Democrats endanger lives of illegal immigrants and cheat the legal ones

Based on Census data (ACS) there are about 44.5 million immigrants in the U.S., or about 13.7% of the population. (That number doesn't include foreign born here for other reasons.) Unlike Ilhan Omar, immigrants and children of immigrants are usually among the most patriotic of all Americans--especially if the stories of WWII or the Gulag or the Disappeared have been passed down. By far, immigrants are the most eager to take advantage of our property rights and free markets--something they probably weren't allowed in their country of birth.

Recently, the terms immigrant and "illegal immigrant" have been deliberately morphed although they are very different. Even finding unbiased statistical data is difficult because of slanted meanings of words. But that number gives you an idea why Democrats are rewarding illegal immigrants at the expense of the legal ones waiting and paying high legal fees and the refugees already given numbers to enter (45,000 a year). It's a numbers game for federal money, political power and electoral votes.
They are also putting the illegal immigrants at risk for trafficking, health, employment and education problems, plus 5-10 years down the road they still won't be legal but their children will be causing great stress in families. True refugees are required to apply for a green card to become a permanent resident after one year in the United States. After five years of residency, they become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. That is not the case for the catch and release, reward the coyotes system for those who fade into the general population.

Do native born Americans use more welfare at a higher rate than illegal immigrants?

Have you ever wondered where some anti-Trumpers and Leftists come up with their "native born Americans use more welfare than illegals" memes and mottoes? Just read such an article today by a very sound research organization, Cato, which is libertarian. "Immigration and the welfare state: immigrant and native use rates and benefit levels for means-tested welfare and entitlement programs." Alex Nowrasteh and Robert Orr, May 10, 2018.

Here's the reasoning. First of all, toss in Social Security, SSI and Medicare into the pot and call that welfare. I know more than a few Americans who would object to calling the retirement plan and insurance they paid for "welfare."

Second, don't distinguish among green card holders, permanent residents, temporary workers, students (F-1, F-2, F-3 visas) refugees and naturalized citizens and illegal border crashers from 84 countries pouring through our southern border. It wouldn't shock me too much if green card computer employees of Google, Amazon and Microsoft from India and China earning 3x the wage of the average American don't use welfare. Just chatted with a 20-something recent OSU graduate (probably Indian, but could be Pakistani) on my walk yesterday, ready to take off for Seattle to work. From student visa to work visa (H1b).

Third, neglect to point out that virtually all the in-kind benefits that come from the 50 states, originate at the federal level--the National School Lunch Program, WIC, Head Start. Since those are available to all regardless of immigration status, that's also on the wrong side of the ledger.

Fourth, ignore that no one actually has a figure on how many illegals are living among us, working 2-3 jobs, being paid under the table, and sending remittances home to Ecuador or Honduras or Kenya. The churches and non-profits who receive government grants do not ask questions--they serve all.

Table 1 in the article disproves Cato's thesis by using what most Americans would define as federal "welfare." Percentage using Cash assistance, 0.7 by natives, 0.8 by noncitizens; SNAP 9.6 by natives, 14.6 by non-citizens; Medicaid 12.3 by natives, 18.9 by non-citizens.

The article is really loosey-goosey when it comes to the children. It has a category for "child immigrants" (which could be children of green card holders, work visa holders, naturalized citizens, temporary workers) and for "citizen children of noncitizen parents." Duh! I'm not too shocked if the immigrant child of a Filipino computer programmer working for Google is less likely to be using welfare than the child of a coal miner in West Virginia whose parents lost their jobs because of a clean air regulation.

It's not fake news, just government statistics with no agreement on terms.

Benefits and costs of refugees and immigrants

The CATO Institute has some good information and detail on immigrants vs. native born and their use of the safety net programs. https://www.cato.org/publications/immigration-research-policy-brief/immigration-welfare-state-immigrant-native-use-rates

Refugees and illegal immigrants are not treated the same. https://www.disabilityapprovalguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Refugee-Report-Draft.pdf  Refugees are generally eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP aka Food Stamps). But like the rest of us, they are means tested. Under existing federal statutes, unlike other immigrant groups, refugees can receive federal means tested benefit programs immediately upon arrival in the U.S. as long as they meet the eligibility criteria (often set at a state ­level).

I believe that investing in legal immigrants and refugees pays back, and it is a humanitarian act,  but the loopholes like what we're seeing now claiming refugee status to get across the border is very bad for our country. Ilhan Omar is an example of an ungrateful refugee who takes advantage of the system.

