SoCo Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 41) In the world of illegal immigration (“undocumented aliens” if you’re prone to euphemism), the bottom line is this: Our nation’s already over-burdened benefit system is suffering increased costs from people who didn’t wait in line to come to this country legally. Coming to America is the dream of many. Ellis Island immigrants required medical exams, but today’s America has become the Wild West of non-citizens who take wages and government subsidies and find refuge in “sanctuary” cities. DespiteRomney’shardstanceagainstillegal immigration, three such cities can be found in Massachusetts: Orleans, Somerville, and Cambridge, according to Fox News. Fox also reports that Romney vetoed a move to allow in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants and signed an agreement that would give state police powers regarding illegal immigrants under Homeland Security through Immigration and Customs. The measure was rescindedbyDevalPatrickafterhetookoffice. According to BerkleyBeacon.com and Boston.com, a bill that would have let illegals attend public universities and colleges with in-state tuition rates did not pass in the Mass. House of Representatives in 2006. If passed, the bill would have allowed the rates for illegals under three conditions: (1) they must have been in the country for three years, (2) prove they are applying for citizenship, and (3) graduated from a local high school (or equivalent). So what to do with the illegals here in our country? Can you fault someone for wanting what’s here? The last I heard, people aren’t lining up to go to China or Cuba unless they’re deranged movie stars. I f a U.S. citizen is stopped for a traffic violation and can’t produce a valid license and registration, he or she is subject to arrest. What if an illegal alien is stopped for the same violation? Is that person, who is already breaking the law, subject to arrest, detained, or sent back to his or her country? If you’re not sure, don’t feel bad. There seems to be no clear-cut policy or procedure that makes any sense and is enforceable. As you read on, you’ll see that our investigation produced more questions than answers. A secure driver’s license issuance process helps But I digress. protect Americans and visitors from identity The Center for Immigration Studies theft and terrorist attacks. The key ingredients (CIS) measures the economic costs of to a secure license are: a legal presence illegal immigration, painting a complex requirement, a state residency requirement, fiscal picture. The solutions to this cost verification of key identity documents, a burden are posited in a 2004 study by CIS: biometric identifier, and linking the expiration shrink the costs of illegal immigration of the license to foreign visitor’s authorized while allowing illegals to remain in the duration of stay. country, legalize aliens in order to increase the amount of taxes they pay, or cut the The Massachusetts Registry of Motor population of illegal immigrants by Vehicles did all of these things at the enforcing the law. CIS findings reveal time of the study, save for the final item, specific costs and facts. For instance, one which is pretty good. However, Vaughan’s half of estimated illegal households pay study emphasized the importance of an average of more than $4,200 in federal this last item, estimating that 11 to 12 taxes yearly (in payroll taxes) but create costs of $6,950 per house. They use less welfare than popularly believed but more food assistance. Another key “A secure driver’s license issuance point is that homes headed by illegals cost the federal government $26.3 process helps protect Americans billion in 2002, but paid only $16 billion in taxes—resulting in a $10.4 billion and visitors from identity theft net fiscal deficit. More specifically, the largest costs imposed by illegals and terrorist attacks. The key in the first few years of 2000 were Medicaid ($2.5 billion); health ingredients to a secure license treatment for the uninsured ($2.2 billion); food aid through are: a legal presence requirement, WIC, free school lunches, and food stamps ($1.9 billion); a state residency requirement, federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion); and federal prison and court system costs verification of key identity ($1.6 billion). Deval Patrick flirted with the idea documents, a biometric identifier, of giving illegals licenses (reportedly to keep track of them for security, and linking the expiration of according to Ontheissues.org). In a 2005 study, Jessica Vaughan, senior the license to foreign visitor’s analyst for the Center for Immigration authorized duration of stay.” Studies, states: M ay 2 0 0 8 | s o co m a g azi ne . i nfo | 41 http://BerkleyBeacon.com http://Ontheissues.org http://socomagazine.info
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