Honduras immigrants

[Mark121359]

Good on you for acknowledging that there is a cost to the American taxpayer! The percentage is not the issue. It’s whether it’s fair for Americans to foot the bill for ILLEGALS. And my answer to that is a resounding NO!!! And I meant what I said previously… not a single dollar!

 

[signit]

Mark121359:

Then let me ask you. Who is paying for all of the illegals in this country? It’s a simple answer. And that answer is me…and Joe and Joan Taxpayer.

“[P]aying for all the illegals” is a pretty vague statement, but OK.

You’ve posted some articles asserting that illegal immigrants incur health care costs, which is undoubtedly true. The articles, however, make a number of somewhat unsubstantiated assertions (which the author admits, when he uses terms like “arguably”). It also fails to take into account the fact that illegal immigrants generally pay taxes (and also generally cannot claim refunds), so that they are funding Medicaid and other programs.

But that said, OK, I’ll accept that there is a cost. There are other costs, too – I do believe that employer exploitation of illegal immigrants will depress wages for legal workers, for example. See? I absolutely am open to discussing the cost to American of illegal immigration.

But still, you haven’t provided an answer to my original question, which was what percentage of your taxes goes to the support of Honduran immigrants?

Just to clarify, the second of the two articles the other poster linked to (the Washington Examiner article) quotes statistics from FAIR, and FAIR makes its estimates of the cost of illegal immigration net of what some of them pay in taxes.

 

[Inisfallen]

Good on you for acknowledging that there is a cost to the American taxpayer! The percentage is not the issue. It’s whether it’s fair for Americans to foot the bill for ILLEGALS . And my answer to that is a resounding NO!!! And I meant what I said previously… not a single dollar!

So still no answer to my question, which was “what does this cost you? What is the percentage of your taxes that goes to the support of Honduran immigrants?”

 

[13pollitos]

It’s not just Honduran immigrants. And not everyone in this caravan are from Honduras. The thought of 10,000 illegal immigrants coming all at once, a few times each year, is a scary thought. It is very difficult to carefully screen each person in a group that large. It is expensive too. The expense doesn’t end with the screening process. There are court costs and travel expenses for those not eligible. There are costs to educate the children allowed to stay. Where does the money come from? It comes from those that pay taxes. It’s not coming from private charities. Yes private charities contribute to some of the expenses (clothing, housing, food, etc), but not public schooling, immigration court, screenings, detention centers, deportations, etc.

Both my husband and I are Latin American immigrants. We are not “afraid of Honduran migrants” or anything like that. We just realize the security risks and the enormous expense involved. I have close friends (and family members) that are in the US illegally. I know a great many of them are truly good people that work hard, contribute to society, and are raising good kids. Not all are, though, and without any documentation it is difficult to trust they are who they claim to be. Most illegal immigrants do not realize how bad it really is to buy IDs and social security numbers. Most don’t realize why it is wrong for them to come and work. At least initially. Most of the ones that learn what’s wrong with buying IDs and such would love to become legally here. There are no channels to make that happen. Even marrying a US citizen doesn’t automatically get you a green card.

 

[Inisfallen]

It’s not just Honduran immigrants.

Oh, I know, but that was the group mentioned above in the thread.

The thought of 10,000 illegal immigrants coming all at once, a few times each year, is a scary thought. It is very difficult to carefully screen each person in a group that large. It is expensive too.

Yes, of course, which is why we’re in desperate need of comprehensive immigration reform, rather than the incessant demonizing of immigrants, particularly South and Central American immigrants, that I see lately.

Both my husband and I are Latin American immigrants.

As were my grandparents (although not from Latin America), and as is my wife, the mother of my children.

I’d like the opportunity my grandparents, uneducated and poor, found in America to be just as available today as it was to them then, without regard to ethnicity or national origin.

Not such a radical point of view.

 

[13pollitos]

No it’s not at all. That is why I desperately want (and pray for) immigration reform. That’s why using people as political pawns disgusts me. In the meantime, something needs to be done. To me, it is more a matter of THEIR safety and well being. They deserve so much better than all this.

 

[Mark121359]

Who cares (except you)what percentage it is?
You’re missing the point. It’s the principle that matters the most. Regardless of the percentage, me, and every other American taxpayer is paying for them.

