Rather than only focus only on my own position (and I am not certain exactly what that is in this thread), I will first note that this is an extremely complex issue and that any proposal must deal with these complexities:
First, illegal immigrants are not eligible for food stamps, social security, or welfare. The children who receive food stamps or welfare are all American citizens because they were born in the USA. Their parents are permitted to manage this money for their American citizen children, but I can't see how the kids can be given the money or food stamps directly. I also don't see how we can deport illegal parents but leave their American citizen children in the USA.
This definition of USA citizen (born here) has been in place for 100s of years. If you wish to change it (e.g. must be born of legal immigrants) fine, but realize that this is a major change. And realize that one has to think about the chain going all the way back: are children born of parents born of illegal immigrants not citizens either? If you don't draw a line somewhere, then I hope that you have your appropriate ancestors' immigration papers handy for inspection when this change is approved. I don't have my grandparents' (they died many years ago) so if you do change the law without recognizing this, I will need to find some other country.
The proposed tax credit only extends to people who become legal, and then they can look back (when they may not have been legal) and receive any tax credits during up to 3 prior years. It is a tax credit for legal immigrants that can be extended for a limited length of time to their illegal years. I am neither supporting it or not (I find it a distraction and perhaps inappropriate), but please realize that the "headline" sometimes used to describe this situation is not completely accurate.
Value to society is very difficult to calculate. Illegal immigrants contribute to society through their work, as well as paying a wide variety of non-income taxes and fees. If the right wing is correct, then employers are hiring them to save money from hiring USA citizens, which actually creates value for employers and enables them to keep down the price of goods. So by this view, illegal immigrants are actually fulfilling the libertarian scheme of employers being able to hire employees as cheap as they can get them, and perhaps avoid all those pesky government regulations on minimal wages, etc.
Many people suggest that illegal immigrants should simply wait in line, apply for and enter the USA legally. Actually, most cannot. Unlike my grandparents' time, there is almost no way for people without specific sophisticated skills or pre-existing wealth to legally enter and work in the USA. My grandparents could not if they were alive and tried now.
I will also mention that limiting or deporting illegal immigrants will represent a great deal of government intervention and rules; okay, if that is what you want to do, but realize that we will probably need identity cards, random inspections of restaurant kitchens and farms, and that we are telling employers to not hire whoever they wish.
Finally, what I do know of my own feelings: I would hate to punish children by depriving them of food or an education because their parents chose to come to the USA illegally. In fact, an education is the most practical way of ensuring that these children will become productive members of USA society. I am also proud that the USA is consider by many people in other countries as a place in which they would prefer to live; we must be doing something right! My own grandparents came here for this very reason. And finally, I will state that the immigrants I have met, legal or (unknown status), are among the hardest working and dedicated people who I know; I would gladly trade certain USA citizens one to one for them. Yes, there are illegal citizens involved in other crimes and in certain street gangs, probably disproportionately. I don't have an easy solution. But there are clearly a lot of very wonderful illegal immigrants who contribute a great deal, and we need to find a way of dealing with the actual complex problems, and not rely on emotional calls from political partisans.
First, illegal immigrants are not eligible for food stamps, social security, or welfare. The children who receive food stamps or welfare are all American citizens because they were born in the USA. Their parents are permitted to manage this money for their American citizen children, but I can't see how the kids can be given the money or food stamps directly. I also don't see how we can deport illegal parents but leave their American citizen children in the USA.
This definition of USA citizen (born here) has been in place for 100s of years. If you wish to change it (e.g. must be born of legal immigrants) fine, but realize that this is a major change. And realize that one has to think about the chain going all the way back: are children born of parents born of illegal immigrants not citizens either? If you don't draw a line somewhere, then I hope that you have your appropriate ancestors' immigration papers handy for inspection when this change is approved. I don't have my grandparents' (they died many years ago) so if you do change the law without recognizing this, I will need to find some other country.
The proposed tax credit only extends to people who become legal, and then they can look back (when they may not have been legal) and receive any tax credits during up to 3 prior years. It is a tax credit for legal immigrants that can be extended for a limited length of time to their illegal years. I am neither supporting it or not (I find it a distraction and perhaps inappropriate), but please realize that the "headline" sometimes used to describe this situation is not completely accurate.
Value to society is very difficult to calculate. Illegal immigrants contribute to society through their work, as well as paying a wide variety of non-income taxes and fees. If the right wing is correct, then employers are hiring them to save money from hiring USA citizens, which actually creates value for employers and enables them to keep down the price of goods. So by this view, illegal immigrants are actually fulfilling the libertarian scheme of employers being able to hire employees as cheap as they can get them, and perhaps avoid all those pesky government regulations on minimal wages, etc.
Many people suggest that illegal immigrants should simply wait in line, apply for and enter the USA legally. Actually, most cannot. Unlike my grandparents' time, there is almost no way for people without specific sophisticated skills or pre-existing wealth to legally enter and work in the USA. My grandparents could not if they were alive and tried now.
I will also mention that limiting or deporting illegal immigrants will represent a great deal of government intervention and rules; okay, if that is what you want to do, but realize that we will probably need identity cards, random inspections of restaurant kitchens and farms, and that we are telling employers to not hire whoever they wish.
Finally, what I do know of my own feelings: I would hate to punish children by depriving them of food or an education because their parents chose to come to the USA illegally. In fact, an education is the most practical way of ensuring that these children will become productive members of USA society. I am also proud that the USA is consider by many people in other countries as a place in which they would prefer to live; we must be doing something right! My own grandparents came here for this very reason. And finally, I will state that the immigrants I have met, legal or (unknown status), are among the hardest working and dedicated people who I know; I would gladly trade certain USA citizens one to one for them. Yes, there are illegal citizens involved in other crimes and in certain street gangs, probably disproportionately. I don't have an easy solution. But there are clearly a lot of very wonderful illegal immigrants who contribute a great deal, and we need to find a way of dealing with the actual complex problems, and not rely on emotional calls from political partisans.
Really?
