to seek primary care outside of emergency rooms. They are less likely to have health insurance (as Camarota reports for the entire immigrant population), but they are also less likely to seek medical attention.
The Camarota report paints an essentially pessimistic picture of the economic prospects of recent immigrants. But it focuses only on first-generation immigrants, ignoring the very significant intergenerational mobility that occurs, in terms of educational attainment, occupational status and income levels, especially from the first (foreign-born) generation to the second. Even among first-generation immigrants, the gap between them and the native-born population on these measures of economic success closes after 26 years of residence in the United States, according to Camarota's analysis.
Focusing on the fact that most first-generation immigrants will have lower lifetime earnings and income than native-born Americans obscures the very significant economic progress that immigrants' children and grandchildren typically make. This is not a contribution to reasoned debate on U.S. immigration policy; it only feeds fear of immigrants as a "permanent underclass" whose members are destined to fail in the U.S. economy and become a burden on the (native-born) taxpayer.
Wayne A. Cornelius is a distinguished professor of political science and director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at UC San Diego.
Like all reports emanating from the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., the latest one, by staff researcher Steven Camarota, offers a relentlessly negative view of the most recent wave of immigration to the United States. The economic benefits of immigration ñ even illegal immigration ñ to the average American are barely acknowledged, while the costs are estimated in such a way as to provoke the maximum degree of public anger and anxiety.
Camarota's estimate of the number of undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States is within the ranged accepted by most academic specialists in this field. However, he implies that the stock of illegals is continuing to grow at an undiminished rate. This is contradicted by another analysis of the same data source used by Camarota ñ the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS). Senior demographer Jeffrey Passel of the Pew Hispanic Center has found that growth of the undocumented immigrant population peaked at the beginning of this decade and the growth rate has been moving downward since then. Camarota notes that there is "some evidence that immigration may have dipped after 2001," but then goes on to dismiss this evidence.
The report's conclusions about "welfare use" are misleading, because in Camarota's analysis food assistance (mainly food stamps) is lumped together with cash-assistance welfare programs. Camarota even classifies immigrant kids getting subsidized school lunches as "welfare." Only in this way can he conclude that immigrant-headed households are twice as likely to use "welfare programs" as native-headed households (33 percent vs. 19 percent).
However, when "welfare usage" is disaggregated, as Camarota does in a table near the end of his report, we see that food assistance is the only category in which there is a significant difference between immigrant- and native-headed households. Immigrants are significantly less likely than natives to use Medicaid, and they use subsidized housing and cash assistance programs at about the same (low) rate as natives. Camarota finally admits that "most households, immigrant or native, do not use the welfare system," but most casual consumers of his report will focus on the huge difference that it reports between immigrant and native households that use "any welfare program."
Camarota's report blurs the distinction between illegal and legal immigration, and for good reason: the CPS survey which is his primary data source does not ask respondents about their legal status. Using these data, there is no way to determine, in a direct way, the rate at which illegal immigrants use welfare programs, health care, or any other public service. Nowhere in his report does Camarota explain precisely his methodology for assigning "illegal" status to respondents in the CPS survey, which asks no question about immigration status. No matter; his basic message is, "We're being overwhelmed by immigrants, they're failing economically and abusing tax-supported services, and it doesn't matter whether they're legal or illegal."
When researchers have collected direct evidence on health service utilization by undocumented immigrants, they have found that such immigrants underutilize the health care system, given their health needs. I have found this in my own research among Mexican immigrants in San Diego County. Similarly, a very careful study recently published in the respected journal Archives of Internal Medicine found that illegal immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries are 50 percent less likely than U.S.-born Latinos to use hospital emergency rooms in California. The undocumented are also less likely to seek primary care outside of emergency rooms. They are less likely to have health insurance (as Camarota reports for the entire immigrant population), but they are also less likely to seek medical attention.
The Camarota report paints an essentially pessimistic picture of the economic prospects of recent immigrants. But it focuses only on first-generation immigrants, ignoring the very significant inter-generational mobility that occurs, in terms of educational attainment, occupational status, and income levels, especially from the first (foreign-born) generation to the second. Even among first-generation immigrants, the gap between them and the native-born population on these measures of economic success closes after 26 years of residence in the U.S., according to Camarota's analysis.
