Reforming immigration policy is a big topic in the United States’ House of Representatives. A new immigration bill was recently proposed and is being debated this month by the House of Representatives.
Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Orrin Hatch have teamed up and proposed amendments to the bill S.744. Schumer said, in regard to recent increased agreement in the house, “It is safe to say that this agreement has the power to change the minds in the Senate …With this agreement we have now answered every criticism that has come forward about immigration bill.”
Immigration is a hot topic and has been for some years. Americans stand divided in their opinions about what is just and fair in regard to the increasing cost of illegal immigrants in this county. Immigrant families have been backbone of the population in this country, but for most of us it has been generations since we have felt any tie to the old countries.
We have become Americans and feel a vested interest in protecting what is ours. The other side of this story is that ”the overwhelming majority of those that have come to our shores come not in search of a handout from American taxpayers, but rather in search of creating a stronger foundation for themselves and the generation who will come after.” I agree with this sentiment. When these immigrants are successful it strengthens our communities. But I still feel hesitant about “giving the country away.”
So what’s the answer?
Illegal immigration costs the American taxpayer. There is no question that the increasing number of immigrants have had an effect on the taxes paid by Americans. The Federation for American Immigration Reform published the following figures:
• Cost to Idahoans: $188 million spent annually
• $112 million to educate the children of illegal aliens
• $23 million on unreimbursed heath care
• $23 million on criminal justice activities
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• $11 million on welfare
• $19 million for additional state/local operating costs
• $396 annual cost to each of Idaho’s native-born households.
For me, the single most important factor in forming an opinion on the merit of these costs is the return. Is it the intent of these people to become permanent members of society? If they intend to stay, build business, create homes etc. then we want those children educated and healthy so they will become a productive part of our communities. Are these costs a long term investment or simply a drain on a slowing economy? What was the cost to early America, when our ancestors came by the thousands, also crammed into the holds of unsanitary ships hoping for a brighter future? This is similar to the journey of many modern day immigrants. Might these immigrants build a brighter future in which native-born American will share?
Sen. Hatch and others are introducing four amendments in the hope of strengthening the bill so it will pass. The first amendment addresses welfare reform and would prevent Obama’s administration from providing noncitizens with welfare benefits. It prevents cash payments going to families that are noncompliant with current policy. These would include felons, those on parole, those exceeding the five year limit of federal assistance and some non-emergency medical services. The second amendment attempts to ensure that immigrant applicants would fulfill their federal tax obligations.
The third amendment would require a five-year waiting period before receiving tax credits or subsidies. This waiting period is the same as required for eligibility for other government programs such as CHIP or Medicaid. The final amendment would prohibit non-authorized workers from Social Security benefits.
These amendments are in addition to the proposed increase of border control which if passed would cost up to 6.5 billion in surveillance, fences and border personnel. The program has a projected 10-year schedule. New visa programs would be considered with increased enforcement of employer accountability for identifying eligible workers.
Eleven million undocumented immigrants would be eligible to register for a provisional status with citizenship as the final goal. This bill allows for an additional 200,000 workers annually to enter the United States on a path to citizenship, and eases limitations on hiring highly skilled foreigners.
Ann Youts is a resident of Shoshone.
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both parties are lying to us , i can prove it,and all of us know it,and they are misleading all of us,we nee a discusion on this or a town hall party...........i hope i get it started...........
"Both parties are lying to us, I can prove it..." and other hysterical statements add nothing to the solution nor do anything to solve this problem. Reasoned and logical fact-finding research on this emotional issue will lead to solutions that can benefit all Americans and all those wishing to become Americans. Ms. Youts, you make many interesting statements and yet never mention the source of your research. Your blatant biases are also glaringly apparent: any immigrants, as long as they behave as you think they should by investing in the long-gone American Dream, should be allowed to pursue citizenship.
A discussion of this issue, without prejudice and harsh judgments, employing only facts and a logical course to solutions, is so very long overdue on this subject. Ms. Youts, your letter and "duke's" comments add nothing to a tenable remedy of this country's immigration policies.
desertd12, you just answer me one question,and use all the big word you want to, we are told immigration reform ,that illegals will receive on bennefits,, now tell me a women sneakes accros the border , has a child ,she has no money for hospital,the child is a citizen, cant send mom back home,she will draw welfare,for the child,,OK now she goes out and has another child so you pay for it too,the politicans are not telling you this,what is your answer?????????? you need to wake up and smell the stink you need more i can give you facts
desertdr12 am i being hystirical to you this is just one lie they are telling us ,where is your answer to it?
