Here's a few more statistics Tony somehow managed not to include in his article:
http://euphoria.jarkolicious.com/journal/2006/03/25/2015/
* There were about ten million illegal aliens living in the US in 2005.
* In 2003 there were 55,322 illegal aliens incarcerated in federal/state prisons and local jails.
* These illegal aliens combined for 459,614 arrests on 691,890 offenses
* On the average each illegal was arrested at least 8 times
* About 24% of these offenses (166,054) were drug crimes.
* About 15% of these offenses (103,784) were property crimes such as burglary, larceny, auto theft and property damage.
* About 12% of these offenses (83,027) were violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery and assault.
* 80% of all arrests (367,691) occurred in three states - California (58%), Texas (14%) and Arizona (8%).
Uh, professor? What tax ID number and what SS# does an illegal use to pay his taxes? Since an illegal alien doesn't have a legal tax ID or SS#, does he send his anonymous payments directly to the IRS????
While the population includes an eye-popping number of crooks, drug-dealers and would-be welfare sponges, it also provides a helpful prop for sustaining American economic growth and cultural dynamism.
Even the article admits that there are many of the illegal immigrants are undesirable. Can we sort out the desirables from the undesirables BEFORE we grant any guest worker documents or citizenship?
Princeton University sociologist Douglas S. Massey reports that 62 percent of illegal immigrants pay income taxes (via withholding) and 66 percent contribute to Social Security. Forbes magazine notes that Mexican illegals aren't clogging up the social-services system: only 5 percent receive food stamps or unemployment assistance; 10 percent send kids to public schools.
If we can't even get a handle on how many illegal immigrants we have in the US, how does Mr. Massey estimate how many pay income taxes and how many contribute to SS? It seems to me he's pulling these numbers out of thin air.
Only 5% receive food stamps? Is this because many are afraid to register for food stamps because of La Migre?
And only 10% send their children to public schools? Where do the other 90% go? Private schools? With the wages we're told illegal immigrants make? I don't think so. They don't go to school at all? Then what DO they do?
Rather than panicking, the political class might want to take a deep breath and attempt a little common sense. Virtually everyone agrees that we need to secure our borders, deport lawbreakers and slackers among the illegal-immigrant population, and revitalize the notion of citizenship by insisting that prospective citizens master the English language and the fundaments of American history and culture.
I agree with this statement, BUT - if they already have jobs that their employer is sold enough on them to guarantee them, let them go back to their country of origin first and apply for that job.
That way we know that they have a job waiting, that the employer is impressed enough with their job performance to guarantee they will have that job, anyone without the guest worker papers gets deported.
Don't tell me that they can't do this. We hear the stories all the time of illegal immigrants going back to the country of their origins for the holidays and then sneaking back into the USA.
If we need the workers that bad, and they need the jobs that bad, fine. Let them apply for the jobs BEFORE they get in.
The Know-Nothing Platform
(1.) Repeal of all Naturalization Laws.
(2.) None but native Americans for office.
(3.) A pure American Common School system.
(4.) War to the hilt on political Romanism.
(5.) Opposition to the formation of Military Companies, composed of foreigners.
(6.) The advocacy of a sound, healthy and safe Nationality.
(7.) Hostility to all Papal influences, when brought to bear against the Republic.
(8.) American Institutions & American Sentiments.
(9.) More stringent & effective Emigration Laws.>
(10.) The amplest protection to Protestant Interests.
(11.) The doctrines of the revered Washington.
(12.) The sending back of all foreign paupers.
(13.) Formation of societies to protect American interests.
(14.) Eternal enmity to all who attempt to carry out the principles of a foreign Church or State.
(15.) Our Country, our whole Country, and nothing but our Country.
(16.) Finally - American Laws and Amen.
Interestingly, the barrio areas of Santa Ana/Costa Mesa have become much nicer over the last 5-7 years. Much of the change for the better is due to (a) overall wage growth, and (b) movement away from really low-skill jobs into the construction trades.
With more money comes less drain on social services. Of course, this is all relative. Back in the mid-90s, you could really get a sense of how the system was literally breaking under the weight. Now, things are starting to come around some what.
However, putting aside economics for a moment, there are a couple of other issues at hand, primarily the idea of Law & Order and the Sovereignty of States in determining who should cross our Borders.
I'm all for immigration - it's what built this country and keeps new blood coming in. But WE should be able to determine who WE want, who will become citizens, what are their responsibilities and to whom do they owe their allegiance.
Last week's protest marches negate any positive-neutral economic value-add illegals may be contributing. Much more important are the long-term cultural effects our children's children are going to have to face.
If not a pox, then it is a plague, at least. Quite a disastrous plague. Or perhaps it is more akin to leprosy, as it slowly rots the body of the culture.
Finally...a thread I can feel welcome.
Friend that's legal: qualified radiologist (sp?)
Friend's brother whom is illegal: drug smuggler and now is in jail for a long time.
Little difference, wouldn't you say?
I know many legal mexican/central american immigrants that are doing good things, but your articles statistics are mixed. Is one to think there's no difference between a legal citizens vs an illegal citizen?
Truth is legal immigrants use a lot of social services as well...more so than illegal; but one just has to look at the individuals and the law with due respect. Having limited immigration is clearly resposible and should be respected.
Countries have to pick-up the pace..invest in infrastructure, and promote an appropriate enviroment for business and high education. India's on it's way, why not Mexico? America can't alleviate that burden. Mexicans have to respect their country enough to change it.
Indeed. Very. Thanks for posting this article. I really appreciate hearing the arguments from both sides of this debate.
Been a while, Luis. Hope that all is well with you and yours.
Amazing.
Only a little over half of Americans pay any income taxes.
Hey, Tony, I have a question:
If you're right in your assertions, why, in the very title of your piece, do you engage in the intellectual dishonesty of failing to accurately describe the topic; inaccurately refering, instead, to "immigration" in the generic sense?
As one who, I must assume, wants their observations to be taken seriously, you must know that leading with such chicanery runs counter to your purpose. So, again, why did you do it?
Only 10% of illegals send their kids to public schools? That DOES surprise me. I guess the public schools sucking in California cannot be blamed entirely on illegals. Darn!
He seems to be lumping illegal immigrants and Hispanics together into the same statistics.
No thinking person is opposed to Hispanics in general, only lawbreakers in particular whatever their nationality might be.
Illegal is illegal. Laws are worthless if they're not enforced. Everything else I hear on this subject is rationalizations and leftist propaganda.
For a discussion of the issues that Washington is too intimidated to discuss: Immigration & The American Future. The duty of the American Government has always been to preserve the America that is, not to remake it in an internationalist image.
The Mexican migrants could be the greatest people on earth, that would not make the present policy acceptable.
I want to see proof tying SSN's back to illegal aliens paying withholding and then I want to know WHY they are still here if this ivory tower can find them.
One third of illegals are on welfare.