[Kevin]

Originally posted by KSig RC
according to this article, the SSA estimates that 3/4 of all illegal immigrant workers pay into SS and medicare. Whether or not you agree with the author's conclusion that the current viability of social security relies on this huge number ($56 billion, it seems), it seems an interesting point.\

This site's goal is anything but to present an objective view of illegal immigration. I would seriously call into question the validity of any figures that they profess to be factual. I'll admit that I don't have anything to disprove them, however, this dot-org site has a very specific agenda, and those numbers seem to paint a rosey picture that may or may not be the case.

As for the figure you cite about 3/4 of all illegal immigrants paying into medicare, I find that claim to be dubious at best. 3/4 of immigrants, maybe, but illegal ones?

The testimony on this testimony before the Subcommittee on immigration, border security and claims provides some pretty compelling numbers though:

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache...ient=firefox-a

Pay particular attention to the data that is presented that shows how many illegals that do file get tax subsidies in excess of their liabilities -- in other words, they pay taxes, but they end up making a profit in doing so.

KT - what's your real point here? I have difficulty assigning your feelings to much more than rampant xenophobia - I've never heard of an American citizen being denied health care, etc because of illegal immigrants. I've only heard of American citizens becoming rich by utilizing immigrant workers.

I do not suffer from xenophobia. I suffer from the belief that these illegal practices cause considerable harm to our economy. Further, I never alleged any American citizen was turned down for health care, etc. due to illegal immigrants. Of course, if you wanted to get technical about it, many public hospitals do attribute their closings or financial distress to the fact that they received many illegal aliens that did not pay for the services they received. I'm not sure how sound a statement that is, but I certainly have heard it enough times that I suspect there may be some substance to it.

Also, for every American that gets rich off this, there are taxes going unpaid insurance premiums not paid, other legal employers that are unable to compete due to unethical practices by their competition, etc. Most of this is described in the first link I posted.

It's a two-way road - if you're willing to assign such blame to the immigrants and 'Mexico' (as you put it), how do you feel about the citizens that are the enablers? Are these workers really such a 'drag' on the average American, when most are in the work force and earning a living? Not to even introduce the type of jobs being geared toward immigrant workers . . .

I think the Mexican group is by far the largest illegal immigrant group, so assigning them the most blame, I believe is a fair practice. Also, I never said anything about employers. You are jumping to a conclusion here. Personally, I'd like to see employers of illegal aliens held to severe criminal and financial penalties. I'm not sure what the law is there now, but I believe that there are some pretty strong laws in place already. However, they are laxly enforced.

Also - how does this apply to in-state tuition at colleges? Doesn't the prospect of higher education help to alleviate the endemic problems that you associate with illegal immigration? [/B]

The connection exists, but it seems that our discussion has digressed a lot, hasn't it?

Universities are funded by citizens living in a certain state who pay taxes. If an individual's parents do not contribute to the state that pays for that school to exist, and they are breaking the law in the first place by being there, why should they be rewarded?

To me, it appears to be a case of people who disrespect the laws of our land being rewarded. I just don't appreciate being taken advantage of like that.