Immigration - Jobs

Yes, it is true that if we trace back our family roots, we were all once immigrants. We've seen the shows and heard the stories of our ancestors coming over by boat and seeing the Statue of Liberty and feeling free for the first time. We come from all over the world, believe in different religions, and celebrate different cultures. For centuries, millions have made their way to the New World to make new lives. We truly are a melting pot. For a brief moment it sounds wonderful. What an honor to live in a society where we get to experience so many differences. We can visit Little Italy or China Town without needing a passport.

There was a time when the United States needed and relied on newcomers to work the unsettled lands. That time has gone! Today, approximately 15 - 20 million illegal immigrants are in this country. 15 - 20 million! Last year a total of only 114,000 were deported.

I am all for people coming into this country and I am grateful that other countries allow U.S. citizens to come into theirs. However, I believe that they MUST go through the proper channels. Illegal immigrant, illegal alien, undocumented workers, call it whatever you'd like but illegal is illegal - period. My question is why can we literally count them and estimate there are 15 - 20 million but do nothing about it?

In 2007, President Bush asked Congress to endorse his guest worker proposal, stating that illegal immigrants took the jobs that Americans would not take. Even if that was the case then, our unemployment rate is so high today that I am sure many Americans would love to take any job available. It was estimated last year that 5.2 percent of the American workforce are undocumented yet our unemployment rate continues to stay around 9 percent. I'm not that great with math, but it seems if we deport those that are here illegally we could cut our unemployment by more than half.

So, why doesn't the government see the simplicity in that? Because the government is driven by dollar signs. Although many argue that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes - the truth is they do. Of course some of them are able to get around it, but then again so are our own congressmen. The truth is immigrants pay sales tax, property tax, wheel tax, and even payroll tax just like the rest of us. How can they pay payroll taxes without Social Security Numbers? Through Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers or even sometimes fabricated social security numbers. These numbers however legit or false they may be put workers "on the books" and therefore deducts Medicare, Social Security, and State and Federal taxes from their income.

And, not only do they pay taxes, but they do not reap the rewards because they are ineligible for most government benefits. Here's a great example, in 2006, the state of Texas reported that the undocumented workers paid $424.7 million more in state revenue than they used in state services. Scenarios like this have led the government to declare that the "long-run impact of immigration on public budgets is likely to be positive."

While I completely understand what they are saying, my thoughts are this: We will continue to have the same amount of Americans in this country that are eligible for these benefits whether illegal immigrants are here or not. Therefore, we will continue to pay the same amount for these benefits. Now, if Americans had the jobs that undocumented workers currently have, our unemployment rate would go down and our costs for government benefits would stay the same. I'm sorry, where was the long-run positive impact?