Cost of educating illegals is targeted
@whiteheather39 (24403)
United States
July 19, 2007 1:21pm CST
If this report is true regarding state lawmakers taking some action maybe they will have the guts to do what the big boys are shying away from. Do you think this will help?
Two groups of legislators Wednesday said they're fed up with a lack of federal action to curb illegal immigration.
Utah spent up to $85.4 million in a single year educating undocumented immigrants, and now lawmakers want the feds to pay up. Lawmakers have also charged a group with finding a way to ensure that employers don't hire undocumented immigrants.
The federal immigration debate came to a crashing halt late last month when U.S. senators failed to gain the support needed to move to a vote on a bill that would have given most of the nation's 12 million immigrants a way to earn legal status. It also would have addressed issues such as border security and work site enforcement, and created a new guest worker program.
Activists on both sides of the issue now predict that frustration over Congress' apparent failure for the second year in a row to reach an accord on immigration could translate to action that state lawmakers have been reluctant to take in the past
Full Story:
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,695193268,00.html
2 people like this
5 responses
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Here's my question. How do you tell if a child is illegal? I was under the impression that if you're parents are here illegally, but you are born in this country that makes you a citizen.
I agree that congress needs to get off its butt and find a solution to this problem, but I'm not sure that dragging children into it is going to help. Seems just another way of grandstanding to me.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
19 Jul 07
It just said education it didn't specify children although I do think they are referring to children of illegal parents and the cildren were not born in this country.
1 person likes this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
20 Jul 07
I have to provide a Social Security number for my girls every year to their school. On several forms really, so I would say if they don't have a number or a legit one, they are illegal.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Jul 07
In Austyralia, we educate the children of illegals whether they are born here or not. See my response below as to why.
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
20 Jul 07
Illegal immigration sure must be a big issue in the US. & one of yoyr favourite discussions. I can understand why, with this massive cost invloved in keeping it in check, or otherwise.
The only part I can comment is the eduication of illegals.
I am not sure why the cost in Utah alone is so high.
We have illegals in various detention centres around Ausatrlia, one of the biggest being near my home town.
The children are educated. I am not sure about the adults.
I support the children being educated whilst in detention, as it is inhumane to just leave them there with nothing to occupy themselves with. It was found in one detention centre, that many of the children were showing very serious mental health issues. It is not their fault that their parents decided upon their immigration stance, & we can not contribute to the deteriorating mental health of childen, no matter what their status is.
So they are educated. May of the children & their mothers were removed from the detention centres, & put in houses (in a compound) in my home town. THey attend the local schools.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jul 07
You are correct it is one of my favorite discussions. I am only one voice but I will continue to make myself heard in any way possible. My daughter and I came to the States legally, it took months, a lot of paperwork, medical examinations, money, I also had to sign a statement that I would support myself financially and not become a burden to the USA government. I had to go by the book even although I had been married to American citizen for 8 years and had been employed by the US government for 12 years. So I will fight this issue to my last breath.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Even tho I was part way raised in Utah I always thought they were crazy and this just proved it!
This si foolis they should get off their butts and fix the law that NO illiga;s can get in to any program we have set up for US.
I get tired of them taking my tax dollor so hey can live better than me!
1 person likes this
@WhatsHerName (2716)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Brovo Whiteheather, keep up the good work keep speaking out.
Continue to be proud that you came here the right way. It's not fair that so many can come here every single day to take from the system without contributing anything back and many don't even want to learn English.
What most people don't even think about is how many of these people flee here to avoid being arrested for crimes in their own countries. So we are not only harboring criminals but we are also making their children citizens and educating them.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Thank you for a very good response also a good comment. I appreciate your support.
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
19 Jul 07
I don't blame the individual states for wanting something done....they have to pay out big bucks not only for education costs but for medical costs as well. I don't think it is right that they pay and don't get reimbursed. The education system stinks anyways because the states are tied in what they can spend because the federal government doesn't have to pay for certain things.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Why educate them in the first place. Why should any part of our government have to pay for it...again with our tax dollars.
