Benefits for Illegal Immigrants?
So. Immigration. Hot topic back in the states right now, huh?
Last week, I received an email from a friend regarding this subject and wanted to discuss it. Here’s the email text:
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Rick Herrold Social Security:
My Mom was a homemaker and dad worked all his life and paid into SS. Dad has passed away and now my Mom can barely make ends meet. While the possible 'illegal' alien in front of her at the grocery store buys the name brands, my Mom goes for the generic brands, and day old breads. She doesn't have out of state calling on her phone, because she can't afford it and shops at the thrift & dollar stores while the 'illegal' aliens go to Macy's, Gap, J.C. Penny, Banana Republic, etc.
She considers having a pizza delivered once a week 'eating out'. She grew up during the depression, watched her husband go over seas to fight in WW II a year after their marriage, and then they went on to raise, feed and clothe 5 children, scrounging to pay tuition for parochial schools.
I'm sorry, but I can't see how the Senate can justify this slap in the face to born and bred, or naturalized citizens. It is already impossible to live on Social Security alone. If they give benefits to 'illegal' aliens who have never contributed, where does that leave those of us who paid into Social Security all our working lives?
The Senate voted this week to allow 'illegal' aliens access to Social Security benefits. Attached is an opportunity to sign a petition that requires citizenship for eligibility to receive Social services. If you do not wish to sign the petition yourself, please forward on to anyone you think might be interested.
PETITION FOR President Bush Mr. President:
The petition below is a protest against the recent vote of the senate which was to allow illegal aliens access to our social security! We demand that you and all congressional representatives require citizenship for anyone to be eligible for social services in the United States.
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This was followed with 488 names. I’m assuming that many of you have received this email also.
I’m sure there are tons of emails regarding this subject floating around, but this one, in particular, made me think a lot about the topic. I would like to share some of the immediate thoughts that crossed my mind after reading this:
1) Wow. Social Security really is in trouble.
2) Everyone in the states is guaranteed the right to an education and immediate (emergency) healthcare, right? So who is paying for the illegal immigrant bills? Aren’t legal citizens the ones paying for everything? If illegal immigrants are going to live here (and they are as long as jobs are available), then shouldn’t they at least have the option of helping to pay for all of those services that they receive? Or shouldn’t the law be re-written to not provide those services to them? But if that happens, how many steps will emergency rooms have to go through to prove that a person is indeed legal before treating them? Is that even a possible alternative? Probably not. So, if it’s true that illegal immigrants should have the opportunity to pay taxes on their illegal payments, then they should legally be entitled to all of the services the country offers, including social security, right? (Although, it’s duly noted that social security IS in serious trouble, but that’s an entirely different entry...I mean, we can’t just say we’re not going to provide that benefit because we can’t manage it, are we?)
I guess I went into some detail in #2. But it seems like this is the first step to getting tax dollars from the millions of illegal immigrants benefiting from living in the country. And while the emailed story is, of course, very upsetting, there are probably a lot of good reasons to begin offering this service...at least that’s what I’m thinking at the moment. If illegal immigrants are going to be benefiting from our services, let them pay into them too!!
Furthermore, I think the stories about illegals buying the "name brands" and stuff like that needs to be clarified. Again, I’d like to bring up a former community member who is now living illegally in the states. He was the president of the city council. He volunteered to build the new classrooms in the school receiving no money. He attended every possible training/educational session he could trying to get the best job possible to support his wife and three kids. In the end, he ended up in a place where he couldn’t find work anywhere, regardless of his efforts to obtain all the certifications possible. So he left for the states on a 5 year plan to earn enough money to be able to come back to his family and provide for them. At graduation, the principal read a letter that he sent addressed to his daughter. I was bawling all the way through it. Stuff like, "I’m so proud of you today. Of course, none of us want me living away from you, your brothers, or your mom, but it’s something I needed to do to make your lives better..." I mean seriously, can anyone (including me) imagine living in another country without even the opportunity of SEEING your kids/spouse? For years on end? I definitely can’t imagine it. And while I’m sure his case is an anomaly, it’s probably safe to say that the illegals buying the "name brands" falls into that category also. (As a side note, I’d like to know how people know these people are illegal...it’s not like they’re branded...big assumption.)
Trust me. I see how much money from the states benefits people here. And I know illegals living there have it tough. They work hard labor jobs, live with like 5 other people (as they do here), never have the chance to watch their kids grow up, and usually can’t speak English so everything is hard to do. I’m not saying I’m a fan of people living illegally in the US. Or even that I’m for or against this bill that has been presented. I’m just saying that it’s worth thinking about all sides of it before deciding. And I thought it might be beneficial to hear from someone seeing how things are currently working outside of the states.
I hope I didn’t offend anyone! Feel free to email me/comment about this. I´d love to hear feedback!
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