Illegal Immigrants and taxes

[BlackVelvet04]

This is a great read.


Illegal Immigrants are Paying a Lot More Taxes Than You Think


Denying public services to people who pay their taxes is an affront to America's bedrock belief in fairness. But many "pull-up-the-drawbridge" politicians want to do just that when it comes to illegal immigrants.

The fact that illegal immigrants pay taxes at all will come as news to many Americans. A stunning two-thirds of illegal immigrants pay Medicare, Social Security and personal income taxes. Yet, nativists like Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., have popularized the notion that illegal aliens are a colossal drain on the nation's hospitals, schools and welfare programs — consuming services that they don't pay for.

In reality, the 1996 welfare reform bill disqualified illegal immigrants from nearly all means-tested government programs including food stamps, housing assistance, Medicaid and Medicare-funded hospitalization. The only services that illegals can still get are emergency medical care and K-12 education.
http://www.reason.org/commentaries/dalmia_20060501.shtml

[ninkasi]

1. They also pay sales taxes

My state, Texas, does not have a state income tax, but does have sales taxes, which are paid by everybody who buys goods. Texas is also not a state known for it's generosity to it's citizens. We're pretty close to the bottom when it comes to any type of social assistance. People sure as hell don't come here because the state is generous to the poor.

[doc03]

2. I don't believe it and so what if they do they

still entered this country illegally. I pay taxes too and support this government with them and the government's job is to protect it's citizens and our borders. The whole problem is not the illegals themselves it's the damn Republicans wanting cheap labor, todays illegals are the 21 century's slaves. The Democrats are just as bad by ignoring the problem thinking they are going to get hispanic votes.

[BlackVelvet04]

3. So, what if they do?

It's important to argue with facts behind you. If you argue that they don't pay taxes then it's a false argument....or do you not care about facts?

[doc03]

4. Like I said, so what, a commentary from someone in

from an organization I never heard of is no proof of anything. It doesn't matter the key word is (Illegal) case closed. I pay taxes too and have served in the Army and my job and the governments job was to protesct and defend the USA.

[BlackVelvet04]

5. So, what......

"I pay taxes too and have served in the Army and my job and the governments job was to protesct and defend the USA."

what's that got to do with anything?

[doc03]

7. Protecting our borders that has everything to do with it.

I couldn't care less if they pay taxes or not they are allowed to enter the USA illegally to drive wages down in this country, I call that economic terrorism. How many violent x-felons or terrorists from who knows where could be among those people?

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. And the americans they displaced?

Instead of paying taxes, the displaced americans have become a drain. In fact, the occupations in question now pay less and so pay less taxes - while supporting a larger need for services.

This factoid misses the point entirely.

Nativism is a misnomer. This is about those who are here legally vs those who are not. It has little to do with country of birth, there are lots of naturalized citizens born elsewhere who are harmed by the status quo.