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Permalink Reply by Central Scrutinizer on August 9, 2012 at 8:48am

Slow path to progress for U.S. immigrants

43% on welfare after 20 years

 

Immigrants lag behind native-born Americans on most measures of economic well-being — even those who have been in the U.S. the longest, according to a report from the Center for Immigration Studies, which argues that full assimilation is a more complex task than overcoming language or cultural differences.

The study, which covers all immigrants, legal and illegal, and their U.S.-born children younger than 18, found that immigrants tend to make economic progress by most measures the longer they live in the U.S. but lag well behind native-born Americans on factors such as poverty, health insurance coverage and homeownership.

The study, based on 2010 and 2011 census data, found that 43 percent of immigrants who have been in the U.S. at least 20 years were using welfare benefits, a rate that is nearly twice as high as native-born Americans and nearly 50 percent higher than recent immigrants.

The report was released at a time when both major presidential candidates have backed policies that would make it easier to immigrate legally and would boost the numbers of people coming to the U.S.

Steven A. Camarota, the center’s research director and author of the 96-page study, said it shows that questions about the pros and cons of immigration extend well beyond the sheer numbers and touch on the broader consequences of assimilating a population defined by tougher socioeconomic challenges.

“Look, we know a lot of these folks are going to be poor, we get it. But don’t tell the public it’s all going great, which is the story line I think a lot of people want to sell,” Mr. Camarotasaid. “There is progress over time. Every measure shows improvement over time, but still, the situation does not look like we’d like it to look, particularly for the less-educated. They lag well behind natives even when they’ve been here for two decades, and that is very disconcerting.”

Federal law requires that the government deny immigrant visas to potential immigrants who are likely to be unable to support themselves and thereby become public charges.

On Tuesday, a handful of Republican senators wrote to the Homeland Security and State departments asking them to explain why they don’t consider whether potential immigrants would use many of the nearly 80 federal welfare programs when they evaluate visa applications.

Neither department responded to messages Tuesday seeking a response to the senators’ letter.

Expanding legal immigration is a contentious issue for voters, the vast majority of whom tell pollsters that they want the levels either retained or decreased.

But most politicians want legal immigration expanded.

During his time in the U.S. Senate, Barack Obamabacked bills that would have dramatically boosted legal immigration, potentially by hundreds of thousands a year. As president, he has called for the same thing.

“We need to provide our farms a legal way to hire workers that they rely on, and a path for those workers to earn legal status. And our laws should respect families following the rules — reuniting them more quickly instead of splitting them apart,” Mr. Obamasaid in a major speech on the subject in El Paso, Texas, in 2011.

His presumed Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, in June called for increasing legal immigration for students who study in high-tech fields and admitting unlimited family members of those who hold green cards.

“Our immigration system should help promote strong families as well — not keep them apart. Our nation benefits when moms and dads and their kids are all living together under the same roof,” Mr. Romneytold the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

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Permalink Reply by Chip on August 9, 2012 at 5:01pm

When they control the food they control the people.

Now, however, the Obama cabal appears to be placing the final nail in our coffins.  With the issuance of the unconstitutional White House Executive Order #13575, Obama is taking control of all aspects of food, energy and fiber in rural America—the areas that did not vote for Obama.  So, Obama now effectively controls our ability to eat and use electricity.  Will Congress ever step up and stop these atrocities and treasons committed by the tyrant?  The answer appears to be a resounding “NO!”

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Permalink Reply by Chip on August 9, 2012 at 6:27pm

Sound familiar?
Stalin put up huge posters of himself around so that people would be influenced to love and respect him. He gave out false information, especially statistics about the improvement of grain production. He wanted his people to work hard and do well for the country. He often changed textbooks and controlled the media to ensure that only propaganda-inspired information was given out. That way, the people will understand him more and develop a sense of love, belonging and respect for him.
Made us unemployed, put us on food stamps, fool around with 401k's, lose equity in our homes and when you become dependent on the gov you become a sheep.

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Permalink Reply by truth on August 10, 2012 at 12:58am

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