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More than half of the nation's immigrants receive some kind of government welfare, a figure that's far higher than the native-born population, according to a report to be released Wednesday.
About 51% of immigrant-led households receive at least one kind of welfare benefit, including Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches and housing assistance, compared to 30% for native-led households, according to the report from the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for lower levels of immigration.
Those numbers increase for households with children, with 76% of immigrant-led households receiving welfare, compared to 52% for the native-born.
The findings are sure to fuel debate on the presidential campaign trail as Republican candidates focus on changing the nation's immigration laws, from calls for mass deportations to ending birthright citizenship.
Steven Camarota, director of research at center and author of the report, said that's a much-needed conversation to make the country's immigration system more "selective."
"This should not be understood as some kind of defect or moral failing on the part of immigrants," Camarota said about the findings. "Rather, what it represents is a system that allows a lot of less-educated immigrants to settle in the country, who then earn modest wages and are eligible for a very generous welfare system."
Linda Chavez agrees with Camarota that the country's welfare system is too large and too costly. But Chavez, a self-professed conservative who worked in President Reagan's administration, said it's irresponsible to say immigrants are taking advantage of the country's welfare system any more than native-born Americans.
Chavez said today's immigrants, like all other immigrant waves in the country's history, start off poorer and have lower levels of education, making it unfair to compare their welfare use to the long-established native-born population. She said immigrants have larger households, making it more likely that one person in that household will receive some kind of welfare benefit. And she said many benefits counted in the study are going to U.S.-born children of immigrants, skewing the findings even more.
So... I ask you this. Should children born here be automatically granted citizenship and thereby receive taxpayer funded benefits???
source USA Today
About 51% of immigrant-led households receive at least one kind of welfare benefit, including Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches and housing assistance, compared to 30% for native-led households, according to the report from the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for lower levels of immigration.
Those numbers increase for households with children, with 76% of immigrant-led households receiving welfare, compared to 52% for the native-born.
The findings are sure to fuel debate on the presidential campaign trail as Republican candidates focus on changing the nation's immigration laws, from calls for mass deportations to ending birthright citizenship.
Steven Camarota, director of research at center and author of the report, said that's a much-needed conversation to make the country's immigration system more "selective."
"This should not be understood as some kind of defect or moral failing on the part of immigrants," Camarota said about the findings. "Rather, what it represents is a system that allows a lot of less-educated immigrants to settle in the country, who then earn modest wages and are eligible for a very generous welfare system."
Linda Chavez agrees with Camarota that the country's welfare system is too large and too costly. But Chavez, a self-professed conservative who worked in President Reagan's administration, said it's irresponsible to say immigrants are taking advantage of the country's welfare system any more than native-born Americans.
Chavez said today's immigrants, like all other immigrant waves in the country's history, start off poorer and have lower levels of education, making it unfair to compare their welfare use to the long-established native-born population. She said immigrants have larger households, making it more likely that one person in that household will receive some kind of welfare benefit. And she said many benefits counted in the study are going to U.S.-born children of immigrants, skewing the findings even more.
So... I ask you this. Should children born here be automatically granted citizenship and thereby receive taxpayer funded benefits???
source USA Today
Citizenship
Immigration
Reform
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Immigration reform is needed badly. But in making the reform it needs to address big business and agriculture industries who use this illegal labor force as a cost cutting tool. We speak badly on illegals yet refuse to acknowledge our own culpability in the situation. If we want reform, start with those who benefit from it, then allow it to trickle down. No one's going to mess with the 14th amendment, so IMHO, these children are citizens.
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Suspended Profile
Yes, along with welfare and public spending.... too many leeches on the system, with no conclusion on the horizon. I mean, what kind of country are we if an illegal immigrant can get benefits for free, government issued ID (DL), even become a member of a policy making group, while we have our own citizens (ie. Veterans) who are struggling, with plenty of issues on all levels (from local to national) to go around? What about the legal immigrants that have to go through the proper channels and don't get to come here? What the fEWrk?
What are we saying to everyone? I'm my opinion (and I am usually right), going along with all the social trends and whatnots, we cater to the illegal, and they'll be taken care of by taxpayers, because we need to "help" everyone out..... Because the world depends on us, because it's our responsibility, right? We're making people come over, so we might as well take care of them.....
Same with people living here, synonymous to illegal immigration, the government caters to the unmotivated, uneducated, and therefore, predominantly brain dead populace.... Because it's all good, we just have to stay positive, and everything will be just alright... as long as someone else takes care of me and my family.................. :)
I seriously just want to let the bodies hit the floor...
What are we saying to everyone? I'm my opinion (and I am usually right), going along with all the social trends and whatnots, we cater to the illegal, and they'll be taken care of by taxpayers, because we need to "help" everyone out..... Because the world depends on us, because it's our responsibility, right? We're making people come over, so we might as well take care of them.....
Same with people living here, synonymous to illegal immigration, the government caters to the unmotivated, uneducated, and therefore, predominantly brain dead populace.... Because it's all good, we just have to stay positive, and everything will be just alright... as long as someone else takes care of me and my family.................. :)
I seriously just want to let the bodies hit the floor...
SFC (Join to see)
Are you a Christian? Just for your own education (information), most illegals pay taxes but they do not fill income tax at end of year...not a single state hand out driver's licenses to illegals. What you stated here shows your level of ignorance, educate yourself and then slap yourself!!
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