Immigration is not the pox neo-Know Nothings make it out to be

The Jewish World Review ^ | 4/31/2006 | Tony Snow

[Luis Gonzalez]

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.

~~~~snip~~~~

Economist Larry Kudlow praises Hispanic entrepreneurship: "According to 2002 Census Bureau data, Hispanics are opening businesses at a rate three times faster than the national average. In addition, there were almost 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses generating $222 billion in revenue in 2002."

~~~~snip~~~~

Total crime and property crime in California are half what they were in 1980; violent crime has fallen more than a third. The state's Hispanic population during that time has increased 120 percent.

[AHerald]

IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code.

Thanks for posting this. Have been wondering about how this worked. Very helpful.

[taxed2death]

"Yeah, you know how many illegal immigrants come here to open small businesses."

They do have an entrepreneurial streak in them. Quite a few come here and open up pharmaceutical distribution outposts on many street corners across the USA.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Sure secure the border. But how are you going to deal with the scofflaws that are already in the country? Are you just going to start rounding up folks with brown skin like me? Of course not. We already require folks provide proof of citizenship for a host of things. Why not make an ID that cannot be forged and require that it be presented when one gets employed in the US?

[gogeo]

OK, fine -- so do I -- but the question for you is: if you think it does not pose a danger to the US, why would you want/need laws about it in the first place? And if you do think it poses a danger, what separates you from the Know-Nothings in that particular regard?

Anything done to nonsensical excess is harmful. If we can agree that unlimited immigration is undesirable, we can then discuss how much immigration is desirable. Tony's article stifles intelligent discussion, it doesn't promote it. It's a bad faith effort. When Tony uses the phrase know-nothing, he gives credibility to those who say he doesn't distinguish between illegal immigration and legal immigration.

To the degree you echo his argument, the same is true of you.

[investigateworld]

>>>Anybody who sees something nefarious in the CFR has a high likelihood of being in the JBS, or at least has adopted their vocabulary and conspiratorial attitudes.<<<

Doesn't CFR buying to the greenhouse gasses and global warming nonsense?

That right there is a clue.

[HKMk23]

When was the last time a Mexican attacked America?

Five minutes ago; he and three firends just crossed into Arizona illegally, attacking our national sovereignty and our Laws.

[Cyropaedia]

Don't believe CNN's numbers folks. CNN used data from the National Election Pool (NEP). The flawed NEP poll data had to be "massaged" "re-adjusted" because they had initially predicted a solid election victory for John Kerry. They basically had to have some sort of "explanation" for their erroneous projection (President-elect Kerry) to sort of save face.

Ha Ha...

[mthom]

Solving the illegal immigration problem by waving the magic legislation wand and making them all legal? Brilliant! Why didnt I think of that? You do know these would still be the same people that didnt care much about our laws to begin with right? So what do you do when their "guest worker" time is up and they *gasp* decide to stay illegally?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code.What some have been brainwashed into calling an illegal alien, the IRS calls nonresident (meaning not with current, valid proper documentation) alien (not a US citizen through immigration). The odd thing is, the Congress and some state legislatures have the ability to grant citizenship and specific rights to groups of people. An example is what happened with Chinese railway workers, Cambodians, and the VietNam boat people. Changes in immigration quota's and classifications have occurred quite often, through Acts of Congress that hold similar power to that of "law". This is why nonresident aliens can not be summarily rounded up and deported, simply because of political expedience.

[Prokopton]

"I live in a state where meth production and distribution was a major problem. For years lawmakers hiked the penalties for production and distribution but this only exacerbated the problem. Then, they restricted the sale of the pseudophedrine, the active ingredient in cold medicine and a component used in meth production. Meth prodution dropped dramatically."

Glad you brought this up. Take a look at what our open Mexican border has done to make futile local efforts to slow meth use by eliminating meth labs.


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/national/23meth.html?ex=1295672400&en=c8c56f8126a0a649&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[kesg]

The laws are on the books and stipulate the penalty for violating a speeding law. It is NOT deportation. The law is also on the books and stipulates the penalty for illegal immigration. It IS deportation.

Is it? I'm not so sure. In any event, you cannot just deport all 12 million of them. You cannot even conduct the 12 million deportation hearings (including appeals) that would be required under the law. You cannot even keep them in jail.

Besides, with all due respect, what's it to you? What has any of them ever done to you personally? For example, have any of these people actually committed a crime against you?

[inquest]

Sure secure the border. But how are you going to deal with the scofflaws that are already in the country?

Once the inflow is essentially cut off, the problem of those remaining in the country won't seem as severe. They can be dealt with at a more deliberate pace.

[r9etb]

No...I've seen no person on this thread say that we should have no immigration, period

And, amazingly, that is not even remotely close to the assertion to which I was responding. Please re-read, and try again.

[kesg]

Their countries are all left wing. Socially conservative? maybe. Economically? nope.

Right. But they are coming here primarily for economic reasons. They have seen the socialist way and already know that it doesn't work.

[mthom]

They are coming here because we pay more. That says nothing one way or another about their opinion on socialism. The fact that they vote 60/40 Dem when the Repub is a "friendly" like Bush says much more.

[antisocial]

"When was the last time a Mexican attacked America?
1916 -- Poncho Villa."

http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/001528.html
On Monday 10 heavily armed men in Mexican uniforms and with Humvees crossed the border escorting a drug shipment. Texas and other law enforcement officials, totalling nearly 30, engaged and an armed standoff occurred with the Mexicans fleeing back across the border abandoning an SUV's with nearly 1,500 Lbs of Marijuana in it.

This is not an isolated incident and happens quite frequently. When are Americans going to stand up and say enough already? Every American should be taking to the streets in anger at these continued incursions into our country. We need a real border fence and we need it now!

Jan 25, 2006

[Tammy8]

So..you think it is right that illegals can come in, violate the law and unfairly compete with US citizens? You realize that is the root of the whole problem- right? Illegals are number one unfair competition in jobs and business competition- and number two in the financial drain they are because not even they can live on the low wages they will take.

We could all be more successful if we chose to ignore laws and had no fear of those laws being enforced. I might just help myself to the money in the bank if I knew the feds and other LE would just ignore it. Would that make it right? Or fair to those who choose to follow the law? If all laws in this country were ignored as much as immigration laws are- this would sure be a great place to live, wouldn't it??

[kesg]

Actually, the House wants to make it a felony. That's why we're having the marches and hyperbole.

And this was dumb, dumb, dumb. Until this House bill, I didn't think that the Rats had a ghost of a prayer of winning the House this year. Now I'm not so sure. This is bad policy, and even worse politics.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I get punished for it."

No you don't...you get fined, and you get to go on driving unless of course, you get caught too many times, at which time you (temporarily) lose your license.

So then, is that what you would have us do with illegal aliens?

Fine them for entering the nation illegally, but allow them to remain here after that?

[mthom]

Think all those illegals in the marches thought maybe, just maybe, that bill came about because too many of them (and too quickly) disregarded our laws and sovereignty? Nah me neither.