Focusing on the fact that most first-generation immigrants will have lower lifetime earnings and income than native-born Americans obscures the very significant economic progress that immigrants' children and grandchildren typically make. This is not a contribution to reasoned debate on U.S. immigration policy; it only feeds fear of immigrants as a "permanent underclass" whose members are destined to fail in the U.S. economy and become a burden on the (native-born) taxpayer.
Wayne A. Cornelius is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Comparative Immigration Studies at UCSD.
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Hombre Viejo wrote on Dec 16, 2007 12:47 AM:Your ctitcal editorial write-up about Steve Camarata's good work and factual reports every citizen ought to pay attention to is disgusting! Typical od erroneous thought and wishful thinking so generouly emanated from UCSD! (No thinking person takes you seriously.) Despite the wailing and sobbing every illegal alien in this country is going to be deported. It is only a matter of opportunity and time.
Sam wrote on Dec 16, 2007 9:32 AM:Sorry, Mr. Distinguished Professor Cornelius, you are WRONG about Mr. Camarata's report. He told the bold hard facts and the truth. Come out of your gated community once in awhile and see things from our view.
Just a question.... wrote on Dec 16, 2007 10:28 AM:Every time I write this comment on any of the blogs, it doesn't get printed, Why, I have no idea because it is never submitted with nothing more than a question. So here goes, I'll try again: Do the readers know how much it costs to deliver a baby? Just the basic, no c-section, normal delivery? This would include the doctor and the hospital costs.----Okay, now, according to the writer of this article, illegals don't use the services of hospitals very often; really? Then where are they having all these children, in their homes? I don't think so.---Now, mulitply the costs times how many babies are born to illegals in California (which is paid by Medi-Cal) and the number is staggering.---From the California Dept. of Health Services, 'Medi-Cal pays the bills for thousands of births to illegals each year. They were nearly one-fifth of all births in the state in 2004. Such births and associated expenses account for more than $400 million of the nearly $1 billion that the program spends each year on healthcare for illegal immigrants in California, documents and reports show. Only about a dozen other states extend similar benefits to illegal immigrants, according to health and immigrant rights groups.'---So suddenly, $400 million is now merely pocket change that we can keep absorbing? The writing is on the wall that we certainly can't. And, please please please don't insult us, then, by telling us that illegals are paying anything back into the system by working minimum-wage jobs. We all know what it costs to live in California.
here we go again! wrote on Dec 16, 2007 10:51 AM:The slant of this paper is so obvious. Do you distribute papers in Spanish down on Quince?
Ken wrote on Dec 16, 2007 11:08 AM:"One" ILLEGAL ALIEN is too much! I too am beginning to believe that paper is biased when it comes to the issue of ILLEGAL Immigration, why is that? I am all for LEGAL Immigration, but it must be according to the laws of this country. If it were the other way and we were entering into Mexico ILLEGALLY, can you imagine what would happen to us? We would be locked away never to be seen again! It is time for us LEGAL residents to stop the INVASION into this country by ILLEGAL ALIENS and ILLEGAL DRUGS, and take back OUR country!
Hank wrote on Dec 16, 2007 3:33 PM:Wow, all this anger directed towards a professor who (masochistically) presents his analysis, not in a scholarly journal, but in a newspaper for review by a lay (and perhaps hostile) audience. Listen up folks, Professor Cornelius merely critiqued the failings of another authors report. He did not espouse any particular moral, religious, or political agenda. The lay public needs more of this kind of informed review. Read it carefully, and by all means feel free to disagree. That is what we humans do. Whether I agree with Professor Cornelius or not, his writings are a heck of a lot more thought provoking than the fact-free ranting we hear on the Fox Network, radio and TV talk shows, and other highly impeachable sources.
Dean wrote on Dec 16, 2007 5:41 PM:My curiosity is killing me....who decides you are a "Distinguished Professor"? To me he just sounds like another self-loathing, guilt ridden, white geezer.
Hank wrote on Dec 16, 2007 6:19 PM:So much for thoughtful dialog... Just attack the character of anybody you don't understand or want to understand. That is what I meant by "masochistically".
Jeff wrote on Dec 16, 2007 6:26 PM:AS A NATIVE TO SAN DIEGO, I CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS STORY, AS IT IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY ALL THE WAY. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WITH NEWPAPERS LIKE YOURS THAT WANT TO BELITTLE AND SLANDER PEOPLE LIKE THIS GUY WHO IS JUST PRESENTING HIS RESEARCH. I HAVE READ PLENTY OF TWISTED ARTICLES IN THIS PAPER THAT YOU WANT SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS. IT IS TIME TO PRESENT ALL FACETS TO A STORY AND LET THE READERS DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE. I DO PRAISE YOU FOR RUNNING THIS ARTICLE.