 

[qui_est_ce]

As were my grandparents (although not from Latin America), and as is my wife, the mother of my children.

I’d like the opportunity my grandparents, uneducated and poor, found in America to be just as available today as it was to them then, without regard to ethnicity or national origin.

Not such a radical point of view.

Immigrants that come here legally do have that opportunity.

St. Louis is a settlement center for for many refugees. My nail shop is owned and run by Vietnamese. Their business is thriving. They are homeowners. St. Louis has the largest Bosnian population outside of Europe. They are doing very well, buying homes and starting businesses.

We also have a thriving Mexican population. The ones who are illegal tend to get abused, according to friends that work with them. They are don’t report illegal living conditions and wages because they are afraid of getting caught.

 

[Inisfallen]

Who cares ( except you )what percentage it is?

Well, you do. You brought it up, not me.

 

[Mark121359]

Yeah right! Nice try. It was YOU that brought up, and stayed hyper focused on percentage, not me.

 

[Inisfallen]

That giant piggy bank is coming from my paycheck, and I’m sick of my taxes paying for them!

Nope. You said “That giant piggy bank is coming from my paycheck, and I’m sick of my taxes paying for them!.”

And I responded.

 

[Inisfallen]

Yeah, that’s a fair representation of poor, desperate people from Honduras (or Guatemala, or wherever).

 

[Mark121359]

And I responded.

Yes. By asking about percentage. You can’t seem to grasp the fact that me, and millions of other hard working Americans are sick and tired of taxpayer money rewarding law breakers. So you stay hyper focused on “what percentage” and avoid the real issue. That is that billions of dollars of Americans hard earned money is footing the bill for illegal aliens.

I’m done with this! Have a good day.

 

[Inisfallen]

You can’t seem to grasp the fact that me, and millions of other hard working Americans are sick and tired of taxpayer money rewarding law breakers.

Yep. I’m one of those hard working Americans. I’m pretty sick of my tax dollars rewarding lawbreakers too. A bit off topic, but Jared Kushner comes to mind. Much more of a threat to me, as a New Yorker, than any poor schmuck from Honduras.

 

[marybobo]

That may be true for some, but why are they carrying flags of nations other than the US? Seems like a slap in the face to me. And along the way American flags have been burned.

 

[Inisfallen]

That may be true for some, but why are they carrying flags of nations other than the US? Seems like a slap in the face to me. And along the way American flags have been burned.

Some small number of people burned a flag. That’s not everyone. Why they’re carrying flags? I don’t know. Maybe they’re proud of their heritage, just like so many Americans who are proud of their Irish or Italian or Polish or whatever heritage.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Yep. I’m one of those hard working Americans. I’m pretty sick of my tax dollars rewarding lawbreakers too. A bit off topic, but Jared Kushner comes to mind. Much more of a threat to me, as a New Yorker, than any poor schmuck from Honduras.

That’s because you don’t live in Texas and Arizona. You ought at least to have the same sympathy for them as you do for those in the caravan.

 

[13pollitos]

We have a Mexican flag/banner on the front door of our house, and have for many years. Even when we lived in Army Family housing. Many US soldiers have the flags or a banner from their home country or spouse’s home country on the door or the rear view mirror on their car. We have also have a picture of an eagle holding a Mexican flag and an American flag hanging in our living room. The reason is, no matter how grateful you are for what this country has given, a piece of your heart stays where you were born. That is the place that made you who you are. My parents always had a Bolivian flag that flew under the American flag when I was growing up. I really have no real memories of Bolivia, but my older siblings do. I remember visiting grandparents growing up and meeting cousins, but I haven’t been there at all in nearly 30 years. My grandparents passed away and I have nothing calling my heart there any longer. I do visit Mexico with my husband though.

As for burning the US flag, that is disturbing. I have met immigrants here, both legal and illegal, that truly HATE America. I don’t understand it at all. Why would you come to somewhere you hate? I am sure the majority do not feel the same way, but it will be hard to separate the good from the bad.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Probably because they are not marching in a caravan demanding illegal entry into another country.

 

[qui_est_ce]

but it will be hard to separate the good from the bad.

This is the issue!