Razor and concertina wire continue to go up along the Texas border with Mexico, and the flow of undocumented immigrants into the United States continues unabated. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden says, “I’ve done all I can do. Just give me the power. Give me the border patrol … “ And all the while, Congress and Senate bicker over border solutions that make little sense anyway.
Illegal border crossings have become not only another crisis, but also another divisive issue among Americans. Contentious pro/con arguments abound. Here are some:
* Pro – We are a nation of immigrants. Con – The country cannot sustain the current level of undocumented immigrants.
* Pro – Immigrants of all kinds contribute to the labor force and thus to GNP growth. Con – Most unauthorized border crossers are not self-sufficient, and the costs to taxpayers they incur outweigh contributions they make.
* Pro – America is humane and cannot turn away people escaping poverty and violence. Con -Every cent that goes towards being humane to unauthorized border crossers is every cent not applied to current lawful residents.
Perhaps the most often used argument in favor of the current liberal border policies is that we are a nation of immigrants.
Indeed, immigrants have always been attracted to the U.S., mostly because of this country’s fairly strong adherence to a Constitution that protects individual liberties, and a largely market-based successful economy. Thus, former President John F. Kennedy, when still Senator from Massachusetts, coined the phrase “A Nation of Immigrants” in a 1958 essay, which was later publishes posthumously as a book in 1964.
The story told by John F. Kennedy about his Irish-born great-grandparents could be told about millions of immigrants who have contributed mightily to the economy and culture of the U.S.
However, it is worthwhile to place in context John F. Kennedy’s classic essay on immigration. Here are some statistics that might help:
The numbers.
* The U.S. Historical Census Statistics on the Foreign-born Populations of the United States 1850-1990 indicates in 1850 (around the time the Kennedys first settled in the U.S.) there were 2,244,602 foreign born individuals residing in the U.S., 9.7% of the total population.
* U.S. Customs and Border Protection Stats and Summaries indicates total FY 2023 nationwide encounters (apprehensions) were 2,063,692.
Nationwide Border Patrol encounters in one year (FY 2023) are almost as high as the total number of foreign-born people living in the U.S. in 1850.
* The U.S. Customs and Border Protection historical figures 1925-2020 indicate total FY 1958 nationwide Border Patrol encounters (apprehensions) were 40,504.
The 1925-2020 Border Patrol nationwide apprehension figures fluctuated considerably from year to year (lowest in 1934 10,319; highest in 1986 1,692,544; and last in 2020 405,036). But the 1958 figure 40,504 serves to put into context the time of Kennedy’s essay vs. today (FY2023 2,063,692 apprehensions).
The costs.
There is a misconception that government at the federal level does not provide public assistance to undocumented foreign-born individuals. Although there are restrictions, the federal government does provide plenty of taxpayer-funded programs that benefit undocumented aliens. Information on the following programs can be found on the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
* Unaccompanied Children Program: By law HHS must assume custody and provide care for children under 18 who enter the U.S. undocumented and unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, and who have no parent or guardian in the U.S.
* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): The federal government provides grants to states, DC and territories that can be used with flexibility to help low-income families with children. (There is no indication that states cannot use TANF grants to assist low-income undocumented families with children).
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): This federal nutrition program is available to victims of trafficking, Cuban or Haitian entrants under the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.
* Head Start and Early Head Start: This program is in the Office of Head Start (OHS), within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is not considered a federal public benefit, and any child whose family qualifies under income limits can participate regardless of immigration status.
In addition to the social costs mentioned above, the federal government funds immigration courts, border agents, medical emergencies at the border, processing centers, and grants to non-federal entities to support border and interior communities receiving migrants through the Shelter and Services Program (shelter for apprehended and released undocumented border crossers).
What services to undocumented immigrants cannot be funded with federal money, several states and localities fund them with state and local taxes. As of November 2023, California, Illinois, Oregon, New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia offer some form of state-funded health coverage to all residents regardless of immigration status. 12 states offer health coverage to income-eligible undocumented children.
As in the case of the federal government, states also bear costs of providing shelter, food and emergency medical care to undocumented immigrants, as Texas Governor Greg Abbot has made abundantly clear! In addition, states bear costs educating all children.
Obviously, we are talking here about immigrants who have limited education and resources, not about university postgraduates from well-healed families on expired visas or arrivals by private jet. And obviously, many of the former magnificently rise above their circumstances.
During his testimony on September 13, 2023, before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget, Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation made the following observations.
“The current net fiscal cost of illegal aliens in the U.S. is between $84 and $94 billion per year. This means that illegal aliens receive $84 to $94 billion more in government benefits and services than they pay in total taxes.”
“The real economic test of any immigration policy is whether it makes current lawful residents better off by raising their after-tax incomes. Both low skill immigration and illegal immigration in general harm current citizens and lawful residents by placing substantial added burdens on U.S. taxpayers.”
The last of these two observations should give us pause. First, let’s assume Mr. Rector’s calculations are correct. Secondly, let’s note he does not seem to be accounting for illegal workers who pay into Social Security and Medicare but cannot receive benefits from either. Still, given the verdict of illegal immigration’s “general harm” to lawful residents (native born and lawful foreign born), should we allow our humanity, compassion, and awareness that we are a nation of immigrants override our economic best interests? The tax well is not inexhaustible and neither is the borrowing well; therefore, we need to choose beneficiaries of limited resources thoughtfully.
The workforce.
The often-used argument that illegal immigrants help fill jobs nobody else wants is correct. As Robert Rector indicated in his testimony, illegal immigrants on average lack education and resources, limiting them to low-paying, back-breaking work.
Another argument is that illegal aliens help replenish a shrinking workforce like that of the U.S. That is also correct. The U.S. is experiencing a declining birth rate, so children of immigrants – lawful and unlawful – will be welcomed in a future workforce.
The nostalgia.
Images of the Statue of Liberty welcoming “the huddled masses” and of heroic families literally stepping into the unknown at Ellis Island generate empathy towards the brave souls wading rivers and climbing over barbed wire.
But the 12 million immigrants that arrived at Ellis Island from 1892 through 1954, that was then. The 2,063,692 undocumented immigrants that crossed U.S. borders in 2023, this is now. Different numbers and different worlds.
Pictured: Concertina wire with shreds of clothing, indicating border crossers climbed over the wires to enter the U.S. The crowd near the wire will probably attempt the same feat. Picture by Omar Ornelas of the El Paso Times is from Time article Along Texas’ floating border barrier, migrant children left bloody by razor wire, July 23, 2023.
Just Vote No 