Spring Break
Immigration opinion piece suffers flaws
Matt Watson
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Opinion
Matt Watson is the opinion editor at The Reflector. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.
Lazarus Austin's opinion piece ("Miss. immigration bill makes sense") published in Friday's issue of The Reflector oversimplified a very complex issue and contained illogical talking points. Austin supports a very rigid idea of how to deal with illegal immigration in the state, an idea that includes cutting off practically all public assistance to undocumented immigrants so that "taxpaying citizens" won't suffer. However, Austin falls to many misconceptions.
His comparison of the choices faced by drug addicts with no money to pay rent and the choices faced by Hispanics who want to come to the United States for jobs is ludicrous.
"That's how life works; it's all about choices and taking responsibility for those choices," Austin said.
Surely, he would agree there is a large difference between the responsibility of drug addicts who contribute money to dealers and hard-working immigrants who contribute millions of dollars in taxes to the state and constitute a cheap labor force. I will agree there are ethical questions about our dependence on this cheap labor force, but to say these immigrants are irresponsible is irresponsible itself.
Another specific comment I feel compelled to respond to is Austin's conclusion that he'd probably rather be an illegal immigrant than a "bonafide citizen." With all respect, this is downright laughable. Would Austin really want to work a blue-collar job to feed a family, pay taxes and live below the radar? I doubt it.
Austin's constant mention of "taxpaying citizens" seems to imply that undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes. This is not true.
I would refer Austin and other readers to a feature story headlined "Immigration: Myth vs. Reality" in the Feb. 20 issue of The Jackson Free Press. Among other things, the story highlights Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant's famous 2006 report on the impact of illegal immigration in Mississippi. Even that report, used as a campaign tool by Bryant and other Republicans in the state, estimated that illegal immigrants pay $44.2 million through income and sales taxes. And that figure is probably understating the actual amount illegal immigrants contribute.
Austin also implies that illegal immigrants are eligible for the same services for which citizens are eligible. However, as The Jackson Free Press points out in its article, this is not always the case.
For instance, only 40 illegal immigrants in Mississippi applied for food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families over the past four years.
Contrary to Austin's arguments, illegal immigrants do not receive "free health-care." I don't even know many American citizens who fall into that boat.
Although Bryant estimated that $35 million was spent on illegal immigrants' health-care in 2002, this figure is simply a politically influenced interpolation made by looking at the percentage of illegal immigrants with no health insurance. The $35 million figure has no real basis, as with so many other statistics on illegal immigration, unfortunately.
I do agree with Austin that anti-illegal immigration laws aren't racist. However, they are supported by citizens who are misinformed by politicians who push anti-illegal immigration bills through our legislature with partisan goals in mind.
When we're dealing with the issue of illegal immigration, we have to acknowledge more than what illegal immigrants cost the state. We must realize that they impact our economy in several ways. There are advantages and disadvantages, but passing bills to make things harder for businesses is only an illusion of a solution.
Lazarus Austin's opinion piece ("Miss. immigration bill makes sense") published in Friday's issue of The Reflector oversimplified a very complex issue and contained illogical talking points. Austin supports a very rigid idea of how to deal with illegal immigration in the state, an idea that includes cutting off practically all public assistance to undocumented immigrants so that "taxpaying citizens" won't suffer. However, Austin falls to many misconceptions.
His comparison of the choices faced by drug addicts with no money to pay rent and the choices faced by Hispanics who want to come to the United States for jobs is ludicrous.
"That's how life works; it's all about choices and taking responsibility for those choices," Austin said.
Surely, he would agree there is a large difference between the responsibility of drug addicts who contribute money to dealers and hard-working immigrants who contribute millions of dollars in taxes to the state and constitute a cheap labor force. I will agree there are ethical questions about our dependence on this cheap labor force, but to say these immigrants are irresponsible is irresponsible itself.
