Illegal Immigrants

One of the diarists I frequently read wrote something shocking this weekend.  She stated that she didn’t mind educating the children of illegal immigrants, that it benefited everyone in the long run.

On the surface that sounds all warm and fuzzy.  But when you actually THINK about what it takes and who bears the burden, that kind of blanket statement is ludicrous in my mind.  I will grant you right up front that it is not the fault of the children—they did not ask to be here. 

Let me explain my position based on a scenario here in suburban Philadelphia.  We have a once-thriving community that has fallen on hard times when manufacturing left.  There is little tax base left to subsidize the school district.  Consquently the school tax is higher than the neighboring school districts and the children receive don’t receive comparable ameneties as in the neighboring school districts.

This community has become a haven for illegal immigrants.  The numbers are staggaring.  The schools are over-run with the illegal children, many of whom cannot even speak English.  That means they receive extra attention and draw attention from the regular students.  That means IEP’s and ESL programs which fall under Special Education.  The state only provides so much money for Special Education and now there isn’t enough to go around and children that truly have special needs (down’s syndrome, autism, dyslexia, etc…) do not and cannot receive the education they should because we are teaching the Mexicans to speak English.

The school district operates at a defecit trying to accomdate the influx of illegal aliens they are forced to educate.  How do you handle the defecit?  You raise the taxes.  What happens when you raise the taxes?  The senior citizens living on fixed incomes can no longer afford the property taxes (aka school taxes) and are forced to move.  I ask how THAT benefits everyone in the long run?

I will acknowledge that the Mexican community is very hard working.  HOWEVER, they are getting paid cash under the table.  That means they are not paying their share of taxes.  There are multiple families living under one roof, so once again they are not paying their share of taxes.  Yet we provide their illegal children with a FREE education.  And we provide them with FREE health care when they have another child.

The diarist who doesn’t mind paying for the education of the illegals stated that she doesn’t have children so she is paying to educate other children, so there really isn’t much difference.  But there is.  Someone paid to educate me and I am paying it forward.  I am paying it forward to the children of tax paying parents.  And in the process I am paying back those that paid to educating me by paying my share of taxes so that my "benefactors" can stay in their homes.

Supporting the education of illegal aliens does a disservice to the LEGAL children in schools.  It does a disservice to me by increasing my taxes.  And it does a HUGE disservice to the senior community that can not afford to pay the continually increasing property taxes.

Illegal immigrants hurt everyone.  And GIVING them Social Security benefits is absolutely ludicrous.

Contrary to what you might think, I do not hate or even dislike Mexicans or any other nationality.  I hate illegal immigration.  Come here LEGALLY, pay your fair share, learn to speak the language and be an active member of the community and I will welcome you with open arms.