345345 wrote on Dec 16, 2007 11:00 PM:The right-wing fringe loons are aboard as usual, the first thing they do is as usual, attack the messenger. This is how fascism work. Imagine these extremists working for a government regime. They're the ones who'd carry out the silencing of media dissent.
Taxpayer to 345345 wrote on Dec 17, 2007 6:47 AM:Throwing around the castic word such as fascism doesn't make it so. And, in this country, it is everyones right to dissent or disagree with another persons opinion. You also are attempting to call this a "right-wing fringe" issue when in fact that fringe group consists of 75% of the people including legal immigrants that want the immigration laws enforced and more laws passed to take care of this issue. SO, your blog above totally invalidates the commentary because it completely neutralizes the just isuues that are being discussed.
Heresy doctrine wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:39 AM:No one will publish a report that does not fit the established doctrine of the NCTimes to support the illegal invasion of the United States. If they do we will have the integrity of their facts attacked by a distinguished left-wing college professor of our choosing.
Not one thin Di me wrote on Dec 17, 2007 8:53 AM:It is just wrong that anyone who crosses the border illegally is rewarded with free education for their children, health care and social services in any amount. Until we adequately provide for our veterans, our seniors, our disabled, our mentally ill and our children, we have no business giving away precious resources to those who are not here legally. The buck, ANY buck, stops there!
John wrote on Dec 17, 2007 9:02 AM:What's needed is to get rid of this p.c. nonsense and allow any and all city, state and federal programs, taxpayer funded, to ask the simple question of citizenship. And to verify that via birth certificate. We will never know the true numbers because of this failure to quantify. Me eyeball evidence tells me there are a lot more ILLEGAL ALIENS here than the 12 million constantly quoted.
Destroyed wrote on Dec 17, 2007 1:44 PM:Illegal immigartion has destroyed the once nice, middle-class communities of places like Escondido. That is why you get so much anger about this issue, for all you liberals claiming those people are "fascists", from your lofty self-righteous perches.
UCSD alum wrote on Dec 17, 2007 1:51 PM:I graduated from UCSD and can tell you first-hand about the strong liberal bias there, as reflected by this professor and many of his colleagues there. It just gets worse and worse every year at the UC schools. They are living in their own little fantasy worlds, and here is more proof.
Chips"n"Dips wrote on Dec 18, 2007 1:55 AM:When we all have I.D. chips in our arms.. Then we will know who is legal or not.. And then we can all be happy!!!
Thanks wrote on Dec 18, 2007 7:09 AM:I have my house cleaned, my lawn cared for, my vegetables picked and my meat and poultry prepared by Hispanics, many of whom are illegals. They appreciate the work and are always polite. I don't mind educating their children, and have no problem providing health care for them, because they work hard at jobs most native born citizens will not do.
I am for one wrote on Dec 18, 2007 11:49 AM:glad we have illegal aliens here. Now when I get my medical bills, I just write on them, get your money where you get it for services rendered unto illegals, and mail it back to them. Then I contact the credit bureaus and notify all of them that this bill is in dispute! I for one am not paying medical while illegals get it for free!
WOW! wrote on Dec 18, 2007 12:08 PM:You think this might be the year Americans refuse to pay Federal and State taxes??? "The American people just decided that Washington is either incompetent or irrelevant," said Frank Luntz, who has conducted polls for Republicans. "Republicans made promises they didn't keep, and Democrats made promises they couldn't keep. And now it's a pox on all their houses." The president's 65% disapproval rating is his lowest since July, despite a decline in violence in Iraq, a Middle East peace conference and victories over congressional Democrats on the 2008 budget.