Another specific comment I feel compelled to respond to is Austin's conclusion that he'd probably rather be an illegal immigrant than a "bonafide citizen." With all respect, this is downright laughable. Would Austin really want to work a blue-collar job to feed a family, pay taxes and live below the radar? I doubt it.
Austin's constant mention of "taxpaying citizens" seems to imply that undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes. This is not true.
I would refer Austin and other readers to a feature story headlined "Immigration: Myth vs. Reality" in the Feb. 20 issue of The Jackson Free Press. Among other things, the story highlights Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant's famous 2006 report on the impact of illegal immigration in Mississippi. Even that report, used as a campaign tool by Bryant and other Republicans in the state, estimated that illegal immigrants pay $44.2 million through income and sales taxes. And that figure is probably understating the actual amount illegal immigrants contribute.
Austin also implies that illegal immigrants are eligible for the same services for which citizens are eligible. However, as The Jackson Free Press points out in its article, this is not always the case.
For instance, only 40 illegal immigrants in Mississippi applied for food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families over the past four years.
Contrary to Austin's arguments, illegal immigrants do not receive "free health-care." I don't even know many American citizens who fall into that boat.
Although Bryant estimated that $35 million was spent on illegal immigrants' health-care in 2002, this figure is simply a politically influenced interpolation made by looking at the percentage of illegal immigrants with no health insurance. The $35 million figure has no real basis, as with so many other statistics on illegal immigration, unfortunately.
I do agree with Austin that anti-illegal immigration laws aren't racist. However, they are supported by citizens who are misinformed by politicians who push anti-illegal immigration bills through our legislature with partisan goals in mind.
When we're dealing with the issue of illegal immigration, we have to acknowledge more than what illegal immigrants cost the state. We must realize that they impact our economy in several ways. There are advantages and disadvantages, but passing bills to make things harder for businesses is only an illusion of a solution.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
Copperpossum
posted 3/04/08 @ 8:35 AM CST
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/FactSheets/reaching.htm
In FY 2006, USDA spent nearly $5.1 billion to serve about 8.2 million WIC participants. Hispanics represent the largest racial/ethnic group in the WIC Program. (Continued…)
Laz
posted 3/04/08 @ 10:08 AM CST
I love how he avoids answering why he simply states that the 35 million is fake without explaining why.
Blake Watson
Blake
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:23 AM CST
I think both of you are missing the point. Before any solution is reached, you need to establish some common ground on the question, "Is it wrong for a person to steal if he or she is in great need?"
My opinion is that it is wrong, but the need and motive of the crime should be considered in the punishment. (Continued…)
Tianna
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:30 AM CST
I love this boy name marcel......And he is a alien and i love him but i feel like he need to take his ass back..........lol
Dr Coles
posted 3/04/08 @ 11:36 AM CST
Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. Immigrant is a legal status granted by a sovereign country. We have to many folks who do not know and are ignorant or outright deceivers, confusing illegal alien workers calling them illegal immigrants with immigrants. (Continued…)
Bettybb
posted 3/04/08 @ 1:20 PM CST
1. There are 1 billion Chinese who are also in need, most much poorer than Mexicans who have the world's 14th largest economy.
2. There is a whole continent populated by Africans who are much, much,much poorer than even the Chinese and would would love to come to the USA and make a better life for themselves and families, and they are for the most part educated. (Continued…)
Bettybb
Bettybb
posted 3/04/08 @ 1:59 PM CST
The author of this article probably does not realize that legal immigrants, not only have to have background checks, pass a medical (my son caught TB at school from an illegal alien kid), pass as US History test, have good character, and GUARANTEE they will not be asking for moneteary assistance from the governement for at least 5 years. (Continued…)
Count von Brock
posted 3/05/08 @ 4:01 PM CST
There are many, many dimensions to the illegal alien phenomenon and how it affects our country. I will just give the example of how we've become a lawless country, and point out that no democratic society can exist without both the consent of the governed and the rule of law. (Continued…)
Post a Comment