THE GOVERNMENT NOT FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT BY THE PEOPLE, NOT OF THE PEOPLE...BUT SPECIAL INTERESTS?
This time their is no second chance to stop overpopulation, crumbling infrastructure and shortages of drinkable water.
America will only be secure enough when the Obama Administration doesn't give away freebies, for votes.
America will only be secure enough when we station the National Guard and build the real double fencing instead of Afghanistan's border.
America will only be secure enough when businesses are openly complaining they can't get enough illegals.
America will only be secure when Farmers and agriculture are held accountable for legal guest workers, for them paying for emergency care and benefits.
America will only be secure enough when schools no longer teach English as a second language.
America will only be secure enough when I no longer get greeted by a people speaking Spanish when I walk into a store.
America will only be secure when they implement the mandatory entry and exit system, along with E-Verify to detect visa airline, ports of entry overstays and border jumpers.
America will only be secure enough when Mexico and other dictatorships have REVOLUTION, because it then cannot dump its poor, it's criminals and malcontents in the U.S. and their people rise up and overthrow the corrupt government economic and political system.
America will only be secure enough should NOT be determined or influenced by pro-illegal alien groups such as the Latino Public Policy Center or La Raza.
America will only be secure when they revise the BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ACT, so only babies and children of U.S. citizen parents can claim public benefits and cash payments.
America will only be secure enough when EVERY American CITIZEN is issued a biometric ID card to replace the worthless Social Security cards and they will be required in order to hold a job. These cards should maintain your fingerprints, retinal scan and photograph to detect unauthorized workers, voter fraud and personal credit theft.
America is only secure enough when the IRS and Social Security and ICE talk to each other and exchange intelligence back and forth instead of being prohibited by law from doing so, which makes it very difficult to catch invaders.
America will only be secure when both political parties learn their allegiance is to ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and not Special Interests and their lobbyists.
America will only be secure if the underestimated 11 million illegal aliens don't get a free pass to citizen entitlements, sponsoring more family members and thereby accelerating the population by another 30 to 50 million and adding more poverty to our nation. Thank God for House Rep. Steve King and a few Senators Jeff Sessions, Ted Cruz who will not tow the line and do the bidding of the majority, who would awash this country in more dire poverty. We haven't even finished for the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act debacle.
Privacy of innocent Americans is being obliterated thanks to agencies like the NSA spying on us;
Votes were suppressed—even STOLEN—as the IRS targeted conservative political groups during the last election;
Our right to bear arms under the Second Amendment is in grave jeopardy as this administration attempts their gun-grab every chance it gets. Tyranny has come alive;
Now Obama administration is using the Trayvon Martin case to launch his attempt to obliterate Stand Your Ground laws in 30 states;
First Amendment rights are being trampled with wiretapping of the press;
60% of doctors will retire in the coming 3 years as a direct result of Obamacare—a death sentence to many;
Obamacare, only in the initial stages, is already a catastrophe, collapsing on itself;
A large majority of politicians and the federal government are exempt from the Obamacare, whereas all Americans must join.
33 million illegals who broke the law coming into our country could soon be rewarded with amnesty—jobs will be stolen from hardworking Americans while wages are diminished;
Illegal aliens are coming fast across the border in droves claiming Asylum. Guess whose paying for there hotels, food, etc.,?
Racial divide is growing bigger not smaller. The Obama administration continually race-baits America and has recently stepped it up, fueling hatred with his own ignorant views on the Trayvon Martin case;
Benghazi blood still runs like a river through his hands—and still, justice has not been served but swept under the carpet;
He freely gives guns and money to criminals and terrorists in Egypt...and positions in the White House to radical members of the Muslim Brotherhood who influence Obama's policies;
Hundreds of millions of our taxpayer dollars have been spent by Obama and his family on lavish vacations;
Has the gall to throw rock star parties at the White House—after closing it to the public.
At every chance he breaks the law and flaunts mass hypocrisy. He and his buddy Dept of Justice Eric Holder should be in JAIL.
Oh yes, his true nature has been fully exposed in a way that makes your blood run cold. Even Obama's most diehard defenders are questioning his motives.
We need to strike while the iron is blistering hot.
We have fought long and hard and people are finally opening their eyes to the fake, the fraud, the rot, the liars in the Obama administration.
When EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE LAWS HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ... then we'll talk. Fax you indignation and frustration at Numbersusa.com. Read more about the concealed immigration truths at Americanpatrol.com
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