Skip wrote on Dec 18, 2007 4:37 PM:A study by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday backs up the view that undocumented immigrants sap more tax dollars than they provide, especially in education, health care and law enforcement. The study pulled together reports from the past five years, using data from sources including the Pew Hispanic Center, the Rand Corp., the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and various universities. The Congressional study also incorporated facts from states, including Arizona, but its authors acknowledged there was no aggregate estimate that could be applied to the entire country. The report says that in 1990, 90 percent of undocumented immigrants primarily were in six states: CALIFORNIA, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas. http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8711/12-6-Immigration.pdf
Had Enough wrote on Dec 18, 2007 4:49 PM:Quote: average income of undocumented immigrants was $27,400 while Americans earned $47,800. The difference puts undocumented immigrants in a lower tax bracket, thus reducing the amount of federal and state income taxes generated........ and allowing them to claim EIC which means they get back more than they pay in
Gayle wrote on Dec 18, 2007 4:51 PM:Congress strips 3 billion for fence out of the bill the passed last night. OH ya, they don't care if we have our financial future strip from us. I say, if the Federal Congress won't protect us, the states are going to have to do it. The more the states do and they squeal the more well vote for state officials willing run for federal seats and go to DC. They will have a track record of voting for ordinances and laws for enforcement and we will know their names and we can endorse them and get rid of the ones in DC now. I say we keep a good eye on the states that are doing something and the people voting with the American citizen and encourage them to run for federal office
Ken wrote on Dec 19, 2007 10:14 AM:"Thanks" does not get it! People like that are the ones that have helped create this mess of ILLEGAL ALIENS into our fine country. If they want to work, then the ILLEGAL ALIENS should return to their country and work there. We are NOT a welfare country, I am tired of supporting all of the ILLEGAL ALIENS. I want my taxes to go to the LEGAL citizens in this country. WAKE-UP AMERICA, it is time to take back our country and start deporting the ILLEGAL ALIENS out of this country.
You're all Bushwacked wrote on Dec 19, 2007 1:16 PM:Lets thank your ... president for this. Thank him for starting a war bassed on lies and greed. Thank him for spending billions on wars and not at home, thank him for cutting funding on the white mans "special" programes which then who else is to blame but the illigals, who before 9-11 where hired by all of you because your are cheap and greedy Americans. But guess what illigals are here to stay and are going to take over hahaha. What goes around comes around, now you all now how the Native Americans felt.
JoAnn wrote on Dec 19, 2007 5:26 PM:I just don't care about studies. Studies occur because there is a problem. The problem is illegal aliens coming to the US because there is no work or benefits in Mexico. They come here because they know we have free health care for them, free education, free food stamps and because it is controled by Democrats it is a free ride. Open Border Activists never admit to breaking our laws, just what is owed to the law breakers. They all make me sick.
Who needs a study? wrote on Dec 19, 2007 10:07 PM:I don't need any study to tell me how messed up things are. Just drive around San Diego! I spent the afternoon finishing up my Christmas shopping starting with the Westfield mall in Carlsbad. It was a gang-ridden cess pool! The mall smelled, had trash all over it and I only heard the English language spoken a few times in an hour - which is all I could stand. I walked out of JCPenny's after every announcement on the PA was in Spanish, and I had to wait for someone who could translate at the check-out... to English! The place was filthy, with merchandise just scattered around like it was TJ! I then went to Mervyn's in Oceanside and it was even worse! Children were running wild, I personally witnessed 3 shoplifters and again, the promenent language was Spanish! For a second, I forgot what country I was in. Has any one else experienced this? Am I the only one who feels like I am living in Mexico, not San Diego? I'm really scared and had no idea it has gotten this bad! I don't need any study to tell me how we are being over run...
Josh wrote on Dec 20, 2007 12:37 AM:Thank you NC Times for printing an article that required research, analysis and objectivism. This is what is required of a respectable new outlet. It stands in stark (and welcome) contrast to the xenophobic diatribes of nationalistic Chicken-Littles. This used to be Mexico. Hell, this used to be Native American country, and it was uninhabited before that. All you people are invaders in this land who ruined something for someone who came before you. In the grand scheme of things, you have no more right to this land than they do. Things change over time. Populations, cultures and languages shift. It happens. Give it a rest.
Gosh, Josh, thanks for the info... wrote on Dec 20, 2007 12:43 PM:Now I'm going to write my mortgage lender and let them know that I no longer have to pay the mortgage or taxes on property that San Diego County says is mine because 'Josh' says the property really isn't mine after all. (Psst, I'll let you know the outcome.)
To Skip wrote on Dec 20, 2007 1:33 PM:Isn't it interesting how little press that Congressional Budgetary Office report has gotten? The CBO is hardly a conservative institution either. Their numbers prove that something has to be done ASAP if we are to save our country.
