Immigrants and illegal entrants have big impact on welfare spending

Florida hospital administrator Carol Plato testified before Congress in Florida about the more than $1.5 million her hospital spent on one man who was in the US illegally. TUSR covered the testimony in an earlier column that can be accessed by clicking the photo.Congress so far has been incapable of deciding what to do about people who come to the US legally or illegally from all over the globe. Until the government owns up to the costs associated with both legal immigration and those who come to the US under the radar, spending will continue to grow at the expense of the taxpayer. And that spending will also come at the expense of the tax recipient.

The Center for Immigration Studies points out sobering figures about immigration based on Census Bureau data from March, 2009: “In 2008, 53 percent of all households headed by an immigrant (legal or illegal) with one or more children under age 18 used at least one welfare program, compared to 36 percent for native households with children. Immigrant use of welfare tends to be much higher than natives for food assistance programs and Medicaid. Use of cash and housing programs tends to be very similar to natives. A large share of the welfare used by immigrants is received on behalf of their U.S.-born children. But even households with children comprised entirely of immigrants still have a welfare use rate of 47 percent.”

While there is US pride about the traditional ‘melting pot’ our country reflects, immigrants and those in the country illegally today are among the first to come here with entitlements waiting. As the US developed, most immigrants relied on family, friends and church for assistance. Over the last half century, the federal government has increasingly made benefits available to all whether the recipient obtains them legally or not.

Ultimately in order to keep political promises made to advocacy groups interested in growing the population according to the groups’ aims to increase numbers of specific races and cultures, the government will have to admit those promises will be costly.

CIS said, “It strikes some as hard-hearted to say so, but immigration is a major reason hospitals face much of the crushing levels of bad debt and uncompensated care. The reason is simple. As CIS's Steve Camarota has reported: ‘34 percent of immigrants lack health insurance, compared to 13 percent of natives. Immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for 71 percent of the increase in the uninsured since 1989.’"

Data in the articles referenced here reflect only part of the fiscal challenges. States are required to fund English as Second Language programs. No one really has a complete analysis of costs for crime associated with immigration or illegal entrants.

Current immigration policy enables human trafficking as well as predatory behavior in those who would take advantage of immigrants as well as illegal entrants. Poorly educated, illegal entrants are often extremely vulnerable as are legal immigrants. CIS said, “Of immigrant households with children, almost one in three is headed by someone who did not graduate high school, compared to one out of ten for native headed households with children.”

As Washington grapples with record deficits and borrowing levels that will jeopardize the nation’s wellbeing, Congress refuses to confront the immigration issue and to act in the best interests of those who bear the cost of social programs, the taxpayer and the tax recipient.