Reply #26: Not true for many

[Alcibiades]

The tax argument is a total red herring. Many illegal aliens pay no taxes (except sales taxes). For example, if you are working as a day laborer, you are paid in cash. Lots of subcontractors in the construction industry pay under the table, undercutting firms that hire native-born workers/legal residents.

Whikle it is true that the undocumented do use social welfare services at lower levels than citizens/legal residents, they also impose costs on others, especially in the school system. In my city, our already struggling urban school district has had to find resources to educate children who only speak Spanish at home. There's also the cost of medical care, much of which is picked up by public hospitals, raising the cost of health care for the rest of us.

The fact that some are paying social security taxes and they will not wind up drawing social security does not eliminate the fact that massive illegal immigration hurts American workers. Of course the laws can be complied with! If these are hard working people who contribute to the tax base, then let them remain in Mexico (as per your example) which needs the revenue even more than we do. I agree with your substantive proposals--one of the first things we need to do is to make it possible for more people to immigrate legally.