Costs of Illegal Immigration to New Yorkers

Federation for American Immigration Reform ^ | Jan.29, '07 | Dan Stein Report

[T.L.Sink]

The massive invasion by foreign illegals is no longer a border state problem but has spread to all states and is no longer just an urban phenomenon - affecting suburban and even rural areas. And everyone's taxes and quality of life.

[Zeroisanumber]

If we're going to count the economic penalties of illegal immigration, then shouldn't we also count the benefits to business and the economy?

I'm not for illegal immigration, but fair's fair, yo.

[Clemenza]

However, if you take a street poll of most New Yorkers, they don't care. New York has always been in a state of ethnic flux, so the attitude is a little different. There is little of the "righteous indignation" on this issue in the NYC area, which is why any anti-illegal protest is usually five people, with 20 white students from Columbia counterprotesting.

Stein should focus his efforts on other states, where there is a groundswell of support on this issue.

[tcostell]

If I think about this an an Economist rather than as an American, it makes perfect sense. Once socialism has been embedded, it's impossible to get it out through the political process because no matter who you elect to a position in government they are, in the end, in favor of more government. And since these are the people we've empowered to make the rules, the rules will continue to change as needed to prevent anyone else from getting authority.

So the way a rational person reacts to a system which is by its very nature unfair, is to no longer participate in it. People for whom it's possible will begin to operate outside the system and by staying off the radar of government restriction.

For them, there are many advantages to hiring illegals. Illegals will work for less than minimum wage, they do not require health insurance, they don't complain about longer hours or harsh conditions, in effect, by hiring an illegal, an employer is participating in the last "FREE" market for labor in the US.

Our illegal immigration problem is caused by demand for unrestricted labor, and that demand is caused by excessive government intrusion in the labor market. The illegals go where the jobs are, and the jobs are created where the regulation is high. But find a way to get rid of socialism, and you will get rid of the illegal immigration as well.

[xcamel]

You'd best learn to separate "New Yorkers" from those of us who live in "New York", are legal employers, pay the highest aggregate taxes in the country, have to live with the likes of the Hildebeast and Chucky Slimer, and are of the very few "Paul's" left being robbed daily to pay "Peter and his illegal entourage"

[T.L.Sink]

From all I've read and heard, business is one of the major causes of the illegal invasion. They love that cheap labor with no benefits and that's resulted in the suppression of wages for Americans. A large part of the problem is that the law hasn't been enforced with respect to businesses. It's illegal to hire illegal aliens and if the government would come down HARD on those who do - the illegal invasion would die of attrition. Jobs are the chief magnet that attracts them and if they dry up so will the the main attraction.

[mtbopfuyn]

I'm not for illegal immigration, but fair's fair, yo.

Picture taxes as this; a criminal breaks into your home and steals a few thousand dollars worth of your children's toys, clothes, books not once but every single year. Then the criminal backs up the ER with an ingrown toe nail when your wife was just brought in from an accident. And your child is denied his first choice of college because his desk was given to the criminal's 5th cousin once removed. Your other kid is turned down for a part time job because the criminal will work cheaper. You can't take your wife out for dinner on your 20th anniversary because you just had to scrape together every last penny from the couch cushions to pay the skyrocketing school taxes because the criminal's 37 illegal relatives want a free education and free breakfast and free lunch at your local school.

Now, tell me fair's fair.

[T.L.Sink]

I agree. Too many people equate NYC with New York State. Much of upstate New York and the most eastern parts of Long Island are agricultural - truck farms, etc. As for NYC, Mayor Bloomberg is to preoccupied with harassing and criminalizing the poor slob who lights up a cigarette to care about the billions in taxes that illegals cost.

[DuncanWaring]

If we're going to count the economic penalties of illegal immigration, then shouldn't we also count the benefits to business and the economy?

Shouldn't we also count the economic benefit to the community of prison-guard salaries when considering the impact of crime?

[org.whodat]

the benefits to business and the economy?

There are not benefits to business are the economy, it's a simple pay me now or pay me later. Of course a few business men are getting rich, but you are not getting a cheaper product, and you are paying the tax to support the illegals.

[murphE]

The massive invasion by foreign illegals is no longer a border state problem but has spread to all states and is no longer just an urban phenomenon - affecting suburban and even rural areas. And everyone's taxes and quality of life.

Tell that to at least one third of my neighbors who have their lawns cut, houses cleaned and various construction projects done by illegals that they hire directly.

[Smokin' Joe]

Mayor Bloomberg is to preoccupied with harassing and criminalizing the poor slob who lights up a cigarette

When he isn't hassling (suing) gun dealers in far off states...

[freedomfiter2]

Thanks Rudy.

[durasell]

This is true. NYC is also a heavy unionized joint, which keeps the higher-paying jobs out of reach of illegals.

[Wallace T.]

New York has always been in a state of ethnic flux

Your statement was true from the very beginning of New York's history. Isaac Jogues, the Jesuit missionary and martyr, gave this description of New Amsterdam in 1643, less than 20 years after its founding: "On the island of Manhate, and in its environs, there may well be four or five hundred men of different sects and nations: the Director General told me that there were men of eighteen different languages."

New York has never been racially or ethnically homogeneous, as New England was for the first two centuries of its history.

[murphE]

Isaac Jogues, the Jesuit missionary and martyr,

Not to sidetrack the discussion, but just in case anyone wants to know more about this holy saint and martyr...

St. Isaac Jogues, Martyr

[gubamyster]

ping

[NRA2BFree]

New Yorkers need to let Mizzus Clinton know what they think about this. Add to these totals, the numbers from ALL other states, including what is sent back to Mexico, and we will go bankrupt in a decade or two. Especially after those traitors in the government pass this new amnesty plan allowing families of those who are already here to come to America and become legal citizens.

[NRA2BFree]

Our illegal immigration problem is caused by demand for unrestricted labor, and that demand is caused by excessive government intrusion in the labor market. The illegals go where the jobs are, and the jobs are created where the regulation is high. But find a way to get rid of socialism, and you will get rid of the illegal immigration as well.

They only go where the low paying jobs are now because they are illegal. Once they become legal they will DEMAND equal pay because they "have rights," you know. We've already seen them DEMAND more rights , when they aren't even citizens.

Once they are legal, they will want better jobs, and they will take more jobs that "Americans won't do." When that all happens, those employers who use illegals now will need to fill those positions and it will touch off the next wave of illegals who come to America to work those jobs that "Americans won't do."< / sarcasm >

[tcostell]

Well when they become legal, they will have the same problems our legal employees have now... they will be replaced by their illegal cousins.

What I think is more likely, is that you'll start to see businesses which would otherwise hire legal employees hiring cash only "under the table" employees instead. and this will eventually apply to some fairly high skilled jobs.

Making them legal doesn't solve the problem, it will only increase the demand for yet another batch of illegals to replace them.