Shocker! wrote on Dec 20, 2007 9:42 PM:Enforcing immigration laws results in illegal aliens leaving. Illegal Aliens are leaveing Arizona in droves.
Josh wrote on Dec 20, 2007 11:02 PM:"Gosh, Josh": You missed the point. I never said laws shouldn't be followed. They are certainly a valid measure, however they are just one measure and they are constantly changing according to the the culture. Foaming at the mouth with an anti-immigrant, die-hard, militia mentality is a little extreme. Don't forget that we contribute to their desire to come here, by being so successful and by our willingness to involve them. If you want them to leave so badly you're going to have to be far more creative. Maybe instead of spending billions on a ridiculous fence, invest that money in Mexico's economy so they don't have to come here.
Roberto1 wrote on Dec 21, 2007 3:16 AM:Thats right, illegals get welfare, food stamps, social security and all kinds of entitlements that citizens can't get...I have an idea, get rid of entitlements!
This professor wrote on Dec 21, 2007 6:32 AM:should go get a job at a plastering contractors and get in touch with the REAL world. This is gibberish and untruthful. Did he interview any nurses at the hospitals? How STUPID does the NCT's think their readers are?
Roberto1 wrote on Dec 21, 2007 6:55 AM:Josh, quit trying to skirt the issue with common sense...it won't fool the xenophobes for one minute man...the're to smart to be fooled by logic. If you don't believe just read all ya-da-ya-da-ya-da.
To Josh and Robert wrote on Dec 21, 2007 10:01 AM:Who is the WE to whom you refer, Josh? I, for one have never employed an illegal. I never conquered a "native" or a Mexican. I DO however, and have for 40 years, worked, paid taxes, medical and dental bills, car and homeowner's insurance, property taxes, etc, etc, etc. All citizens must do this, and don't appreciate having to pay for millions of illegals who don't. Yeah, because I call it as I see it, like "Who needs a study?" >I< am a xenophobe with no common sense, right, Robert? Why don't you two get your anti American butts down to Mexico and help the people there, with YOUR time and money?
Josh, I didn't miss the point at all wrote on Dec 21, 2007 10:29 AM:YOU'RE the one who said, 'You have no more right to this land than they do,' hence, my comment. And, by the way, I have NEVER had a 'willingness' to involve illegal lawbreakers into any part of my life and SURE as heck am not giving one cent to Mexico's corrupt government elites who are run by drug cartels and who could care less about their very own people (kind of like the way our very own politicians are getting to be). If YOU want to help Mexico out of your own pocket, then go to that country and do so, but don't even THINK about asking American taxpayers to throw money at an already corrupt situation. ---Sorry, dude, I've never hired an illegal and have stopped patronizing places that hire them. Small gestures, to be sure, but if more people did that, the illegals would go back home.---Oh, and one more thing, PLEASE do not insult our intelligence by saying America 'needs' more people to work in restaurants; we who have been teenagers & have raised teenagers know all too well that those jobs have always been done by American citizens.---One last question: Why is it that so many of you care more about Mexico's poor who break America's laws than you do about your very own country?
PedroG wrote on Dec 21, 2007 7:34 PM:The problem with immigration laws is not that they aren't enforced but that they exist at all. If there were no restrictions to immigration there would be no illegals. If EVERYONE were legal there would be no problems. EVERYONE could get driver's licenses. EVERYONE could get car insurance and health insurance. EVERYONE could pay income taxes and SSI taxes and be contributors to society. Abolish the laws and no one will break them.
WHO WILL THIRD THE MOTION ? wrote on Dec 21, 2007 7:38 PM:The answer is War i tell ya....yep, lets declare war on Mexico.
THIRD THE MOTION? wrote on Dec 21, 2007 8:56 PM:Americans like to declare war on countries that we think we can beat. But since WWII, what wars have we won? Somalia?
