[Kevin]

Originally posted by KSig RC
I'll agree with the site's lack of neutrality, it was merely the first I found - however, the data given was purported to come from the SSA, and showed up often in the google search. Take it for what you will, but it was specifically about illegal immigrants.

I couldn't find that data anywhere, and I looked pretty hard. What search criterion were you using?

Unless you have a cite for these claims, I find them dubious at best - and until you can provide support for them, it inches closer to something less than academic interest. That was my point there, nothing more.

The above referenced congressional testimony illustrated these claims extremely well, and in very specific and user friendly terms. It's a lot of info to cut and paste, so if you doubt the veracity of those claims, just check the site.

This is the only point I can really get behind - it's tough for me to unilaterally deny in-state benefits, though, because until widespread reform takes place, it feels like I'm hiding my head in the sand (the 'ostrich mentality'), if that makes any sense - I guess my point is that I see where you're coming from in a strictly legal sense on the whole, but it seems that there may be some strong benefits to this specific program.

Our entire immigration policy exhibits the 'ostrich mentality'. I think we can both agree that there needs to be some substantial reform with concessions to and from both sides. The status quo is nothing more than a lot of blatant abuse with the occasional big bust (like Wal-Mart a couple of years ago with their janatorial contractor) just for show.

Here are some ideas that I think we could both get behind:

#1 -- Undocumented immigration must cease entirely, or at least as much as possible.

#2 -- Legal immigration should be available for the asking to any individual who wants to come here granted that immigrants pay taxes and whatever else the state deems necessary for them to be at least self-supporting.

#3 -- Employers should face strict criminal and financial penalties for carrying illegal immigrants (or anyone for that matter) in an "off the books" capacity.

As for education, it should only be available to people who have paid substantial taxes to support the institutions of higher-ed. On the other hand, I think that illegal aliens should be able to apply for student visas through their home government. The United States offers a great deal in the way of scholarship money to foriegn students. I see no reason to penalize foriegn students just because of their home address. If we offer scholarships to Mexican citizens, let them apply under the same set of rules that we would give to other Mexican citizens.

As for giving them in-state tuition, why? They're not legally residents of the state if they're not legally residents of the country.