Voting by non-citizens

This pre-Obama, pre-Trump article (from July 2008) on voting by non-citizens is interesting, well thought out, and shows how times have changed in 11 years. In the old days,  the onus was on the illegal behavior of the non-citizen and how it disenfranchised American voters. Now the writer would just be a white supremacist for suggesting illegal aliens and legal aliens shouldn't vote.

https://www.heritage.org/report/the-threat-non-citizen-voting?

The evidence is indisputable that aliens, both legal and illegal, are registering and voting in federal, state, and local elections. Following a mayor's race in Compton, California, for example, aliens testified under oath in court that they voted in the election.[8] In that case, a candidate who was elected to the city council was permanently disqualified from holding public office in California for soliciting non-citizens to register and vote.[9] The fact that non-citizens registered and voted in the election would never have been discovered except for the fact that it was a very close election and the incumbent mayor, who lost by less than 300 votes, contested it.[10]

The Diversity lottery winner—guest blogger Dimitrii, immigrant from Moldova

“Our family won the visa diversity lottery in 1995. We came to the USA in 1996. Some family was left over in the former Soviet Union country Moldova. In 2000, I asked my father to sponsor a trip to visit my birth country, he said, "No, you must forget that place, they don't care about you. You must keep going to school, learn the language and assimilate here. You are an American in the making now." In 2002, I became a naturalized American citizen.

As a responsible citizen, I paid all my taxes even as a 16 year old working for cash at a deli. Then I went to college. Was a 'blind Democrat' for many years. If it said Democrat, I voted for the candidate. Then something happened. When my father passed away, I dropped out of college, but 2 years later came back and was able to finish. My student loans went up. My classes started to cost more, even though I was going to a CUNY public University in NYC. When I started college George W. Bush Jr. was POTUS. When I graduated in 2012, you all know who was the POTUS. I lost my health coverage when my father passed away, but eventually worked my way to own my own private insurance. Could not keep my doctor. I developed deep psychological problems because I had to start working and building relationships with new doctors. My credit was fairly good, but the APRs went through the roof.

In 2016, with the support of all my family in NY, I was finally told the truth. To research the candidates I want to vote for. Started doing the research and discovered a more loving home, which brought me to discover Conservative values. I actually was always raised conservative, yet I sided with the Democrats, because I was too lazy to look into it. I am pleased to have discovered a side of America which I love belonging to. 2.5 years ago I made a decision to #walkaway and I have not been more confident and more content with my decision. The Democrats indoctrinated me from my elementary school and all the way through college in NY. I will never go back. Thank you for all that this movement and its' supporters do for me and all other proud Americans who chose to #walkaway. God Bless Liberation, God Bless You All, and God Bless United States of America. “  Dimitrii

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are both children of immigrants

Have you ever looked up Kamala Harris' ethnicity? Some second generation Americans (parents were immigrants) turn on the very people who welcomed their parents. And she's also lived in Canada after her parents divorced. These figures were for Sept. 2018.

 "Approximately 12 percent of members of Congress are immigrants or children of immigrants. There are 12 foreign-born members, of which only one is Republican. Democrats account for 39 of the 53 members of Congress with at least one immigrant parent. First- or second-generation immigrants represent 23 states, with California having the most, and they come from various regions throughout the world. Over the course of American history, there have been 413 foreign-born Americans that have served in Congress, out of 12,000 total. For this reason, the debate over America’s immigration laws is deeply personal for some members." 

If immigration is deeply personal why do some want no borders for the country of their birth? https://news.yahoo.com/daily-digit-first-second-generation-…

Our president is also the son of an immigrant--and he seems grateful to be an American. Why do our media continue to conflate those who come illegally and those who have to follow the very difficult challenges to be a legal immigrant?

German immigrant Sandra came after 9/11

“I am very much for immigration as I did this. I did the paperwork. I did the doctor visits. Blood work, chest x ray and physical. My mother had to give her financial info and so did my husbands family. Not really a pleasant thing to go through but I wanted to move here so I did all that was necessary to get it done. I stayed a “legal alien” for many years until I felt home was the US and not Germany anymore.

To see people cut in line and totally ignore the laws of this country really bothers me. It’s unfair and quite frankly super disrespectful to the people that you claim you want to live with.
America first is long overdo as I heard the “Ami get out” during the times I lived in Germany. They want your money and protection but not your presence or opinion. When crap goes down they want the US to come and clean it up. For free.

No, enough is enough.

I am tired of the lies told every day. We Trump supporters are not racist. As a matter of fact I only hear and see rich liberals pointing out skin color.

It’s a plan orchestrated for 2020. Let’s paint Trump as a racist and all his supporters will be ashamed and sadly frightened to wear their MAGA hats. It’s started people and the media only shows what they want us to see.

Stay positive, be kind, talk to family and friends. Lead by example. But call out the liars and expose them.”

From her Walk away post.