Skip wrote on Dec 21, 2007 10:41 PM:We won the Invasion of Grenada, in October of 1983. They even made a movie about it. (Heartbreak Ridge)
jsc wrote on Dec 21, 2007 11:01 PM:Since NC Times printed Camarota's article, printing Cornelius' article would be giving "equal time" to a different viewpoint. I agree with about 90% of Camarota's figures and 10% of Cornelius'. The reason? I have worked 40 years here, 28 in private industry, 10 in social services (Medi-Cal), 2 in public schools. Call it like it is: whether it's food stamps, Medi-Caid, subsidized housing, WIC, cash aid, Earned Income Credit, SSI, etc. it's all welfare. It's about one person receiving something for nothing that a taxpayer ultimately pays for. California provides more benefits to illegal aliens than required by federal assistance program guidelines. We must pay for pregnant illegal aliens' childbirths. California decided to pay for prenatal care as well, justifying it by saying that since the babies will be U.S. citizens, we should do everything possible to ensure their well being. The solution is simple! Deny citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens! If that is too difficult to pass, then just don't allow an illegal alien to be the payee on a cash aid or food stamps case. Vendor pay the rent, utilities, etc.directly to the provider. Give them coupons for clothes at Goodwill or Salvation Army. Restrict food item choice on food stamp BICs--no junk food. No cash whatsoever. Then when the lying clients , claim to earn only $300 a month to support their family of 5, who claim to live alone, but share the rent with 20 others, who sell their Medi-Cal cards for $600 to other illegals (then request a replacement card), trade food stamps for ? etc. find they aren't living the lifestyle they want, maybe they'll go home. La Raza, ACLU, Southern Law Poverty Center, etc. are trying to perpetuate a myth dating to the 50's and 60's where the hard working Mexican or other alien comes across the border to work. The majority of men who come alone to the U.S. do work, and don't receive aid. But those who bring their families with them or create new families here definitely receive far more in benefits than they provide in taxes or economic productivity. I would rather pay more for my produce and meat, restaurant meals, hotel stays, etc., than to subsidize welfare of any type to illegal aliens. When I worked in the Escondido office, most of my Medi-Cal clients were Spanish speaking. About 45% were amnesty aliens from 1986-ish, about 50% were illegal aliens, a few were sex slave trafficking or domestic violence victims who were given 1 year stays; about 4% were law abiding immigrants who filled out the paperwork and waited their turn. Illegal aliens, amnesty aliens are a drain on our economy. I support increasing the quotas dramatically to allow more legal immigration, especially amongst skilled or educated or English speaking immigrants, as well as immigrants willing to work in agriculture for a minimum of 5 years or other fields where we have a labor shortage. Legal immigrants only!! Fill out the paperwork and wait your turn!
To jsc wrote on Dec 22, 2007 4:24 AM:You need to submit a commentary and reveal your name because you appear to be one of the few who actually has the background and experience to reveal the truth. I for one, would appreciate the effort although I can guess your reluctance.
Legal US Citizen to PedroG wrote on Dec 22, 2007 5:52 AM:Your comment to "...Abolish the laws and no one will break them... " is disgusting. Why don't we just abolish the laws against stealing and murder since doing that will lower the crime rate and there will be "no problems"? Can't you see what a ridiculous idea that is?
bill wrote on Dec 22, 2007 9:58 AM:heeey Peeeedroow, I thank ta have a bat loose in the belfey!!!!!!!!!
WhoWhat wrote on Dec 22, 2007 3:04 PM:This obvious piece of fiction, written by the typical lib e-d-u-c-a-t-o-r, is still on the front page? If you just look around Escondido you will see the quality of life continue to degrade, this is caused by illegal immigration and the influx of the poor and uneducated - supported by the re-cons, anarchists and liberal loons. Bust the employers and the situation WILL improve, simple, GET IT!
PedroG wrote on Dec 22, 2007 9:28 PM:Don't you see the difference between living in America and committing murder or stealing? Murder and stealing are evil in themselves. Living in America is not. Most people do it legally now. Let's just let everyone do it legally. Living in America should not be a crime.
HONK ! If You Think This Story Is Related wrote on Dec 23, 2007 5:58 PM:Five arrested on suspicion of drunken driving http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/22/news/breaking/5_03_7777_22_07.txt
RJ wrote on Dec 23, 2007 8:15 PM:Mexico deports illegal Guatemalans and Hondurans. Living in Mexico shouldn't be a crime either...
David wrote on Dec 27, 2007 6:35 PM:The comments on this article tell us a lot about the state of the anti-immigrant fringe. The two opposing authors, Cornelius and Camarota, start from basically the same set of facts, but, as Cornelius shows, Camarota spins and twists these facts to make them appear to bolster an anti-immigrant position. Most of the comment writers don't even try to address Cornelius' facts and arguments--they just try to overwhelm us with half truths, anecdotes and invective.
If the immigrant-bashers actually have a case, why do they always have to resort to name-calling and hysteria?
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