Immigration Assignment Kermit Davis

The explosion of the population of illegal immigrants in America has negatively affected the wages of certain industries as well as placed a strain on the entitlement system put in place by the Federal Government to provide for its citizens in need of temporary assistance through financially tough times. I have been an advocate for immigration control for years as I have seen construction wages decrease along with a rise in unemployment for those with little education. There has also been a strain placed upon the welfare and food stamp programs, not to mention the explosion in health care cost due to using emergency rooms as a primary care facility. Reformation of the immigration policy is long overdue and should be addressed promptly.

When I was growing up, there were many men that were in the construction industry that could provide for their families with the wages they earned, since a disproportionate number of illegal immigrants choose the construction industry, salaries have dropped and the ability to support a family on the wages of a painter or a carpenter is no longer possible. According to an article by the Center for Immigration Studies titled Stagnant Wages and the Connection to Immigration, the median salary in America is less than it was in 1989, (adjusted for inflation). Granted, carpenters and painters are on the low end of the wage pool used for median salary calculation, the lower their wages are, the lower the median income will be computed. Illegal immigrants are willing to accept jobs for lower wages to keep from being detected by INS, and a large number of smaller construction companies will hire illegals to increase their profit margin. The current laws do not provide stiff enough penalties for employers that hire illegals and are not aggressively enforced to deter illegals from coming to this country.

The Great Depression was a reason the Federally funded welfare system was established. This system was put into place to temporarily assist families that found themselves in financial dire straights. The system did not state that illegal immigrants were to be excluded from the benefits because America was still considered a new country and as people came here, they were eager to become US citizens. As families would come to America through Ellis Island, they were given the resources to begin the path to citizenship. Fast forward to the 1990s where there was an explosion of illegal immigration due to the antiquated border surveillance to the south, and the robust economy that America was experiencing. The economies of the countries to the south were not growing as fast as America, and coming here was as easier than crossing a moderately busy New York avenue. While most people that came here found jobs, a large amount did not. This is where the American safety net came to the rescue. Applying for food-stamps is very easy, just fill out the paperwork showing that you are a resident, (proof of address), and show that you do not have an income, then wait for you card to appear in the mail. The Federal Welfare program officially ended in 1996 when

the Republican Congress passed and President Clinton signed the Welfare Reform Act that gave control of the welfare system back to the states. Without access to the Federal Social Security databases, illegal immigrants are able to defraud the states programs that are setup to assist families in need. Fraudulent cases have drained the purses of the Federal TANF, (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), grants. Placing further strain on the American middle class taxpayer that is already footing 90% of the nations budget. Illegal immigration being one of the problems with Americas health care is another reason for immigration reform. In America, hospital emergency rooms are obligated to treat any and everyone that comes through their door that is need of care, with or without insurance to cover the cost. Illegal immigrants go to emergency rooms for care and when they do not have the ability to pay for the care received, that cost is reclaimed by raising what is charged to the insurance providers in the form of higher prices, and then passed on to the American citizens in the form of higher premiums for coverage.

Comprehensive immigration reform is badly needed and should immediately be addressed by congress. America can no longer afford to allow illegal immigrants the freedom to wreak havoc on our economy. Stronger borders and sending people back to their home country is not a solution. The only reasonable solution to the problems that illegals bring is to provide a pathway to legal citizenship so the immigrants can become taxpayers and start contributing to the system that they have been using and abusing.

Kermit Davis

References:

David Seminara, September 19, 2013. Stagnant Wages and the Connection to Immigration http://www.cis.org/seminara/stagnant-wages-and-connection-immigration

no author, (n.d.). welfareinfo.org.US Welfare System - Help for US Citizens, Eligibility Requirements for State Welfare Program http://www.welfareinfo.org/ Michelle. January 2, 2008. Health-Insurance.org. Illegal Immigration and Americas Healthcare http://www.health-insurance.org/illegal-immigration-and-americas-healthcare