Born in the USA, but not a citizen?

[Chuck S]

These threads just fascinate me. I live in a border state. I have no problem with anyone coming into this state to work or give birth to a baby. I don't know anyone who lives here that has the disdain for Hispanic immigrants that I see on this board on a regular basis either.

They come here to work. They do it because it's that or starve. They provide a workforce that our state needs. I wish they were paid more, but even if these jobs paid more there would not be US citizens lining up to do them. I've known many undocumented workers, and this may surprise you, but many don't want to be US citizens. They come here to work and feed their families. In their place, I can't say I wouldn't do the same.

Ditto, and you should see the shameful way some Americans treat the Mexican people in their own country when we do cross over to shop. If those "illegal aliens" weren't here working our fields, the price of food would soar sky high.

I think it is just easier to "rally the troops" around a "common enemy".

 

[Goofyzgurl]

These threads just fascinate me. I live in a border state. I have no problem with anyone coming into this state to work or give birth to a baby. I don't know anyone who lives here that has the disdain for Hispanic immigrants that I see on this board on a regular basis either.

They come here to work. They do it because it's that or starve. They provide a workforce that our state needs. I wish they were paid more, but even if these jobs paid more there would not be US citizens lining up to do them. I've known many undocumented workers, and this may surprise you, but many don't want to be US citizens. They come here to work and feed their families. In their place, I can't say I wouldn't do the same.

I also live in a state that has an influx of immigrants from Mexico. I totally agree with the above poster. They come here to work for work. They are out in the heat/cold picking produce for minimal pay for long periods of time. Trust me these jobs go to Americans first, if you apply for these jobs, Americans are hired, there's no interview nothing. Americans last maybe a day at the most. Building a wall and changing the constitution seems pretty idiotic for something like this when there's bigger issues that need attention.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I'm with the last few posters, I live in Southern California and I have never heard a single person say they are applying for a job picking strawberries.

There are truly much bigger problems that are costing a whole heck of a lot more money than illegal aliens in this country.

A wall is ridiculous.

 

[Shugardrawers]

You guys are missing the point I think. Yes, there are many wonderful workers who come from Mexico to do jobs we think are beneath us and they do it to feed their families. We need them as much as they need us. The ones that seem to be a problem for most americans are the ones who come here illegally and receive benefits such as food stamps, medicaid and welfare. Our own people are already draining that system without the added burden of also supporting illegal aliens. Documented workers I'm all for. I don't even have a problem with illegal aliens who support themselves. Just don't ask me to use my tax dollars to support them. If they want to use the system to help raise their families they need to be paying taxes for it.

 

[bear74]

I think the fence is dumb reminds me of berlin wall!

 

[Chuck S]

The ones that seem to be a problem for most americans are the ones who come here illegally and receive benefits such as food stamps, medicaid and welfare.

Don't you need a SS# to apply for food stamps, medicaid and welfare? How else do they verify your income for eligibility? And how would an "illegal" legally obtain a SS#? As far as "charity" cases at hospitals for emergency care, guess what, there are plenty of uninsured working natural born Americans that qualify for that, they make "too much" for medicaid but not enough to pay for medical care.

 

[Shugardrawers]

Absolutely anyone, legal or not, should receive emergency medical care regardless of citizenship or ability to pay. It's extremely easy to obtain an SS# without being here legally. They are for sale all over the border states. Most illegals work in the agricultural fields and are paid cash under the table. All I ask is if they need to use the welfare system that they do it legally and pay taxes on their earnings.

 

[nwdisgal]

The problem with the illegal immigrants from Mexico is partly homemade:
I.e. subsidies for American corn farmers made them produce far to much corn. The America overproduction corn is sold in Mexico at extremely low prices with which small farmers couldn't compete and thus those people were driven into bankruptcy. It's not exactly a surprise they see their only chance in going north. Those 8 billion for that should better be used to make living in Mexico more attractive. This way the Mexicans would prefer to stay in their country.
We had our continent -and especially my country- divided by a wall for a very long time. Believe me: That sucked!!!
We're having exactly the same problem with African immigrants at the European Union's southern borders. The only chance for us also is to help the African countries to become more for their own people.

Yes. Very well put. The real issue is that they come here because it is economically more attractive than their own country.

 

[Chuck S]

Absolutely anyone, legal or not, should receive emergency medical care regardless of citizenship or ability to pay. It's extremely easy to obtain an SS# without being here legally. They are for sale all over the border states. Most illegals work in the agricultural fields and are paid cash under the table. All I ask is if they need to use the welfare system that they do it legally and pay taxes on their earnings.

But here's my point on the SS#, yes, most anyone can get a fake SS#...but don't the states run a check on that SS# before issuing welfare and food stamps? I mean, surely someone should be responsible enough to notice that 23 year Juan Martinez is not 84 year old John Doe, to whom the real SS# may be registered. Or that if it is a fake number because the inquiry returns no information at all. Shouldn't whoever administers welfare and food stamps be responsible enough to notice such things?

As far as being paid under the table in cash...it is the responsibility, legally, of the employer to withhold taxes and pay employment taxes. If they are considered "contract laborers" then the employer should have a SS# on file and file a 1099 form for that as well. Maybe we should have better ENFORCEMENT, I think $8Billion would pay a lot of people to go check the employment records rather than pay a few good ol' boys to build a fence. Again, it is easier for our government to rally people against a perceived "enemy" than to take responsibility for their actions.

 

[What the Heck]

I think a point that is being missed is that this isn't a new problem in regards to Mexicans coming North. It has been around for a long, long time, long before the small farmers were "driven into bankruptcy". However, what gives it a new shade is that many become afraid of those who may be coming with the Mexicans.

I think it's a sad state of affairs that any people are considering taking away the citizenship of children, and that we are considering a wall between us and Mexico. Personally, I don't think the citizenship law has a chance of passing, however the wall of fear will probably be built in our time.

 

[nwdisgal]

Don't you need a SS# to apply for food stamps, medicaid and welfare? How else do they verify your income for eligibility? And how would an "illegal" legally obtain a SS#? As far as "charity" cases at hospitals for emergency care, guess what, there are plenty of uninsured working natural born Americans that qualify for that, they make "too much" for medicaid but not enough to pay for medical care.

Yah, I am wondering the same thing. How do they walk up and receive such easy access to health care, when I have high quality, comprehensive, private health insurance and it is a complete hassle to obtain medical services. There is a whole lot of screening that goes on upfront, and poor Americans who live here without health insurance have that much more of a problem. I guess I'd like to see the data on how these people are draining the medical system.

As far as a building a wall, that is completely senseless.

 

[Honu]

I'm not saying that it never happens, but I think people are greatly over estimating the number of undocumented residents from Mexico that actually receive benefits, above emergency medical care. For those that are working with fake SS cards, they are paying taxes to our government and are not eligible to receive any benefit in return. Given the number of these workers in California, we are not talking about a small amount of change.

The majority of these fake cards are flagged by the IRS the first time income is reported and either notices go out to the employer or the INS sweeps in and deports the workers. These people have no choice, but to come back and start over though. Again, in their shoes, I would be doing the same.